H270 • 2025

An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity

Children

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Sponsor: Joan Meschino
Last action: 2025-10-29
Official status: Accompanied a new draft, see H4656
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity

An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
270) of Joan Meschino relative to the long-term well-being consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity.
Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-10-29 House
Accompanied a new draft, see H4656
2025-07-22 Joint
Hearing rescheduled to 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-03:15 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
2025-07-11 Joint
Hearing scheduled for 07/22/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
2025-02-27 House
Referred to the committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
2025-02-27 Senate
Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to the consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity
By Representative Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 270) of Joan Meschino relative to the long-term well-being consideration of a child’s racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic identity. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.270

SECTION 1. Section 1 of Chapter 119 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting the following sentence at the end of the third paragraph:-

Consideration of the child’s long-term well-being shall include consideration of how best to preserve and promote the child’s cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities.

SECTION 2. Section 5-207 of Chapter 190B of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end of subsection (a):-

The court’s consideration of what would be in the best interest of the minor shall include consideration of how best to preserve and promote the minor’s cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities.

SECTION 3. Section 3 of Chapter 210 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the last sentence of the second paragraph of subsection (c) and inserting in place thereof the following two sentences:-

In making the determination, the health, safety, and well-being of the child shall be of paramount, but not exclusive, concern. The court’s consideration of the child’s well-being shall include consideration of how best to preserve and promote the child’s cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and linguistic identities.

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