Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H575 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. 1791 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 575
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Brandy Fluker-Reid
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 prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Brandy Fluker-Reid12th Suffolk1/15/2025Natalie M. Blais1st Franklin2/6/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/6/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/6/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/19/2025Mindy Domb3rd Hampshire2/24/2025James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/24/2025Michelle L. Badger1st Plymouth2/24/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/24/2025Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/27/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire3/5/2025Margaret R. Scarsdale1st Middlesex3/5/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex3/6/2025Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex3/11/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1791 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 575
18	18	By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 575) of
19	19	Brandy Fluker-Reid and others for legislation to prohibit the use of Native American mascots by
20	20	public schools. Education.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. (a) For purposes of this section, the word “commission” shall mean the
30	30	2commission on Indian Affairs.
31	31	3 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary
32	32	4and secondary education shall create and submit to the commission a list of all schools in the
33	33	5commonwealth and their athletic team names, logos and mascots. Within 3 months of receiving
34	34	6the list, the commission shall identify schools with athletic team names, logos and mascots that
35	35	7refer to, represent, or are associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native
36	36	8American cultures and Native American tribes.
37	37	9 (b) The commission shall provide the list of the schools identified by the commission
38	38	10under subsection (a) to the department and shall publish the list on its website.
39	39	11 (c) Schools that are included in the list identified by the commission under subsection (a)
40	40	12shall not purchase or refurbish any uniforms or other materials, including banners, signs, 2 of 3
41	41	13scoreboards, displays or other materials bearing the athletic team name, logo or mascot until the
42	42	14school reaches an agreement with the department pursuant to subsection (e).
43	43	15 (d) Not later than 1 year after the publication of the list under subsection (b), the
44	44	16commission shall review general issues regarding Native American team names, logos and
45	45	17mascots used in the Commonwealth, and specific concerns with individual schools included on
46	46	18the list identified by the commission. Based on its review, the commission shall submit
47	47	19recommendations to the department on: (i) policies to phase out or ban mascots that name, refer
48	48	20to, represent or are associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native American
49	49	21cultures and specific Native American tribes; (ii) any specific schools and their team names,
50	50	22logos or mascots; and (iii) ways to increase respect and knowledge of Native American heritage
51	51	23and cultures in schools and across the commonwealth. The department shall also receive
52	52	24comments directly from tribal nation representatives designated by the commission or
53	53	25recognized by the United States.
54	54	26 (e) Not more than 3 months following the receipt of recommendations from the
55	55	27commission pursuant to subsection (d), the department shall develop a memorandum of
56	56	28understanding with each school identified on the list prepared under subsection (a); provided,
57	57	29however, that the department shall utilize the information provided by the commission in its
58	58	30recommendations under subsection (d) during the negotiation; and provided further, that the
59	59	31commission shall solicit comments from tribal nation representatives designated by the
60	60	32commission or recognized by the United States. Not later than 6 months following the beginning
61	61	33of negotiations, each identified school shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
62	62	34department concerning the school’s use of their athletic team name, logo or mascot. An 3 of 3
63	63	35agreement shall include an implementation timeline not to exceed 3 years for full
64	64	36implementation.
65	65	37 (f) Schools subject to subsection (e) that fail to enter into an agreement or fail to comply
66	66	38with the memorandum of understanding shall not be eligible for discretionary state education
67	67	39grants.
68	68	40 (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, a school may at any time inform the
69	69	41department of its plan to stop or phase out the use of school athletic team names, logos or
70	70	42mascots which name, refer to, represent, or are associated with Native Americans, including
71	71	43aspects of Native American cultures and Native American tribes.
72	72	44 (h) No public school may adopt a new athletic team name, logo or mascot which names,
73	73	45refers to, represents, or is associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native
74	74	46American cultures and Native American tribes, including, but not limited to, tribes that are
75	75	47recognized by the United States or the Commonwealth.
76	76	48 (i) The department may promulgate regulations to implement this section.
77	77	49 SECTION 2. The list required under subsection (a) of section 1 shall be completed no
78	78	50later than 3 months after the effective date of this act.
79	79	51 SECTION 3. Subsection (h) of section 1 shall be effective upon the passage of this act.