HB 73 (2009): affirming religious freedom protections with regard to marriage and prohibiting the establishment of civil unions on or after January 1, 2010.

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“HB 73 (2009): affirming religious freedom protections with regard to marriage and prohibiting the establishment of civil unions on or after January 1, 2010.” Granite Record, https://graniterecord.org/bill/2009/hb73. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.
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@misc{bill-2009-hb73, title = {HB 73 (2009): affirming religious freedom protections with regard to marriage and prohibiting the establishment of civil unions on or after January 1, 2010.}, howpublished = {Granite Record}, url = {https://graniterecord.org/bill/2009/hb73}, note = {Accessed 24 Oct. 2026} }

HB 73 (2009)

affirming religious freedom protections with regard to marriage and prohibiting the establishment of civil unions on or after January 1, 2010.

  • Status: Signed into law
  • Term: 2009-2010
  • House committee: Judiciary
  • Senate committee: Judiciary
  • Subject: Miscellaneous
  • Chapter law: 61

The Story

It was introduced on January 7, 2009 and referred to the House Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on March 3, 2009. The committee held a work session on March 12, 2009. The committee met in executive session on March 17, 2009 to vote on its recommendation. The majority recommended that the House pass it, and the minority recommended that the House kill it, by a vote of 12–8. On March 25, 2009 the House failed “Motion to Lay on the Table (Rep Rodeschin)” on a roll call 145–208. On March 25, 2009 the House voted to pass it on a roll call 236–120. On March 25, 2009 the House failed “Print Debate in Permanent Journal (Rep N.Elliott)” on a division vote 144–211. It crossed to the Senate on April 8, 2009 and was referred to the Senate Judiciary committee. The committee held a public hearing on May 19, 2009. The committee recommended that the Senate pass it with changes. The committee's amendment (1714s) was adopted on a roll call 14–10 on May 20, 2009, changing the text of the bill. On May 20, 2009 the Senate voted to pass it with changes on a roll call 14–10 and ordered it to a third reading. On May 20, 2009 the Senate failed “Reconsideration” on a voice vote, on a motion by Sen. Hassan. On May 20, 2009 the House rejected a motion to agree to the other chamber's changes on a roll call 186–188. On May 20, 2009 the House rejected a motion to kill it and bar the subject for the rest of the term on a roll call 173–202. On May 20, 2009 the House adopted “Non-Concur Request Committee of Conference (Rep Eaton)” on a roll call 207–168. On May 27, 2009 the Senate adopted “accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference” on a roll call 14–10, on a motion by Sen. Reynolds. A committee of conference met on May 29, 2009 to try to settle the differences between the two chambers' versions of the bill. On June 3, 2009 the House adopted “Conference Committee Report #1995 (Rep G.Richardson)” on a roll call 198–176. On June 3, 2009 the House failed “Reconsideration (Rep Eaton)” on a roll call 159–214. The bill was enrolled on June 3, 2009 — the final check of the text before it goes to the governor. The governor signed it on June 3, 2009, making it Chapter 61 of the session laws.

Sponsors

Hearings and Sessions

  • March 3, 2009, 11:00 AM: public hearing, House Judiciary, LOB 208
  • March 12, 2009, 9:00 AM: subcommittee work session, House Judiciary, LOB 208
  • March 17, 2009, 11:00 AM: executive session, House Judiciary, LOB 208
  • May 19, 2009, 1:45 PM: hearing, Senate Judiciary, SH 103
  • May 29, 2009, 1:30 PM: committee of conference, LOB 206-208

