Education

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 25, 2026

H 2865: An Act relative to teacher’s retirement buyback for former parochial school teachers

HD 1549 allows former parochial school teachers in Massachusetts to purchase retirement service credit for up to 10 years of prior teaching. To qualify, teachers must have taught in an approved school with a valid teaching certificate, pay contributions based on the average teacher salary for those years (plus capped interest), and have their last 10 years of service as a state employee. The bill requires a single payment or annual payments to the retirement system to receive credit for the purchased service time. This directly affects teachers who worked in parochial schools before joining the state teaching system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides retirement buyback benefits for parochial school teachers, directly supporting educator financial security and retention within education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 12, 2026

H 1331: An Act to increase financial access for all

The Financial Innovative Technologies Act (FIT Act) requires all public high schools in the state to teach financial literacy as a mandatory subject for graduation, covering practical topics like budgeting, credit, investing, retirement planning, and emerging technologies such as cryptocurrencies. It also mandates that broker-dealers and investment advisers follow the SEC’s Regulation Best Interest standard when making recommendations to retail customers. The law integrates these lessons into existing subjects like math and social studies to equip students with skills for financial stability. Currently, 22 states have similar graduation requirements for financial literacy education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes financial literacy education, enhancing student financial management skills within school curriculum as part of educational access and program development.92% confidence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 2, 2026

H 4044: An Act relative to tuition and student loan reimbursement in gateway cities

This bill provides tuition and student loan reimbursement for healthcare professionals working in designated gateway cities. It covers physicians, dentists, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants who practice in a health care facility located within a gateway municipality (defined as a city with population 35,000-250,000, below-average income, and below-average bachelor's degree attainment). Eligible professionals receive 10% of their undergraduate or professional school tuition/student loans after completing 10 years of practice in a gateway city. Reimbursement is subject to state appropriation and requires the professional to work in a health care facility within the designated municipality.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition/reimbursement for healthcare students in higher education, reducing financial barriers to degree completion in targeted fields.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Apr 8, 2026

S 1787: An Act relative to credible service for school nurses

By Mr. Brady, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1787) of Michael D. Brady for legislation relative to credible service for school nurses. Public Service.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes credible service standards for school nurses, supporting K-12 school staff qualifications and student health infrastructure within education operations.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses school nurses (medical professionals) and establishes credible service, supporting their role in healthcare delivery. Directly related to medical professionals under healthcare topic.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 2, 2025

H 539: An Act relative to healthy school lunches

This bill requires Massachusetts public school food service providers to ensure at least 50% of weekly lunch entrées are "fiber-rich" (made with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, or legumes) and limits ultra-processed foods to no more than 20% of weekly entrées. It defines "ultra-processed" as foods containing industrial additives like high-fructose corn syrup or artificial preservatives. Food service companies must publicly report monthly nutrition data to verify compliance, with a three-year phase-in period ending by 2033-2034. The law directly affects food service management companies contracted with schools, aiming to improve student nutrition within federally reimbursable meal programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes nutritious school meals in public schools, enhancing student health and well-being - a direct support for educational access and student program quality within K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 29, 2025

H 4038: An Act relative to school transportation reimbursement

This bill establishes a new state funding program to fully reimburse eligible Massachusetts towns for school transportation costs. It requires the state treasurer to pay 100% of transportation expenses for students traveling between home and school by November 20 each year. Eligible towns must not be "gateway municipalities," not belong to a regional school district, and have at least 10% of residents living below the federal poverty line. The policy takes effect on July 30, 2025, directly affecting qualifying low-income towns that currently receive no state transportation funding.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides reimbursement for school transportation costs, directly supporting educational operations and funding within K-12 school systems.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill funds school transportation reimbursement, directly supporting transportation services for students and school operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Sep 8, 2025

S 924: An Act relative to tuition waivers for children raised by a grandparent or other relative

This bill provides tuition and fee waivers at Massachusetts public colleges for students who were legally placed under guardianship (per Chapter 190B, Section 5-201) and are living with a grandparent or other relative (not a parent) when they turn 18 or enroll in college. It directly affects qualifying Massachusetts residents in this guardianship situation who attend public higher education institutions. The state, not the colleges, covers the waiver costs after exhausting any federal reimbursements. This policy change specifically targets financial barriers for youth raised by extended family in guardianship.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waivers for higher education, increasing access and affordability for students raised by relatives. Directly supports educational access and financial assistance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Jan 7, 2026

H 1462: An Act to support college students in recovery

This bill requires public colleges and universities to create alcohol- and drug-free housing programs for students recovering from substance use. These programs must offer on-site counseling, mentoring, and peer support services. Additionally, all public institutions must provide overdose prevention training and make naloxone available to students, faculty, and staff. The law directly affects public higher education institutions and students seeking recovery support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates recovery-focused housing programs at public higher ed institutions to support students with substance use disorder, enhancing student support services within higher education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates campus recovery housing for substance use disorder, directly supporting mental health services through specialized environments for treatment access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 15, 2025

S 383: An Act to create a facilities loan program for private special education schools

SD 934 creates a no-interest or low-interest loan program for private special education schools in Massachusetts approved under Chapter 71B. The program will fund building construction and facility upgrades, administered by the Massachusetts School Building Authority using funds from the School Modernization and Reconstruction Trust Fund. This directly supports eligible schools in improving their physical infrastructure without requiring interest payments on the loans.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates facilities loan program for private special education schools, providing financial support for infrastructure improvements in education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Sep 25, 2025

H 591: An Act relative to school bullying

This bill (HD 2663) amends Massachusetts school bullying laws to strengthen prevention and response. It requires all public schools to create and update bullying prevention plans every two years, including a 30-day public comment period for draft plans (with non-public schools only notifying families). Schools must submit final plans to the school board within 30 days of updates, and the definition of bullying now explicitly includes incidents resulting in student suspensions or expulsions. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must investigate alleged bullying incidents within two years of the alleged event. These changes directly affect all public schools and their compliance with bullying prevention protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill addresses school bullying prevention, directly enhancing student safety and well-being in K-12 education, a core aspect of protective educational policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track