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HD 2936

An Act to improve student and staff attendance and performance by ensuring air quality monitoring in schools throughout the commonwealth

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sean Garballey

Requires air quality monitors in all public K–12 schools by 1/1/2026 with public data on air quality and ventilation assessments.

Senate concurred
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Bill Summary · HD 2936

Summary: House Bill HD 2936 — An Act to improve student and staff attendance and performance by ensuring air quality monitoring in schools throughout the commonwealth

Overview

HD 2936 seeks to install and operate air quality monitoring (AQM) systems in all public K-12 schools in Massachusetts by January 1, 2026, with ongoing data collection and public reporting. The bill aims to provide safer learning and working environments, thereby reducing illness-related absences and improving attendance and performance.

  • Bill number: HD 2936 (House Docket No. 2936)
  • Official title: An Act to improve student and staff attendance and performance by ensuring air quality monitoring in schools throughout the commonwealth
  • Status: Senate concurred
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Filed: January 16, 2025
  • Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 194th General Court (2025-2026)

Purpose and Scope

  • Ensure air quality monitoring in all public schools (K–12) to create safe, healthy environments and reduce illness-related absences.
  • Standardize use of AQM data to inform standards for acceptable air quality in school buildings.

Key Provisions

Section 1 — Installation and operation of AQM systems

  • Applies to all public schools with students in grades K–12, with a compliance deadline of January 1, 2026.
  • Requires schools not yet equipped with AQM systems to install and begin data collection by January 1, 2026.
  • Existing AQM systems in some schools shall be utilized to support statewide goals.
  • Defines critical terms (examples below):
    • Air Quality Monitor (AQM): measures CO2, CO, PM10, PM2.5, VOCs, Temperature, Relative Humidity.
    • Mechanical ventilation unit: intentional introduction of outdoor air via a fan-driven system.
    • Ventilation verification assessment: third-party validation performed by certified professionals.
    • Certified third-party ventilation contractors: licensed experts (e.g., mechanical engineers, aerosol engineers, HVAC contractors) responsible for testing, design, balancing, commissioning, and maintenance.
    • ACH: Air Changes per Hour. Accessible data/database: public website hosting the information collected.

Section 2 — Standards and public data

  • Establishes standards for acceptable air quality based on measurements from AQM systems and ventilation assessments, determined by certified third-party ventilation contractors.
  • Requires all data from AQM systems and related assessments to be publicly accessible via an accessible database.

Implementation Roles and Responsibilities

  • District officials: responsible for safety, welfare, and operations of schools, including oversight of AQM implementation.
  • Certified third-party ventilation contractors: conduct analyses, testing, design, construction, control programming, balancing, commissioning, maintenance, and operation to meet performance standards.
  • Aerosol engineers and related professionals: participate as needed in the assessment and verification processes.

Data Transparency and Accessibility

  • All AQ measurements and ventilation assessment results must be published in a publicly accessible database, enhancing transparency and enabling public scrutiny.

Potential Impacts

  • Operational: school districts must plan and fund AQM installations and ongoing maintenance.
  • Facilities and procurement: increased involvement of certified ventilation professionals and specialized contractors.
  • Public health/education: expected reduction in illness-related absences and potential improvements in attendance and academic performance due to better indoor air quality.
  • Data governance: creation of a statewide, public air quality data resource for school environments.

Legislative History

  • Referred to Education (2025-02-27); Senate concurred (2025-02-27).

Note: The text does not specify funding sources or numeric air-quality thresholds; standards will be determined by third-party contractors and published in the accessible database.

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

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