26° and Sunny
Image
The Town of Franklin Tweeted "Team Franklin at the @massmunicipal
Annual Conference...Our largest group ever at the conference! Saturday, the second day of the Massachusetts Municipal Association's annual meeting and trade show was expected to include a keynote address from Gina McCarthy, former White House climate advisor, at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Sen. Warren, U.S. Sen. Markey and Lt. Gov. Driscoll during the MMA's annual business meeting.
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
Mon. Jan 22
7:00pm
Franklin Recreation Advisory Board Meeting
7:00pm
7:00pm to 8:00pm
Tues. Jan 23
Franklin School Committee Budget Sub Committee
6:00pm
Design Review Meeting - Canceled
7:00pm
7:00pm
Franklin School Committee Meeting
7:00pm
Weds. Jan. 24
5:15pm
6:30pm
Police Station Building Committee Meeting
7:00pm
Thurs. Jan. 25
Conservation Commission Meeting
7:00pm
STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND
With much fanfare, Gov. Maura Healey this week offered a sketch of areas where she feels the state still has enough money to deliver critical improvements for the people of Massachusetts. On Wednesday, she will unveil her full annual budget painting, which will finally show how the governor believes the state will be able to afford all of her pricey promises at a time when even her own team is officially predicting only minimal tax revenue growth for the foreseeable future. Healey said Thursday that she won't propose tax increases in her budget, but on Friday unveiled plans to let cities and towns raise taxes. Big increases in state spending combined with tax collection growth that began stalling out last April are creating strong budget headwinds. However, the state economy remains fairly strong -- the jobless rate in December was 3.2 percent -- and reserves are currently so large that the state is routinely spinning off hundreds of millions of dollars in interest on the money that it has already collected from taxpayers. The governor's budget (H 2) will provide an agenda and framework for House and Senate Democrats to build upon in the coming months. Under Healey and Gov. Charlie Baker before her, legislative Democrats have overseen an unprecedented surge in state spending, and this budget cycle will determine the extent of new initiatives and whether they will stand by old spending commitments or pull back in light of the changing fiscal circumstances. The budget release on Wednesday anchors the week ahead, but there are other major storylines in progress ... Senate Democrats remain on track to release their gun law overhaul by the end of the month ... New Hampshire Republican primary voters will decide Tuesday whether they want the GOP to head in a new direction or if they'll add to the momentum former President Donald Trump built with his win in Monday's Iowa caucus ... Gov. Healey's HERO Act is up for a hearing Tuesday, with that bill shaping up as the latest vehicle for veterans' benefit changes ... The Health Connector's open enrollment period ends Tuesday, which marks an important deadline for anyone on the hunt for a new health insurance policy ... Thursday's Health Policy Commission meet meeting features consideration of the proposed affiliation between Beth Israel Lahey Health and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute ... Also Thursday, Healey will face business officials who hope softening tax collections will not mean that Beacon Hill is ending its efforts to make Massachusetts more competitive. The governor is slated to give the keynote at an Associated Industries of Massachusetts Executive Forum ... And a ruling could come from the State Ballot Law Commission, which is mulling whether it has the jurisdiction to evaluate challenges to Trump's spot on the Massachusetts Republican presidential primary and general election ballots. If it determines it has jurisdiction, the commission must make a decision on the challenges by Jan. 29.
Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024
DURANT ON 4: Sen. Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican who gave the MassGOP "response" to Gov. Healey's State of the State, talks with Jon Keller about the speech and about next week's New Hampshire primary. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV Ch. 4)
MICHLEWITZ ON 5: House Ways and Means Chairman Michlewitz is the guest on "On The Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV Ch. 5)
REP. DeFILIPPI - CALLING HOURS: Visiting hours are held for former Rep. Walter DeFilippi, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II who served two decades in the House. The West Springfield Republican died Jan. 15 at the age of 97. (Sunday, 3 p.m., Curran Jones Funeral Home, 109 Main St., West Springfield)
Monday, Jan. 22, 2024
REP. DeFILIPPI - FUNERAL: Funeral Mass is said for former Rep. Walter DeFilippi of West Springfield. Interment follows at St. Thomas Cemetery in West Springfield. (Monday, 9 a.m., Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St., Springfield)
'WE'RE ALL PLASTIC PEOPLE NOW': Zero Waste Caucus and Plastic Free Mass coalition host a panel discussion and film screening of "We're All Plastic People Now." Dozens of advocates are slated to attend and speak with lawmakers after the event as they push for an updated bottle bill that would raise the deposit and make it apply to all beverage containers. Attendees will also advocate for "meaningful action on reducing single use plastics in 2024," organizers say. (Monday, 11 a.m., Room 428)
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security holds a hearing on immigration-related legislation, including a perennially-filed bill to limit cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials (S 1510 / H 2288), which supporters have dubbed the "Safe Communities Act." The committee gave that bill late-session favorable reports in each of the last two legislative terms. Backers have said that limiting local police departments' ability to cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement would help immigrants feel safe seeking needed medical care, a point that was made repeatedly during the pandemic. Another bill on the agenda, S 1512 from Sen. Ryan Fattman, would allow police to detain someone already in their custody for a "reasonable period of time after such person would otherwise be released from custody in order to transfer custody of such person to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement" in specific circumstances. (Monday, 11 a.m., Room B-1 | Agenda and Access)
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business holds a hearing on a bill dealing with planning and community development in Boston -- a home rule petition (H 4065) to improve and modernize planning and community development in the city of Boston. The bill would abolish the Boston Redevelopment Authority, doing business as the Boston Planning & Development Agency, as well as the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Boston. The powers of those agencies would be officially transferred under the bill to a newly-organized Boston Planning & Development Agency. (Monday, 11 a.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Access)
HOUSE, SENATE MEET: House and Senate return from the weekend with informal sessions. (Monday, 11 a.m., House and Senate chambers | House livestream | Senate livestream)
CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure holds hybrid public hearing on four bills. Three proposals deal with liquor licenses in Sandwich, Holliston and Provincetown. A Rep. Turco bill looks to regulate digital coupons at grocery stores, supermarkets and warehouse clubs. (Monday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 | Agenda and Livestream)
MWPC ANNUAL MEETING: Congresswoman Pressley is the guest speaker at the Massachusetts Women's Political Caucus annual meeting. (Monday, 6 p.m., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, 101 Huntington Ave., Boston |Register)
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024
HEALTH EQUITY: MASSterList holds an event focused on achieving health equity in Massachusetts. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh and Undersecretary for Health Dr. Kiame Mahaniah deliver opening remarks. The first panel features Sen. Friedman and Rep. Lawn, co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing; Sen. Payano, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business; and Rep. Williams, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights and Inclusion. The second panel includes Manny Lopes of Fenway Health, Kendalle Burlin O'Connell of MassBio, Lora Pellegrini of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, and Steve Walsh of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. Networking starts at 7:30 a.m. A sister publication of State House News Service, MASSterList is a free daily morning newsletter that covers politics and policy in Massachusetts and has about 26,000 subscribers. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., MCLE New England, 10 Winter Place, Downtown Crossing, Boston | Register)
POST COMMISSION: POST Commission meets virtually. Agenda includes a report from Executive Director Enrique Zuniga, who will provide a complaint portal update. Other items include a performance update of Zuniga and executive session. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
