1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 389 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 270
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Joan Meschino
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic
identity.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Joan Meschino3rd Plymouth1/8/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 389 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 270
By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 270) of Joan
Meschino relative to the long-term well-being consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural,
religious, and linguistic identity. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 255 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic
identity.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
2inserting the following sentence at the end of the third paragraph:-
3 Consideration of the child’s long-term well-being shall include consideration of how best
4to preserve and promote the child’s cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities.
5 SECTION 2. Section 5-207 of Chapter 190B of the General Laws is hereby amended by
6adding the following sentence at the end of subsection (a):- 2 of 2
7 The court’s consideration of what would be in the best interest of the minor shall include
8consideration of how best to preserve and promote the minor’s cultural, racial, ethnic, religious,
9and linguistic identities.
10 SECTION 3. Section 3 of Chapter 210 of the General Laws is hereby amended by
11striking out the last sentence of the second paragraph of subsection (c) and inserting in place
12thereof the following two sentences:-
13 In making the determination, the health, safety, and well-being of the child shall be of
14paramount, but not exclusive, concern. The court’s consideration of the child’s well-being shall
15include consideration of how best to preserve and promote the child’s cultural, racial, ethnic,
16religious, and linguistic identities.