The bill amends Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws by adding a new section titled "School air quality," which establishes guidelines for indoor air quality in schools. The Department of Health is tasked with providing recommended thresholds for various air quality metrics, including temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, PM2.5, PM10, ventilation, and filtration. The Department of Education's school building authority is required to conduct uniform inspections and evaluations of indoor air quality in school buildings every five years, in collaboration with local school boards. These inspections will assess HVAC systems and identify any deficiencies in relation to the health department's recommendations, including the estimated costs for necessary remediation.

The bill mandates that all schools with HVAC systems install filtration that achieves a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13, or the highest level achievable without significantly reducing the lifespan or performance of the existing HVAC system. School personnel are required to inspect and replace filters as recommended by manufacturer guidelines. All HVAC repairs, upgrades, or replacements must be performed by a skilled and trained workforce, and all HVAC adjustments must be carried out by qualified adjusting personnel.

Additionally, the Department of Health and the Department of Education are authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. The act will take effect upon passage.