People, Power, and Politics

As drought exposes the Quabbin's shoreline, watershed towns are pressing eastern Massachusetts for funding and a seat at the table for reservoir decisions.  With the reservoir nearly 10 feet below full capacity amid an ongoing drought, residents of the western Massachusetts towns that surround and protect the Quabbin are renewing their long-running demands for regional equity. In an open letter released this week and addressed to eastern Massachusetts communities, residents from Pelham, New Salem, Petersham and other Quabbin-adjacent towns warned that drought conditions are colliding with a governance structure they say leaves watershed communities bearing water-use restrictions, development limits and shrinking local revenues while lacking both compensation and representation.

FRANKLIN

We are already into the middle of the new month in this new year and deep into the middle of all that is happening.

There is a full week of meetings across Town and School business. The Housing Authority, Planning Board, and School Committee Community Relations subcommittee are all scheduled for Monday.

Some folks learned this week that the Housing Authority is not related to the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust other than sharing ‘housing’ as their focal point. Housing Authority is a State agency operating Central Park Terrace, Winter St and other State owned low income housing in Franklin. The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust manages a few Town properties that are deeded restricted. There are other private entities that manage deed restricted units as well.

Tuesday has the 250th Anniversary Celebration, School Committee Policy Subcommittee, and then the full School Committee meeting, as well as the meeting of the Friends of Franklin Library.

Wednesday is relatively quiet but very important with the Finance Committee hearing about the “economics of development” at this session. The answer to one question “Which are more financially beneficial to the Town, rental units or ownership units?” may get some clarity.

Thursday starts with Town official coffee hour at the Senior Center, followed by meetings of the Cultural District Committee and Conservation Commission.

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 1/09/26, 8:30 PM ***

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0112202…

Franklin Public School Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0112202…

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0112202…

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 5:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0113202…

Franklin School Committee -Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0113202…

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0113202…

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM

No agenda available at this time

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 14 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0114202…

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, January 15 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_0115202…

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, January 15th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/545?fileID=7509

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

The Police Station Building Committee had a significant meeting on Tuesday. Significant in that they finally recommended that Parmenter should be the site for the potential new station. They also recommended to request the Town Council to authorize $64K for a ‘code review’ of the existing Parmenter facility. Such a study would detail what updates would be required to bring it into compliance with current building code. The building was initially constructed in the 1950’s and then expanded in the 80’s when it was re-opened as a school to handle the growth at that time.

Video and recap of the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/police-station-bldg-cmte-select…

The Franklin Board of Health met on Wednesday. The work of this group will become more important as the changes to the Federal health department continue to be made. Exclusive audio of this meeting (and a quick recap) can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg…

The Town Council met in another 4 hour plus session on Wednesday. They approved an amended Friendly 40b policy after juggling the legislative set of their agenda to get the ‘easy’ items out of the way before tackling the 40b discussion. The recap and video of the meeting is available. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/town-council-approves-amended-f…

On the FHS sports live streaming front

FHS girls basketball -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7pWLyhuW-Q

FHS girls hockey -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-8FxtAbw18

FHS swim team -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCnoxLMJAI

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

MEDWAY

Medway’s new website, likewise, does not readily support cut and paste. Go to medwayma.gov

STATE HOUSE AND BEYOND

As every mid-January day starts to pick up a little more daylight than the last, activity is picking up on Beacon Hill with both fixed-date events and key deadlines knocking on the door. A lot of the work expected next week will position the state for even bigger decisions down the line. Executive and legislative budget officials have been working for weeks to develop a consensus tax revenue estimate to use in their fiscal year 2027 budget proposals -- an agreement that is required by Thursday, Jan. 15. Despite an expectation for largely stagnant revenues in fiscal 2026, budget managers heard "cautious optimism that revenues will stabilize and grow modestly in FY 2027," the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation said in its analysis of revenue estimates. Excluding income surtax money, the average growth rate predicted for fiscal 2027 was 3.9% over fiscal 2026 projected revenues, MTF said, with estimates ranging from 2.1% to 7.1%. The average surtax revenue projection was $2.85 billion with MTF predicting surtax revenue to "plateau" around $3 billion. At the halfway point of fiscal 2026, the state has collected about $19.636 billion -- $375 million or 1.9% more than than collections in the same period last year but just $23 million or 0.1% ahead of the expectations baked into the state budget. Budget writers risk overspending if their revenue base is too optimistic but heading into an election year will also be eager to pack as much investment into the budget as possible.

