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S 2139

Relates to school zone speed limits and signage and other traffic calming devices

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Jackson and 1 co-sponsor

MA bill bars most licensing boards from denying, revoking, or nonrenewing licenses solely for defaulting on an educational loan; Division of Banks is exempt.

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Bill Summary · S 2139

Bill Summary — S.2139 (2025)

Title: An Act relative to unpaid student loans

Main purpose

S.2139 would prohibit most Massachusetts state licensing boards and agencies from denying issuance, revoking, or refusing to renew a professional or occupational certificate, registration, license, or authority solely because an individual has defaulted on an educational (student) loan. The change is made by amending section 13 of chapter 30A of the General Laws.

Note: The bill text explicitly exempts the Division of Banks from this restriction.

Key provisions

  • Amends the final paragraph of G.L. c.30A, §13 by replacing it with a single paragraph that:
    • Bars any board of registration operating pursuant to chapter 112 or any state agency from taking licensing actions (denial, revocation, or nonrenewal) based on an individual’s default on an educational loan.
    • States that the prohibition does not apply to the Division of Banks.
  • The bill text does not define “educational loan,” so applicability to federal, state, or private student loans would depend on statutory interpretation or implementing guidance.

Who is affected

  • Directly affected: Individuals holding or seeking state-issued professional or occupational licenses, certificates, registrations, or authorities regulated by:
    • Boards operating under chapter 112 (e.g., many health professions) and
    • Other state agencies that issue occupational or professional licenses.
  • Not affected: Actions by the Division of Banks (i.e., banking regulators retain authority to act on loan-default-related matters).
  • Indirectly affected: Licensing boards (must change or cease using loan-default as a licensure sanction), employers relying on licensing eligibility, and holders of educational loans (who would no longer risk license sanctions from most state boards for default).

Potential impact

  • Removes a state-level enforcement lever that some regulators previously used to compel repayment (could increase employment continuity for borrowers in licensed professions).
  • May limit state agencies’ ability to use licensing sanctions to address loan delinquency; could shift collection pressures to other mechanisms.
  • Legal interpretation needed on scope (which loans qualify as “educational”) and interplay with federal law or contractual obligations.

Procedural status & timeline (as provided)

  • Filed/entered Senate Docket No. 899: 01/15/2025 (petition presented by Ryan C. Fattman and Bruce E. Tarr).
  • Referred to Cities 1: 01/15/2025.
  • Referred to Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight: 02/27/2025 (House concurred same day).
  • Additional entries: Read twice and referred to Committee on Armed Services: 06/18/2025; hearings scheduled/rescheduled for Nov 5, 2025 (locations/times updated).
  • Sponsors (per provided metadata): Ryan C. Fattman; Bruce E. Tarr; Tim Sheehy; Robert Jackson; John Liu (roles vary in the record).

Notes and inconsistencies

  • The document contains some conflicting metadata (an unrelated short title referencing procurement/PRIME Act and varying sponsor attributions). The substantive bill text and docket indicate the bill’s subject is unpaid student loans and the amendment to G.L. c.30A, §13.

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

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