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S 400

Nathaniel Sipes Road Naming

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Danny Verdin

Creates a time-limited Massachusetts commission to study PreK-12 funding (Chapter 70) and recommend changes to ensure adequate, equitable funding for all students statewide.

Adopted, returned to Senate with concurrence
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Bill Summary · S 400

Summary — S.400 (Senate Docket No. 1912) — "An Act to ensure adequate and equitable funding for public education"

Note on metadata: the file provided contained conflicting metadata (alternate titles and sponsors). This summary reflects the bill text filed as Senate No. 400 (Jason M. Lewis, et al.), which amends Chapter 70 to create a special commission to study and recommend changes to PreK–12 school funding in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Purpose / Intent

Create a time‑limited, expert commission to study Massachusetts’ PreK–12 school funding system (Chapter 70 foundation budget and related streams) and to recommend legislative and regulatory changes to ensure adequate and equitable funding so all students receive a high‑quality education.

Key provisions

  • Replaces Section 4 of Chapter 70 with a new Section 4 establishing a commission charged to study and recommend how to adequately and equitably fund PreK–12 public education statewide.
  • Scope of study must include (non‑exhaustive list):
    • All components of the foundation budget and subsequent statutory changes;
    • Whether to remove the cap on the foundation inflation index;
    • Appropriate accounting and funding for level and acuity of special education needs;
    • Funding for student transportation (various student types);
    • Effects of low and declining enrollment on districts;
    • Challenges specific to rural districts;
    • Impact of the fixed 59% local share of the statewide foundation budget and whether to change it;
    • Accuracy of wealth/income measures used to determine municipal ability to pay;
    • Impact of the 82.5% maximum local contribution cap and whether to change/remove it;
    • Impact of G.L. c.59, §21C (property tax/assessment issues) on municipal contribution ability;
    • Any other funding formula or funding-stream issues the commission deems necessary.
  • Commission must consider efficient and effective use of resources.

Commission composition and process

  • Co‑chairs: House and Senate chairs of the Joint Committee on Education.
  • Additional members include legislative appointees (from leadership and ways & means chairs), state officials (Secretary of Education, Commissioner of Elementary & Secondary Education, Commissioner of Revenue or designees), representatives of teachers’ unions, policy and fiscal organizations (e.g., MassBudget, MassTaxpayers Foundation), regional/local education associations, municipal associations, and 5 governor appointees with finance experience (at least two residing in rural areas).
  • Public engagement: at least 5 public hearings across different geographic regions (at least one hearing with remote participation option).
  • DESE to provide staff support, materials, and fiscal analysis.

Timeline, deliverables, and funding

  • Report due to the Legislature (clerks of House and Senate, Joint Committee on Education, House & Senate Ways & Means) by June 30, 2027. Report must contain findings and recommendations including required legislative/regulatory changes.
  • Appropriation for commission operations: $250,000 (line item 7009-XXXX for staffing/administrative expenses).

Who would be affected

  • State education policymakers, municipal governments, school districts (urban, suburban, rural), students—particularly those with special education needs or in districts with declining enrollment—and taxpayers (through possible changes to local and state funding shares).

Procedural status (from provided record)

  • Filed as Senate Docket No. 1912 / Senate No. 400 (filed 1/17/2025).
  • Read twice and referred to Committee on Finance (2/4/2025); also referred to Education earlier (2/27/2025 per record).
  • Public hearing scheduled 5/12/2025.
  • Committee actions in late 2025 indicate favorable reports and further referral to Senate Ways & Means and Rules (per supplied log). Final enactment status not indicated in provided materials.

If you want, I can produce a one‑page brief focused on likely fiscal impacts to municipalities and districts based on current Chapter 70 mechanics.

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

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