Abandoned Vessels, Derelict Vessels, and Sunken Vessels

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Chip Campsen

Massachusetts S.367 would add two voting student reps to each district school committee (elected by students) plus a student advisory committee to support them.

Act No. 22

Summary — S.367 (2025): Student Representative Voting Rights (Massachusetts)

Status snapshot
- Introduced in the Massachusetts Senate (Senate No. 367) on Jan 15 / Feb 3, 2025; presented by Senator Adam Gómez (petition also filed by Mark C. Montigny).
- Referred to relevant committees (listed actions include referral to Education and to Finance/Budget & Revenue); public hearing scheduled for 11/12/2025.
- Bill text amends Section 38M of Chapter 71 of the Massachusetts General Laws (education governance).

Purpose / intent
- To expand and formalize student participation on local school committees by establishing two voting student representatives per district and creating a student advisory committee to support those representatives and their constituents.

Key provisions
- Two voting student representatives:
- School committees (cities, towns, regional districts) must recognize two (2) student representatives.
- Representatives are to be elected by the student bodies of all secondary schools within the district.
- Elections must occur prior to the first day of June each year.
- Student representatives are allowed to vote on all matters before the school committee.
- They serve without compensation and are subject to all school committee rules and regulations.
- They do not have the right to attend executive (closed) sessions unless that right is expressly granted by the individual school committee.

Student advisory committee:

Each district shall have a student advisory committee; the number of members is to be determined by the district.
Members are elected by students of the secondary school(s) in the district.
Purpose: assist the elected student representatives in their duties, help constituents access resources, and connect students with the representatives.

What (and who) is affected
- Affected entities: municipal and regional school committees across Massachusetts, secondary schools, and secondary school students (as electors and potential officeholders).
- Operational impacts for districts: conducting regular student elections, updating bylaws and committee rules to incorporate voting student members, providing orientation/training on rules/confidentiality and voting procedures.
- Matters involving executive sessions (personnel, student discipline, legal strategy) remain restricted unless districts opt to allow student participation; this retains some confidentiality protections.

Potential implications and considerations
- Governance: adding two voting members could affect quorum and voting outcomes on school committees; committees may need to revise rules to address tie-breaking, voting eligibility, and term limits.
- Legal/confidentiality issues: districts will need policies for when student representatives may be excluded from executive sessions and for handling confidential information.
- Implementation: districts must set up election procedures, eligibility criteria, and training for student members and advisory committee participants.
- Benefits: increases student voice in district-level decisions, formalizes student advising and constituent support structures.

Next steps in legislature
- Bill was referred to committee(s) and a public hearing is scheduled (11/12/2025). Further committee review, possible amendment, and votes in the Legislature would be required before enactment.