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H598 • 2025

An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education

An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
Higgins, Natalie M.
Last action
2025-10-02
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 relative to the promotion of mental health education

An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 598) of Natalie M.
  • Higgins, Meghan K.
  • Kilcoyne and others relative to the promotion of mental health education in public schools.

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. 2025-10-02 House

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

  2. 2025-07-10 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/21/2025 from 11:00 AM-05:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Education

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education
By Representatives Higgins of Leominster and Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 598) of Natalie M. Higgins, Meghan K. Kilcoyne and others relative to the promotion of mental health education in public schools. Education.
Status:
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means

Current Bill Text

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Bill H.598

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 71 is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting in place the following:- “Physical and mental health education shall be taught as required subjects in all grades for all students in the public schools for the purpose of promoting the physical and mental well-being of such students. Mental health education programs shall recognize multiple dimensions of health by including mental health, and the relationship of physical health and mental health, so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes and behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity.”

SECTION 2. Section 1 of Chapter 76 is hereby amended by striking the last sentence, in the first paragraph, and inserting in place the following:- “For the purposes of this section, school committees shall approve a private school when satisfied that the instruction in all the studies required by law equals in thoroughness and efficiency, and in the progress made therein, that in the public schools in the same town, in addition to the incorporation of a mental health education program into the curriculum in accordance with the provisions in section three of chapter seventy-one; but shall not withhold such approval on account of religious teaching, and, in order to protect children from the hazards of traffic and promote their safety, cities and towns may appropriate money for conveying pupils to and from any schools approved under this section.”

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