Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H3484 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3579 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3484
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Patricia A. Duffy, (BY REQUEST)
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act limiting tech radiation in anchor institutions.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kirstin Beatty149 Central Park Drive, Holyoke, MA
16	16	01040
17	17	1/17/2025 1 of 6
18	18	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3579 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
19	19	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3484
20	20	By Representative Duffy of Holyoke (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
21	21	3484) of Kirstin Beatty for legislation to limit non-ionizing radiation from technology in anchor
22	22	institutions and for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General
23	23	Court) relative to changes that foster hard-wired communication and reduced exposure to
24	24	electromagnetic radiation. Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.
25	25	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
26	26	_______________
27	27	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
28	28	(2025-2026)
29	29	_______________
30	30	An Act limiting tech radiation in anchor institutions.
31	31	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
32	32	of the same, as follows:
33	33	1 SECTION 1. The legislature finds and confirms all of the following:-
34	34	2 Whereas, the scientific literature reveals serious threats to life from current wireless
35	35	3exposures such as numerous studies finding damage to sperm and ovaries; numerous studies
36	36	4finding DNA damage that can cause germ line mutations in following generations; and infertility
37	37	5in mice after a few generations of wireless radiation exposure (Magdas & Xenos, 1997).
38	38	6 Whereas, the scientific literature indicates that exposure to even extremely low power
39	39	7density non-ionizing radiation can cause a cascade of effects in more than one way such as
40	40	8through free radical formation, interference with DNA repair, impairment of cell membranes,
41	41	9and enhancement of genotoxic effects of other agents, all with a Russian Roulette of domino
42	42	10effects on hormones, enzymes, tissues, etc. -- effects can lead to poor memory memory,
43	43	11difficulty sleeping, fatigue, and other symptoms (Saravanamuttu & Dorairaj 2016); disease such 2 of 6
44	44	12as Alzheimer's (Davanipour & Sobel 2009); or damage agricultural fertility (Adebayo, Adeeyo,
45	45	13Omomowo 2014).
46	46	14 Resolved, that the policy goals of this act are to reduce exposure to radiation from 0 hertz
47	47	15through 300 gigahertz emitted by technology by directing authorities in anchor institutions to
48	48	16recommend limits, provide guidance, and provide plans for graduated reductions in such
49	49	17exposures; to explicitly require public education to hard-wire facilities and to provide age-
50	50	18appropriate education on reducing exposures in grades 2 through 12 and scientific grounds from
51	51	19grade 6 forward.
52	52	20 SECTION 2. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall limit non-ionizing radiation
53	53	21from technology in anchor institutions under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth or the
54	54	22Commonwealth's towns or municipalities. Anchor institutions refers to schools, higher education
55	55	23entities, government entities, public safety entities, medical centers, libraries, and public housing.
56	56	24 (a) All relevant state and municipal agencies, boards, quasi-public agencies with
57	57	25jurisdiction of these public anchor institutions shall, within their respective jurisdiction to the
58	58	26public anchor institutions:
59	59	27 (1) recommend limiting non-ionizing radiation exposures from technology;
60	60	28 (2) provide easily accessible guidance, training, education, and information on how best
61	61	29to reduce and monitor exposures, including with respect to both wireless and wired services, or
62	62	30provide this information by referencing this information as provided by an agency or agencies of
63	63	31the Commonwealth; 3 of 6
64	64	32 (3) set quality control requirements for a graduated program to reduce and monitor
65	65	33existing non-ionizing radiation exposures, while still ensuring access remains where needed for
66	66	34telecommunications and broadband services;
67	67	35 (4) where feasible, require migration from wireless to wired services;
68	68	36 (5) adopt a preference for bids, products, and processes that minimize non-ionizing
69	69	37radiation from wireless, and further specify this preference in contractual negotiations;
70	70	38 (6) where feasible and when useful to minimize incidental non-ionizing radiation
71	71	39exposures, create new systems, regulations, evaluations, standards and procedures that rely less
72	72	40on technology; minimize trivial technology use; and minimize trivial data collection;
73	73	41 (7) set requirements for visible, clear notification of hotspots and other indoor and
74	74	42outdoor wireless antennas which lack fencing; and
75	75	43 (8) choose practices that most quickly provide wired access that minimize non-ionizing
76	76	44radiation, such as wiring only areas that need access or creating communal rooms for wired
77	77	45connectivity and choosing connectors and equipment that minimize leakage and disruption of
78	78	46power quality; and
79	79	47 (9) when migrating to wired services or minimizing wireless non-ionizing radiation,
80	80	48adopt the ALARA principle, as low as reasonably achievable, and the ASARA principle, as safe
81	81	49as reasonably achievable, with regard to all non-ionizing radiation exposures.
82	82	50 (b) To assist with the process described in subsection (a) of this section, the governor
83	83	51shall form a small team of experts who have significant experience in the field of reducing non- 4 of 6
84	84	52ionizing radiation from wireless and are qualified to provide support with training and efforts to
85	85	53reduce exposures.
86	86	54 (c) Without setting limits on above subsection (a), the Commonwealth shall further
87	87	55explicitly require the following take place promptly and expeditiously, with a focus on reducing
88	88	56exposures from wireless non-ionizing radiation in a way that best reduces all non-ionizing
89	89	57radiation exposures:
90	90	58 (1) Public higher education institutions shall insure that wireless connectivity, including
91	91	59for entertainment and other than infrared remotes, in dormitories is substituted with wired
92	92	60alternatives that best minimize non-ionizing radiation exposures, and after this proceed to
93	93	61provide the same wired service across the rest of the campus.
94	94	62 (3) Public preK - 12 schools shall be required that (i) if using WiFi, WiFi is only to
95	95	63transmit when in use and within elementary schools only in the administrative areas; (ii) paper-
96	96	64based testing be preferred over computer testing, including for state-mandated tests , except
97	97	65where a disability requires use of a computer; (iii) mandates for student technology use be
98	98	66limited to opt-in, extracurricular courses in secondary education, such as computer programming
99	99	67or work force software training; (iv) the Secretary of Education work with the legislature to
100	100	68prepare a plan to most cost-effectively provide wired services where needed that best minimizes
101	101	69non-ionizing radiation.
102	102	70 (c) The attorney general shall enforce good faith compliance in this section through
103	103	71adjudication of complaints alleging such violations in accordance with chapter 93. This remedy
104	104	72shall not be exclusive and shall be in addition to all other causes of action and other remedies and
105	105	73penalties provided by law. 5 of 6
106	106	74 SECTION 3. Section 1 of chapter 25C is hereby amended by striking the words ‘without
107	107	75regard to any transmission media or technology’ and inserting in place the following words:-
108	108	76 “with respect to the transmission media and technology that best reduces electromagnetic
109	109	77radiation exposures from 0 to at least 300 GHz”
110	110	78 SECTION 4. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition,
111	111	79is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
112	112	80 Section 98. The department of elementary and secondary education shall require an
113	113	81educational k-12 science and technology standard to the effect that students shall learn about the
114	114	82biological impacts of electromagnetic radiation ranging from 0 to 300 gigahertz emitted by
115	115	83natural radiation and modern technologies, including digital and electronic products and
116	116	84antennas. These educational standards shall be age-appropriate, focusing on scientific grounds
117	117	85for biological effects of non-thermal and thermal exposures in grades 6 and continuing through
118	118	86grade 12. Additionally, within the science and technology standard and within standards for
119	119	87health education, there shall be age-appropriate information on reducing electromagnetic
120	120	88exposures from wireless and electrical technologies beginning in grade 2 and continuing through
121	121	89grade 12 .
122	122	90 SECTION 5. (a) Resolved, there shall be a special commission to examine the General
123	123	91Laws to recommend changes that foster hard-wired communication and reduced exposure to
124	124	92electromagnetic radiation from 0 hertz through 300 gigahertz in alignment with section 1 of this
125	125	93Act.
126	126	94 (b) The special commission shall consist of the following members or their designees: the
127	127	95Commissioner of the department of telecommunications and cable; the senate and house 6 of 6
128	128	96chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy who shall serve as
129	129	97the additional co-chairs; (1) member who shall be appointed by the governor with expertise in
130	130	98reducing such exposures, (1) member appointed by the Senate President; and (1) member
131	131	99appointed by the Speaker of the House.
132	132	100 (d) The special commission shall file an initial report of its recommendations and drafts
133	133	101of proposed legislation or regulations, if any, with the clerks of the house of representatives and
134	134	102the senate, the President of the Senate, The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the
135	135	103Governor and the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than
136	136	104December 31, 2026. The special commission shall file a final report providing a full report
137	137	105regarding said subsection (b) not later than March 1, 2027.
138	138	106 SECTION 6. This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.