An Act banning legacy and donor preferences in higher education

This bill prohibits Massachusetts public and private degree-granting colleges and universities from considering applicants' family ties to alumni or donors during admissions decisions. It also bans institutions from disclosing relatives' educational history or donation records in application materials. The bill requires the state department of higher education to study how binding early decision policies impact student diversity - including economic status, racial/ethnic representation, and first-generation students - and report findings within one year. These changes will take effect for admissions leading to the 2026-2027 school year.