Votes

  • March 25, 2009, House: Print Debate in Permanent Journal (Rep N.Elliott) — yeas 144, nays 211, failed
  • March 25, 2009, House: SHALL THE RULING OF THE CHAIR STAND — yeas 283, nays 73, passed
  • March 25, 2009, House: LAY ON TABLE (REP RODESCHIN) — yeas 145, nays 208, failed
  • March 25, 2009, House: Ought to Pass — yeas 236, nays 120, passed
  • May 20, 2009, Senate: Committee Amendment (1714s) — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
  • May 20, 2009, Senate: Ought to Pass with Amendment — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
  • May 20, 2009, Senate: Reconsideration — voice vote, failed
  • May 20, 2009, House: CONCUR (REP L.WEBER) — yeas 186, nays 188, failed
  • May 20, 2009, House: INDEFINITELY POSTPONE (REP JASPER) — yeas 173, nays 202, failed
  • May 20, 2009, House: NON-CONCUR REQUEST COC (REP EATON) — yeas 207, nays 168, passed
  • May 27, 2009, Senate: Sen. Reynolds Accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
  • June 3, 2009, Senate: Committee of Conference Report (1995-CofC) — yeas 14, nays 10, passed
  • June 3, 2009, House: COMM OF CONF RPT #1995 — yeas 198, nays 176, passed
  • June 3, 2009, House: RECONSIDERATION (REP EATON) — yeas 159, nays 214, failed

The Docket

  • January 7, 2009: Introduced 1/7/2009 and Referred to Judiciary
  • February 4, 2009: ===CANCELLED=== Public Hearing: 2/4/2009 2:30 PM LOB 208
  • March 3, 2009: Public Hearing: 3/3/2009 11:00 AM LOB 208
  • March 12, 2009: Subcommittee Work Session: 3/12/2009 9:00 AM LOB 208
  • March 17, 2009: Executive Session: 3/17/2009 11:00 AM LOB 208 (Contined 3/18&19/09 11:00 AM LOB 208 If Needed)
  • March 19, 2009: Majority Committee Report: Ought to Pass for Mar 24 RC (vote 12-8); HC 22A, PG.762
  • March 19, 2009: Minority Committee Report: Inexpedient to Legislate
  • March 25, 2009: Special Ordered to Mar 25 Without Objection
  • March 25, 2009: Motion to Lay on the Table (Rep Rodeschin): MF RC 145-208
  • March 25, 2009: Ought to Pass: MA RC 236-120
  • March 25, 2009: Print Debate in Permanent Journal (Rep N.Elliott): MF DIV 144-211
  • April 8, 2009: Introduced and Referred to Judiciary
  • May 19, 2009: Hearing; May 19, 2009, Room 103, State House, 1:45 p.m.; SC24
  • May 19, 2009: Committee Report; Ought to Pass with Amendment {1714s}(New Title) [05/20/09]; SC24A
  • May 20, 2009: Without objection, President Larsen moved to Special-Order HB 73 to the beginning of today's Calendar
  • May 20, 2009: Committee Amendment (1714s),(New Title) RC 14Y-10N, AA
  • May 20, 2009: Ought to Pass with Amendment (1714s) (New Title), RC 14Y-10N, MA,; OT3rdg
  • May 20, 2009: Sen. Hassan Moved Reconsideration; MF,VV
  • May 20, 2009: Passed by Third Reading Resolution
  • May 20, 2009: Concur (Rep L.Weber): MF RC 186-188
  • May 20, 2009: Indefinitely Postpone (Rep Jasper): MF RC 173-202
  • May 20, 2009: Non-Concur Request Committee of Conference (Rep Eaton): MA RC 207-168
  • May 27, 2009: Speaker Appoints: Representatives G.Richardson, Thompson, L.Weber, DiFruscia
  • May 27, 2009: Sen. Reynolds accedes to House Request for Committee of Conference, RC 14Y-10N, MA
  • May 27, 2009: President Appoints Senators Reynolds, Lasky and Roberge
  • May 27, 2009: Conferee Change; Senator Houde Replaces Senator Roberge
  • May 29, 2009: Committee of Conference Meeting: 5/29/2009 1:30 PM LOB 206-208 (Orig LOB 104)
  • May 29, 2009: Conference Committee Report; Senate Amendment + New Amendment {1995}, Filed
  • June 3, 2009: Conference Committee Report {1995}; RC 14Y - 10N, Adopted
  • June 3, 2009: Conference Committee Report #1995 (Rep G.Richardson): MA RC 198-176
  • June 3, 2009: Reconsideration (Rep Eaton): MF RC 159-214
  • June 3, 2009: Enrolled
  • June 3, 2009: Enrolled
  • June 3, 2009: Signed by the Governor 06/03/2009; Chapter 0061
  • June 4, 2009: I. Section 1-3 Effective as Provided in Section 4
  • June 4, 2009: II. Remainder Effective 06/03/2009

Laws It Would Change

From the General Court