1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1791 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 575
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Brandy Fluker-Reid
_________________
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 prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth.
_______________
PETITION OF:
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
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1791 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 575
By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 575) of
Brandy Fluker-Reid and others for legislation to prohibit the use of Native American mascots by
public schools. Education.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth.
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. (a) For purposes of this section, the word “commission” shall mean the
2commission on Indian Affairs.
3 Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the department of elementary
4and secondary education shall create and submit to the commission a list of all schools in the
5commonwealth and their athletic team names, logos and mascots. Within 3 months of receiving
6the list, the commission shall identify schools with athletic team names, logos and mascots that
7refer to, represent, or are associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native
8American cultures and Native American tribes.
9 (b) The commission shall provide the list of the schools identified by the commission
10under subsection (a) to the department and shall publish the list on its website.
11 (c) Schools that are included in the list identified by the commission under subsection (a)
12shall not purchase or refurbish any uniforms or other materials, including banners, signs, 2 of 3
13scoreboards, displays or other materials bearing the athletic team name, logo or mascot until the
14school reaches an agreement with the department pursuant to subsection (e).
15 (d) Not later than 1 year after the publication of the list under subsection (b), the
16commission shall review general issues regarding Native American team names, logos and
17mascots used in the Commonwealth, and specific concerns with individual schools included on
18the list identified by the commission. Based on its review, the commission shall submit
19recommendations to the department on: (i) policies to phase out or ban mascots that name, refer
20to, represent or are associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native American
21cultures and specific Native American tribes; (ii) any specific schools and their team names,
22logos or mascots; and (iii) ways to increase respect and knowledge of Native American heritage
23and cultures in schools and across the commonwealth. The department shall also receive
24comments directly from tribal nation representatives designated by the commission or
25recognized by the United States.
26 (e) Not more than 3 months following the receipt of recommendations from the
27commission pursuant to subsection (d), the department shall develop a memorandum of
28understanding with each school identified on the list prepared under subsection (a); provided,
29however, that the department shall utilize the information provided by the commission in its
30recommendations under subsection (d) during the negotiation; and provided further, that the
31commission shall solicit comments from tribal nation representatives designated by the
32commission or recognized by the United States. Not later than 6 months following the beginning
33of negotiations, each identified school shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
34department concerning the school’s use of their athletic team name, logo or mascot. An 3 of 3
35agreement shall include an implementation timeline not to exceed 3 years for full
36implementation.
37 (f) Schools subject to subsection (e) that fail to enter into an agreement or fail to comply
38with the memorandum of understanding shall not be eligible for discretionary state education
39grants.
40 (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of this act, a school may at any time inform the
41department of its plan to stop or phase out the use of school athletic team names, logos or
42mascots which name, refer to, represent, or are associated with Native Americans, including
43aspects of Native American cultures and Native American tribes.
44 (h) No public school may adopt a new athletic team name, logo or mascot which names,
45refers to, represents, or is associated with Native Americans, including aspects of Native
46American cultures and Native American tribes, including, but not limited to, tribes that are
47recognized by the United States or the Commonwealth.
48 (i) The department may promulgate regulations to implement this section.
49 SECTION 2. The list required under subsection (a) of section 1 shall be completed no
50later than 3 months after the effective date of this act.
51 SECTION 3. Subsection (h) of section 1 shall be effective upon the passage of this act.