BOARD OF ED: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meets. The board plans to present the Masschusetts Teacher of the Year and other educator awards. Also on the agenda is a discussion of school safety, including evacuation plans and gun violence, as well as a vote on increasing the weight given to chronic absenteeism in evaluating schools. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's district and school accountability system allows the department to identify districts and schools that require intervention through using an array of indicators. Currently, chronic absenteeism is worth five percent of the accountability calculation for high schools and 10 percent in middle and elementary schools. A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10 percent or more of the school year, typically 18 days. Chronic absenteeism has risen significantly since before the COVID-19 pandemic. DESE reported in October that the rate of students considered chronically absent grew by 72 percent between 2019 and 2023. Some education advocates and teachers say the measure should not be used for accountability, as it does not account for why a student is missing school, such as if they are sick or lost a family member. Additionally, chronic absenteeism disproportionately affects lower income districts and students of color. The majority of public comments received about increasing the weight of the chronic absenteeism indicator expressed concerns. DESE Commissioner Jeff Riley is recommending increasing the absenteeism rate in the state's evaluation of the districts up to 20 percent for high schools and 25 percent for elementary and middle schools. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 135 Santilli Highway, 3rd Floor, Everett | Agenda and Access)
'FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS': Indivisible Mass Coalition and Act on Mass hold a lobby day called "Fight for Your Right." Activists will highlight bills focused on voting access (S 410), transparency for legislative committees (S 1963), and banning the sale of cellphone location information to protect reproductive health care access and the LGBTQ community (H 357 / S 148). "Our democracy and rights are at risk at the federal level, but plenty can be done to protect these rights here in the Bay State," Deb Paul, Indivisible Mass Coalition chairperson said. "Whether it's our right as constituents to see our lawmakers’ committee votes, decreasing our barriers to voting access, or our right to phone data privacy, advocating for our rights really matters now – especially in our own backyard." (Tuesday, 9:45 a.m., Room 428)
AGRICULTURE COMMISSION: The 21st Century Agriculture Commission holds its sixth hearing, focused on federal and state programs that protect farms from climate change impacts. Speakers include Rita Thibodeau of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Emily Sampson of the Natural Conference of State Legislatures, and Rachel Jones and Hans Schmidt of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
MASS SAVE CLIMATE LEADERS: Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Elizabeth Mahony, Department of Public Utilities Commissioner Staci Rubin and Rep. Jeff Roy join the utility companies that sponsor Mass Save to recognize 14 "climate leaders" for "outstanding efforts to curb energy use and greenhouse gas emissions across Massachusetts." The honorees are: Arlington Public Schools, Berkshire East Mountain Resort, Boston University, City of Lowell, Franklin County House of Corrections, Harbor View Hotel, Liberty Mutual, Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School, New England Authentic Eats LLC, Northeastern University, Shaw's Supermarkets, State Street Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and Thermo Fisher Scientific. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Great Hall)
LOTTERY COMMISSION: Massachusetts State Lottery Commission meets remotely and is chaired by Treasurer Goldberg. For access, contact 781-917-6057 or gpolin@masslottery.com. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.)
CORRECTIONS HEARING: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security holds a hearing on corrections-related legislation. Topics to be covered include medical parole, the postpartum treatment of women in correctional facilities, re-entry and anti-recidivism efforts, and communications between news media representatives and incarcerated persons. The Massachusetts Correction Officers Federated Union plans to testify for "Matt's Law" legislation (H 2422) to ensure that free weights will remain prohibited inside of jails and prisons. Also, Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts says numerous incarcerated people plan to testify on various bills on the docket. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Room B-2 | Agenda and Access)
LGBTQ AGING COMMISSION: Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Aging meets virtually. The commission is tasked with examining health, housing, financial, psychosocial and long-term care needs of LGBTQ adults and caregivers. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. | More Info and Register)
PEER RESPITE BRIEFING: Reps. Pignatelli and Sabadosa host a briefing on their legislation (H 3602 / S 1238) that would establish peer respites in all 14 counties, "providing regional equity and ensuring equitable access to voluntary, community-based, peer-driven services." Peer-run respites offer voluntary, community-based, trauma-informed care provided by people with lived experience in a home-like environment. The briefing will include remarks from impacted individuals, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, the Wildflower Alliance, and others. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House Members Lounge | Zoom)
