Dear Caucus Members, Colleagues, and Partners,

October has been a month of momentum and meaningful progress on Beacon Hill. This issue highlights the many ways the Caucus continues to live out its purpose.

We proudly partnered with the Ellie Fund for the fourth consecutive year to raise awareness about breast cancer and the racial disparities in survival outcomes that persist across communities. The Caucus also served as a Gold Sponsor of the 175th Anniversary of the First National Women’s Rights Convention, reaffirming our mission to advance women’s equality and champion women’s leadership at every level of government.

As one of the four appointing authorities to the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, the Caucus finalized the appointment of a new Commissioner and the reappointment of two Commissioners to serve three-year terms.

We value your ideas, feedback, and partnership—please don’t hesitate to connect with our Executive Director, Seble Alemu.

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

An Act relative to a livable wage for human service workers (H.233, Rep. Domb & S.130, Sen. Friedman)

• S.130 has advanced to the Senate Ways and Means Committee

An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products (H.2483 by Rep. Barber, Rep. Livingstone, and S.2546 by Sen. Jehlen)

• S.2546 was unanimously passed in the Massachusetts Senate!

• H.2483 was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on Public Health as H.4611 and is now in the House Committee on Ways and Means.

An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer (H.2432 by Rep. Kane and Rep.Gentile, and S.1484 by Sen. Comerford)

• Both the House and Senate bills were reported favorably and referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

An Act to establish a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund (H.2208 by Rep. Fluker-Reid and S.1411 by Sen.Miranda)

• S.1411 was reported out favorably and referred to the Committee on Health Care Financing.

An Act relative to gender-neutral language in elections law (H.804 by Rep. Blais)

• The bill was reported out favorably and referred to the House Committee on Bills in the Third Reading.

Endorsed Legislation

Some of our endorsed bills have had hearings, while others have advanced out of their primary committees. For real-time updates and detailed progress reports, visit our full list of endorsed legislation here.

Massachusetts has long been a trailblazer in advancing women’s rights and opportunities.

On October 23 and 24, 1850, more than 1,000 women and men gathered at Brinley Hall in Worcester for the first National Women’s Rights Convention. Organized by Massachusetts reformers Abby Kelley Foster and Lucy Stone. Together with Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass, the event galvanized the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights Movement. It concluded with a unanimous resolution calling for “equality before the law without distinction of sex or color,” a visionary call that continues to inspire progress today.

On October 23–24, 2025, the 175th Anniversary of the First National Women’s Rights Convention brought together national speakers, workshops, performances, and a vibrant youth delegation to explore the evolution of women’s rights— from reproductive autonomy and the politics of dress to pay equity, inclusion, and constitutional protections.

Our Caucus Senate Chair, Senator Kennedy, joined the Women and Politics panel, offering thoughtful insight on the barriers women face when entering civic leadership and the importance of sustaining women’s presence in public office. Chair Kennedy noted that the women’s rights movement has too often centered on white women, leaving many others behind.

This 175th anniversary was both a celebration of progress and a reckoning—a reminder that true equality is only achieved when all women are included.

The MA Commission on the Status of Women offers valuable resources and opportunities for meaningful engagement. Visit their website to learn more.

• October marked National Mental Illness Awareness Week, established by Congress in 1990 to promote understanding of mental health conditions. This article highlights how sex and gender differences shape mental health outcomes—recognizing that both biology and social experience influence risk and recovery.

• This month, the Women’s Caucus recognizes Latina Equal Pay Day and National Women’s Small Business Month, two reminders of the ongoing work to close wage gaps and expand opportunity. While Latina women lose an estimated $1.2 million over their careers due to pay inequity, women-owned businesses continue to drive innovation and growth, contributing $2.2 trillion to the economy and employing 9.4 million people nationwide.

• October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we shared its relevance in Massachusetts with specialized resources. Domestic abuse is pervasive across cultures, and over 30% of all Massachusetts residents have experienced domestic violence in their lifetime.

• One in four pregnancies ends in loss. October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, and we recognize Representative Sabadosa for authoring the legislation that mandates paid pregnancy loss leave, ensuring employees have time to grieve and heal after miscarriage, failed adoption, assisted reproduction, or surrogacy.

• October is National Menopause Awareness Month, and the "Mood Experiences on the Path to Menopause" survey is now open to individuals ages 35–55. This confidential survey invites you to share your experiences and help researchers better understand how menstrual health, emotional well-being, and symptom management intersect during this important stage of life.

Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Christine Barber received the Thomas Menino Award for Public Service for their outstanding leadership and advocacy at the Disability Policy Consortium’s Annual John Winske Memorial Awards.

Senator Lydia Edwards was recognized by Emerge America as one of six women nationwide honored for standing up for their communities during the federal shutdown and advocating for stronger protections for federal workers.

Senate President Karen Spilka was honored at the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Massachusetts’ Family Resource Center (FRC) Network, recognizing her leadership and longstanding advocacy for families and children across the Commonwealth

Senate President Karen Spilka, Senator Becca Rausch, Speaker Pro Tempore Kate Hogan, Representative Natalie Blais, and Representatives Christine Barber received the Legislators of the Decade award from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

Senator Robyn Kennedy received the 2024 Family Health Center of Worcester Partners in Progress Award.

Representative Christine Barber was named 2025 Legislator of the Year by IIDA New England and as one of 19 State Directors for Women in Government.

Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier was named “Best Politician” by the Berkshire Eagle.