At its ninth meeting, the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism, co-chaired by state Representative Simon Cataldo and Senator John Buick, discussed draft preliminary recommendations aimed chiefly at K–12 schools but did not vote to finalize them.

The commission convened to solicit edits and public input on a draft the chairs released on the commission website. "The recommendations are preliminary in 2 different senses," Rep. Simon Cataldo said, explaining the group had released a draft earlier than usual to provide guidance to districts ahead of the school calendar and that the draft could still change before a final report is sent to the House and Senate clerks, as required by statute.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the recommendations respond to an apparent rise in antisemitic incidents in Massachusetts schools and the mental-health impacts on students and teachers. Several commissioners urged clearer reporting pathways, funded training and coordination between state education officials and the attorney general to reconcile First Amendment boundaries with anti-bias enforcement.

Key discussion points

- Reporting and investigation: Multiple commissioners and Chief John Fowler urged clearer, centralized reporting and earlier notification to local law enforcement when appropriate. "I would strongly recommend ... that local law enforcement get notified of these incidents," Chief Fowler said, noting police can offer mediation or co-response with clinicians and that reporting was often delayed by stigma.

- Training and curriculum: Commissioners repeatedly endorsed mandatory anti-bias and antisemitism-specific training for teachers, administrators and school committee members. Commissioner Lykins summarized the view expressed by several members: "Antisemitism ... is a distinct form of hate," and educators need concrete guidance to recognize and respond to it.

- First Amendment guidance: One commissioner proposed revising draft language so the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) coordinate with the Attorney General’s Office to provide schools clear guidance on First Amendment law — including Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71, §82 — and to clarify what constitutes protected expression versus actionable harassment.

- Funding and implementation: Mayors and commissioners cautioned against unfunded mandates. Mayor Ruth Ann Fuller warned that districts and municipalities under financial strain need dedicated resources if training and expanded mental-health services are required. Several speakers urged the commission to recommend specific funding channels, noting the Genocide Education Trust and other programs are already oversubscribed.

- Digital literacy and mental-health responses: Commissioners recommended that anti-bias work include digital literacy to address online misinformation, and they highlighted the need for stronger links between bias reporting, victim assistance and mental-health services for K–12 students.

What the commission did not do

The body did not adopt or finalize the draft recommendations at this meeting. The co-chairs said staff will circulate a revised draft for further consideration and plan to include a cover memorandum explaining changes between drafts and the final version submitted for a commission vote.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve prior meeting minutes: Passed by voice vote with no opposition (motion made and seconded; recorded at 595.815–609.1). No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

- Motion to adjourn: Passed following motion and second (recorded at 7268.55–7271.21). No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Discussion, next steps and context

Speakers asked DESE and the Attorney General’s Office to clarify roles and timelines and urged the commission to specify which recommendations require new funding. Commissioners also suggested time-bound pilots or implementation windows so the commission’s recommendations could be measured after adoption.

Commissioners repeatedly emphasized that the draft aims to protect students without censoring lawful political expression outside classrooms. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism was discussed as an educational tool in the draft; some commissioners described it as a helpful guide but not a binding legal standard.

The co-chairs said the commission will continue to solicit testimony and written comments before sending a revised draft for final consideration. The transcript records that the commission has held eight prior hearings and that this was the ninth meeting to gather testimony and public comment.

Ending

Commission leaders said they will move with "haste" but declined to set a specific finalization date at this meeting. Members asked staff to circulate a revised draft showing edits and to arrange follow-up meetings with DESE and other state agencies to discuss implementation details and likely costs.