SD 1236 Massachusetts Senate · 194th Legislature (2025-2026)

An Act relative to the net school spending cap

SD 1236 adjusts Massachusetts school district spending caps for districts that move out of the lowest 10% spending category. It sets a 9% spending cap for these districts unless they were already above 9% when they left the lowest 10%, in which case they retain their previous cap. The bill restricts new charter school seats from districts that exited the lowest 10% with spending above 9% and requires the education department to calculate tuition owed for charter students from such districts, without deducting this amount from the district’s state aid. This affects school districts, charter schools, and the state education department in managing funding and enrollment. The bill also ensures current charter school students won’t be unenrolled by August 1, 2024.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
House Passage
Feb 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 27, 2025 Last action Feb 27, 2025
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
2
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Feb 27, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred
lower
Feb 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to the committee on Education
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jason Lewis
Jason Lewis
DDemocratic
MA
Fifth Middlesex