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Committee hears bill to study electronic textbook billing and student impacts
Summary
Representative Mindy Dom proposed H559 to form a commission examining electronic textbooks and automatic textbook billing (ATB), arguing automatic billing reduces choice, lacks transparency, and may harm affordability; students testified about high course-material costs and access-code dependencies.
Representative Mindy Dom presented H559, which would establish a special commission to examine the benefits, disadvantages and consumer impacts of electronic textbooks and automatic textbook billing (ATB). Dom said ATB programs—where institutions enter into contracts with publishers and include course-material charges on student bills unless students opt out—can limit consumer choice, reduce incentives to adopt open educational resources, and leave students with single-use access codes that expire at semester end.
Dom described concerns about price transparency in publisher contracts and arrangements that create incentives for institutions to default-adopt paid digital materials. She said the proposal would help identify whether guardrails are needed to protect consumers and academic outcomes.
A UMass Lowell student, Luke Van Horn, spoke to the committee about his personal costs and consequences: "I have obtained many required course materials as a college student. $436.45 in required course texts this year, including the access codes," and said high textbook costs are driving some students to skip meals or fail courses. Van Horn told the committee he supports H559 and urged thorough review of how digital contracts affect affordability and access.
The committee did not take a vote and accepted written testimony for the record.
