Nineteen months into its 2017-18 term, the Massachusetts legislature gaveled out its last formal session after a flurry of late compromises pushed it past a midnight deadline.

Absent objections, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and new Senate President Karen Spilka kept members in their seats past 1 a.m. as both chambers strived for last-minute compromise on key issues.  While reaching common ground on opioid treatment, animal cruelty and renewable energy, they failed to bridge deep gaps between the House and Senate on other major topics, such as health-care cost control and education-funding formulas.

Spilka, a former Ways & Means chair just one week into her new role, praised the legislature for what she called “an incredibly productive session,” while acknowledging that “we ended up not crossing the finish line” on a few key bills.  Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo also noted that the House had “passed vital measures this legislative session.”

Others described a legislature that was late in approving a state budget and slow to move bills out of joint committees.  As a result, several major bills went to conference late in the session, while the legislature was still occupied with mundane tasks (such as approving land takings) and overriding budget vetoes.  One reform that was supposed to speed this process even backfired, allowing debate and filibustering that previously would not have been permitted.

Some bills that failed to win passage might still be enacted.  Unlike in most states, the Massachusetts legislature does not adjourn, but after July 31 conducts only “informal sessions,” during which legislation may advance only if no member objects.