The strategy devised by advocates and legislative supporters is to keep the clock ticking deep into the final days of the Legislative session that ends July 31.

And its supporters and advocates in the LGBT communities are delighted.

With the legislative session scheduled to shut down next month, the controversial transgender bill is in a stall, tucked away in a relatively inactive legislative conference committee, with barely any serious differences between the House and Senate versions.

The aim: thwart any move by the state’s social conservative forces to get the issue before the voters on November’s ballot.

To repeal the law, opponents would need to collect 32,375 signatures from registered voters (43,167 if they wanted the law immediately suspended, pending the voters’ decision) within 90 days after Governor Charlie Baker put his expected signature on the legislation.


That’s tough but not impossible. But their problem is a tight deadline because the state ballot is printed in mid-September. If they miss that, the issue could be placed on the 2018 ballot.

Advocates, meanwhile, are pushing for an emergency preamble be attached to the bill, a device that circumvents the constitutionally required 90-day waiting period from the day of governor’s approval before an act becomes law. A preamble — stating the “immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety or convenience” is at stake — allows an act to become law immediately. That would block any suspension.

But it’s not clear all this fretting is necessary. So far, there has been no rustling among social conservatives. But nor are they showing their hand, claiming they are holding out hope that the final version of the bill won’t be acceptable to Baker.

“We’re just trying to make sure the governor has heard from many people as possible,’’ said Andrew Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Family Institute.


Frank Phillips can be reached at phillips@globe.com.