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S 3026

An Act providing equal opportunity for residents to vote on establishment of the Great River Regional School District

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jo Comerford and 1 co-sponsor

Six towns must put a binding ballot on establishing the Great River Regional School District; only a majority in all six towns creates the district.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Rules
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Bill Summary · S 3026

Summary of Bill: S.3026 (194th Massachusetts General Court)

Title: An Act providing equal opportunity for residents to vote on establishment of the Great River Regional School District

Date Filed: January 29, 2026
Sponsors: Sen. Joanne M. Comerford and Sen. Susannah M. Whipps

1) Purpose and Intent

  • The bill aims to provide residents in six towns with an equal opportunity to vote on establishing a new regional school district—the Great River Regional School District.
  • It overrides certain general laws to ensure these towns can place a binding ballot question on their local elections specifically about creating the regional district.

2) Key Provisions and Changes

  • Speaks to six towns: Bernardston, Gill, Leyden, Northfield, Warwick, and Montague.
  • Ballot requirement: At the first annual or special town election after the act’s effective date, each listed town must place a ballot question asking voters whether to accept the establishment of the Great River Regional School District.
  • Ballot language: The question requires voters to consider accepting the provisions of sections 16 to 16I of chapter 71 of the General Laws, which authorize the establishment of a regional school district, including the construction, maintenance, and operation of a regional school by the district pursuant to an agreement filed with the town’s select board.
  • Threshold for creation: If a majority of voters in each town vote in the affirmative, the regional school district is deemed established immediately.
  • Immediate effect: The district, once established by affirmative vote in all participating towns, would be deemed formed forthwith.
  • Effective date: The act takes effect upon passage.

3) Who/What is Affected

  • Municipalities: Bernardston, Gill, Leyden, Northfield, Warwick, and Montague (all in Massachusetts) are required to hold the ballot question.
  • Local voters: Residents of each of the six towns would vote on whether to establish the regional district.
  • Regional governance: Establishment of a new regional school district (the Great River Regional School District) would govern construction, maintenance, and operation of a regional school as set out in the envisaged agreement.

4) Procedural and Timeline Considerations

  • Timing to ballot: The question must be placed on the ballot at the first annual or special town election following the act’s effective date.
  • Conditional establishment: The regional district is only created if a majority vote in each town is affirmative; if any town fails to vote affirmatively, the district is not established.
  • Legal override: The act states “Notwithstanding section 15 of chapter 71 of the General Laws or any other general or special law,” signaling that this act supersedes existing procedures to ensure the equal opportunity for ballot consideration in these towns.
  • Status timeline: As of the action history, the bill has progressed through committee referral and scheduling, with favorable committee reporting and referrals to Senate Rules noted.

5) Practical Implications

  • Voter empowerment: Residents in the six towns would directly decide whether to form a regional district, rather than the decision being made only by municipal leaders.
  • Fiscal and governance implications: Establishment would trigger processes related to the agreement, construction, funding, governance, and long-term operation of a regional school district serving the six towns.

If you’d like, I can provide a plain-language example of the ballot question and summarize potential fiscal impacts based on typical regional school district agreements.

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

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