Bill
H 3717
Massachusetts bill H3717 would overhaul Chapter 90 funding by reallocating based on road resurfacing needs and adjusting municipal matching using property values and income.
Note on file contents and jurisdictions
- The materials provided for House Bill (H) 3717 contain two distinct items from different jurisdictions:
1) A South Carolina House resolution recognizing Thomas Sumter Academy for receiving a Purple Star designation (filed 01/15/2025).
2) A Massachusetts bill titled “An Act to modernize and enhance the distribution of Chapter 90 funds” (House No. 3717 / petitioner Rep. Michael P. Kushmerek) concerning municipal transportation funding.
- Both appear under the same docket number in the provided packet; these are separate measures and should be treated independently. The remainder of this summary first covers the Thomas Sumter Academy resolution (per your title) and then summarizes the Massachusetts Chapter 90 proposal.
1) Thomas Sumter Academy — Purple Star recognition (South Carolina resolution)
- Purpose and intent: A formal House resolution recognizing and honoring Thomas Sumter Academy for earning the Purple Star designation in recognition of the school’s strong support and services for military-connected students and families.
- Key points and background:
- The resolution notes the school was recognized on December 5, 2024, by the South Carolina Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (SC MIC3) and the Military Child Education Coalition.
- Thomas Sumter Academy is described as the first school in its local South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) area to earn the Purple Star and the third SCISA school statewide.
- Criteria for the Purple Star designation cited in the resolution include: a trained designated school liaison for military families, a dedicated section of the school website for military families, a student ambassador program to assist incoming military students, and professional development for staff to support military-connected families. The resolution notes the criteria are the same for public and private schools.
- The resolution states roughly 40% of the school’s student body are military dependents tied to nearby military installations (Shaw AFB, Third Army, McEntire JNGB).
- It acknowledges that the school’s faculty leadership and student government received training from SC MIC3 and the Military Child Education Coalition and that Thomas Sumter spent about five months completing the process.
- Impact and who is affected:
- The resolution is ceremonial: it publicly recognizes the school, congratulates administration, faculty, and students, and requests that a copy of the resolution be presented to Head of School Ben Herod.
- It may provide visibility for the school to military families considering the area and encourage other schools to pursue Purple Star designation.
- Procedural status:
- Filed as a House resolution (01/15/2025). The packet indicates it was introduced and adopted on that date. As a resolution, it is non-binding and honorary.
2) Massachusetts — “An Act to modernize and enhance the distribution of Chapter 90 funds” (transportation funding)
- Purpose and intent: To change how the Commonwealth allocates Chapter 90 transportation funds to municipalities and to revise the municipal match rules.
- Key provisions (amendment to G.L. c.6C, §4):
- New allocation factors require the Commissioner to allocate funds based on estimated costs to resurface:
- 2.0% of municipally owned (non‑state-numbered) roads in each municipality; and
- 3.3% (three and three-tenths percent) of municipally owned and maintained state-numbered routes in each municipality.
- Municipal Match Program adjustments:
- The match factor will be determined using two equally weighted measures: aggregate property values and aggregate personal income for each municipality.
- Maximum Commonwealth match limited to 200% of the allocation submitted by a municipality (not to exceed the municipality’s local apportionment).
- Minimum Commonwealth match set at 12.5% of the municipality’s allocation (not to exceed the local apportionment).
- Impact and who is affected:
- Municipal governments that receive Chapter 90 funds for road and bridge maintenance and construction.
- Potential shifts in funding levels among municipalities based on the new resurfacing-based allocation and the income/property-value weighting for matching.
- Procedural status and timeline (as provided):
- Filed by Rep. Michael P. Kushmerek (House Docket No. 3467 / House No. 3717). Referred to the Joint Committee on Transportation (02/27/2025). A hearing was scheduled for 10/14/2025 (with later rescheduling/virtual-location changes noted). The packet also lists “Senate concurred” (02/27/2025) — verify with official legislative records for final status.
Related: HD 3467 is indicated as the bill this H 3717 replaces (check chamber records for the replacement relationship).
If you want, I can:
- Pull the official status from the South Carolina and Massachusetts legislative websites to confirm final actions and dates, or
- Produce a one-page handout focused solely on the Purple Star resolution for public distribution.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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