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Massachusetts · 194th Legislature (2025-2026) · Bill

S 461: An Act to protect children's learning, focus, and emotional health during school hours

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

S 461 is a bill introduced in the Massachusetts Senate on February 27, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: An Act to protect children's learning, focus, and emotional health during school hours. Primary sponsor: John Velis (Democratic). It lists 6 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (July 10, 2025): Accompanied a new draft, see S2549.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

By Mr. Velis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 461) of John C. Velis, Carmine Lawrence Gentile, James C. Arena-DeRosa, Paul R. Feeney and other members of the General Court for legislation to prohibit access to personal electronic devices and social media in public schools. Education.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
John VelisPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenateHampden and Hampshire
James Arena-DeRosaCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse8th Middlesex
Jo ComerfordCo-sponsorDemocraticSenateHampshire, Franklin and Worcester
Mike ConnollyCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse26th Middlesex
Paul FeeneyCo-sponsorDemocraticSenateBristol and Norfolk
Carmine GentileCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse13th Middlesex
Lindsay SabadosaCo-sponsorDemocraticHouse1st Hampshire

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Accompanied a new draft, see S2549
  2. Hearing scheduled for 06/17/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in B-2
  3. House concurred
  4. Referred to the committee on Education

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source