Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H576 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. 2074 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 576
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 to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and
13	13	dress.
14	14	_______________
15	15	PETITION OF:
16	16	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Brandy Fluker-Reid12th Suffolk1/15/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/6/2025Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire2/6/2025Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/24/2025 1 of 2
17	17	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2074 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
18	18	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 576
19	19	By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 576) of
20	20	Brandy Fluker-Reid and others relative to exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related
21	21	to student grooming and dress. Education.
22	22	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
23	23	SEE HOUSE, NO. 4400 OF 2023-2024.]
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	An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and
30	30	dress.
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. Section 37H of Chapter 71 as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is
34	34	2hereby amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following:-
35	35	3 (h) Any rules related to student dress or grooming included in a school district or charter
36	36	4school’s code of student conduct or otherwise adopted by the school district or charter school
37	37	5shall (1) make no distinction, discrimination, or restriction on account of sex or gender identity
38	38	6(2) not treat students differently or have a disparate impact on any student based on that student’s
39	39	7race, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity (3) be clear,
40	40	8specific, and objective in defining terms, if used; (4) prohibit any school district or charter
41	41	9school employee from enforcing any rules related to student grooming and dress by direct 2 of 2
42	42	10physical contact with a student or a student's attire; and (5) prohibit any school district or charter
43	43	11school employee from requiring a student to undress in front of any other individual, including
44	44	12the enforcing school district or charter school employee, to comply with the rules related to dress
45	45	13or grooming. Nothing in this section shall limit the rights students are already permitted under
46	46	14Chapter 71, Section 82 of 21 Massachusetts General Laws or any other state or federal laws
47	47	15relating to a student’s right to freedom of expression.
48	48	16 SECTION 2. Section 37H ¾ of Chapter 71 as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is
49	49	17hereby amended by inserting as the last sentence of subsection (a) the following -: In addition to
50	50	18any rights students may have, in no cases may a school district or charter school suspend a
51	51	19student solely on the basis of an alleged violation of rules related to student dress and grooming,
52	52	20provided however that a school district or charter school may require students to wear clothing of
53	53	21a specific color, and provided further that nothing herein shall limit school districts or charter
54	54	22school from taking action to prevent bullying of any student as defined in M.G.L Chapter 70,
55	55	23section 370 or harassment of any student on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion,
56	56	24national origin, or sexual orientation.
57	57	25 SECTION 3. The changes detailed in Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect 60 days after
58	58	26passage of this act.
59	59	27 SECTION 4. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt,
60	60	28promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations or formulate policies and recommendations
61	61	29as necessary, including training, to effectuate the purpose of Sections 1 and 2