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H576 • 2025

An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress

An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress

Education
Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Brandy Fluker-Reid
Last action
2025-09-15
Official status
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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 to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress

An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 576) of Brandy Fluker-Reid and others relative to exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress.
  • Education.
  • Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

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

  1. 2025-09-15 House

    Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means

  2. 2025-06-25 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/08/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Education

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress
By Representative Fluker-Reid of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 576) of Brandy Fluker-Reid and others relative to exclusionary discipline for violations of rules related to student grooming and dress. Education.
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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Bill H.576

SECTION 1. Section 37H of Chapter 71 as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following:-

(h) Any rules related to student dress or grooming included in a school district or charter school’s code of student conduct or otherwise adopted by the school district or charter school shall (1) make no distinction, discrimination, or restriction on account of sex or gender identity (2) not treat students differently or have a disparate impact on any student based on that student’s race, national origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity (3) be clear, specific, and objective in defining terms, if used; (4) prohibit any school district or charter

school employee from enforcing any rules related to student grooming and dress by direct physical contact with a student or a student's attire; and (5) prohibit any school district or charter school employee from requiring a student to undress in front

of any other individual, including the enforcing school district or charter school employee, to comply with the rules related to dress or grooming. Nothing in this section shall limit the rights students are already permitted under Chapter 71, Section 82 of 21 Massachusetts General Laws or any other state or federal laws relating to a student’s right to freedom of expression.

SECTION 2. Section 37H ¾ of Chapter 71 as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is

hereby amended by inserting as the last sentence of subsection (a) the following -: In addition to any rights students may have, in no cases may a school district or charter school suspend a student solely on the basis of an alleged violation of rules related to student dress and grooming, provided however that a school district or charter school may require students to wear clothing of a specific color, and provided

further that nothing herein shall limit school districts or charter school from taking action to prevent bullying of any student as defined in M.G.L Chapter 70, section 370 or harassment of any

student on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.

SECTION 3. The changes detailed in Sections 1 and 2 shall take effect 60 days after passage of this act.

SECTION 4. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt, promulgate, amend and rescind rules and regulations or formulate policies and recommendations as necessary, including training, to effectuate the purpose of Sections 1 and 2

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