SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2866

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 29, 2025.

The committee on Education to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 425) of Jacob R. Oliveira, Steven George Xiarhos and Antonio F. D. Cabral for legislation to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2866).

For the committee,

Jason M. Lewis

        FILED ON: 12/1/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2866

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

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

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An Act to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, AKA The American Sign Language Inclusion Act.

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. Section 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting, after the word “society” in line 8 the following:- “As many children with autism have been able to learn and communicate successfully via sign language because it is visually based, unaided, and provides a mode of quick communication.”

SECTION 2. Section 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby further amended by striking out the word, in line 8, “may” and inserting in place thereof the following: “shall”.