Text of MA S 2955 (2026)

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2955 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ SENATE, February 9, 2026. The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 359) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to promote a healthy culture and climate within schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 368) of Adam Gomez, Michael J. Barrett, Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the Senate for legislation to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 376) of Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to promote the education success of court involved children; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 380) of Patricia D. Jehlen and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish statewide targets for addressing persistent disparities in achievement and suspension and expulsion in public schools; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 387) of Robyn K. Kennedy for legislation relative to safer schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2955). For the committee, Jason M. Lewis 1 of 2 FILED ON: 2/9/2026 SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2955 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court (2025-2026) _______________ An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations. 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 37H of Chapter 71 as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is 2 hereby amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following:- 3 (h) Any rules related to student dress or grooming included in a school district or charter 4 school’s code of student conduct or otherwise adopted by the school district or charter school 5 shall (1) make no distinction, discrimination, or restriction on account of sex or gender identity 6 (2) not treat students differently or have a disparate impact on any student based on that student’s 7 race, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity (3) be clear, 8 specific, and objective in defining terms, if used; (4) prohibit any school district or charter school 9 employee from enforcing any rules related to student grooming and dress by direct physical 10 contact with a student or a student's attire; and (5) prohibit any school district or charter school 11 employee from requiring a student to undress in front of any other individual, including the 12 enforcing school district or charter school employee, to comply with the rules related to dress or 13 grooming. Nothing in this section shall limit the rights students are already permitted under 2 of 2 14 Chapter 71, Section 82 of 21 Massachusetts General Laws or any other state or federal laws 15 relating to a student’s right to freedom of expression. 16 SECTION 2. Section 37H ¾ of Chapter 71 as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition is 17 hereby amended by inserting as the last sentence of subsection (a) the following -: In addition to 18 any rights students may have, in no cases may a school district or charter school suspend or expel 19 a student solely on the basis of an alleged violation of rules related to student dress and 20 grooming, provided however that a school district or charter school may require students to wear 21 clothing of a specific color, and provided further that nothing herein shall limit school districts or 22 charter school from taking action to prevent bullying of any student as defined in M.G.L Chapter 23 70, section 370 or harassment of any student on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, 24 religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. 25 SECTION 3. The changes detailed in Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect 60 days after 26 passage of this act. 27 SECTION 4. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt, 28 promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations or formulate policies and recommendations 29 as necessary, including training, to effectuate the purpose of Sections 1 and 2.