Gov. Maura Healey will use the consensus revenue agreement as the foundation of her election-year budget proposal, which is due Jan. 28. Healey's administration is likely to control the rollout of select aspects of that plan in the run-up to the governor's annual State of the Commonwealth address, which she plans to deliver Jan. 22 in the House Chamber. And because it's always budget season on Beacon Hill now, the administration and lawmakers may also be busy discussing this year's plan to spend more than $1 billion in unallocated income surtax receipts from wealthier households. Healey announced last year's proposal alongside her annual budget filing. Next week will see activity in the Senate Chamber, where senators plan to vote on bills intended to give municipalities tools to ease property tax burdens on lower- and middle-income homeowners, seniors on fixed incomes, and others. The ideas are not necessarily contentious -- expanded eligibility for senior tax deferrals, for example -- but some of the bills on the agenda are redrafts of "tax shock" bills meant as statewide alternatives to the tax shift plan Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has been unsuccessful in lobbying the Senate to pass. "The Senate is hitting the ground running this January," Senate President Karen Spilka said. Her chamber next week also plans to pass a ballot question campaign finance disclosure reform bill and another to create a new memorial license plate.

The six lawmakers selected to hash out a compromise cannabis reform bill will get to work Wednesday, following Ballot Law Commission hearings Monday and Tuesday related to the potential 2026 ballot question that would roll back recreational marijuana a decade after its legalization. The House and Senate took different approaches to restructuring the embattled Cannabis Control Commission and removing Treasurer Deborah Goldberg's appointment powers ... Two significant reports are slated for release next week. The commission that extended its work in the wake of the deadly Gabriel House fire in Fall River is due to finalize its report Monday on health and safety at assisted living residences, most of which self-identified ways they could improve upon fire safety. Wednesday will see the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking release its five-year Strategic Statewide Plan to Address Sex Trafficking ... Gov. Healey's environmental borrowing bill lays out a $2.9 billion menu of bonding options and gets a hearing Tuesday before the legislative committee focused on state borrowing and debt ... If past practice holds, legislative Democrats could soon form a special committee to vet the armada of initiative petitions that could turn into 2026 ballot questions absent action or agreeable alternatives from the Legislature. Secretary of State Galvin's office certified 11 questions and fed them into the legislative pipeline this week, where they are to be received by leaders who are "concerned about all of them." House Speaker Ron Mariano is vocal about his distaste for the initiative petition process and teamed with Spilka in special panel to create a special panel for reviewing that cycle's proposals.

Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026

LYNCH ON THE RECORD: Congressman Stephen Lynch joins WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." Lynch represents Massachusetts' 8th Congressional District, which accounts for cities and towns including Easton, Quincy, Weymouth, Brockton, Stoughton and parts of Boston. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV)

COUNCIL PRESIDENT BREADON ON NBC: New Boston City Council President Liz Breadon joins NBC 10 reporter Matt Prichard on the network's weekly "@ Issue Sit Down." (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10)

PATRIOTS PLAYOFFS: For the first time since the 2021 season, the New England Patriots are in the NFL playoffs. The Patriots ended the regular season 14-3 and face the 11-6 Los Angeles Chargers. (Sunday, 8 p.m., Gillette Stadium, 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough)

MBTA PLAYOFF SERVICE: Two trains will operate from Boston to Gillette Stadium for Sunday night’s Patriots playoff game against the Los Angeles Chargers in the NFL wild card round. A third train will also operate from Providence to Gillette. Tickets are limited and available on MBTA’s “MBTA Go” app. Trains will be loaded on a first come, first serve basis. The first train is expected to depart South Station at about 5:20 p.m. and arrive in Foxborough at about 6:20 p.m., according to the MBTA. The second train is expected to depart and arrive 15 minutes later. Both trains will stop at Back Bay and Dedham Corporate Center Stations before arriving at Foxborough Station. The Providence train will leave Providence Station at 5:45 p.m. with stops at Pawtucket/Central Falls, Attleboro, and Mansfield Stations before arriving in Foxborough at 7 p.m The first train going back to Boston will leave 30 minutes after the game. The train to Providence and second train to Boston will depart 45 minutes after the game. (Sunday)

Monday, Jan. 12, 2026

CLF LAWSUIT TRIAL: Conservation Law Foundation begins trial proceedings in its federal lawsuit against Academy Express, a New England bus company, over alleged violations of federal clean air laws. Opening arguments in Conservation Law Foundation v. Academy Express are scheduled to begin, with the trial expected to last two to three weeks. The case concerns claims that Academy Express buses idled beyond legal limits over an extended period, contributing to air pollution in surrounding communities. Members of the media may attend. (Monday, 9 a.m., Courtroom 18, John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse, Boston)

