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H 739

An Act relative to MSBA school funding

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Marsi and 2 co-sponsors

A study to create a funding formula that increases MSBA support for technical, vocational, and agricultural school facilities due to their higher establishment and upkeep costs.

Hearing scheduled for 05/12/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 739

Summary: H.739 An Act relative to MSBA school funding

Overview

  • Bill Number: H.739
  • Title: An Act relative to MSBA school funding
  • Sponsor/Introduced: Representative Marcus S. Vaughn (Wrentham)
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Current Status: Hearing scheduled for May 12, 2025 (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) in Committee A-2; Referred to the Committee on Education on February 27, 2025; Senate concurrence noted on the same date.
  • Context: The bill seeks to study and potentially adjust how the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) funds facilities for different kinds of schools, with a focus on technical, vocational, and agricultural facilities.

Purpose and intent

  • The bill directs the School Building Advisory Board (SBAB), established in section 3A of chapter 70B, to study the funding mechanisms used for primary, secondary, technical, vocational, and agricultural school facilities.
  • The core goal is to evaluate the feasibility of creating a funding formula that provides increased funding specifically for technical (and related) school facilities where construction and ongoing maintenance require additional resources beyond those needed for traditional primary/secondary education facilities.
  • A key aim is to ensure that the funding framework accurately reflects the higher costs associated with operating and maintaining technical, vocational, and agricultural school facilities.

Key provisions

  • Section 1: The SBAB shall commission a study examining funding mechanisms for all listed school facility types. It must assess whether a new or revised funding formula could increase MSBA support for technical schools due to their higher establishment and maintenance costs compared with primary/secondary facilities.
  • Section 2: The SBAB shall issue a report with findings and recommendations on a school facility funding formula that accounts for these increased costs. The report must be provided to the Clerks of the Massachusetts House and Senate and the Joint Committee on Education no later than January 1, 2027.

Timing and procedural details

  • Study and Reporting Timeline: A mandatory study by the SBAB, with a final report due by January 1, 2027.
  • Committee Hearing: A scheduled hearing on May 12, 2025, in the Education Committee (A-2).
  • Legislative Progress: The bill was referred to the Education committee on February 27, 2025; it has a related bill history note indicating a similar matter was filed in a prior session (HD 606 of 2023-2024).

Affected entities

  • Primary affected body: Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) and its governance structures (SBAB).
  • Impacted groups: Technical, vocational, and agricultural schools and their districts, which could benefit from a tailored funding formula if the study recommends it.
  • General impact: If the study supports a new funding formula, there could be policy and budget implications for how MSBA funds facilities for non-core school types, potentially affecting future capital planning and appropriations.

Notes

  • The bill does not authorize immediate new funding amounts; it initiates a formal study and requires a concrete funding-formula recommendation within two years (by 2027) to the clerks and the Joint Committee on Education.

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

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