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S 954

Establishes the teachers' fossil fuel divestment act

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo and 26 co-sponsors

Requires public state universities to train resident assistants to administer opioid antagonists and stock naloxone in all college housing for overdose responses.

REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
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Bill Summary · S 954

Summary — S 954: An Act relative to opioid overdose prevention in college housing

Status: Introduced (Senate No. 954). Referred to committee(s); hearing scheduled 09/11/2025.
Introduced: 01/14/2025. Primary sponsor: Sen. John C. Velis. (Filed as an amendment to Section 19B of Chapter 94C of the Massachusetts General Laws.)

Main purpose

To reduce deaths and injuries from opioid overdose on public university campuses by (1) requiring resident assistants (RAs) to receive training to administer opioid antagonists (e.g., naloxone), and (2) requiring state university campuses to provide and keep opioid antagonists onsite and accessible in each college-operated housing facility.

Key provisions

  • Amendment target: adds a new subsection (i) to Section 19B of Chapter 94C (Massachusetts controlled substances statute).
  • Training requirement: Every state university campus listed in section 5 of chapter 15A must provide training in the administration of opioid antagonists to every resident assistant employed by that campus.
  • Medication availability: Each campus must provide and maintain opioid antagonists onsite in every college-operated housing facility.
  • Access for emergencies: Opioid antagonists must be accessible to every resident assistant for use during emergencies for any student, staff, or other individual on college-operated housing premises who is suspected of having an opioid overdose.
  • Rulemaking: “The department,” in consultation with the Department of Higher Education, must adopt regulations to implement this subsection (detail on which specific state department is responsible is not named in the bill text).

Who is affected

  • Covered: State university campuses as listed under section 5 of chapter 15A (public state universities) and their college-operated housing; resident assistants employed by those campuses; students, staff, and visitors on campus housing premises.
  • Not explicitly covered: Private colleges and non-college housing (unless operated by a covered state university).

Implementation and timeline

  • The bill requires adoption of implementing regulations by the designated state department in consultation with the Department of Higher Education; no explicit statutory timetable for regulation adoption or phased implementation is specified in the bill text.
  • Legislative status as provided: referred to committee(s) and scheduled for a hearing on 09/11/2025.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Public health: Expands on-campus readiness to respond to opioid overdoses and could reduce fatal overdoses in student housing.
  • Operational: Campuses will need to establish training programs, procure and maintain a supply of opioid antagonists, and create access protocols for RAs.
  • Costs: Institutions may incur ongoing costs for purchase, storage, replacement, and training; the bill does not specify funding or reimbursement mechanisms.
  • Legal/regulatory: Implementation depends on forthcoming departmental regulations; existing state liability or Good Samaritan protections may affect use but are not addressed in the bill text.

For further detail, see the full bill text amending Section 19B of Chapter 94C and the scheduled committee materials for the hearing date.

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

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