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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 66 FILED ON: 1/3/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 740
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Marcus S. Vaughn
_________________
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 relative to school mascot name changes.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Marcus S. Vaughn9th Norfolk1/3/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 66 FILED ON: 1/3/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 740
By Representative Vaughn of Wrentham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 740) of
Marcus S. Vaughn relative to school mascot name changes. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 605 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to school mascot name changes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 37R the
2following section:-
3 Section 37S. (a) For the purposes of this section “school branding” shall mean any name,
4symbol or image used by a school as a mascot, nickname, logo, letterhead, team name, slogan,
5motto or other identifier.
6 (b) Prior to any change in school branding where the current school branding references
7any person, group of persons, organization, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation
8or gender identity, the school committee for the school district that the school belongs to shall
9hold a hearing on the proposed school branding change. The hearing shall be open to the public
10and at least 1 representative of the group, organization or identity referenced in the school 2 of 2
11branding shall be in attendance at the hearing and shall be given the opportunity to speak on the
12proposed school branding change.
13 (c) The commissioner shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out this section.