Bill S.2863

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2863

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 15, 2025.

The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 382) of John F. Keenan, Dylan A. Fernandes, Adam Gomez, Sal N. DiDomenico and other members of the General Court for legislation to require opioid use disorder education in public schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 413) of Mark C. Montigny for legislation to save lives through increased fentanyl awareness, aka Andrew's Law; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 432) of Jacob R. Oliveira for legislation relative to prescription opioid abuse prevention education; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 433) of Pavel M. Payano for legislation relative to substance use education in public schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 447) of Michael F. Rush for legislation to provide hands only CPR training and the use of defibrillators; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 456) of Bruce E. Tarr, Madeleine Elizabeth Jackman , Patrick M. O'Connor, Shirley B. Arriaga and others relative to requiring instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of defibrillators for high school graduation, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2863).

For the committee,

Jason M. Lewis

FILED ON: 12/1/2025

SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2863

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 regarding the instruction of lifesaving skills in schools.

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 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 1T the following section:-

Section 1U. (a) Drug, alcohol and tobacco use education standards established pursuant to section 1D shall promote an understanding of opioid use disorder including, but not limited to:

(i) opioids and how substance use disorder occurs; (ii) the risks associated with opioids, such as fentanyl, being mixed with other substances; (iii) procedures to identify an opioid overdose;

(iv ) where to find and how to use naloxone to reverse an opioid overdose; (v) destigmatizing naloxone possession; and (vi) existing statewide medical amnesty for lay people who administer naloxone or contact emergency services in the event of a suspected overdose.

(b) A school district, charter school, approved private day or residential school or collaborative school shall incorporate the opioid use disorder education standards established pursuant to section 1D and subsection (a) into existing curriculum including, but not limited to, health education.

SECTION 2. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 2C, the following section:-

Section 2D. Each school district in the commonwealth shall provide instruction in hands only cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator as part of the existing physical education or health education curriculum in grades 9 through 12. The school district may select a no-cost, non-certification instructional program to meet this requirement. The instructional program provided shall be modeled from an instructional program established by a nationally recognized association with expertise in instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator and include a hands-on learning component for each participating student. Each public high school student shall be required to participate in the instructional program; provided, however, that no student shall be required to take part in the instructional program if (i) a licensed physician certifies in writing that such participation would be injurious to the student; or (ii) a parent or guardian for the student submits a written objection to the student’s participation in the instructional program.