Technology

By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 333) of John J. Cronin and Mark C. Montigny for legislation to prohibiting the use of wireless communication devices in K-12 public schools by students. Education.

By Representatives Sabadosa of Northampton and Owens of Watertown, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 461) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa, Steven Owens and others relative to consumer health data. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

By Representative Diggs of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3983) of Kip A. Diggs for legislation to establish a workforce training trust fund for emerging technologies. Economic Development and Emerging Technologies.

By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 262) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to protect life-saving electronic health records from reckless corporate greed and corruption. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.

By Representative Cruz of Salem, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1626) of Manny Cruz relative to preventing rampant online technological exploitation and criminal trafficking and establishing a special commission (including members of the General Court) to examine sentencing for criminal online technological exploitation. The Judiciary.

By Representatives Ramos of Springfield and Rogers of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1946) of Orlando Ramos, Steven Owens and others for legislation to implement the recommendations of the special commission on facial recognition technology. The Judiciary.

H 4653 prevents public colleges and universities (defined in Chapter 15A) from being required to release student education records covered by FERPA, including records labeled as "directory information." The bill directly affects these institutions by exempting them from producing such records upon request, though it does not restrict government agencies (federal, state, or local) from accessing them under existing law. Key provisions clarify that institutions cannot be compelled to share these specific student records, reinforcing privacy protections. The bill focuses solely on record-sharing requirements, not broader education policy.

Senate, July 10, 2025 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 323) of Brendan P. Crighton and Mark C. Montigny for legislation to prohibit the use to personal electronic devices in schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 333) of John J. Cronin and Mark C. Montigny for legislation to prohibiting the use of wireless communication devices in K-12 public schools by students; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 335) of Julian Cyr, Andrea Joy Campbell, Attorney General , Nick Collins and Barry R. Finegold for legislation to promote safe technology use and distraction-free education for youth; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 381) of John F. Keenan, Mark C. Montigny and Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. for legislation to limit cell phones in classrooms; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 424) of Patrick M. O'Connor and Mark C. Montigny for legislation to regulate the use of mobile communication devices in educational institutions; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 461) of John C. Velis, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, James C. Arena-DeRosa, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for legislation to prohibit access to personal electronic devices and social media in public schools; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 463) of Kirstin Beatty, for legislation to regulate screen time and technology privacy in early and K-12 education, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2549).

By Representative Duffy of Holyoke (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3484) of Kirstin Beatty for legislation to limit non-ionizing radiation from technology in anchor institutions and for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to changes that foster hard-wired communication and reduced exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

By Representative Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 76) of Tricia Farley-Bouvier relative to materially deceptive election-related communications. Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity.