Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H559 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2194 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 559
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Mindy Domb and Priscila S. Sousa
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
12	12	resolve:
13	13	Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the
14	14	consumer impacts of electronic textbooks.
15	15	_______________
16	16	PETITION OF:
17	17	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire1/15/2025Priscila S. Sousa6th Middlesex1/15/2025 1 of 3
18	18	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2194 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
19	19	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 559
20	20	By Representatives Domb of Amherst and Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by
21	21	resolve, House, No. 559) of Mindy Domb and Priscila S. Sousa for an investigation and study by
22	22	a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to the consumer impacts
23	23	of electronic textbooks. Education.
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission relative to the
30	30	consumer impacts of electronic textbooks.
31	31	1 Resolved, that a special commission is hereby established to study the consumer impacts
32	32	2of electronic textbooks, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) identifying the benefits
33	33	3and advantages of electronic textbooks to student consumers, (2) identifying the impact and
34	34	4disadvantages of electronic textbooks to student consumers, including methods used to determine
35	35	5the cost of, and limit their resale, sharing, and renting; the consequences for consumers of the
36	36	6single-user limited access model related to electronic textbook availability, and the prevalence of
37	37	7limiting physical print production to limit access to consumer alternatives, (3) identifying the
38	38	8ways in which electronic textbook contracts affect and limit consumer choice in accessing
39	39	9educational materials, (4) evaluating the clarity of electronic textbook contracts in providing
40	40	10essential factual consumer information around actual costs and savings, and (5) evaluating the
41	41	11impacts of participation quotas and institutional incentives, reimbursements, and other methods
42	42	12used in electronic textbook contracts with institutions of higher education on the availability and
43	43	13awareness of options for student consumers and on the finances of the institution. 2 of 3
44	44	14 Resolved, the special commission shall consist of: 1 person shall be the commissioner of
45	45	15higher education or a designee with expertise on electronic and open educational resources, who
46	46	16will act as chair of the commission; 1 of whom shall be a representative of a student advocacy
47	47	17group, 1 of whom shall be a representative of a library who has experience with and knowledge
48	48	18of electronic textbooks or open educational resources from a Massachusetts public university, 1
49	49	19of whom shall be a representative of a library who has experience with and knowledge of
50	50	20electronic textbooks or open educational resources from a Massachusetts community college, 1
51	51	21of whom shall be a representative of a library who has experience with and knowledge of
52	52	22electronic textbooks or open educational resources from a Massachusetts state university, 1 of
53	53	23whom shall be a faculty member from a Massachusetts public university who has educator
54	54	24experience with using electronic textbooks or open educational resources, 1 of whom shall be a
55	55	25faculty member from a Massachusetts community college who has educator experience with
56	56	26using electronic textbooks or open educational resources, 1 of whom shall be a faculty member
57	57	27from a Massachusetts state university who has educator experience with using electronic
58	58	28textbooks or open educational resources, 1 of whom shall be a representative from the electronic
59	59	29textbook industry, 1 of whom shall be a representative from a higher education-based financial
60	60	30aid office or basic needs office who is knowledgeable on college affordability and student
61	61	31financial challenges, 1 of whom shall be a member of the House of Representatives appointed by
62	62	32the speaker of the House, and 1 of whom shall be a member of the Senate appointed by the
63	63	33Senate President.
64	64	34 Said commission will ensure that its meetings shall be open to the public, notes will be
65	65	35taken and made available. The appointment of the commissioners shall occur within 30 days
66	66	36after the effective date of this resolve. The commission shall convene its first meeting no later 3 of 3
67	67	37than 45 days after the bill’s enactment. The commission shall meet as often as needed to
68	68	38complete its report.
69	69	39 Said commission shall report to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the
70	70	40chairs of the joint committee on consumer protection and professional licensure, and the chairs
71	71	41of the joint committee on higher education the results of its investigation and its
72	72	42recommendations, together with drafts of proposed legislation or regulations necessary to carry
73	73	43its recommendations into effect within 18 months of enactment.
74	74	44 The special commission shall dissolve 30 days after the submission of the report, unless
75	75	45upon a two-thirds vote of the Commission, a continuance is deemed necessary to complete the
76	76	46purpose of the Commission. The time frame of said continuance must be specified in the motion
77	77	47to extend time of operation.