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S 348

Ends the local option of towns and cities to prohibit the sale of alcohol; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by James Skoufis

Requires the state to reimburse local districts for IEP-mandated in-district special ed transportation, phased 25% in 2026 to 100% by 2029.

REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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Bill Summary · S 348

Summary — S.348 (2025) — "An Act providing in‑district transportation funding"

Status: Introduced Jan 30, 2025; Reported and committed to Local Government (Mar 17, 2025). Hearing scheduled Jun 3, 2025. Bill author/petitioner: Senator Lydia Edwards (with multiple co‑petitions listed).

Note: the document includes some inconsistent headings and sponsor lines (different titles and out‑of‑state names) that appear to be clerical errors. The substantive bill text below reflects a Massachusetts General Law amendment concerning K–12 transportation funding.

Main purpose and intent

To require state reimbursement to cities, towns, regional school districts and independent vocational schools for certain in‑district pupil transportation costs for students enrolled in special education programs, and to phase in full state funding of specified transportation reimbursements over four years (FY2026–FY2029).

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 14 to Chapter 71B (Special Education) requiring the State Treasurer to annually reimburse eligible local school entities, on or before November 20, for transportation expenditures from the prior fiscal year for pupils in special education when:

    • transportation is required by the pupil’s Individualized Education Program (IEP);
    • the service is not normally provided to regular day program pupils; and
    • the costs are not otherwise eligible under section 5A of Chapter 71B.

  • Reimbursement formula (two parts):

    1. For each special‑education pupil, an amount equal to the average transportation expenditure per regular day pupil in that local entity for the same fiscal year.
    2. Plus the full amount by which the local average transportation expenditure per pupil in each special‑education program prototype exceeds the regular‑day average — subject to a cap: the excess reimbursement per prototype shall not exceed 110% of the statewide average of such excess costs for that fiscal year.

  • The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will determine the relevant averages, using the higher of transportation expenditure measures under sections 7A, 7B, or 16C of Chapter 71; the Commissioner may further define expenditure categories by regulation.

  • Phased funding schedules (transitional guarantees):

    • For reimbursements under new Section 14 (Chapter 71B): minimum state funding of 25% of the eligible obligation in FY2026; 50% in FY2027; 75% in FY2028; and 100% in FY2029 and thereafter.
    • The same 25/50/75/100% schedule is applied to reimbursements under Section 7A of Chapter 71.

Who is affected

  • Local education authorities: cities, towns, regional school districts, and independent vocational schools that provide transportation required by IEPs.
  • Special education students who receive IEP‑required transportation.
  • State budget/treasury: phased increase in mandated reimbursements to local districts, culminating in full reimbursement obligation from FY2029 onward.
  • DESE: responsible for calculations and regulation to implement the reimbursement formula.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Annual reimbursements are made by the State Treasurer on or before November 20 for the previous fiscal year.
  • Funding is phased in over FY2026–FY2029 as described above.
  • Legislative history shows referral to Education and Finance committees, with hearings scheduled and the bill reported/committed to Local Government (Mar 17, 2025).
  • Related documents: SD 40 (replaces), prior‑session S.3484 and S.8966 noted.

If you want, I can: (1) map the bill’s fiscal impact on state and sample municipal budgets, or (2) draft a plain‑language explainer for parents/administrators about how reimbursements and timelines would work.

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

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