Dear Caucus Members, Colleagues, & Partners, 

As the Legislature continues work on the FY26 Budget, we’re excited to share the May 2025 edition of our newsletter—full of updates on our legislative priorities, recent events, member highlights, and more.

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re proud to feature reflections from our AAPI members on their lived experiences and legislative work.

This month, we’re also pleased to announce new leadership within our Task Forces: Representative Sally Kerans will serve as House Chair of the Pregnancy & Birth Equity Task Force, and Senator Jo Comerford is the Senate Chair for our State Budget Task Force.

We’re energized by our members’ growing engagement, leadership, and excited to welcome Representative Hannah Bowen (D–Beverly), who joined the House and our Caucus.

We hope this newsletter keeps you informed and connected to the work that moves us forward. As always, we welcome your thoughts, questions, and collaboration—feel free to connect with our Executive Director, Seble Alemu, at any time.

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

The Senate has advanced the FY26 Budget, and we’re pleased to report that four out of the eight priority amendments identified by the Women’s Caucus—each aligned with our strategic priorities—were included in the final Senate budget.

Our State Budget Task Force Senate Chair Senator Comerford and Caucus Senate Chair Senator Kennedy, along with their fellow Caucus members, are working diligently to advocate for these amendments throughout the Senate budget debate.

An Act relative to gender neutral language in elections law (H.804 Rep. Blais) is currently assigned to the Joint Committee on Election Laws. This bill supports the Caucus’s strategic priority: Empowering Women in Government.

Research shows that Pancreatic cancer is rising at alarming rates, especially among younger women and Black women, underscoring the urgent need for early detection, research, and targeted outreach. This bill advances the Caucus’s commitment to health equity, addressing both racial and gender disparities in health outcomes and access to care.

Each year, more than 20,000 parents in Massachusetts experience Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs)—the most common complication of childbirth. This legislation expands access to care and directly advances the Women’s Caucus’s strategic priority of addressing racial and gender disparities in health care.

An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products (H.2483, Rep. Barber and Rep. Livingstone & S.1549, Sen. Jehlen). 

Currently under review by the Joint Committee on Public Health, this bill aims to provide free menstrual products in schools, shelters, and correctional facilities—locations where access is most urgently needed. With 1 in 7 children in Massachusetts unable to afford these essential items, the legislation addresses a critical public health and equity concern and advances our strategic priority of Addressing Racial and Gender Disparities in Health Care.

In recognition of Menstrual Health Month and Period Poverty Awareness Week (May 12–18), eight State House offices are hosting menstrual product drives throughout May. We invite you to stop by, donate, and support ending period poverty in the Commonwealth.

This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we proudly celebrate our members whose leadership, advocacy, and vision continue to shape and strengthen the policies of the Commonwealth.

Upcoming Events

• Join the Bay State Birth Coalition and Mind the Gap Coalition for a briefing on Massachusetts' maternal health policy and implementation on June 10 from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM in Room 437. The event will highlight the impact of the 2024 Maternal Health Omnibus Law and upcoming initiatives improving care across the Commonwealth.RSVP to receive updates about the event.

• On June 3, 2025, the Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) and the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women (MCSW) will co-host From Insight to Impact — a convening to explore successes and challenges in supporting women entrepreneurs in Massachusetts, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners.

• On June 26, the MA Commission on the Status of Women is hosting its annual Commonwealth Heroines event at the State House. See event details and the list of honorees here.

• The Caucus’s legislative priorities were covered in the State House News.

• Representative Kane, House Vice Chair of the Women’s Caucus, authored a column in the Provider Council’s newsletter (p. 6) highlighting our legislative priority, pay equity for human service workers, as essential to advancing women’s economic equality in Massachusetts.

• The Center for American Women in Politics’ new report, Women in Election 2024: Stalled Progress, finds modest gains in state legislatures but no overall increase in women’s representation in statewide executive or congressional offices, signaling limited progress in 2024.

• Research shows flexible work is key to gender equity. We celebrate the passage of An Act Extending Certain COVID-19 Measures Adopted During the State of Emergency supports gender equity by enabling state and local public bodies to hold hybrid or remote public meetings, including remote participation in town meetings, expanding access and flexibility for caregivers, working parents, and others balancing responsibilities.

• The Women’s Caucus–appointed State Commissioner to MCSW, Divya Chaturvedi, shares her insights on May observances, including Mother’s Day, AAPI Heritage Month, Maternal Mental Health, and more.

• May is Maternal Mental Health Month. Maternal mental health impacts the majority of birthing mothers, but the data reveals deep racial inequities and a lack of culturally responsive care—especially for Black mothers. These disparities reinforce the Women’s Caucus’s priority to advance equity.

• May is AAPI Heritage Month. We stand in support of the House Asian Caucus’ #ShopAAPIMonth initiative, and encourage everyone to support local AAPI businesses.

• Racial and immigration-related barriers continue to impact equitable access to health care.

• We’re continuing our social media campaign honoring all 241 women who have served in the Massachusetts Legislature, and have now begun highlighting our current Members. Follow and engage with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

• The Women’s Caucus’s Senate Chair, Senator Robyn Kennedy, was named one of Worcester Business Journal’s Power 100, recognizing the most influential professionals in Central Massachusetts for 2025.

• Senate President Karen Spilka received the Frances Perkins Award from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts for her leadership in advancing wage equity and transparency legislation.

• Senator Jo Comerford was named Senate Legislator of the Year by the Disability Law Center and the 2025 Senate Champion for Children Award from the Children’s League of Massachusetts.

• Senator Liz Miranda and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa received the Caring Bear Award from the Providers' Council, the state’s largest association of human service workers.

• Senator Liz Miranda received the Community Service Award from Roxbury Community College.

• Representative Kathleen LaNatra received the President’s Award for Distinguished Service from the Plymouth Boys & Girls Club.

• Representative Natalie Blais was recognized as a Community Health Center Champion by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.

• Representative Michelle DuBois received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Brockton Multi-Service Center, Department of Mental Health.