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H 3348

Studen Loan Forgiveness

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Wendell Gilliard

Creates the Executive Office of Structural Racism to identify, study, and recommend remedies for laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate racial disparities in Massachusetts.

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 3348

Summary — H.3348 (House Docket No. 1688)

Title shown in metadata: “Studen Loan Forgiveness” (appears to be a metadata error). Actual bill text: “An Act establishing the executive office of structural racism.”

Purpose / Intent

The bill creates a new state-level agency — the Executive Office of Structural Racism — charged with identifying, studying, and recommending remedies for laws, policies, regulations and practices that perpetuate racial disparities across Massachusetts. The office is intended to advance racial equity across state government and to produce published findings and recommendations on the structural causes and consequences of racial inequality.

Key provisions

  • Amendments: Inserts “structural racism” into section 2 of chapter 6A of the Massachusetts General Laws and adds a new Section 105 to chapter 6A establishing the office.
  • Creation of office: Establishes the Executive Office of Structural Racism under a Secretary of Structural Racism.
    • Appointment and tenure: Secretary appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Governor; salary “as the governor determines”; required to serve full-time.
    • Organizational powers: Secretary may establish bureaus/units and hire staff.
  • Primary duties and powers (non‑exclusive list):
    1. Coordinate, analyze, develop, evaluate, recommend and assist in implementing strategies and policies to advance racial equity across state agencies and the Governor’s office.
    2. Identify existing laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, licensing standards, etc., that have perpetuated structural inequality in economics, employment, housing, health and education — and investigate whether any were enacted with discriminatory intent.
    3. Review proposed or expected laws, ordinances, policies and regulations for likely impacts that could perpetuate structural disadvantages for communities of color and publish findings before implementation.
    4. Monitor trends in facially neutral laws that are adversely impacting minority communities.
    5. Use contemporary studies on racial disparities to recommend corrective actions.
    6. Produce yearly findings on the disproportionate impact of incarceration on low‑income residents of color and its broader harms.
    7. Identify behavioral health conditions arising from structural disadvantage and recommend outreach/strategies to affected communities.
    8. Study and publish findings on how structural racism contributes to disproportionate minority contact with the criminal legal system.
  • Access to records and independence:
    • The office shall be provided access to any state agency records for collection/analysis without requiring the agency’s approval.
    • The office may publish findings or reports without needing approval from any executive or state agency officer or employee.
  • Rulemaking: Office may adopt and amend rules and regulations necessary to administer its duties.

Who is affected

  • State government: All executive agencies and departments will be subject to review, must provide records on request, and may be affected by the office’s recommendations and published findings.
  • Communities of color and marginalized populations: The office’s work targets policies affecting economic opportunity, housing, education, health, behavioral health, and criminal justice outcomes.
  • Legislators and rulemakers: Findings may influence future legislation, regulatory changes, and agency practices.

Procedural/status highlights

  • Sponsor(s): Representative Russell E. Holmes (presented) and Representative Chynah Tyler added as co‑petitioner.
  • Filing/intro dates: Prefiled 12/05/2024; introduced/first read 01/14/2025 (other documents show 01/15/2025 filing); referred to committee(s) 02/27/2025 (State Administration and Regulatory Oversight and Ways and Means references appear).
  • Hearings: Hearing(s) scheduled for 10/14/2025 (per the provided actions).
  • Current status in provided record: Referred to committee (Ways and Means / State Administration — records show both).

Potential impacts and issues to watch

  • Administrative costs: The bill creates a new cabinet‑level office and staffing; no specific appropriation or fiscal estimate is included in the text provided — legislative budgeting and appropriation would be required to implement.
  • Interagency cooperation and data access: Requires agencies to provide records; may raise privacy, confidentiality, or statutory limits on record sharing that could require coordination or legal resolution.
  • Policy and legal influence: Findings could prompt review and repeal/amendment of statutes, regulations, and policies; potential legal challenges if the office’s investigatory scope or conclusions are contested.
  • Political and public response: Establishing a cabinet-level office focused on structural racism is a significant policy move likely to generate debate about scope, authority, and priorities.

Note about appended material

The file also contains an unrelated, duplicate text of a South Carolina bill (adding a student loan forgiveness provision for registered nurses and doctors, requiring annual appropriations). That South Carolina text appears separate and is not part of the Massachusetts bill establishing the Executive Office of Structural Racism.

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

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