Climate education legislation advances in Massachusetts

Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

The Joint Committee on Education favorably reported two climate change education bills on November 13, 2025, and then a third on November 17, 2025.

Senate Bill 391 and the identical House Bill 560 would, if enacted, establish the Interdisciplinary Climate Literacy Trust Fund, which would support interdisciplinary climate education in the state, prioritizing underserved communities and communities that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

The commissioner of elementary and secondary education, in consultation with a new Interdisciplinary Climate Literacy Advisory Council, would be authorized to make expenditures from the fund to develop, purchase, distribute, and implement curricular material; support professional development; provide opportunities to assess and share best practices; and to provide technical support to districts.

Senate Bill 410 would, if enacted, promote climate education by adding the phrase "climate science and climate solutions" to a list of topics that the state board of elementary and secondary education is allowed to include in the state's education standards.

The two Senate bills are now with the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and the House bill is with the House Committee on Ways and Means. The current legislative session ends on July 31, 2026.

[Updated on November 19, 2025, with the addition of the information about House Bill 560.]

Glenn Branch
Short Bio

Glenn Branch is Deputy Director of NCSE.

branch@ncse.ngo