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H 1464

An Act relative to the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chynah Tyler

Creates a codified Reggie Lewis Track Center at Roxbury Community College with free public access for high schools and RCC, and market-rate nonpublic use; separate budget, audits.

Hearing scheduled for 10/16/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
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Bill Summary · H 1464

Summary: H.1464 — An Act relative to the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes and governs the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College (RCC). The center is intended to support public purposes (notably public high school track programs, RCC students/faculty/alumni, and the surrounding community) while also permitting nonpublic use under defined terms and market-based fees when the center is not used for public purposes.

Key provisions

  • Center establishment and purposes

    • A building at RCC containing a Massachusetts state track facility will be maintained at the college for public purposes.
    • When not in public use, the center may be made available for nonpublic purposes upon rental as determined by the board.

  • Governance and management

    • The RCC Board of Trustees is charged with management and operation, including:
    • Setting user fees
    • Entering into agreements with groups such as the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association and other public or nonpublic groups for nonpublic use
    • Establishing rules and regulations for use by:
      • Public high school track programs
      • Members of the abutting residential neighborhood
      • Members of the RCC community (students, faculty, staff, alumni)
      • Nonpublic groups for nonpublic purposes
    • Determining use priorities and the center’s schedule, with input from an advisory committee
    • Entering into vendor agreements for concessions and other maintenance/operational needs

  • Access and use

    • Public access: The center shall be made available without charge for use by public high school track programs and RCC.
    • Public use for the general community: Available on a user-fee basis.
    • Nonpublic use: Available at market rate if the center is not being used for public purposes.

  • Financial and administrative framework

    • Annual operating expenses for the center will be kept separate from RCC’s general appropriations and will have a separate line item.
    • The center’s operations will be audited biennially by the state auditor.

Affected parties

  • Roxbury Community College and its Board of Trustees
  • Public high school track programs
  • Members of the abutting residential community and the RCC community (students, faculty, staff, alumni)
  • Public and nonpublic user groups (including commercial activities with nonpublic purposes)
  • Vendors and concession providers

Timeline and procedural status

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Legislative actions:
    • Senate concurred and referred to the Committee on Higher Education (February 27, 2025)
    • House docket: No. 1464
    • Related hearing: Scheduled for October 16, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in hearing room A-2
  • Related matter: Similar provisions previously filed as House Bill No. 1291 (2023-2024 session)

Potential impact

  • Creates a formal, codified framework for operating the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center as a public resource with clearly defined access rules.
  • Establishes a sustainable funding model via separate line-item budgeting and market-rate pricing for nonpublic uses, alongside free access for public high school programs and RCC.
  • Provides governance mechanisms (fees, rules, priority setting, advisory input) to balance public benefit with revenue needs.
  • Financial transparency and oversight through biennial audits by the state auditor.

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

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