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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3579 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3484
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Patricia A. Duffy, (BY REQUEST)
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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 limiting tech radiation in anchor institutions.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kirstin Beatty149 Central Park Drive, Holyoke, MA
01040
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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3579 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3484
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.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act limiting tech radiation in anchor institutions.
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. The legislature finds and confirms all of the following:-
2 Whereas, the scientific literature reveals serious threats to life from current wireless
3exposures such as numerous studies finding damage to sperm and ovaries; numerous studies
4finding DNA damage that can cause germ line mutations in following generations; and infertility
5in mice after a few generations of wireless radiation exposure (Magdas & Xenos, 1997).
6 Whereas, the scientific literature indicates that exposure to even extremely low power
7density non-ionizing radiation can cause a cascade of effects in more than one way such as
8through free radical formation, interference with DNA repair, impairment of cell membranes,
9and enhancement of genotoxic effects of other agents, all with a Russian Roulette of domino
10effects on hormones, enzymes, tissues, etc. -- effects can lead to poor memory memory,
11difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and other symptoms (Saravanamuttu & Dorairaj 2016); disease such 2 of 6
12as Alzheimer's (Davanipour & Sobel 2009); or damage agricultural fertility (Adebayo, Adeeyo,
13Omomowo 2014).
14 Resolved, that the policy goals of this act are to reduce exposure to radiation from 0 hertz
15through 300 gigahertz emitted by technology by directing authorities in anchor institutions to
16recommend limits, provide guidance, and provide plans for graduated reductions in such
17exposures; to explicitly require public education to hard-wire facilities and to provide age-
18appropriate education on reducing exposures in grades 2 through 12 and scientific grounds from
19grade 6 forward.
20 SECTION 2. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall limit non-ionizing radiation
21from technology in anchor institutions under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth or the
22Commonwealth's towns or municipalities. Anchor institutions refers to schools, higher education
23entities, government entities, public safety entities, medical centers, libraries, and public housing.
24 (a) All relevant state and municipal agencies, boards, quasi-public agencies with
25jurisdiction of these public anchor institutions shall, within their respective jurisdiction to the
26public anchor institutions:
27 (1) recommend limiting non-ionizing radiation exposures from technology;
28 (2) provide easily accessible guidance, training, education, and information on how best
29to reduce and monitor exposures, including with respect to both wireless and wired services, or
30provide this information by referencing this information as provided by an agency or agencies of
31the Commonwealth; 3 of 6
32 (3) set quality control requirements for a graduated program to reduce and monitor
33existing non-ionizing radiation exposures, while still ensuring access remains where needed for
34telecommunications and broadband services;
35 (4) where feasible, require migration from wireless to wired services;
36 (5) adopt a preference for bids, products, and processes that minimize non-ionizing
37radiation from wireless, and further specify this preference in contractual negotiations;
38 (6) where feasible and when useful to minimize incidental non-ionizing radiation
39exposures, create new systems, regulations, evaluations, standards and procedures that rely less
40on technology; minimize trivial technology use; and minimize trivial data collection;
41 (7) set requirements for visible, clear notification of hotspots and other indoor and
42outdoor wireless antennas which lack fencing; and
43 (8) choose practices that most quickly provide wired access that minimize non-ionizing
44radiation, such as wiring only areas that need access or creating communal rooms for wired
45connectivity and choosing connectors and equipment that minimize leakage and disruption of
46power quality; and
47 (9) when migrating to wired services or minimizing wireless non-ionizing radiation,
48adopt the ALARA principle, as low as reasonably achievable, and the ASARA principle, as safe
49as reasonably achievable, with regard to all non-ionizing radiation exposures.
50 (b) To assist with the process described in subsection (a) of this section, the governor
51shall form a small team of experts who have significant experience in the field of reducing non- 4 of 6
52ionizing radiation from wireless and are qualified to provide support with training and efforts to
53reduce exposures.
54 (c) Without setting limits on above subsection (a), the Commonwealth shall further
55explicitly require the following take place promptly and expeditiously, with a focus on reducing
56exposures from wireless non-ionizing radiation in a way that best reduces all non-ionizing
57radiation exposures:
58 (1) Public higher education institutions shall insure that wireless connectivity, including
59for entertainment and other than infrared remotes, in dormitories is substituted with wired
60alternatives that best minimize non-ionizing radiation exposures, and after this proceed to
61provide the same wired service across the rest of the campus.
62 (3) Public preK - 12 schools shall be required that (i) if using WiFi, WiFi is only to
63transmit when in use and within elementary schools only in the administrative areas; (ii) paper-
64based testing be preferred over computer testing, including for state-mandated tests , except
65where a disability requires use of a computer; (iii) mandates for student technology use be
66limited to opt-in, extracurricular courses in secondary education, such as computer programming
67or work force software training; (iv) the Secretary of Education work with the legislature to
68prepare a plan to most cost-effectively provide wired services where needed that best minimizes
69non-ionizing radiation.
70 (c) The attorney general shall enforce good faith compliance in this section through
71adjudication of complaints alleging such violations in accordance with chapter 93. This remedy
72shall not be exclusive and shall be in addition to all other causes of action and other remedies and
73penalties provided by law. 5 of 6
74 SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 25C is hereby amended by striking the words ‘without
75regard to any transmission media or technology’ and inserting in place the following words:-
76 “with respect to the transmission media and technology that best reduces electromagnetic
77radiation exposures from 0 to at least 300 GHz”
78 SECTION 4. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,
79is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
80 Section 98. The department of elementary and secondary education shall require an
81educational k-12 science and technology standard to the effect that students shall learn about the
82biological impacts of electromagnetic radiation ranging from 0 to 300 gigahertz emitted by
83natural radiation and modern technologies, including digital and electronic products and
84antennas. These educational standards shall be age-appropriate, focusing on scientific grounds
85for biological effects of non-thermal and thermal exposures in grades 6 and continuing through
86grade 12. Additionally, within the science and technology standard and within standards for
87health education, there shall be age-appropriate information on reducing electromagnetic
88exposures from wireless and electrical technologies beginning in grade 2 and continuing through
89grade 12 .
90 SECTION 5. (a) Resolved, there shall be a special commission to examine the General
91Laws to recommend changes that foster hard-wired communication and reduced exposure to
92electromagnetic radiation from 0 hertz through 300 gigahertz in alignment with section 1 of this
93Act.
94 (b) The special commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the
95Commissioner of the department of telecommunications and cable; the senate and house 6 of 6
96chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy who shall serve as
97the additional co-chairs; (1) member who shall be appointed by the governor with expertise in
98reducing such exposures, (1) member appointed by the Senate President; and (1) member
99appointed by the Speaker of the House.
100 (d) The special commission shall file an initial report of its recommendations and drafts
101of proposed legislation or regulations, if any, with the clerks of the house of representatives and
102the senate, the President of the Senate, The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
103Governor and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than
104December 31, 2026. The special commission shall file a final report providing a full report
105regarding said subsection (b) not later than March 1, 2027.
106 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.