Education

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1975: An Act relative to equipping public elementary and secondary schools with panic alarms or emergency mechanisms

This bill requires all public elementary and secondary schools in Massachusetts to install at least one silent panic alarm system directly linked to law enforcement or the State Police. The alarms must meet national safety standards, be installed by licensed professionals, and not produce audible alerts within the school. The Massachusetts School Building Authority will cover the full cost of installation, including reimbursement for districts that already installed approved systems. Schools may also use alternative emergency mechanisms approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safety infrastructure with full state funding, enhancing school safety infrastructure per education topic definition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1544: An Act establishing a special commission on special education funding

This bill establishes a special commission to study and improve Massachusetts' state funding for special education services. The commission, composed of education officials, legislative leaders, and advocates from disability and school organizations, will examine the current Chapter 70 funding formula and the special education circuit breaker program. It must recommend specific changes by March 2026, including adjustments for inflation, modifications to local funding requirements, and improvements to the circuit breaker program. The commission's work directly affects how special education funding is calculated and distributed across school districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates commission to study and improve state funding for special education, including inflation adjustments and funding formula modifications, directly strengthening fiscal management of essential education programs.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates commission to study and improve special education funding, aiming to enhance state support for students with disabilities through inflation adjustments and formula modifications.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Special Education

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3452: An Act relative to benefits for teachers

This bill modifies Massachusetts teacher retirement system rules to ensure continuity for educators. It requires that teachers moving to roles in the Executive Office of Education or Department of Elementary and Secondary Education retain their teacher retirement status without service interruption, with provisions for making up any contribution differences. It also creates a one-time 180-day window for certain teachers (who joined before July 2001 and didn't opt into an alternative retirement plan) to switch to that program. Additionally, the bill allows school districts to temporarily hire retired teachers during staff shortages, though this service doesn't count toward retirement credits. These changes primarily affect current and retired teachers employed in Massachusetts public schools or education agencies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures teacher retirement benefits continuity and contribution adjustments, protecting educator welfare within education system95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnsures teacher retirement benefits continuity when changing roles, protecting existing benefits without service interruption for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers Retirement Benefits

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 3844: An Act regional school transportation reimbursement bill

By Representative Marsi of Dudley, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 643) of John J. Marsi, Marcus S. Vaughn and Todd M. Smola relative to regional school transportation reimbursement. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides state reimbursement for regional school transportation costs, directly supporting school operational funding under Education category.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3591: An Act establishing tax credits for health care preceptorship

This bill establishes a state tax credit for Massachusetts health care practitioners (like doctors, nurses, and physician assistants) who serve as unpaid mentors ("preceptors") for students in approved health care training programs. Practitioners in areas designated as having health care workforce shortages can claim up to $5,000 annually ($1,000 per eligible student rotation, requiring 100+ hours per rotation across three rotations). The credit is claimed via an application to the Department of Public Health, which issues tax credit certificates to eligible practitioners. Unused credits cannot be carried forward, and the Department of Public Health must annually report on the program's usage, including regional and profession-specific data.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes tax credit reducing state tax revenue for healthcare mentors, supporting workforce development in shortage areas95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill incentivizes health care practitioners to mentor students in training programs via tax credits, directly supporting higher education workforce development and educational access in health care fields.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides tax credits to health care practitioners mentoring students, addressing workforce shortages to strengthen health care services and improve access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1662: An Act strengthening transitional planning and increasing accountability for persons with disabilities and their families

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 313) of Joanne M. Comerford, Hannah Kane, James K. Hawkins, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation to strengthen transitional planning for persons with disabilities after high school graduation or the age of twenty-two. Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens transitional planning for students with disabilities post-graduation, directly supporting educational access and accountability in K-12/higher education systems per its Education subject classification.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 23, 2025

S 939: An Act establishing the hunger-free campus initiative

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 939) of Joan B. Lovely, Joanne M. Comerford, Michael D. Brady, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish the hunger-free campus initiative that would provide grants to institutions of public higher education to address student food insecurity and hunger. Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides grants to public higher education institutions to address student food insecurity, directly enhancing educational access and student welfare in higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 1680: An Act to facilitate student financial assistance

By Ms. Comerford, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 921) of Joanne M. Comerford and Sal N. DiDomenico for legislation to facilitate student financial assistance and establish the FAFSA Trust Fund. Higher Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes FAFSA Trust Fund to facilitate student financial aid, directly supporting higher education funding access and expanding educational opportunity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 697: An Act promoting student loan repayment

By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1983) of Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to promote student loan repayment. Revenue.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPromotes student loan repayment, reducing financial barriers for higher education access, aligning with support indicators for educational access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 3759: An Act relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education in the Commonwealth

By Representatives Scanlon of North Attleborough and Kushmerek of Fitchburg, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 691) of Adam J. Scanlon, Michael P. Kushmerek and others relative to the special education reimbursement program and for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the long-term fiscal health and sustainability of special education funding. Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill investigates special education funding sustainability, promoting fiscal responsibility for essential public programs within budget management.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill investigates special education funding sustainability and proposes reimbursement program reforms to ensure long-term fiscal health, directly strengthening education funding systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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