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Bill

HD 2011

An Act relative to charter school procurement

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Paul Donato and 1 co-sponsor

Charter schools would have to follow 30B procurement rules, bringing their bidding and oversight in line with other public entities.

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Bill Summary · HD 2011

Summary: An Act relative to charter school procurement (HD 2011)

Overview

This proposed Massachusetts bill would expand the reach of the Uniform Procurement Act (Chapter 30B) by explicitly including charter schools within the definition of “governmental body.” Specifically, it redefines “Governmental body” to encompass charter schools, bringing charter school procurement under the same competitive bidding and procurement standards that apply to cities, towns, school districts, and other public entities.

What the bill would do

  • Amends Section 2 of Chapter 30B (the Uniform Procurement Act) to replace the current definition of “Governmental body” with a new definition that includes:
    • Traditional governmental entities (cities, towns, districts, counties, agencies, etc.)
    • Charter schools (as defined in section 89 of Chapter 71)
  • As a result, charter schools would be subject to the procurement requirements, processes, and oversight applicable to governmental bodies under 30B.

Key provisions

  • The core change is definitional: charter schools are added to the list of entities governed by 30B procurement rules.
  • The bill does not appear to alter 30B’s thresholds, bid requirements, bid protest procedures, or exceptions in this section beyond extending coverage to charter schools.

Affected parties

  • Charter schools in Massachusetts: Would be required to follow 30B procurement procedures for acquiring goods, services, and construction that fall under 30B.
  • Vendors and suppliers: Increased eligibility and potential competition for charter school procurement, subject to 30B processes (e.g., competitive bidding, public posting, evaluation criteria).
  • Charter school networks and districts: Would need to align internal procurement policies with 30B requirements.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • Status: The text indicates this is a proposed bill introduced in the 2025-2026 General Court session. It would need to pass both the Massachusetts House and Senate and be signed into law by the Governor to take effect.
  • Effective date: Not specified in the provided excerpt. Typically, if enacted, the act would include an effective date or specify phased implementation.

Potential impacts and implications

  • Purchasing transparency and competition: By applying 30B to charter schools, procurement activities would be subject to standardized bid processes, reducing potential gaps in transparency.
  • Administrative considerations: Charter schools may need to develop or adjust procurement policies and staffing to comply with 30B requirements, including bid timelines, documentation, and vendor evaluations.
  • Consistency with public procurement: Aligns charter school procurement with other public sector procurement practices in Massachusetts.

Note

This summary is based on the provided bill text, which focuses on amending the definition of “governmental body” in Chapter 30B to explicitly include charter schools. For full procedural details, thresholds, and exemptions, the complete bill and any conference or fiscal analyses would be the authoritative sources.

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

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