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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 300 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 929
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James B. Eldridge
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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 bill:
An Act relative to debt-free public higher education.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and WorcesterVanna Howard17th Middlesex2/11/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/11/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex2/11/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex2/27/2025James K. Hawkins2nd Bristol2/27/2025Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester2/27/2025Patricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/27/2025Sal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk2/27/2025 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 300 FILED ON: 1/10/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 929
By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 929) of James B. Eldridge, Vanna
Howard, Jacob R. Oliveira, Mike Connolly and other members of the General Court for
legislation to guarantee debt-free public higher education. Higher Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 823 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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An Act relative to debt-free public higher education.
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. Section 1 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word “opportunities”, in line 14, the
3following words:-
4 It is hereby further declared to be the policy of the commonwealth to guarantee free
5public higher education as a right for all residents.
6 SECTION 2. Chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
7section 45 the following section:-
8 Section 46. (a) Definitions 2 of 3
9 As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the
10context clearly requires otherwise:
11 “Board”, the Board of Higher Education.
12 “Eligible Student”, any person admitted to Massachusetts public college or university or
13other public certificate, vocational, or adult education program, enrolled full-time or part-time,
14other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph 15 of subsection (a)(A)
15through (S) of 8 U.S.C., section 1101 of the federal act, who has attended a high school in the
16commonwealth for 3 or more years and has graduated from a high school in the commonwealth
17or attained the equivalent thereof from an adult basic education program in the commonwealth,
18or is currently a student in a Massachusetts public higher education institution qualifying for in-
19state tuition under federal regulations, shall be eligible at any state institution of higher education
20in the commonwealth. The Legislature finds that this is a state law within the meaning of 8
21U.S.C. 1621(d).
22 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the
23board shall create a grant program to pay the equivalent of tuition and mandatory fees to an
24eligible student at any Massachusetts public college or university, or certificate, vocational or
25training program at a public institution. Students meeting the income eligibility for Federal Pell
26Grants shall receive additional aid in grants to pay for the additional costs of attendance as
27calculated by the academic institution of enrollment, including, but not limited to, room and
28board, books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses.
29 (c) The grant shall supplement and shall not replace state grants, gift aid, institutional aid,
30or federal aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process. The board shall 3 of 3
31promulgate regulations to ensure funds from this program do not affect eligibility for other state
32grants, gift aid, institutional aid, or federal aid through the Free Application for Federal Student
33Aid process.
34 (d) All public higher education and public vocational training institutions shall be
35considered eligible institutions for this program and there shall be no restrictions on a student’s
36choice of academic programs.
37 (e) The board shall provide an annual notice of eligibility for this program to all eligible
38students and all new graduates from a Massachusetts high school or GED program. The board
39shall maintain a database of all students currently or potentially eligible for this program.