Report of the Executive Office of Economic Development (pursuant to Section 3B of Chapter 23A of the General Laws) submitting its Economic Development Incentive Program FY25 annual report
Report of the Department of Higher Education (pursuant to line item 7066-1123 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023) submitting its State University and Community College Mental Health FY24 report
H 4659 (The Massachusetts Trauma Response Preparedness Act) requires all public buildings - including schools, libraries, government offices, and venues with 300+ capacity - to maintain easily accessible trauma kits and a trained staff member (a "Trauma Kit Designee") at all times. The kits must include tourniquets, gauze, gloves, and training materials per American College of Surgeons standards. Buildings must follow a capacity-based formula for kit quantity, and staff must be certified in bleeding control. The bill also provides liability protection for good-faith first aid attempts involving bleeding control, excluding gross negligence.
This bill requires employers with 50 or more employees to replace parking benefits with a "parking cash-out" option. Employees can choose to forgo driving alone to work and instead receive cash or transit benefits equal to the current market price of parking (calculated using public rates within a quarter-mile or set minimums). Employers must document parking costs, adjust them annually using the Consumer Price Index, and inform employees in writing about their rights. It does not apply to employers with fewer than 50 employees, those with union contracts requiring parking, or jobs requiring vehicle use.
H 4656, the "Family Protection and Transparency Act," requires Massachusetts' child welfare agency to prioritize keeping siblings together in foster care. It mandates immediate searches for relatives when placing children, seeks to place all siblings together unless safety concerns exist (with strict court documentation), and requires regular visitation between separated siblings. The law also sets minimum weekly visitation standards for parents and requires annual reporting on sibling placement progress. These changes directly affect children in foster care, the Department of Children and Families, and courts handling foster care cases.
H 4642 requires Massachusetts teacher preparation programs to align with evidence-based literacy instruction, including the five research-based reading areas (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension). School districts must screen all K-3 students twice yearly using approved tools, provide evidence-based interventions within 30 days for students significantly below benchmarks, and inform parents of results. The bill mandates that elementary literacy curricula must cover these research-based areas and use scientifically validated methods, prohibiting approaches like "three-cueing" (MSV). It also requires annual public reporting of program quality, screening tool usage, and graduate employment data by the education commissioner.
H 4672 requires Massachusetts school districts to use evidence-based literacy instruction for kindergarten through grade 3, banning methods like "three-cueing" (guessing from pictures or context) and mandating curricula aligned with five research-backed reading skills: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Districts must select "high-quality" curricula approved by the education department, though they can apply for waivers or pilot programs with specific reporting requirements. The bill also mandates annual data reporting on literacy implementation and creates resources for teacher training on evidence-based methods. It directly affects K-3 teachers, school districts, and curriculum developers by changing how reading programs are selected and evaluated.
This bill is a procedural communication from the Secretary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, thanking the Massachusetts Senate Clerk for transmitting a copy of resolutions honoring the Dalai Lama's life and legacy. The letter expresses appreciation for the gesture and reaffirms the Dalai Lama's commitment to promoting compassion and peace.
Senate, October 23, 2025 -- Text of the Senate amendment to the House Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects (House, No. 4615) ( being the text of Senate document numbered 2655, printed as amended)
Report of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (pursuant to Section 53 of Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2022) submitting its Morrissey Boulevard Corridor Study
Report of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (pursuant line-item 1595-0116 of Section 2 of Chapter 140 of the Acts 2024 and Chapter 98 of the Acts of 2021) submitting its Genocide Education Trust Fund and Programming FY25 report
This bill requires Massachusetts public and private institutions of higher education to provide financial literacy counseling to accepted students about student loans and related expenses upon campus arrival. It mandates that institutions offer a standardized College Financing Plan developed by federal agencies, detailing all costs (tuition, housing, books, etc.) and available aid (grants, scholarships, loans). The plan must be provided electronically in a printable format, and the Board of Higher Education may create implementing regulations. The bill directly affects all institutions receiving state higher education funding and their incoming students.
