Senate, September 22, 2025 The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 316) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation to promote social-emotional learning; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 441) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2609).
This bill requires all Massachusetts public schools serving grades 6-12 to provide free disposable menstrual products (like tampons and sanitary napkins) in school restrooms at no cost to students. Schools must ensure products are available conveniently without stigmatizing students seeking them. The requirement takes effect on August 1, 2026, and allows school districts to adjust product amounts based on student usage. The law directly affects public school students in grades 6-12 across the Commonwealth.
This bill (S 450) creates a new "school safety resource officer" position within the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The officer would provide schools with safety information and evaluate school safety plans. It directly affects all public schools in Massachusetts by establishing a dedicated state resource to support their safety planning efforts. The key mechanism is the commissioner designating an individual to serve in this role, offering guidance and reviewing safety measures. The bill does not fund new programs or change existing safety requirements.
This bill (HD 2479) requires school leaders (principals, superintendents) to first try alternative approaches like mediation or restorative justice before suspending or expelling a student. It mandates documenting why these alternatives weren't used for specific incidents, unless the student poses an immediate threat of serious harm to others. The law also requires schools to implement broader, school-wide programs focused on re-engaging students, such as trauma-sensitive learning models. Exceptions allowing immediate suspension remain only for documented safety risks or severe disruptions to learning.
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 419) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to create a school resource officer grant program and fund. Education.
This bill requires school committees in cities, towns, and regional school districts, as well as charter school boards, to meet at least once every other month during the school year with a student advisory committee. The committee must consist of five high school students elected by their peers. Students also elect a chairperson annually who serves as a nonvoting member of the school committee or board, with no compensation, and schools may appoint a student outreach coordinator to support the committee. The law directly affects all public high schools and charter schools in Massachusetts by mandating structured student input into school governance.
This bill requires school committees in cities, towns, and regional districts to recognize two student representatives elected annually by secondary school students before June 1st. These student representatives gain voting rights on all committee matters, replacing a previous non-voting chair position. It also establishes a student advisory committee (elected by students) to support representatives and help students access resources. Both student groups serve without pay, follow school committee rules, and cannot attend executive sessions unless specifically permitted by the committee.
This bill changes student representation on school committees by making student members voting members (previously non-voting) and replacing "without compensation" with a scholarship requirement. Student representatives must complete one full year of service to receive a scholarship funded by the school committee at the end of their senior year, with partial scholarships available for incomplete service. The bill also allows school committees to provide stipends to student representatives for their service. These changes directly affect student representatives, school committees, and district budget allocations for student engagement programs.
H 586 requires Massachusetts public schools to provide informational materials about type 1 diabetes to parents and guardians of students diagnosed with the condition. The materials must cover recognizing symptoms and managing insulin needs during school hours. This bill directly affects families of students with type 1 diabetes and school staff responsible for health protocols.
This bill (HD 2628) allows trained school staff to administer glucagon to students experiencing severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when a nurse is unavailable, directly affecting students with diabetes and their school staff. It requires written parental permission and mandates that schools train non-nurse staff to provide this emergency treatment without them facing liability for good-faith actions (except gross negligence). The bill also clarifies that such staff are not practicing nursing when administering glucagon. The Department of Public Health must issue these regulations within 180 days of the bill's enactment.
