This bill requires all public schools to maintain a stock of non-patient-specific epinephrine auto-injectors (e.g., EpiPens) for emergency use in treating severe allergic reactions in any student. Schools must store the auto-injectors in accessible locations, ensure adequate quantities based on student population, and train staff on proper administration, including using dose calculation tools. The Department of Public Health will establish regulations for storage, training, and regular inventory checks to monitor expiration dates. School staff who administer epinephrine in good faith during an emergency are protected from civil liability, and the cost will be covered by a surcharge on insurance payors as defined by existing law.
This bill requires all schools (pre-K through 12) and child care centers to annually test drinking water outlets for lead. If lead levels exceed one part per billion (the safe limit), schools must immediately shut off affected outlets, install certified filters at all drinking water points within 18 months, and replace water fountains with filtered bottle-filling stations (one per 75 students). Schools must also submit remediation plans and test results to state environmental and health agencies, post findings publicly online, and notify parents and staff of any lead issues. These measures ensure schools take concrete, timely action to eliminate lead exposure from drinking water sources.
HD 1258 requires all children to attend a full-day kindergarten program, directly affecting kindergarten-aged children in Massachusetts. The bill amends school attendance laws to mandate full-day programs instead of half-day options, changing the age requirement for school enrollment. It also updates education statutes to explicitly include "any child enrolled in full-day kindergarten" within relevant provisions. This policy change shifts the standard for early education attendance without specifying funding or implementation details.
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.
This bill expands eligibility for the community college training incentive program to include credit-bearing courses, which were previously excluded. It directly affects community college students and training program participants who take courses leading to academic credits. The key change amends the statute to explicitly include "credit-bearing" courses by revising language that previously limited coverage to "not-for-credit" programs. This adjustment clarifies that both non-credit and credit-bearing courses qualify for the incentive, without adding new funding or requirements. The bill focuses solely on updating the program's scope through statutory language.
This bill creates a commission to assess and improve the health and energy efficiency of Massachusetts public college and university buildings, directly affecting all 15 public institutions (including UMass, community colleges, and state universities). The commission will evaluate factors like air quality, water safety, energy use, and accessibility, then develop standards and publish findings online. It establishes two funds: one to cover debt service on campus construction (freeing up money for faculty hiring and student support programs) and another to finance renovations and new construction meeting the commission's green and healthy standards. The bill mandates that by 2027, all new academic/administrative buildings must be fully funded by the state, eliminating reliance on institutional debt.
HD 737 prevents Massachusetts colleges and universities from withholding a student's academic transcripts solely because they owe unpaid fees, tuition, or other debts to the institution. The bill allows schools to withhold a student's grades or credits for specific courses where tuition and mandatory fees for that course remain unpaid, including for semester-based payments. It explicitly states institutions may still withhold diplomas or degrees for unpaid debts. The law applies to all public and private colleges, universities, and occupational schools, with the Department of Higher Education responsible for creating implementation rules.
This bill creates a dedicated fund called the "YMCA’s Youth & Government Fund" to support the YMCA's Youth & Government program in Massachusetts. It allows taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to this fund by checking a box on their state income tax return, either as part of a refund or by adding to the amount they owe. The state treasurer will manage the fund, investing contributions to earn interest while keeping funds accessible for immediate use, with unspent money carrying over to future years instead of returning to the general state budget. The program directly benefits youth participants in the YMCA's civic education initiative through this new funding mechanism.
HD 2573 creates a 9-member expert panel to develop recommendations for improving education for advanced and gifted students in Massachusetts public schools, directly affecting students aged 3-22 and school systems. The panel, co-chaired by the Secretary of Education, will advise state education departments and the legislature on curriculum standards, teacher training, screening methods, and family engagement strategies tailored to gifted students' academic and social-emotional needs. It must make specific recommendations on evaluating curricula, identifying gifted students, and implementing research-based practices, including support for twice-exceptional learners. The panel will submit annual reports detailing its work and state/federal funding for gifted education to the legislature by June 30 each year.
By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 367) of Adam Gomez and Mark C. Montigny for legislation relative to student representative voting rights. Education.
