Massachusetts legislation · 194th General Court
Massachusetts H558: An Act to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, AKA The American Sign Language Inclusion Act
Status: In committee, September 2, 2025
What the bill says
From the introduced text, February 27, 2025:
SECTION 1. Section 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby amended by striking out the words, in line 4, “may be taught” and inserting in place thereof the following: “shall be taught in each of the Commonwealth’s secondary schools” SECTION 2. Section 2B of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition is hereby further 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 3. 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”.
Sponsors
- Carol Doherty (D, 3rd Bristol) · primary sponsor
- Lindsay Sabadosa (D, 1st Hampshire)
- Dawne Shand (D)
- David Vieira (R, 3rd Barnstable)
- Carmine Gentile (D)
- Steven Xiarhos (R, 5th Barnstable)
- Paul McMurtry (D, 11th Norfolk)
- Jessica Giannino (D, 16th Suffolk)
- Whipps, Susannah M. (I, 2nd Franklin)
- Steven Owens (D, 29th Middlesex)
- David Linsky (D, 5th Middlesex)
- James Hawkins (D, 2nd Bristol)
Latest actions
- : Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium
- : Senate concurred
- : Referred to the committee on Education
Common questions
- What is H558?
- H558 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act to promote the inclusion of American Sign Language in the Commonwealth’s public schools, AKA The American Sign Language Inclusion Act.
- What is the status of H558?
- In committee as of September 2, 2025. Latest action: Hearing scheduled for 09/16/2025 from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM in Gardner Auditorium (September 2, 2025).
- Who sponsored H558?
- Carol Doherty (D, 3rd Bristol), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H558?
- On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H558
Source: official Massachusetts record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.