Through an inclusive and extensive process, the MCWL selected the following five top legislative priorities for the 2025-2026 legislative session, all of which support our overarching strategic priorities. We will work to advance these legislative priorities throughout the session through advocacy, education, and coalition-building.

An Act relative to a livable wage for human services workers (H.223, Rep. Domb & S.130, Sen. Friedman) 
This bill addresses disparities between the rate of pay for human services workers employed directly by the state and those employed by agencies with state contracts. Requires the state, over the course of 4 years, to increase the rate of reimbursement for human services providers to reduce and ultimately eliminate the pay disparity. An estimated 80% of human service workers in MA are women, and nearly 1/3 are people of color. Human service workers are more likely to live below 150% of the poverty level, have lower median wages, and have lower household incomes than workers in other industries. This bill supports our “Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity & Eliminating Barriers” Strategic Priority.

  • Referred to the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities and received a hearing on September 22, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

  • The Executive Office of Health and Human Services has released a report on the pay gap between state-employed and community-based nonprofit human service workers, supporting the goals this Act aims to achieve. The report has shown an astounding gap that even reaches up to a 58% pay difference for some workers, as is the case for Physical Therapists.

  • The Senate bill was reported favorably and referred to the Senate Ways and Means.

  • The House bill was reported favorably and referred to the House Ways and Means.

An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products (H.4611, Rep. Barber and Rep. Livingstone & S.2640, Sen. Jehlen) 
This bill requires all schools, prisons, and homeless shelters to provide free access to menstrual products. Period poverty impacts the lives and abilities of menstruators to fully participate in society. For many, this is a large expense and something that is not as accessible as needed. Period products are a basic need that should be provided in schools and other settings. This bill supports our “Addressing Racial & Gender Disparities in Health Care” Strategic Priority.

An Act to reduce incidence and death from pancreatic cancer (H.2432 Rep. Kane and Rep. Gentile & S.1484 Sen. Comerford) This bill would create a program to help prevent, detect, and treat pancreatic cancer in Massachusetts. It would establish a group of medical experts, patient advocates, and healthcare professionals to enhance hospital care, foster research, and equip doctors with improved resources. The bill also calls for a statewide study to collect data on pancreatic cancer cases, including how and when people are diagnosed and treated. There would be a public awareness campaign to teach people about risk factors, symptoms, and early warning signs. The state would also review insurance coverage for genetic testing and update a past study on the costs of screening for high-risk individuals. This bill supports our “Addressing Racial & Gender Disparities in Health Care” Strategic Priority.

  • Referred to the Committee on Public Health and received a hearing on June 11, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

  • Both bills were reported favorably and referred to the Committee on Health Care Financing on September 2, 2025.

  • H.2432 is currently in House Ways and Means.

  • S.1484 accompanied study order S.3038, which was reported favorably by Health Care Financing Committee, referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, and discharged to the committee on Senate Rules.

An Act to establish a perinatal behavioral health care workforce trust fund ( H.4668 Rep. Fluker-Reid & S.1411 Sen. Miranda) This bill would create a Perinatal Behavioral Health Care Workforce Trust Fund to improve mental and behavioral health care for people during and after pregnancy in Massachusetts. The fund would provide grants to programs that train and expand the workforce of mental health professionals specializing in perinatal care. Priority would be given to programs serving communities with limited healthcare access or significant racial, ethnic, or geographic health disparities. The state would also publish an annual report detailing how grant funds are used, who benefits from the programs, and the impact on healthcare shortages. This bill supports our “Addressing Racial & Gender Disparities in Health Care” Strategic Priority.

An Act relative to gender neutral language in elections law (H.804 Rep. Domb). This bill proposes updating the language used in Massachusetts election laws to be more inclusive. Specifically, it replaces gendered terms such as "he," "his," "chairman," and "selectmen" with gender-neutral alternatives like "they," "their," "chairperson," and "select board."   This bill supports our “Empowering Women in Government” Strategic Priority. The bill’s lead sponsor has changed from Rep. Blais to Rep. Domb.

 
 
 

Endorsed Legislation

In addition to the above top 5 legislative priorities, the MCWL also endorsed the following 17 pieces of legislation. These bills all speak to at least one of our strategic priorities.

Under “Elevating Women’s Economic Opportunity & Eliminating Barriers” Strategic Priority 

  • An Act relative to controlling and abusive litigation (H.1594 Rep. Blais &  S.1205 Sen. Moore)

    • Referred to the Committee on The Judiciary and received a hearing on June 3, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • H.1594 accompanied study order H.5281, which was reported favorably by the committee on The Judiciary, was referred to the committee on Joint Rules, and discharged to the committee on House Rules on March 26, 2026

  • An Act relative to a diaper allowance to meet early childhood needs (H.4911, Rep. Domb, Rep. Cataldo & S.151, Sen. Lovely)

    • Referred to the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities and received a hearing on September 16, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • S.151, An Act establishing a diaper benefits pilot program, was reported favorably by the committee and referred to the Committee on Senate Ways and Means on October 20, 2025. Its title and number remain unchanged.

