SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2756

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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SENATE, December 24, 2025.

 The committee on Higher Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 951) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to support college students in recovery; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 954) of John C. Velis for legislation relative to opioid overdose prevention in college housing, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2756).

For the committee,

 Joanne M. Comerford

        FILED ON: 11/25/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2756

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to support college students in recovery.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

 SECTION 1. Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 47 the following section:- 

 Section 48. (a) Each public institution of higher education campus that provides housing for students shall establish a college campus recovery-focused housing program to provide an alcohol and drug-free environment for students recovering from substance use disorder. This program shall provide services including, but not limited to, trauma informed on-site counseling, mentoring and peer support.

 (b) Each public institution of higher education campus shall provide overdose training to all students, faculty and staff and shall make opioid receptor antagonists available for the purpose of treating overdoses, as appropriate, including, but not limited to, providing opioid receptor antagonists to resident assistants employed by said campuses. Campuses may collaborate with other higher education campuses or contract with external vendors, or both, to provide said overdose training.

 (c) Institutions may apply for any federal, state, corporate or other grant funding that may be available to implement the substance abuse recovery housing program, overdose training or access to opioid receptor antagonists.

 (d) The department of higher education, in consultation with the department of public health, shall adopt regulations and provide guidance to public institutions of higher education on the implementation of this section.

 SECTION 2. Section 2RRRR of chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, after the fourth sentence, the following sentence:- Campuses of public institutions of higher education may also participate in the program; provided that they have met the requirements of section 47 of chapter 15A and the terms that the department of higher education and the department of public health may establish for such contract.