December 2025 Newsletter

Dear Caucus Members, Legislative Colleagues, and Partners,

As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect on a milestone year that marked our 50th anniversary—five decades as the nation's longest continuously operating bipartisan, bicameral women’s caucus.

Under the leadership of Representative Jessica Giannino (D–Revere), Chair of the 50th Anniversary Subcommittee, and with the dedication of its Caucus Members, we commemorated this historic milestone through events honoring suffragists, women legislators, and women’s leadership nationwide, alongside a social media campaign recognizing the 243 women who have served in the Massachusetts Legislature.

We move forward while honoring the lives and service of Representatives Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D-Gloucester) and Carol Doherty (D-Taunton), both lost to pancreatic cancer. Their legacy reinforces the importance of advancing H.2432/S.1484, An Act to Reduce Incidence and Death from Pancreatic Cancer, to strengthen statewide prevention, early detection, and treatment efforts.

As we look ahead to 2026, the Caucus remains focused on advancing our legislative priorities into law. This work is urgent and deeply consequential—directly impacting the livelihoods of women and the health and well-being of communities across Massachusetts.

With gratitude for your continued partnership, we wish you a joyful holiday season and look forward to continued progress together in 2026.

Sincerely,
Senator Robyn Kennedy & Representative Christine Barber
MCWL Co-Chairs

Strategic Priorities

Developed through an inclusive, member-driven process, our strategic priorities shape the Caucus’ legislative advocacy, task force and caucus-wide initiatives, and social media engagement in 2025.

Legislative Priorities

Every Caucus priority and endorsed bill has received a hearing, and several have advanced through the committee process. Two menstrual equity measures, S.2546, addressing access to free products, and S.2641, addressing ingredient disclosure, have already a chamber vote.

The Mind the Gap the Coaltion, the Menstrual Equity Coalition, and the Parity on Boards Coalition offer streamlined action forms that make it easy for you to advocate for and support Caucus-prioritized and endorsed legislation.

You can find the latest updates on our endorsed bills here.

The Women’s Caucus Staff Mentoring Group continues to facilitate intentional, supportive one-to-one relationships while also hosting networking opportunities for all staff, like the recent holiday social. Applications for participation are accepted on a rolling basis.

As part of our 50th Anniversary, the MA Caucus of Women Legislators is hosting a statewide Girl Empowerment Symposium, bringing young women in grades 8–12 from across the Commonwealth to the State House for a day of civic exposure, learning, and inspiration.

In 2025, the Caucus hosted 11 incredible interns, providing each with meaningful opportunities to explore their passions, build practical skills, and contribute to advancing the Caucus’s legislative mission and operations.

Caucus interns play an integral role in the organization’s daily operations and work closely with the Executive Director. This unpaid, hybrid internship requires a commitment of 10–15 hours per week over a six-week or a three-month term.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and should be submitted via email to Seble Alemu, including a resume and letter of interest.

Following decades of dedicated public service, Senator Pat Jehlen and Representative Kim Ferguson have announced their decision not to seek reelection in 2026.
The Massachusetts Special Commission on Agriculture in the 21st Century, co-chaired by Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Kate Hogan, released its final report highlighting the need to address gender disparities in farming and expand opportunities for women and younger generations through knowledge transfer.

The 2025 Annual Report on Fostering Wage Equity in the Face of Change finds that while the gender wage gap has narrowed significantly—by 43 percent—the racial wage gap has continued to widen. This article identifies structural racism, backlash against DEI practices, caregiving and childbearing responsibilities, and performance-based bonus pay structures as factors exacerbating persistent wage disparities.

A Massachusetts mother–daughter team, Melanie and Nicole Tanionos, are advocating for faster endometriosis diagnosis and better care after their own experiences with the condition led them to found the Endometriosis Alliance of Massachusetts.
The MA Commission on the Status of Women Academic Scholarship offers five $5,000 awards for the 2026–2027 academic year to students enrolled in or committed to a Massachusetts public higher education program, with applications due by January 2, 2026.

The Women's Caucus on Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter. Follow us for updates.

Happy Holidays from all of us at the MA Caucus of Women Legislators! We've had a fantastic year, and we look forward to 2026. We wish you all a restful, peaceful, and joyful holiday season.