ASSISTED LIVING COMMISSION: Assisted Living Residences Commission meets and is expected to vote on its final report. Lawmakers created the panel in a 2024 long-term care industry reform bill, and tasked it with submitting recommendations by Aug. 1, 2025 on "policies to ensure assisted living residences adequately meet the health and safety needs of residents." After July's fire that killed 10 residents at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, members sought additional time to solicit feedback from experts in congregate care safety. A state survey of all 272 assisted living residences last year found that the "vast majority of residences reported strong preparedness measures," but most (189 facilities or 69%) self-identified at least one area where they were not aligned with best practices for fire or building safety. (Monday, 10 a.m., Zoom)

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS CODE COMMITTEE: Department of Fire Services' General Requirements Code Committee holds a virtual public meeting. (Monday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

HOUSE: House meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)

SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream | Agenda)

HEALEY AND GOLDBERG MEET: Treasurer Deb Goldberg and Gov. Maura Healey meet. (Monday, 11 a.m., Room 227)

BALLOT LAW COMMISSION PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE: Ballot Law Commission holds a pre-hearing conference on the objection to the initiative petition that would repeal adult-use recreational marijuana. The objection was filed on Jan. 2 with Secretary of State William Galvin's office, and hinges on concerns about how signatures in support of the proposal were collected. It alleges that paid signature gatherers "misled voters with respect to what they were signing and thus obtained signatures fraudulently" at grocery stores and parking lots in the towns of Hanover, Plymouth, Weymouth and Foxborough. (Monday, 11 a.m., 17th Floor Conference Room, One Ashburton Place, Boston | Notice | Related)

UMASS CHAN CHANCELLOR SEARCH: University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School’s Chancellor Search Committee meets remotely. The committee plans to meet in executive session to consider applicants for chancellor. In June, the school’s longtime chancellor, Michael Collins, announced his plans to step down in July of this year. In 2025, Collins was the second-highest paid state employee earning more than $1.57 million only behind UMass head basketball coach Frank Martin, who earned $2.18 million, according to state data. (Monday, 12 p.m. | Zoom Access)

SENATE ART COMMITTEE: Senate Art Committee meets. Members will discuss second-round evaluations and develop a consensus recommendation. The Senate is working on selecting a woman to be honored with a statute in the Senate Chamber. (Monday, 1 p.m. |Agenda and Livestream)

TRANSGENDER ATHLETES: Ahead of the Supreme Court oral arguments in cases focused on whether states have the authority to set rules for school athletics based on biological gender, Republican attorneys general hold a press conference with female sports athletes. They include NCAA All-American swimmer Riley Gaines, NCAA volleyball athlete Macy Petty, All-Around Gymnastics National Champion Jennifer Sey and Olympic Silver Medalist MyKayla Skinner. The attorneys general are from West Virginia, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Ohio, Louisiana, Virginia and Indiana. An Idaho case before the court deals with a state law that prevents transgender athletes from playing in women and girls' sports leagues, and a West Virginia case comes from a transgender teen challenging a state law that prevents athletes who were born male from playing on girls' sports teams, according to SCOTUSblog. Following the 2024 presidential election, U.S. Rep. Moulton of Massachusetts drew criticism for saying he did not want his young daughters playing sports with transgender individuals. Beacon Hill lawmakers last year turned aside a Rep. Gaskey proposal that would have banned transgender athletes from playing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. Senate members of the Joint Education Committee in July 2025 voted 5-0 to recommend that a Rep. Fattman proposal (S 350) that would block any student athlete on a same-sex sports team from playing against a team that includes at least one athlete from another gender "ought not to pass." A similar Gaskey bill (H 584) remains before the Education Committee. (Monday, 1 p.m., The National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.)

SENATE AMENDMENTS DEADLINE: Amendments are due to Ways and Means redrafts of six bills on Thursday's Senate session agenda. Four of the bills deal with property taxes, and another addresses ballot question campaign finance reporting. A sixth makes a license plate available for families of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. (Monday, 3:30 p.m. | Related)

Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026

DPU TRANSPORTATION OVERSIGHT: Department of Public Utilities' Oversight Division holds hearings on applications for carrier certification. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. | More Info and Access)

GAMING COMMISSION HEARING: Massachusetts Gaming Commission holds a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Race Horse Development Fund. Updated regulations include citations and references to the treasurer's office, "who must provide authorization prior to the opening of any new bank account by an agency, including an Escrow Account," according to the hearing notice. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

PODIATRY BOARD: Board of Registration in Podiatry meets. Agenda includes an executive director's report. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