VETERANS AND AFFAIRS: Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs holds a hybrid public hearing on five bills, including Gov. Healey's proposed HERO Act. The legislation would increase benefits for disabled veterans, expand access to behavioral health services, increase the tax credit for employers who hire veterans from $2,000 to $2,500, allow municipalities to boost property tax exemptions for veterans, and create a two-year pilot for IVF reimbursements for same-sex couples. Other legislation deals with updating retirement buyback policies for veterans and creating a Medal of Allegiance for service members or veterans who have received a terminal diagnosis connected to their service. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room B-2 | Agenda and Livestream)
E-BOOK BRIEFING: Library Caucus and Mass. Library Association host a briefing on "how digital publishers like Amazon are limiting library access to e-books and audio books, and how we can expand access to our libraries." The briefing will cover a bill (H 3239) filed by Rep. Balser. The representative's website says the bill would "ensure that contracts between publishers and libraries for the use of eBooks and digital audiobooks include fair pricing and equitable terms so that libraries can fully meet their standard access and preservation missions." (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room 428 | Virtual Option)
PUBLIC SERVICE: Joint Committee on Public Service holds hybrid public hearing on three proposals dealing with survivor benefits for the spouses of retired state troopers and retirement benefits for electricians at regional school districts. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 | Agenda and Livestream)
JEWISH CURRICULUM: Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston holds a webinar focused on innovative ways to teach about Jewish peoplehood, history, culture and Israel. Organizers say the webinar "has the potential to transform Jewish representation in K-12 curriculum throughout Greater Boston." (Tuesday, 1 p.m. | Register )
IN-STATE TUITION: Mass. Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition holds a webinar on the new availability of in-state tuition rates for undocumented immigrants who attend Massachusetts high schools and go on to state public higher education. Lawmakers included the new law in the fiscal 2024 state budget last summer. Speakers will cover "what MIRA is doing to ensure that eligible students are informed and able to now access an education." (Tuesday, 2 p.m. | Registration)
MURATORE CAMPAIGN: Rep. Mathew Muratore, who told the News Service in November that he was looking at running for Senate this year, holds "three special campaign announcement events" this week. The Plymouth and Barnstable Senate seat opened up this election cycle after Sen. Moran announced she would instead run for Barnstable clerk of courts. Muratore, a Plymouth Republican, plans his first event of the week at the 1620 Winery at Cordage Park in his hometown. Falmouth Democrat Rep. Dylan Fernandes said earlier this month he raised $84,000 in four weeks to put toward his Senate campaign. Tuesday night's event is hosted by Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz, Plymouth County Sheriff Joe McDonald, and Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis. (Tuesday, 5 p.m., 55 Loring Blvd., Plymouth)
PALESTINE PROTEST AT CLARK'S OFFICE: Massachusetts Labor for a Free Palestine plans to organize a protest outside Congresswoman Clark's district office in Malden calling on the U.S. House minority whip to "take action for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine." The group expects to have hundreds of union members and activists on hand. MLFP says it is a "constituency of workers" and is "not currently endorsed by or affiliated with any union or organization." (Tuesday, 5 p.m., 157 Pleasant St., Malden)
OPEN ENROLLMENT DEADLINE: Open enrollment period closes at the Massachusetts Health Connector, the state's health insurance marketplace. Bay Staters can enroll in coverage, including subsidized options for eligible residents, from major health and dental health insurance companies. But people can apply for Health Connector coverage throughout the year if they experience a "qualifying event," such as the loss of other health coverage, or if they now qualify for a heavily subsidized ConnectorCare plan, among other parameters. (Tuesday | More Info)
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024
CRIM JUSTICE REFORM, FIVE YEARS LATER: The Boston Foundation hosts release of a new "Five-Year Progress Assessment" report on how the 2018 criminal justice reform law has affected crime rates, incarceration, and spending in areas like prevention and reentry. Ben Forman and Elise Rapoza of MassINC and Peter Ciurczak of Boston Indicators present findings, followed by a panel discussion that includes state Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill. Press can request an embargoed copy of the report (embargoed 'til 5 a.m. Wednesday) by emailing ted.mcenroe@tbf.org. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 75 Arlington St., 3rd floor, Boston)
DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY: Digital Accessibility and Equity Governance Board meets virtually. The board was created through a Gov. Healey executive order. Agenda includes remarks from Secretary of the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security Jason Snyder, and an introduction for Ashley Bloom, the state's new chief information technology accessibility officer. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
INTRODUCTION TO BONDING: MBTA staff host a virtual training session titled "Introduction to Bonding: Capital, Credit & Growing Your Business." Officials say the program is designed to help small businesses secure bid/performance or payment bonds. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., More Info)
PREDATORY LENDING: Members of the Massachusetts chapter of the National Coalition Against Predatory Lending plan to visit the State House and talk to members of the Judiciary Committee. Organizers say they plan to share personal stories of victimization from predatory lending practices and urge committee members to oppose two bills (S 1104 and H 1404). (Wednesday, 10 a.m., State House)
LANGUAGE ACCESS IN GOV'T.: MassSpeaks coalition holds a briefing on providing language-accessible information and services to residents with limited English proficiency, hosted by Sen. DiDomenico and Reps. Madaro and Gonzalez. Speakers will cover Gov. Healey's executive order on the subject from last September, and a bill (H 3084 / S 1990) that includes language access measures like a requirement that all state agencies "provide timely, culturally competent oral language services to all [limited English proficient] individuals who seek to access services, programs, or activities." House and Senate versions of the bill are in the branches' respective Ways and Means committees. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Room 222)
'SAFE ROUTES' WEBINAR: MassDOT holds a webinar for municipalities focused on accessibility and mobility in physical and virtual settings. It's run by MassDOT's Safe Routes To School program, which aims to boost safe walking, biking and rolling to school. Speakers include Hannah Day-Kapell of Alta Planning + Design, Regina Galasso of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Translation Center, and Carol Cook of AECOM. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)
ELDERS CLIMATE RALLY: Elders Climate Action Mass rallies at the State House to discuss the group's legislative priorities. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Grand Staircase)
GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets and could vote on whether to confirm Worcester attorney Jennifer Currie as a Juvenile Court judge. Currie lives in Harvard and has practiced criminal, care and protection, and personal injury law for 17 years at Ricciardi & Ricciardi. She has also served for the past four years as supervising attorney in Worcester Juvenile Court for the Committee for Public Counsel Services, according to the governor's office. Gov. Healey nominated Currie on Dec. 20. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WEBINAR: MassDOT hosts a webinar for municipal staff, task force members and others to discuss the Safe Routes to Schools program. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., More Info)
RACE DATA & OVERSIGHT BRIEFING: The Black and Latino Caucus and the Criminal Justice Reform Caucus hold a briefing on a bill to create an independent correctional oversight office to facilitate a recommendation of the Special Legislative Commission on Structural Racism in Correctional Facilities of the Commonwealth related to data collection in prisons. The commission was launched in the wake of George Floyd's murder in 2020. The commission recommended mandating the collection of substantive racial data in prisons and jails in Massachusetts. "Presently, the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) aggregates race data in just three areas – 1) population trends; 2) crime trends; and 3) solitary confinement. Over the past two years, REICI and various PLS projects (Medical Parole and Brutality) have submitted over fifty inquiries requesting substantive race data in MA prisons via public records requests and each time the DOC has responded in the negative, maintaining that it does not 'aggregate race data.' To meaningfully address the racism endemic to the system, the DOC’s impunity must end, and its actions must be overseen by an independent office committed to the elimination of these injustices," says a description of the bill from sponsors Sen. Miranda and Rep. Holmes. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room 428 | More Info)
TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Transportation holds a hearing on all of its remaining bills as the Feb. 7 bill-reporting deadline approaches. The docket includes bills covering free transit service, peer-to-peer car sharing, toll discounts, restoring commuter train service to Cape Cod, creating a mobility pricing commission, and establishing a vehicle mileage user fee task force to explore alternative sources of funding for transportation if people shift to electric vehicles and gas tax revenue drops. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Access)
GOVERNOR AND TREASURER: Gov. Healey meets with Treasurer Goldberg for their monthly sit-down. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Treasurer's Office, Room 227)
