# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 1: Effective date of statutes

> Massachusetts · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S1

## Section

- **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 1
- **Heading:** Effective date of statutes
- **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MA Code / Part I / Title I / Chapter 4 / Section 1

## Text

Section 1. A statute enacted by the general court which may be made the subject of a referendum petition and which is declared therein to be an emergency law, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, shall take effect as soon as it has the force of a law conformably to the constitution. A statute so enacted which may not be made the subject of such a petition and for which a different time of taking effect is not therein expressly provided shall take effect as soon as it has the force of a law as aforesaid if it is declared therein to be an emergency law, otherwise on the thirtieth day next after the earliest day on which it has the force of a law as aforesaid; provided, that a statute so enacted which may not be made the subject of such a petition and which is to take effect upon its acceptance by a municipal or other corporation or by any board or officer thereof, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, shall, for the purpose of such acceptance only, take effect as soon as it has the force of a law as aforesaid.

Section 1. A statute enacted by the general court which may be made the subject of a referendum petition and which is declared therein to be an emergency law, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, shall take effect as soon as it has the force of a law conformably to the constitution. A statute so enacted which may not be made the subject of such a petition and for which a different time of taking effect is not therein expressly provided shall take effect as soon as it has the force of a law as aforesaid if it is declared therein to be an emergency law, otherwise on the thirtieth day next after the earliest day on which it has the force of a law as aforesaid; provided, that a statute so enacted which may not be made the subject of such a petition and which is to take effect upon its acceptance by a municipal or other corporation or by any board or officer thereof, unless otherwise expressly provided therein, shall, for the purpose of such acceptance only, take effect as soon as it has the force of a law as aforesaid.

## Nearby sections

- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 1 Effective date of statutes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S1.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 1A Reorganization plans for executive department](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S1A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 2 Effective date of resolves](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S2.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 2A Special legislative commissions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S2A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 3 Enacting style of initiative measures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S3.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 4 Mode of acceptance of statute by municipality or district](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S4.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 4A Revocation of acceptance by towns of special acts](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S4A.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 4B Rescission of laws previously accepted by cities, towns or municipalities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S4B.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 5 Return showing action of body accepting or rejecting statute](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S5.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 6 Rules for construction of statutes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S6.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 7 Definitions of statutory terms; statutory construction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S7.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 8 Construction of special acts authorizing municipalities to incur indebtedness](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S8.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 9 Time for performance of acts performable on Sunday or holiday](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S9.md)
- [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 4, sec. 9A Recital giving unsealed instrument effect of sealed instrument; ''person'' defined](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S9A.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TI_C4_S1. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.