July 2025 Newsletter

Dear Caucus Members, Colleagues, and Partners,

We’re excited to share a packed edition of our monthly newsletter, highlighting major moments and milestones from the past month, and looking forward to exciting events ahead.

From welcoming our newest member, Representative Lisa Field, to celebrating key FY26 budget wins that advanced our strategic priorities, meeting with Governor Healey, hosting our quarterly all-member meeting, and preparing for our engagement at the NCSL Summit, there’s much to celebrate and reflect on.

These newsletters offer a window into the collective work we are doing as a Caucus, while also uplifting the impactful efforts of our members as they champion legislation and serve their constituents.

As always, we welcome your ideas, feedback, and collaboration. Our 50th Anniversary social media campaign is still going strong, and we’re grateful for your continued engagement. To learn more about partnering with us, don't hesitate to get in touch with our Executive Director, Seble Alemu.

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

We’re thrilled to welcome Representative Lisa Field (D-Taunton) as the 243rd woman elected to the Massachusetts Legislature and the 62nd current member of the Women’s Caucus!

Here are the testimonies submitted by the Caucus for these bills.

We are also pleased to share that several Caucus-backed bills advanced in the legislative process this month.

Great news! As part of the FY2026 Budget, An Act Supporting Caregivers Running for Public Office has officially been signed into law!
An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure’s Senate bill advanced to Senate Ways and Means.
An Act relative to the creation of an endometriosis task force received a hearing on July 10, 2025.
An Act to increase access to menstrual products in public buildings received a hearing on July 22, 2025.

Advancing Our Strategic Priorities Through The FY26 State Budget

This year, even in a tight fiscal climate, several of our FY26 budget priorities were successfully included. We thank the Women’s Caucus Budget Task Force—led by Senator Jo Comerford and Representative Michelle Ciccolo—for their leadership, and extend our deep gratitude to all members, legislative leaders, and sponsors who helped make these wins possible.

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) provides vital support to state legislators and staff through research, policy analysis, and professional development. We are proud to partner with the NCSL’s Women’s Legislative Network and the Women in Government Foundation to host programming that celebrates and empowers women in government through intentional, inclusive spaces and events.

Meeting with Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll

This month, the Women’s Caucus Board met with Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Senior Advisor Sarah Peake for a productive discussion about our legislative priorities and vision for the year ahead. We were grateful for the opportunity to share our agenda and appreciate the administration’s continued partnership in supporting women and girls across the Commonwealth.

Our Q2 Full Caucus Meeting focused on removing barriers to women’s economic advancement. Experts from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center briefed members on the Commonwealth’s fiscal outlook, tax policy, and budget priorities, highlighting their impact on equity and access.

This month, we were excited to host an Ice Cream Social for participants in the Women’s Caucus Mentoring Program! The event brought together mentors and mentees from across the State House for an afternoon of conversation, connection, and community.

Upcoming Events

The Massachusetts Women’s Caucus is proud to participate in the 2025 NCSL Legislative Summit at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. In partnership with the Women’s Legislative Network, we will host the Women’s Lounge at Exhibit Booth #1111—located next to the iconic LEGO® structure—on August 5–6, 2025. The lounge will serve as a welcoming space for women legislators and staff to connect, recharge, and build community throughout the summit.
As part of our 50th Anniversary celebration, the Massachusetts Women’s Caucus is honored to co-host the Anniversary Reception with the Women’s Legislative Network on August 5, 2025, at Committee Ouzeri + Bar (50 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210). This special evening will celebrate the legacy and leadership of women in state government across the nation.
Join the Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition for its Central Region 10th Anniversary Reception on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 6:30 PM at the Worcester Regional Airport, celebrating a decade of advocacy, leadership, and community impact.
MassNOW’s second annual We Make Noise Festival will take place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Downtown Crossing in Boston. This free, one-day event celebrates women and gender-expansive artists through live music, visual art, activism, and local vendors.
Join the Massachusetts Women’s History Center on Tuesday, August 26, at noon at the Boston Public Garden near the Swan Boats for a commemoration of the 19th Amendment and a celebration of Women of the Revolutionary Era. This annual Women’s Equality Day event honors the ongoing fight for voting rights and reaffirms our commitment to equity and inclusion. All are welcome.

This WBUR article highlights how our members advance legislation to ensure access to menstrual products in all public buildings across Massachusetts, and how our Caucus office distributes them for free. The legislation referenced in the article is one of the bills endorsed by our Caucus.
The NIH’s latest fact sheets on women’s health research underscore persistent gaps in areas like maternal health, mental health, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disorders. These findings reinforce the Women’s Caucus’s ongoing commitment to advocating for legislation and budget priorities that center comprehensive, equitable healthcare for women across Massachusetts.
A recent SWHR report highlights alarming delays - nearly half of women wait 1–2 years for a PCOS diagnosis - stemming from underfunding, diagnostic uncertainty, and systemic blind spots in care.
An NPR episode talked about the wave of over 20 menopause-related bills in at least 13 states, including Massachusetts, marking a critical shift toward addressing insurance coverage and provider education gaps. The bill referenced in the article (H.2499) is one of the Caucus’s endorsed legislation.
According to IWPR, Black women lose over $1 million over a 40-year career due to earning just 64‑66 cents for each dollar paid to White men - this gap persists across education levels, occupations, and geographies.
Our Caucus Senate Vice Chair Senator Lovely was interviewed on the State of the State.
According to data released by EOHHS, nonprofit community-based human service workers earn significantly less than their state-employed counterparts, by as much as 58% in the case of physical therapists. These findings underscore the urgency of closing this wage gap and reinforce the importance of our priority bill, An Act Relative to Livable Wages for Human Service Workers.

Representative Carole Fiola was selected to receive the 2024-25 South Coast Hero for Health Award for her deep commitment to the South Coast region and in recognition of her tireless work improving the quality of life for all residents of the Commonwealth.
Senator Becca Rausch’s Chief of Staff, Madelein McCormick will be receiving a 2025 legislative staff achievement award from the National Conference of State Legislatures for her role as an outstanding public servant, strategist, and leader.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Women’s Caucus members who generously shared their journeys, legislative priorities, and experiences with our Summer 2025 intern cohort. Your leadership and insight continue to inspire the next generation of public servants.

Please send articles, events, social media content, accomplishments, or updates relevant to MCWL members and partners. Submit all updates to Seble.Alemu@MALegislature.gov