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Bill

SD 545

An Act protecting public higher education student information

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira

Massachusetts bill establishing data security, storage, and sharing standards to protect student information at public colleges and universities.

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Bill Summary · SD 545

Legislative bill overview

SD 545 creates new data protection requirements for Massachusetts public higher education institutions regarding student information. The bill establishes standards for how student data must be collected, stored, secured, and shared by colleges and universities.

Why is this important

Student records contain sensitive personal information including Social Security numbers, financial data, and academic history that could be misused if breached or improperly accessed. With increasing cybersecurity threats and third-party vendor relationships at colleges, explicit legal protections help prevent identity theft, fraud, and unauthorized disclosure of private student records.

Potential points of contention

  • Compliance costs: Institutions may argue that implementing new security standards and audit requirements increases operational expenses, particularly for smaller schools with limited IT budgets
  • Vendor relationship complexity: Defining which third parties (payment processors, student information systems, textbook providers) must comply and to what degree could create disputes about scope and liability
  • Definition clarity: The bill's specific data protection standards, notification requirements for breaches, and student consent mechanisms need precise definition to avoid conflicting interpretations between institutions and enforcement agencies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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