Legislative Committee members review the list of bills that the Massachusetts League has decided to support.  We then select priorities from among them.  Advocacy generally consists of emails and phone calls to our own legislators, sometimes prompted by alerts from the state League.  We also occasionally contact other legislators when important bills are before their committees.  Once in a while we seek to supplement the state list, either alone or in conjunction with other local Leagues in Massachusetts.  In addition, the Committee attempts to keep our own LWVF members informed of legislative priorities and encourages our members to contact our legislators themselves.       

 During the 2023-24 legislative session, we have concentrated on affordable housing, legislation governing firearms, the Death with Dignity bill, and the regulation of facial recognition technology.  We also continue to support the bill, initially named Common Start, which would establish a statewide system of affordable high-quality early education and childcare.  Our list is flexible and changes are made during each year.  We recognize that our legislature meets in a two-year session and that, if legislation is to be passed, that is most likely to occur toward the end of the second year which is the even numbered year. 

Each year we sponsor a public program, traditionally in March, which is broadcast live by FCTV.  In the 2024 program, we expected to host our three legislators, Senator Susan Moran, Representative David Vieira, and Representative Dylan Fernandes.  However, Senator Moran was unable to attend because the Senate was in session.  As a result, our program became a little less formal, with our two State Representatives taking turns to comment on the issues we raised and to answer questions from the audience.  

We feel fortunate that we have good working relationships with our legislators and we, on our part, endeavor to keep our legislative priorities before them during each legislative term.  

Judy Ziss, Chair