    • H.220, An Act establishing a diaper benefits pilot program, was redrafted as H.4911, which was reported out of favorably and referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means on January 12, 2026.

  • An Act Designating Domestic Workers' Rights Day (H.3417 Rep. Sousa)

Under “Addressing Racial & Gender Disparities in Health Care” Strategic Priority 

  • An Act relative to chaperones for medical exams (H.4868, Rep. Ferguson, Rep. Domb & S.1485 Sen. Comerford)

    • Both bills were referred to the Committee on Public Health, and received a hearing on June 23, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • H.2401, An Act providing for safe and consensual sensitive examinations, was combined with H.2362 into a single new draft, H.4868, An Act relative to chaperones for medical exams, which was referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means on January 5, 2026.

    • S.1485 remains before the Joint Committee on Public Health, with its reporting date extended to July 31, 2026. Its title and number remain unchanged.

  • An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce (H.5016 Rep. Sabadosa, Rep. Cruz & S.3045 Sen. Lovely)  

    • Referred to the Committee on Financial Services and received a hearing on October 14, 2025.

    • S.784 accompanied new draft S.3045, which was recommended ought to pass and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means on April 8, 2026

    • H.1117 was redrafted as H.5016, which was reported out of favorably and referred to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on February 5, 2026.

  • An Act expanding access to perimenopause and menopause care (H.5303, Rep. Meschino)

    • Referred to the Committee on Public Health and received a hearing on July 10, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • H.2499,An Act pertaining to women’s health at midlife and public, medical, and workplace awareness of the transitional stage of menopause and related chronic conditions, accompanied new draft H.5303, which was reported out of favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing on March 26, 2026, reporting date extended to December 31, 2026.

  • An Act relative to the creation of an endometriosis task force ( H.4612 Rep. Sabadosa, Rep. Hendricks & S.1564 Sen. Kennedy)

  • An Act to increase access to menstrual products in public buildings (H.3318 Rep. Domb & S.2156 & Sen. Jehlen)

  • An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure (H.2375 Rep. Blais & S.2641 Sen. Comerford)

    • Referred to the Committee on Public Health and received a hearing on June 23, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • H.2375 was reported out of favorably to the committee on House Ways and Means.

    • S.1483 was redrafted as S.2641 and was unanimously passed by the Senate, and was referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means on October 20, 2025.

  • An Act designating September as PCOS Awareness Month (H.3392 Rep. Montaño & S.2173 Sen. Miranda)

  • An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services ( H.4334 Rep. Fluker-Reid, Rep. Decker & S.697 Sen. Crighton)

    • Referred to the committee on Financial Services and received a hearing on April 29, 2025.

    • H.1127 was redrafted as H.4334, which remains before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. On February 9, 2026, the committee recommended that S.697 ought to pass, and the bill was referred to the Committee on Senate Ways and Means.

  • An Act relative to the well-being of new mothers and infants (H.1924 Rep. O’Day & S.1171 Sen. Lovely)

    • Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and received a hearing on October 21, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • H.1924 accompanied study order H.5281, which was reported favorably by the committee on The Judiciary, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, and discharged to the committee on House Rules on March 26, 2026

    • S.1171 accompanied study order S.3038, which was reported favorably by the committee on Health Care Financing, referred to the committee on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently on April 1, 2026, and discharged to the committee on Senate Rules on April 8, 2026

  • An Act relative to chaperones for medical exams (H.4868 Rep. Armini, Rep. Higgins & S.1491 Sen. Crighton)

    • Referred to the Committee on Public Health and received a hearing on June 23, 2025. Here is our written testimony.

    • H.2362, An Act relative to chaperones for medical exams, was combined with H.2401 into a single new draft, H.4868, which was referred to the Committee on House Ways and Means on January 5, 2026. S.1491 remains before the Joint Committee on Public Health, with its reporting date extended to July 31, 2026.

  • An Act relative to patient access to biomarker testing to provide appropriate therapy (H.4339 Rep. Kilcoyne and S.809 Sen. Oliveira)

  • An Act establishing the Massachusetts consumer data privacy act ( H.4746 Rep. Lipper-Garabedian, S.197 Rep Vieira & Sen. Creem)

Under “Empowering Women in Government” Strategic Priority 

  •  An Act supporting caregivers running for public office (H.825 Rep. Fluker-Reid)

    • Referred to the Committee on Election Laws and received a hearing on October 21, 2025.

    • Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means on November 19, 2025.

  • An Act to Promote Diversity on public boards and commissions (H.3398 Rep. Nguyen, Rep. Shand, & S.2160 Sen. Lewis).