BOSTON (WWLP) - In an informal session on Thursday, the Massachusetts Senate voted to suspend their regular rules--making it easier for bills to pass. The rules will be suspended until the beginning of the next formal session in January, which means that more contentious bills now stand a chance at making it to the governor's desk. Since the end of the formal session on July 31, one nay vote could significantly hold up a bill or even prevent it from passing at all. This suspension of the rules allows the Senate to take roll call votes, which means that bills can be passed as they would during formal sessions. The Senate used this suspension of rules first to take up the House and Senate compromise on a clean energy bill that was held up at the end of the formal session. This bill looks to reform siting and permitting for clean energy projects, regulate heat pumps, and outfit the state with electric vehicle chargers, among other provisions. Prior to the rule suspension, Republican minority leader Bruce Tarr moved to postpone discussion about the bill, saying senators need more time to review the 139-page bill. "This is the consequence of what happens when we don't finish business in a timely fashion," said Tarr. "We are in uncharted territory, and like everyone else in the Senate chamber and in this building, we're trying to understand the ramifications of every action that we take." Even with the Senate rule suspension, both the House and the Senate need to agree on conference reports in order to get them sent to the governor's desk. The House has not yet suspended the rules or indicated whether they intend to do so. Local News Headlines Minor injuries reported in three-car collision in Springfield Sen. Warren urges action on gun trafficking in Springfield Massachusetts Senate suspends their rules Voting measures for incarcerated people WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.