An Act relative to increased access to safe swimming

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Orlando Ramos

The bill would reimburse construction or renovation of school swimming pools in eligible Massachusetts municipalities through MSBA grant program amendments.

Overview

Bill number/title: HD 463, An Act relative to increased access to safe swimming

Introduced: November 29, 2025 (proposed bill; joint petition by Rep. Ramos and Sen. Gómez)

Classification: Education; proposed bill

Core aim: To expand access to safe swimming by directing a portion of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s grant program toward school swimming pool projects in select municipalities.

What the bill would do

Regulatory change: Requires the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), under authority in Section 3 of Chapter 70B, to amend the School Building Grant Program Regulations (963 CMR 2.0).

Grant eligibility: The amendment would create reimbursement for the construction or renovation of a swimming pool at a school.

Geographic and demographic criteria: Eligible pools would be located in municipalities meeting all of the following:

Population greater than 35,000 and less than 250,000
Median household income below the Commonwealth’s average
A rate of educational attainment (bachelor’s degree or higher) below the Commonwealth’s average

Who is affected

Primary beneficiaries: School districts within Massachusetts municipalities that meet the above population, income, and educational attainment thresholds.

Program participants: The MSBA and the state’s school building grant applicants seeking to add or improve swimming facilities at eligible schools.

Key provisions and details

Scope of assistance: Reimbursement-only provision for the cost of constructing or renovating a school swimming pool (not new facility construction for all schools, but targeted pool projects).

Regulatory pathway: The change is accomplished via amendment to 963 CMR 2.0, rather than a standalone substantive statute.

Funding specifics: The bill text does not specify dollar amounts, caps, or funding scales; the parameters focus on eligibility and the regulatory mechanism for reimbursement.

Procedural and timeline considerations

Implementation steps: 1) Passage of the act (if enacted) 2) MSBA would amend 963 CMR 2.0 regulations to establish the pool-reimbursement program and its criteria 3) Applicants in eligible municipalities could pursue grants for pool construction/renovation

Status context: This is a proposed bill; it builds on a similar matter filed in a prior session (House No. 559 of 2023-2024).

Potential impacts and considerations

Safety and access: Aims to improve water safety and physical education opportunities for students by expanding access to swimming facilities.

Equity focus: Targets mid-sized, lower-income communities with lower higher-education attainment, potentially addressing regional disparities in aquatic education resources.

Limitations: Eligibility is limited to municipalities meeting all specified thresholds; broader applicability would depend on future amendments or different legislation.

Financial planning: No specific funding amount is set in the bill; outcomes depend on MSBA budgeting and the regulatory framework for reimbursements.

Bill