Authorizes retail licenses to sell liquor for on-premises consumption at airline lounges

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

The bill directs Massachusetts DESE and the Board of Higher Education to develop best practices for purchasing and installing wireless networks in public schools and higher educati

PRINT NUMBER 408A

Overview / Purpose

Although some supplied metadata conflicts with the header information, the actual bill text for S.408 (Print 408A) proposes that Massachusetts education authorities develop and publish best practices and guidance for the purchase and installation of wireless internet (Wi‑Fi) systems in public K–12 schools and public institutions of higher education. The guidance is to “consider and prioritize practices that protect the health and safety of” students and staff.

Key provisions

Adds a new Section 100 to Chapter 71 (Mass. General Laws):

Directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to develop best practices and guidance for the purchase and installation of wireless internet service in public schools.
Requires DESE to consider and prioritize practices that protect the health and safety of students and staff.

Adds a new Section 48 to Chapter 15A (Mass. General Laws):

Directs the Board (the Board of Higher Education or governing board referenced in Chapter 15A) to develop best practices and guidance for purchase and installation of wireless internet in public institutions of higher education.
Requires the Board to consider and prioritize practices that protect the health and safety of students and staff.

Who is affected

State education agencies: DESE and the Board of Higher Education (or equivalent body under Chapter 15A).

Public school districts, charter schools and public K–12 facilities in Massachusetts.

Public community colleges, state colleges, universities and other institutions governed by Chapter 15A.

Students, faculty, staff, IT/procurement offices, and wireless hardware/service vendors and installers.

Implementation, timeline & legislative status

Bill filed 01/17/2025; introduced in Senate and read twice 02/05/2025.

Referred to relevant committees (entries list Education and other committees); hearing scheduled 05/12/2025. Print number 408A issued 05/14/2025.

The statutory language mandates development of guidance but does not specify deadlines, required contents, enforcement mechanisms, or funding.

Potential impacts & considerations

Could lead to standardized procurement and installation practices across public K–12 and higher‑ed systems emphasizing health and safety (e.g., siting of access points, power settings, wired alternatives, signage, parental/staff communications).

No prescriptive technical standards are set in the bill — agencies would define specifics.

Absent implementation deadlines or funding, agencies’ timelines and the scope of the guidance may vary.

No enforcement, reporting, or compliance requirements are included in the text provided.

Note on inconsistent metadata

The package provided included conflicting metadata (a title about retail liquor sales at airline lounges and a sponsors list that appears to reference federal legislators). This summary is based solely on the Massachusetts bill text included, which concerns guidance on wireless deployment in public educational institutions.

Bill