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HD 3220

An Act relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Marjorie Decker

Massachusetts requires a comprehensive fire-safety curriculum and proficiency exam for K-12 students by grade 10 and for institutes of higher education, from an expert source.

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Bill Summary · HD 3220

Summary of House Bill HD 3220 — An Act relative to fire safety education in schools and colleges

Overview

HD 3220 proposes to require mandatory fire safety education for both K-12 students and students at institutes of higher education (colleges and other postsecondary institutions) in Massachusetts. The bill would add new curriculum requirements and a proficiency exam to ensure students receive and demonstrate understanding of fire safety concepts in various real-world scenarios. The text defines the scope of “schools” and “institutes of higher education” and specifies the examination requirement to assess proficiency.

Key Provisions

  • Section 48 (Chapter 15A): Establishment of a fire safety curriculum for institutes of higher education

    • Defines “Institute of higher education” to include:
    • The state system of public higher education
    • Private occupational schools
    • Private colleges, universities, and other higher learning institutions
    • Requirement: All institutes of higher education must require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum from an expert source.
    • Curriculum content includes fire prevention and escape, responses to both smoldering and flaming fires, kitchen fires, electrical fires, vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
    • Assessment: Students must complete an examination to test proficiency.

  • Section 100 (Chapter 71): Establishment of a fire safety curriculum for K-12 schools

    • Defines “School” as all public or private elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth, with colleges and universities excluded from this definition.
    • Requirement: All K-12 schools must require students to complete a comprehensive fire safety curriculum by the end of the 10th grade, from an expert source.
    • Curriculum content mirrors the higher education scope (fire prevention and escape, smoldering/flaming fires, kitchen/electrical/vehicle fires, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning).
    • Assessment: Students must complete an examination to test proficiency.

Curriculum Content (common to both tracks)

  • Fire prevention and escape planning
  • Response to smoldering fires
  • Response to flaming fires
  • Kitchen fires
  • Electrical fires
  • Vehicle fires
  • Smoke inhalation
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Proficiency assessment via an examination

Affected Entities and Beneficiaries

  • Institutes of higher education in Massachusetts (public system, private occupational schools, private colleges/universities)
  • All public and private K-12 schools (elementary and secondary)
  • Students enrolled in these institutions
  • Educators and administrators responsible for safety and health education
  • Curriculum developers and entities designated as “expert source” providers

Implementation and Timeline

  • The text provided does not specify an effective date or phased timeline. Implementation details (e.g., rollout dates, funding, teacher training, or regulatory rules) would likely be established through subsequent guidance or regulations if the bill advances.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Standardization of fire safety education across MA may improve student awareness and emergency response readiness.
  • Schools and IHEs may incur costs related to curriculum adoption, instructor training, and examination administration.
  • Requirement to specify an “expert source” for curriculum could influence collaboration with fire safety organizations, local fire departments, or academic centers.

Status

  • The presented documents indicate the bill was introduced in the 2025-2026 session (HD 3220) and attributed to Representative Marjorie C. Decker, with petitioners including Estela A. Reyes. No current status (enacted, amended, or rejected) is provided in the text you supplied.

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

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