Massachusetts · 194th General Court (2025-2026)

H 629Floor Vote

An Act expanding student access to the state seal of biliteracy

Source of recordMassachusetts · malegislature.govLast synced Aug 31, 2026

Chamber

House

Progress

Where this bill stands in the legislative process.

Introduced
Passed House
Passed Senate
To Governor
Became Law

Overview

This bill aims to expand the availability of the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy to more students. Currently, students must demonstrate a high level of English proficiency to qualify. This legislation seeks to broaden the criteria for receiving the seal, potentially allowing more students who are proficient in both English and another language to earn it.

Key provisions

Expands eligibility for the State Seal of Biliteracy.
Allows students to earn the seal based on high proficiency in English and another language.
The bill is linked to similar legislation, H.4671.
The House Committee on Education referred the bill.
The House Committee on Ways and Means recommended passage with an amendment.
The bill was amended and a new draft (H.4671) was substituted.
The Senate concurred with the House version.
A hearing is scheduled for May 6, 2025.

Who is affected

Students in Massachusetts
Parents of students
Educators
The Massachusetts Department of Education

Notable changes

Currently, the seal requires high English proficiency; this bill expands eligibility.
The bill is linked to H.4671, suggesting potential revisions or alignment.
The bill has undergone multiple amendments and revisions during its progression through the legislature.

Bill text

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Legislative history

10 recorded actions

Feb 27, 2025House

Referred to the committee on Education

Feb 27, 2025Senate

Senate concurred

Apr 22, 2025joint

Hearing scheduled for 05/06/2025 from 1:00 PM-5:00 PM in B-2

Aug 7, 2025House

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

Oct 29, 2025House

Committee recommended ought to pass with an amendment, substituting therefor a bill with the same title, see H4671

Oct 29, 2025House

Referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling with the amendment pending

Oct 29, 2025House

Committee reported that the matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a second reading with the amendment pending

Oct 29, 2025House

Rules suspended

Oct 29, 2025House

Read second, amended (as recommended by the committee on House Ways and Means)

Oct 29, 2025House

New draft substituted, see H4671

Votes

Recorded roll calls and chamber actions on this bill.

Vote map

House districts

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Nay

Yea

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls list how each member voted. Unanimous consent or voice vote appears in the official action history without a roll call; no member-level tally is available for those steps.

Recorded roll calls

Geography

Recorded positions across the state.

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments

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Arguments in favor

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Arguments opposed

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An Act expanding student access to the state seal of biliteracy

Progress

Overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Notable changes

Bill text

Sponsors

Primary sponsor

Cosponsors

Legislative history

Votes

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls

Geography

Arguments

Arguments in favor

Arguments opposed

Geography

Legislative history

Votes

Vote map

Floor votes and chamber actions

Recorded roll calls