CABO VERDEAN CULTURAL CENTER: Special Commission on Cabo Verdean Cultural Center meets, with plans to discuss expanding membership and commissioner criteria. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | Livestream)

BALLOT LAW COMMISSION HEARING: Ballot Law Commission holds a hearing on the objection filed Jan. 2 with Secretary of State William Galvin's office to the initiative petition that would repeal adult-use recreational marijuana. The objection hinges on concerns that paid signature gatherers "misled" voters when obtaining signatures, though the ballot committee backing the proposal says its signatures were "collected with integrity." Galvin's office certified 78,301 signatures for the petition. "They've got to come up with enough signatures knocked off to disqualify the petition," Galvin said on Tuesday. "It has to be based on evidence, it can't be assertions. So it's going to be a challenge." Objectors would have to disqualify enough signatures that the petition no longer possesses the 74,574 needed to proceed in the process. The commission faces a Jan. 23 deadline to come to a decision on the matter, according to Galvin's office. The five-member commission appointed by the governor is chaired by retired Judge Ernest Sarason, Jr. and includes former senator and lobbyist Joseph Boncore, a Democrat; attorney and Democrat Joseph Eisenstadt; and State House veterans, Republican Kaitlyn Sprague and Jed Nosal, who is unenrolled. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 17th Floor Conference Room, One Ashburton Place, Boston | Notice | Related)

FIREARMS LICENSE REVIEW BOARD: Department of Criminal Justice Information Services' Firearms License Review Board holds a remote public meeting. It plans to enter into executive session after approving its open session minutes from November 2025. (Tuesday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE: U.S. Rep. Guthrie of Kentucky, chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and U.S. Rep. Latta of Ohio, Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy, hold a hearing titled "Protecting America’s Energy Infrastructure in Today’s Cyber and Physical Threat Landscape." The docket includes bills that deal with bolstering US energy infrastructure from cyber and physical threats. "Right now, the energy infrastructure in the United States faces numerous cyber and physical threats from sophisticated nation-state actors as well as criminals or ideologically driven hackers," Guthrie and Latta said. Just before Christmas, the Trump administration paused offshore wind leases, including Vineyard Wind 1 off the coast of Nantucket, due to undisclosed "national security risks." Gov. Healey and three fellow Northeast governors requested a classified briefing to understand those alleged risks. (Tuesday, 10:15 a.m., 2123 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C. | Livestream)

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Financial Services holds a hearing on three bills. A Sen. Moore bill (S 2732) would block health insurers from denying payment for health care services based only on the provider being out of network, "particularly in the context of direct primary care (DPC) arrangements," according to a summary from the Millbury Democrat's office. Another bill from Moore (S 2739) would establish a Fire Suppression Water Resource Fund, which would be used to buy and install cisterns statewide. A Sen. Dooner proposal (S 2738) would create a commission focused on the rising costs of insurance for manufactured and mobile homes. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Room A-1 | Agenda and Livestream)

RESTORATIVE JUSTICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Restorative Justice Advisory Committee's Guidelines Subcommittee holds a virtual public meeting. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

WESTERN MASS. WORKFORCE: Sen. Oliveira and Labor Secretary Lauren Jones hold a roundtable discussion at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. Lawmakers, college presidents and career center and workforce development leaders plan to attend. The discussion will explore strengthening career pathways for college students, as well as expanding paid internships, apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities. There will be a media available at 12:30 p.m. after the roundtable, followed by a tour of MicroTek in Chicopee. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., 333 Bridge St., Springfield)

BONDING, CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AND STATE ASSETS: Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets holds a public hearing on Gov. Healey's $2.9 billion environmental bond bill (S 2542). The proposal cleared the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on Dec. 15, four months after it had a hearing. For infrastructure investments, the package includes $764 million for Department of Conservation and Recreation property upgrades, $401.6 million for inland dams and flood control projects, $200 million to support ResilientCoasts recommendations to bolster coastal resiliency, and $90 million for the Department of Fish and Game to repair and modernize infrastructure, among other funding, according a Healey administration policy brief. The package would also authorize investments of $505 million in clean water infrastructure and to remediate PFAs contamination, $340.5 million in land stewardship and conservation, and $98 million for investments surrounding environmental protection, climate adaptation, pollution cleanup and waste reduction. Administration and Finance Secretary Gorzkowicz in July said the state was on track to spend just under $2 billion of the $2.4 billion authorized under a 2018 environmental bond law. "We do have a lot more authorizations than we have capacity to spend in our capital program, but we've been doing a lot of things to try to, what I will describe as, increase the pie, to make sure that we can invest in priority areas and put more tools on the table," Gorzkowicz had said. The state's appetite to borrow exceeds its ability, which is regulated by a state debt ceiling. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Livestream)

