Relates to reading and posting in public schools excerpts of the writings and documents regarding American heritage

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Ortt

Designates the Philips Road bridge over Route 140 in New Bedford as the Corporal Francis J. McHugh Memorial Bridge and requires MassDOT to erect and maintain signage.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION

Overview / Purpose

S 2425 designates a specific bridge in the City of New Bedford as the "Corporal Francis J. McHugh Memorial Bridge" to honor Corporal Francis J. McHugh, a United States Army veteran and Silver Star recipient for actions during World War II. The bill directs the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to erect and maintain appropriate signage bearing this designation.

Key provisions

Designation: Bridge number N-06-024(3Y0), the Philips Road bridge over Route 140 in New Bedford, shall be officially known as the "Corporal Francis J. McHugh Memorial Bridge."

Honoree background (findings included in bill): Corporal McHugh served in World War II and was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in saving a fellow soldier while disregarding his own safety.

Signage and maintenance: MassDOT is required to erect and maintain suitable markers with the memorial name in accordance with the department’s standards.

Who is affected

Massachusetts Department of Transportation: responsibility to fabricate, install, and maintain the memorial markers in line with departmental standards and specifications.

City of New Bedford and local travelers: official name change for reference, maps, and signage at the specified bridge location.

Community and veteran constituency: symbolic recognition of a local veteran’s service and sacrifice.

Procedural / timeline notes

Bill filed: 1/17/2025 (Senate Docket No. 2603); presented by Senator Mark C. Montigny (Second Bristol and Plymouth).

Committee referrals and actions (as reported): multiple referrals listed (Education; Transportation; Select Committee on Intelligence) and actions including hearings and a favorable committee report. A hearing was scheduled for 09/16/2025; committee reported favorably 11/06/2025 and referred to Senate Rules.

Related measures: SD 2603 (replaces), companion S 2342, and several prior-session or related bills listed (S 1242, S 242, S 3631, S 873).

Notes / anomalies in the record

The bill text and sponsor (Sen. Mark C. Montigny) indicate this is a Massachusetts state measure dealing with a New Bedford bridge. However, the supplied metadata includes an unrelated bill title referencing public school reading/posting and a list of U.S. Senators and other names as sponsors — these appear inconsistent with the Massachusetts bridge designation and likely reflect clerical or data-entry errors. Readers should rely on the bill text and the presenting senator (Montigny) for the substantive content summarized above.

If you want, I can draft the exact sign language for the marker or prepare a short briefing memo for municipal officials.

Bill