H 5285

HOUSE . . . . . . . . No. 5285
   The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 23, 2026.
The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 646) of Paul McMurtry relative to
neurodiversity education, reports recommending that the accompanying
bill (House, No. 5285) ought to pass.
  For the committee,
  KENNETH I. GORDON.
  FILED ON: 3/18/2026
 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 5285
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
An Act relative to neurodiversity education.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1Chapter 71 of the Acts of 2021 are hereby amended by adding the following section after
2 section 98.
3Section 99. (a) the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in consultation
4 with the Department of Early Education and Care, shall, subject to appropriation, issue
5 guidelines to assist districts in developing k-12 education on neurodiversity.
6(b) There is hereby established a commission to study and make recommendations on
7 neurodiversity education in early childhood, elementary, and secondary public school education.
8 The commission shall consist of 9 members; the secretary of health and human services, or a
9 designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member of the house of representatives, to be appointed by
10 the speaker of the house; 1 member of the Senate, to be appointed by the president of the senate;
11 3 members to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be neurodiverse adults, 1 of whom
12 shall be a representative from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 1 of
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13 whom shall be a representative from the Department of Early Education and Care, and a
14 representative of the Massachusetts American Federation of Teachers.
15The commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the governor and the
16 clerks of the house of representatives and the senate, including any recommendations for
17 legislation or regulations, within 4 months of the effective date of this act.
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