FREE FAFSA HELP: Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority hosts a FAFSA Festival at which families can be paired with an expert who has volunteered to answer any questions about completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which could be due as soon as early February for some colleges. The program runs until 6 p.m. (Wednesday, 4 p.m, Register)
MURATORE CAMPAIGN: Rep. Muratore plans his second "special campaign announcement" event of the week at Tomatoes Italian Grille & Bar. (Wednesday, 5 p.m., 280 Rte. 130, Sandwich)
ELLEN STORY COMMISSION: Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression meets virtually as part of a roundtable series on Black maternal health. Discussion will focus on implementing recommendations from the Special Commission on Racial Inequities in Maternal Health. The commission in 2022 recommended giving more authority to the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, investing in birth centers and other community-based organizations, developing a birthing justice omnibus bill, and improving MassHealth reimbursements for behavioral health screenings, among a bevy of other policies. (Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. | Agenda and Livestream)
GAMING AGENDA: Mass. Gaming Commission meets to select the topics that it will cover more in-depth at future business meetings. Agenda-setting meetings generally do not feature any commission debate or action. (Wednesday, More Info TBA)
Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024
AIM EXECUTIVE FORUM: Gov. Healey gives the keynote at the Associated Industries of Massachusetts Executive Forum. Lt. Gov. Driscoll and 11 Cabinet secretaries are expected to attend. More than 500 business leaders are expected to attend to hear about the governor's budget, her economic development plans and her policy agenda. Networking begins at 8 a.m. Media is asked to RSVP to cgeehern@aimnet.org. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Ave., Newton)
ELDER AFFAIRS: Joint Committee on Elder Affairs accepts written testimony on a bill (H 4198) from Reps. Ashe and Puppolo that deals with refund fees for continuing care and written residency agreements for assisted living facilities. Testimony will be accepted through 5 p.m. (Thursday, 9 a.m. | More Info)
OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITES: Families and public health advocates gather to urge lawmakers to embrace the authorization of new sites where people could use pre-acquired drugs under professional supervision to avoid potential fatal overdoses. Department of Public Health officials now describe such locations, also known as supervised injection sites, as lifelines after the Legislature and former Gov. Baker's administration hesitated to embrace the concept in the face of potential federal prosecution. Supporters will push for legislation (H 1981 / S 1242) that would explicitly allow municipalities to launch overdose prevention centers. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Room 222)
RETIREMENT BOARD: Massachusetts State Retirement Board meets remotely and is chaired by Treasurer Goldberg. For access, contact MSRBCommunications@tre.state.ma.us. (Thursday, 10 a.m.)
MASS. CULTURAL COUNCIL: Mass. Cultural Council's governing body meets virtually. Agenda topics include a presentation on work to expand the council's "social prescription efforts" referred to as Arts on Prescription and a cultural equity and access report. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Agenda and Access Info)
MBTA BOARD MEETS: MBTA Board meets, where members will likely hear an update about the agency's five-year financial outlook that features sizable operating budget gaps. (Thursday, 10 a.m., State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | Agenda and Livestream)
HOUSE: House plans to hold an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)
CIVIL LEGAL AID: Equal Justice Coalition holds a "Walk to the Hill" lobby day as attorneys, law students and activists seek $55 million for civil legal aid programs in the fiscal 2025 budget. Attorney General Campbell gives the keynote address. Civil legal aid was funded at $49 million in the fiscal 2024 budget. Organizers describe civil legal aid as a "lifeline for Massachusetts residents with low incomes facing economic crises and struggling to meet basic needs including housing, health care, and economic stability." Individuals and families with incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level qualify for the assistance. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Great Hall | More Info)
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: Boston Business Journal hosts a 2024 economic outlook luncheon, featuring opening remarks from Economic Development Secretary Yvonne Hao. A panel discussion includes Boston Economic Chief Segun Idowu, Mark Melnik of the UMass Donahue Institute, Juan Morales of Surfside Capital Advisors, and Associated Industries of Massachusetts President Brooke Thomson. (Thursday, 11:30 a.m., Plaza Ballroom, Seaport Hotel, One Seaport Ln., Boston | Tickets)
XYLAZINE TRAINING: Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee holds a free online workshop about best practices for dealing with Xylazine, which public health officials have warned has been mixed into the drug supply and has contributed to overdose deaths. (Thursday, 12 p.m. | Register)
HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION: Health Policy Commission meets. The agenda includes consideration of the proposed affiliation between Beth Israel Lahey Health – Dana Farber Cancer Institute, a review of recent market transactions and a discussion of updated guidance for submitting notices of material change. The meeting is expected to begin with a vote to go into executive session for about an hour, with the public portion of the meeting expected to start at 2 p.m. (Thursday, 1 p.m., YouTube)
MBTA ACCESS GROUP: MBTA Riders' Transportation Access Group holds its monthly meeting. (Thursday, 3 p.m., More Info)
MHA ANNUAL MEETING: Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association holds its annual meeting. Officials from Gov. Maura Healey's administration, including Health and Human Services Secretary Walsh, Economic Development Secretary Hao and Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Jones; as well as co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance, Rep. Lawn and Sen. Friedman, and leaders from Massachusetts' hospitals are scheduled to attend. Panels and speeches will address challenges facing the health care sector, workforce shortages and health equity. (Thursday, 3 p.m., The Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston | More Info& Registration)
MURATORE CAMPAIGN: Rep. Muratore holds his third and final campaign event of the week at Flying Bridge Restaurant. (Thursday, 5 p.m., 220 Scranton Ave., Falmouth)
MBTA TRACK REPAIR Q&A: MBTA holds an open house to discuss its 2024 Track Improvement Program, aimed at repairing tracks and eliminating speed restrictions. Members of the public can ask questions and make comments. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Cristo Rey Boston High School, 100 Savin Hill Ave., Dorchester)
SCONSET BIKE PATH: MassDOT hosts a virtual public meeting to discuss a proposed extension of the Sconset Bike Path in Nantucket and intersection improvements at Milestone Road and Polpis Road. (Thursday, 6 p.m., More Info)
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR: In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Holocaust survivor Werner Salinger shares his story, which includes escaping Nazi Germany as a child and spending time with Albert Einstein. The free virtual program is hosted by the Lappin Foundation and has a slew of community partners, including ADL New England, AJC New England, and the Consulate General of Israel to New England. (Thursday, 7:30 p.m. | Register)
Friday, Jan. 26, 2024
MHA ANNUAL MEETING: Gov. Maura Healey speaks during the second day of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association's annual meeting. No time yet available for Gov. Healey's remarks. (Friday, 8 a.m., The Westin Copley Place, 10 Huntington Ave., Boston | More Info & Registration)
TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Massachusetts Association for Community Action and Lowell-based Community Teamwork host a kickoff event for the 2024 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program helps workers unlock tax refunds, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit. About 80 VITA sites operate throughout the state; they're run by community action agencies, community groups and colleges that serve more than 30,000 low-income taxpayers. Attendees include Sen. Payano, Rep. Elliott, Joe Diamond of MASSCAP, Charlotte Bruce of Children's HealthWatch and Jason Wright of the Massachusetts Budget & Policy Center. Coffee and networking starts at 9:30 a.m. (Friday, 10 a.m., 155 Merrimack St., Lowell | Livestream)
GOOD DAY METRO SOUTH: Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus is the featured speaker at a Metro South Chamber of Commerce luncheon, "Good Day Metro South." Augustus will "outline key housing and mixed-use incentives, priorities, and goals for the new year," organizers said, almost certainly to include the $4.1 billion housing bond bill that Gov. Healey this week called her top priority. (Friday, 11:45 a.m., Martin Institute, Stonehill College, 320 Washington St., North Easton | Register)
PINNACLE AWARDS: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosts the Pinnacle Awards Luncheon, marking the celebration's 30th year. The event honors "powerful women" and their leadership in entrepreneurship, management and lifetime achievement. This year's honorees are Donna Levin, CEO of the Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College; Lucy Pérez, senior partner at McKinsey & Company's Boston office; Caitlin Dodge, CEO of ThinkArgus; Kimberly Budd, chief justice of the Supreme Judicial Court; Nancy Huntington Stager, president and CEO of Eastern Bank Foundation; Rudina Seseri, founder and managing partner at Glasswing Ventures; Christine Schuster, president and CEO of Emerson Health; Julie Kim, president of the U.S. business unit and U.S. country head at Takeda; Yvonne Garcia, chief of staff to State Street's chairman and global head of international communications; and Gail Goodman, former CEO of Constant Contact. Registration and networking begins at 11 a.m. (Friday, 12 p.m., Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport, 450 Summer St., Boston | Register)
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024
"CLOSE TO THE WIND" SUMMIT: Save Greater Dowses Beach, a Barnstable group dedicated to preventing the use of an Osterville beach as the landing spot for an Avangrid offshore wind export cable, hosts a conference to "give voice to citizens’ groups from Maine to Virginia, some of which have been intentionally marginalized and ridiculed by developers in the offshore wind industry." RSVP to saveourbeach22@gmail.com. (Saturday, Jan. 27, 1 p.m., Hyport Convention Center, 35 Scudder Ave., Barnstable)
