H 200 Massachusetts House · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act establishing the deaf children's bill of rights

This bill establishes a "Deaf Children's Bill of Rights" in Massachusetts, directly affecting Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, and DeafDisabled children from birth through age 22. It mandates early language access through American Sign Language (ASL) and English, requiring regular assessments (every 3 months before kindergarten, then every 3 years) and individualized education plans. The law ensures parents have full involvement in educational planning, guarantees placement in schools best suited to each child's language, cultural, and academic needs - including options at schools for the Deaf - and requires qualified ASL/English-fluent staff in all educational settings. It also creates a tracking system through the Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to monitor compliance and intervene if children face language deprivation.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Dec 31, 2025
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 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Brian Ashe
Brian Ashe
DDemocratic
MA
2nd Hampden