WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 2512

Creates the fundamental right of the people to have access to public information

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cordell Cleare and 3 co-sponsors

S.2512 adds multi‑year funding from the Education and Transportation Fund to support transportation, K–12 education, CTE expansion, English learners, early literacy, and a new Bost

OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2512

Summary — S.2512 (Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 194th General Court, 2025–2026)

Note on conflicting metadata
- The packet you provided includes mixed metadata (a title and sponsor list suggesting a federal “right to access public information” measure) that does not match the bill text included. The text included in this packet is a Massachusetts Senate document (S.2512) that replaces the House FY2025 supplemental appropriations bill (H.4010) with an omnibus set of supplemental appropriations and program directives. This summary focuses on the actual Massachusetts appropriations text provided.

Purpose

S.2512 is a supplemental appropriations bill that (1) supplements certain FY2025 appropriations and (2) provides multi‑year appropriations (through FY2028 for a subset) from the Education and Transportation Innovation and Capital Fund (established in chapter 29, §2DDDDDD) to support transportation, K–12 education, career and technical education expansion, museum capital, English‑learner services, early literacy tutoring, and other initiatives.

Total direct appropriations reported on the cover: $1,283,200,000.

Key provisions and dollar amounts (selected items)

  • Source: Most appropriations are from the Education and Transportation Innovation and Capital Fund. Appropriations in Section 1 are for FY2025; items in Section 2A are available through June 30, 2028.
  • Transportation
    • 1596‑2405 MBTA Low‑Income Fare Relief — $20,000,000
    • 1596‑2427 MBTA Workforce‑Safety Reserve — $100,000,000
  • Education (Executive Office of Education / DESE)
    • 7061‑0012 Special Education Circuit Breaker — $58,000,000
    • Student Opportunity Act Investment Fund — 100% (reference to funding percentage)
  • Multi‑year DESE grants and programs (Section 2A)
    • 1596‑2513 Capital grants / leasing / capacity building for career & technical education (CTE) and comprehensive high school annexes — $100,000,000
    • At least $15,000,000 required for a pilot program to support CTE annex buildings on comprehensive high school campuses.
    • Prioritization criteria: reduce demonstrable CTE waitlists; meet regional workforce demand; increase equitable access; prioritize communities with waitlists, active housing production efforts, and sustainable housing practices (in consultation with EO Housing).
    • Projects should address opportunity gaps identified by DESE and prioritize juniors/seniors not admitted to dedicated vocational programs.
    • 1596‑2517 Local one‑time education projects — $100,000
    • 1596‑2518 Capital/development costs for Holocaust Legacy Foundation, Inc. to establish the Boston Holocaust Museum (exhibit buildout, accessibility, security, educational tech/curriculum) — $5,000,000
    • 1596‑2514 Grants to reduce waitlists for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services — $10,000,000 (administered by DESE in coordination with Workforce Skills Cabinet)
    • 1596‑2515 Early literacy high‑dosage tutoring initiative (K–3), prioritizing grade 1 students below benchmark, and requiring evidence‑based reading curriculum alignment — dollar amount truncated in provided text (part of larger appropriations)

Other program text: The bill contains programmatic conditions, prioritization rules, and interagency consultation requirements (e.g., with the Massachusetts School Building Authority, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities).

Who would be affected

  • MBTA riders, particularly low‑income passengers (fare relief) and MBTA workforce (safety/reserve).
  • K–12 public school students (special education, English learners, early literacy tutoring).
  • Students seeking career and technical education — CTE schools, comprehensive high schools, regional employers, and communities with CTE waitlists.
  • Holocaust Legacy Foundation/Boston Holocaust Museum and its visitors/audiences.
  • School districts and community providers that deliver ESOL and literacy interventions.

Timing and procedural aspects

  • Section 1 appropriations apply to FY2025 (fiscal year ending June 30, 2025).
  • Section 2A appropriations are available through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028.
  • Appropriations noted as not subject to section 5D of chapter 29 (special disbursement rules).
  • Legislative history (high‑level):
    • Reported by Senate Ways & Means and offered as a substitute for H.4010 (May 1, 2025).
    • Extensive amendment activity occurred on May 8, 2025 (many amendments adopted; some rejected); reprinted as amended as S.2514.
    • Earlier references show referral to Judiciary and requests for Attorney‑General opinion (Jan–Feb 2025) in the provided activity log; the file includes multiple referral/committee steps.

Notes and recommended follow‑up

  • The included bill text is truncated in places (e.g., the early literacy item is incomplete). For full details on unlisted line items, conditions, and the final adopted language, consult the engrossed bill (S.2514 / final Senate text) or the House bill H.4010 as substituted.
  • If you intended to review a federal bill titled “Creates the fundamental right of the people to have access to public information,” please provide that bill’s text or correct bill number/identifier so a targeted summary can be prepared.

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

Sign in to ask a question.