Massachusetts Is Still Fighting to Let Kids Use Sunscreen at School and Camp
In summer 2025, Massachusetts kids still couldn't apply sunscreen at school or camp without a doctor's note - here's the bill trying to change that.
As of July 2025, Massachusetts remained a state where public-school and summer-camp children could not use sunscreen without a doctor's note. Pending legislation (H.619 / S.1196) would let students and campers possess and apply FDA-approved over-the-counter sunscreen without a physician's note - a bill the state has tried at least four times.
Pediatric and child-safety advocates supporting the bill argue that requiring a doctor's note for an over-the-counter sunscreen creates a needless barrier to a routine, protective behavior for children spending summer days outdoors.
Questions we get a lot
Do Massachusetts kids really need a doctor's note to use sunscreen?
As of July 2025, Massachusetts was among the states where public-school and summer-camp children could not use sunscreen without a physician's note, because sunscreen was treated like a medication in those settings. Pending legislation aims to remove that requirement.
What would bills H.619 and S.1196 change?
They would allow students and campers to possess and apply FDA-approved over-the-counter sunscreen without a physician's note. The bill text is available through the Massachusetts General Court. As of mid-2025 the legislation was still pending, in what reporting described as at least the state's fourth attempt.
Why was sunscreen restricted in schools in the first place?
Sunscreen is an FDA-regulated over-the-counter drug, and some school and camp policies treated it like other medications that require authorization. Advocates say this created an unnecessary barrier to a basic protective habit, prompting the legislative effort to exempt sunscreen.
r/Parenting: 'Wait - my kid's camp says she needs a doctor's note to put on sunscreen. Is that even legal?'