Education (Higher Education)

passed · Massachusetts · House Aug 4, 2026

H 5632: An Act relative to school choice

This bill allows municipal school districts to exempt incoming elementary school choice students from participating in tuition agreements for middle and high school education. The change specifically applies to districts operating under tuition agreements rather than regional agreements, giving them flexibility in how they handle student enrollment across grade levels. By adding a new subsection to existing state law, the legislation clarifies that these districts are not required to include elementary students in the same financial arrangements used for older students. This adjustment aims to provide local control over school choice programs without mandating a uniform tuition structure for all grade levels.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing districts to exempt choice students from tuition agreements, increasing flexibility in enrollment.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 31, 2026

H 5502: An Act relative to school choice

This bill allows municipal school districts to exempt incoming elementary school choice students from participating in tuition agreements that are currently required for middle and high school education. Specifically, it permits these districts to operate under a tuition agreement for older students while waiving that requirement for younger students entering the system. The change directly affects local school districts that provide education through tuition agreements and families seeking school choice options at the elementary level. By modifying existing state law, the legislation creates a distinction between how tuition agreements apply to different grade levels within the same district.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by exempting elementary students from tuition agreements, facilitating school choice for younger families.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 22, 2026

H 5016: An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce

This bill creates a Midwifery Workforce Development Fund to support midwifery education, retention, and birth centers. The fund will finance midwifery student tuition, licensing fees, childcare stipends, loan forgiveness for midwives serving underserved areas, and grants for midwifery training programs. It also requires that certified midwives and freestanding birth centers be paid the same rate as physicians for equivalent services under state employee health plans. The bill directly affects midwifery students, practicing midwives, birth centers, and state health programs by providing dedicated funding and ensuring equitable reimbursement.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds midwifery education programs, tuition, training grants, and workforce development, directly supporting higher education and professional training initiatives.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFund for midwifery education/retention and mandates equal pay for midwives vs physicians under state plans, advancing workforce standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Higher Education Student Financial Aid Public Employees Workforce Development

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Feb 2, 2026

H 5026: An Act ensuring students' access to academic transcripts

This bill requires Massachusetts colleges and universities to provide students with official academic transcripts for courses where tuition and required fees are fully paid. Institutions may withhold transcripts only for unpaid courses or semesters, but cannot deny transcripts due to unpaid loans, fines, or other non-tuition debts. It applies to all public colleges, private occupational schools, and private universities in the state. The Department of Higher Education will create implementing regulations, ensuring students can access transcripts to transfer credits or apply for jobs without financial barriers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates transcript access upon tuition payment, removing barriers to educational access and transferability for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 2756: An Act to support college students in recovery

Senate, November 26, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 951) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to support college students in recovery; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 954) of John C. Velis for legislation relative to opioid overdose prevention in college housing, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2756).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly supports college students in recovery through targeted programs, enhancing higher education access and student well-being in campus housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 2755: An Act relative to debt-free public higher education

Senate, November 26, 2025 -- The committee on Higher Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 929) of James B. Eldridge, Vanna Howard, Jacob R. Oliveira, Mike Connolly and other members of the General Court for legislation to guarantee debt-free public higher education, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2755).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees debt-free public higher education, expanding access and reducing financial barriers for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jan 7, 2026

H 4882: An Act to support college students in recovery

This bill allows public colleges with at least 25% of undergraduates in on-campus housing to create substance-free dormitory programs for students in recovery from addiction. These programs must provide on-site counseling, peer support, and trauma-informed services to help students maintain sobriety. Colleges are required to train staff on using overdose reversal drugs (opioid antagonists) and make them accessible to trained personnel during emergencies. Institutions may seek grants to fund these programs, with the state higher education and public health departments providing implementation guidance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates substance-free dorm programs with counseling/services for student recovery, enhancing educational access and support in higher education through funding and staff training.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates substance-free dorms with on-site counseling, peer support, and overdose reversal training - directly advancing mental health services and emergency care access for students in recovery.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Public Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Dec 31, 2025

H 4860: An Act relative to safety and justice

This bill (H 4860) creates a new compensation system for people wrongfully convicted of felonies in Massachusetts. It lowers the required proof standard from "clear and convincing" to "preponderance of the evidence" to qualify for compensation under Chapter 258D, and expands eligible compensation to include educational services, financial literacy training, and waived tuition at public colleges. The bill also mandates courts to expunge or seal criminal records related to the wrongful conviction after a successful claim, while limiting total damages based on incarceration length (e.g., up to $1 million for 10 years of incarceration). It directly affects individuals exonerated after being convicted of felonies, providing both financial compensation and record-clearing mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeLowers proof standard for wrongful conviction compensation, expands support services, and mandates record expungement - directly advancing criminal justice reform through accountability and rehabilitation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands compensation to include waived tuition at public colleges and educational services, directly advancing educational access for wrongfully convicted individuals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Victims' Rights Higher Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Dec 4, 2025

HD 5379: A communication from the Department of Higher Education (see item 7066-1123 of Section 2 of Chapter 28 of the Acts of 2023) submitting the State University and Community College Mental Health Legislative report of the methodology used to distribute funds for fiscal year 2024

This bill is a procedural report submission (not a new law) from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education. It details the methodology for distributing $4.49 million in state funds (split as $2.39 million to 15 community colleges and $2.1 million to 8 state universities) for mental health services during fiscal year 2024. The funds support crisis services, therapy, sexual assault response, substance use disorder help, and stress/anxiety assistance specifically targeting underrepresented students (students of color, low-income, first-generation, and other marginalized groups). The report fulfills a requirement under line item 7066-1123 of Chapter 28 of the 2023 Acts of the Massachusetts Legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $4.49M for mental health services in higher education, supporting student well-being and access through targeted funding distribution.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $4.49M for mental health services including crisis care, therapy, and substance use support, directly funding healthcare access per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Mental Health Substance Abuse

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 21, 2026

H 3151: An Act relative to increasing 529 deductions

By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3151) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to increasing college savings plan deductions. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax deductions for 529 college savings plans, providing tax relief for education savings. Directly advances fiscal policy supporting middle-income families' educational investments.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases tax deductions for 529 college savings plans, enhancing higher education affordability and access through tax incentives for college savings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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