Education (Student Health)

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 1078: An Act relative to Narcan availability in schools

SD 1078 requires all public school districts in Massachusetts to establish a naloxone (Narcan) overdose prevention program. Specifically, it mandates that every school nurse must be trained in naloxone assistance and have naloxone available in the nurse's office. The bill also directs schools to offer optional, extracurricular training on administering naloxone nasal spray to secondary students, delivered by qualified individuals following nationally recognized standards. This law directly affects school nurses, administrators, and secondary students in public schools across the state.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates Narcan availability and training in schools, enhancing student health safety as part of educational infrastructure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 4145: An Act establishing a commission regarding school disciplinary policies and bullying

This bill establishes a 15-member commission to study school discipline policies and bullying in Massachusetts public and charter schools serving grades K-8. The commission will examine how these policies affect student learning, safety, and mental/physical health, and make recommendations on whether new policies should be state-mandated, incentivized, model-based, or district-level. The bill also directly mandates that schools provide at least 30 minutes of supervised, unstructured outdoor recess daily (when weather permits) for K-8 students, prohibiting reductions for academic purposes or to accommodate individualized education plans. The commission must report its findings to education officials by January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes commission to study disciplinary policies/bullying and mandates 30+ min outdoor recess, aiming to improve student safety, learning environment, and health in K-8 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2900: An Act expanding licensure opportunity for school counselors

This bill expands licensure opportunities for school counselors to become mental health counselors. It allows school counselors to count their relevant graduate coursework (even if under 60 credits) and school-based supervised experience toward mental health counselor licensure requirements. Specifically, it permits their existing school counseling training and 2 years of supervised clinical experience (including as school counselors) to satisfy education and experience standards for mental health counselor exams. The bill directly affects current school counselors seeking to transition into mental health counseling roles.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands licensure pathways for school counselors to become mental health counselors, enhancing student mental health support within K-12 education systems.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health counselor licensure access by allowing school counselors to use existing training/experience, directly supporting mental health services access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Medical Licensing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 71: An Act establishing a grant program to increase the presence of mental health counselors in schools

This bill establishes a state grant program to help Massachusetts school districts hire more mental health professionals for students. School districts can apply for funds to cover either the salary of in-house counselors or costs for outside mental health service providers. The program requires districts to use grant money specifically for mental health support staff or contracted services, with the Department of Education setting certification rules for funded professionals. The goal is to directly increase mental health resources available to students across participating school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes state grants to fund school mental health counselors, directly increasing educational support resources for students through targeted funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates state grants to fund school mental health counselors, directly advancing mental health services per healthcare topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3907: An Act relative to fresh fruits and vegetables in schools

HD 3907, introduced by Representative Paul McMurtry, requires Massachusetts school districts to allow programs partnering with local farmers to provide locally grown fruits and vegetables for school breakfast and lunch. It directly affects all city, town, and regional school districts that choose to participate. The key provision (added to Chapter 69, Section 1C) enables districts to create these partnerships, sourcing produce directly from local farms. This policy change aims to increase access to fresh, locally sourced food in school meal programs without mandating participation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enhances school meal programs with local produce, increasing student access to healthy food in K-12 schools, directly supporting educational well-being and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2663: 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 strengthens school bullying prevention by mandating updated plans, public comment, and expanding bullying definition to include suspensions/expulsions, directly enhancing student safety and school environment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 789: An Act relative to the mental health of children in schools

This bill (SD 789) requires schools to treat absences due to mental health symptoms the same as absences due to physical health symptoms. It mandates that schools accept documentation from licensed mental health professionals for mental health absences in the same way they accept documentation for physical health absences. Students returning after a mental health-related absence must be offered a meeting with a school counselor, though they cannot be required to attend. The law directly affects students, families, and school staff by standardizing absence policies for mental and physical health.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires equal treatment of mental health absences and mandates counseling access, enhancing student well-being and educational access within school policies.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires equal treatment of mental health absences and mandates counseling access, directly supporting mental health services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jul 10, 2025

H 708: An Act requiring a mental health wellness examination for all school children

By Representative Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 708) of Priscila S. Sousa relative to requiring a mental health wellness examination for all school children. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates mental health wellness exams for school children, enhancing student support services within education policy.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires mental health wellness exams for school children, advancing access to mental health services within healthcare policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2907: An Act providing for mental health professionals in public schools

This bill requires every public school district to hire at least one full-time school psychologist and one full-time school social worker for all K-12 students. School psychologists must conduct mental health screenings, assess student needs, train staff, and recommend school environment improvements. School social workers must provide psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, therapy, and act as liaisons between families, schools, and communities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create rules to implement these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school psychologists/social workers for K-12 mental health screenings and crisis intervention, strengthening student support services and school environment per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates hiring school psychologists/social workers for mental health screenings, therapy, and crisis intervention, directly expanding student access to healthcare services in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3032: An Act to promote access to housing and improve educational outcomes

This bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to address student homelessness in Massachusetts, targeting five communities (prioritizing Gateway Cities) to achieve "functional zero" homelessness within five years. It provides participating communities with housing vouchers covering 10% of homeless students' housing needs, $500,000 annually for program infrastructure, and resources tied to annual progress goals. Communities must coordinate housing, school, and local agency efforts, share data, and commit to annual housing targets for homeless students and families. A dedicated $500,000 annual fund supports the initiative, with implementation through community-based organizations and shared best practices.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $500,000 annually for program infrastructure, directly funding a public service initiative targeting homelessness through state budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAddresses student homelessness through housing vouchers and funding to improve school attendance and outcomes, directly expanding educational access for vulnerable students.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides housing vouchers for homeless students and funds to achieve 'functional zero' homelessness, directly advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Homelessness Tenant Rights

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