H 457 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act parental rights legislation

This bill grants local public school districts and school committees the authority to reject any guidance or directives issued by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It explicitly protects school administrators, faculty, and elected officials from losing their jobs, facing criminal charges, or having state funding withheld if they choose to ignore these state orders. The legislation asserts that the power to set school policies belongs solely to local school committees and the parents who elected them. By removing the threat of state penalties, the bill aims to allow local communities to make independent decisions regarding school operations without state interference.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2023
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action May 28, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Education
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of David DeCoste
David DeCoste
RRepublican
MA
5th Plymouth