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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 329 FILED ON: 1/11/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 415
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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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
resolve:
Resolve creating a special commission to study classroom temperatures.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 329 FILED ON: 1/11/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 415
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 415) of Patrick M. O'Connor
that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission (including
members of the General Court) to study minimum and maximum allowable air temperatures in
public school classrooms and facilities. Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 322 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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Resolve creating a special commission to study classroom temperatures.
1 Resolved, that notwithstanding any special or general law to the contrary there shall be a
2special commission to study the regulation of minimum and maximum allowable air
3temperatures in public school classrooms and facilities, as well as any relevant statistics on the
4number of air-conditioned public schools in Massachusetts, the impact of indoor air quality on
5children, including, but not limited to, children with respiratory conditions or special needs, and
6the Commonwealth’s state funding and bidding processes for installing air conditioning and
7heating upgrades in public schools.
8 The special commission shall consist of: the secretary of the executive office of
9education, or their designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of the department of
10elementary and secondary education, or their designee; the commissioner of the department of
11public health, or their designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts School Building 2 of 2
12Authority; a representative of the Massachusetts Teachers Association; a representative of the
13Massachusetts Association of School Committees; a representative of the Massachusetts Parent
14Teacher Association; two teachers, selected by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, who
15have experienced difficulties with classroom temperatures; a school nurse, selected by the
16Massachusetts School Nurse Organization; the president of the Massachusetts Association of
17School Superintendents, or their designee; two members of the House of Representatives, one of
18whom to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the other to be
19appointed by the minority leader; two members of the Senate, one of whom to be appointed by
20the President of the Senate, and the other to be appointed by the minority leader. The chair shall
21commence first meeting of the commission not later than December 1, 2025.
22 The special commission shall submit its findings and recommendations, together with
23drafts of any legislation, to the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate and the
24chairs of the joint committee on education not later than December 1, 2026.