An Act to ensure the health and safety of the commonwealth’s students and educators

This bill (SD 173) sets mandatory ventilation standards for all public and private K-12 school buildings in Massachusetts to protect students and staff. It requires schools to meet one of three specific ventilation measures (e.g., 4 air changes per hour of fresh air, 20 cubic feet per minute of outdoor air per person, or CO2 levels below 800 ppm) and maintain indoor humidity between 40-60% during pandemics. During declared pandemics, schools must reduce airborne disease transmission risk by 95% using fresh air, portable air cleaners, or advanced technologies like UVGI, while also providing required PPE and cleaning supplies. Local education authorities must assess all school ventilation systems within 18 months and publicly report results, with full compliance required within two years of the law's effective date.