MassachusettsSix towns must hold votes on a proposed regional school district
The six towns must put a regional school district question on a town election ballot, and forming a district requires state education commissioner approval.
What it does
The six towns must let voters decide whether to form the Great River Regional School District. The six-town plan needs a majority vote in each town and state education commissioner approval.
If Warwick voters do not approve the plan, the district is to include Bernardston, Gill, Leyden, Northfield, and Montague, subject to state education commissioner approval.
Argument forLocal votes could let residents in each town decide whether their town joins the proposed regional school district.
Argument againstIf Warwick voters do not approve the plan, they could be left out of a regional district that includes the other five towns.
More detail
The six towns must put a question about forming the Great River Regional School District on a town election ballot. The towns are Bernardston, Gill, Leyden, Northfield, Warwick, and Montague. A majority of voters present and voting in each town must vote yes for the six-town district. The district including all six towns is subject to approval by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. The question must appear at the first annual or special town election after the act took effect.
The law provides for a five-town district if a majority of Warwick voters present and voting do not approve the plan. The five towns are Bernardston, Gill, Leyden, Northfield, and Montague; Warwick is excluded. The five-town district is subject to approval by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Aug 25Signed by the Governor Maura Healey, Chapter 193 of the Acts of 2026Latest
- Aug 24Enacted and laid before the GovernorMajor
- Aug 24EnactedBecame Law
- Aug 24Senate concurred in the House amendment
- Aug 24Rules suspended
- Aug 20Read third, amended by substitution of a new text (H5658) and passed to be engrossedPassed 2nd Chamber
- Jul 31Read second and ordered to a third readingMinor
- Jul 31Rules suspended
- Jul 31Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting
- Jul 20Read; and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and SchedulingMinor
- Jul 16Read third and passed to be engrossed.Passed 1st Chamber
- Jul 16Ordered to a third reading
- Jul 16New draft (Comerford) of S3026Introduced
Education