OXFORD ROADWAY REHAB: MassDOT hosts virtual public hearing about the proposed project to improve Main Street (Route 12) between Fairlawn Avenue and Front Street in Oxford. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. | More Info and Register)

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026

FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO ADDRESS SEX TRAFFICKING: Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Human Trafficking holds an event for the release of its five-year Strategic Statewide Plan to Address Sex Trafficking. The plan was developed by the council’s Human Trafficking Subcommittee and in collaboration with consultants from ForHealth Consulting at University of Massachusetts’ Chan Medical School, according to the council. The plan was the result of surveys, interviews and focus groups made up of those with lived experiences and professionals in the field. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Great Hall | RSVP)

PRIMARY CARE TASK FORCE MEETING: Primary Care Access, Delivery, and Payment Task Force, co-chaired by the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission and Executive Office of Health and Human Services, holds its first meeting of the calendar year. Members will discuss proposed payment models to increase public and private reimbursement for primary care services, and assess the impact of health plan design on health equity and primary care patient access. Members will also discuss the priorities for the task force in the upcoming year. (Wednesday, 10 a.m., Livestream)

CANNABIS CONFERENCE COMMITTEE: The six-member conference committee tasked with negotiating cannabis reform legislation (H 4206 / S 2749) meets for the first time. The House negotiators are Reps. Daniel Donahue, Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Soter, and the Senate negotiators are Sens. Adam Gomez, Jo Comerford and Peter Durant. The House unanimously passed its reform bill on June 4; the Senate passed its version on Nov. 19. Both bills would raise the amount of marijuana people can legally possess from one to two ounces, though the branches took different approaches to restructuring the Cannabis Control Commission and removing Treasurer Goldberg's appointment powers. The reform effort is unfolding alongside a potential 2026 ballot question that would roll back adult-use recreational cannabis. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Room B-1 | More Info)

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT: Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission meets. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., 10 Cabot Road, Suite 300, Medford | More Info)

AUTHOR TALK: State Library of Massachusetts hosts an Author Talk with James O'Connell on his book, "Boston and the Making of a Global City." He previously spoke at the State Library in 2016 on his book, "Dining Out in Boston: A Culinary History." (Wednesday, 12 p.m., State Library, Room 341 | More Info and Livestream)

SPILKA MEETS SOCCER TEAMS: Senate President Karen Spilka greets members of the Natick High School boys and girls soccer teams, which both won the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 2025 State Championships. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Senate Reading Room)

DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY WEBINAR: Massachusetts Municipalities Association hosts a webinar with the Commonwealth’s Accessibility Center for Consulting, Education and Support Services (ACCESS) on what municipalities need to know about digital accessibility. In 2024 the U.S. Department of Justice updated its regulations for the Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically for state and local governments, to ensure all digital content is accessible for all community members. Municipalities with more than 50,000 residents must comply by April 24, smaller cities and towns must comply by April 26, 2027. The webinar will discuss what local leaders need to know to prepare for the deadline and how to approach the rule changes. Only MMA members may register for the webinar. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | More Info and Registration)

DIVISION OF INSURANCE: Division of Insurance holds an information session on provider directory requirements for insurance carriers. It will also hold an evening session at 6 p.m. The events are part of a series of information sessions that DOI is hosting in January and February to seek input on various health insurance topics. (Wednesday, 1 p.m. | Register)

WORCESTER DTA: Department of Transitional Assistance's Worcester Advisory Board meets. (Wednesday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Access)

WATER RESOURCES AUTHORITY: Mass. Water Resources Authority Board meets. Agenda includes an annual litigation update and a fiscal 2026 summary. The board is also expected to address a litany of correspondence from elected officials and others on the authority's controversial development of an updated combined sewer overflow control plan. Those who have weighed in with "strong opposition" include Reps. D. Rogers, Decker, Sangiolo, Connolly, Linsky, Owens, Stanley, Lawn, Schwartz, Garballey, J. Moran, Honan, Uyterhoeven, Vitolo, Livingstone, Peisch, and M. Moran, according to the agenda. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Deer Island Reception/Training Building, 1st Floor, 33 Tafts Ave., Boston | Agenda, Materials and Remote Access)

EARLY EDUCATION: Board of Early Education and Care meets. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., 50 Milk St., 5th floor, Boston | More Info and Livestream)

CAMBRIDGE MLK JR. DAY LECTURE: Cambridge Public Library hosts its 51st Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture series. Brandon Terry will deliver the lecture. He is the John L. Loeb associate professor of social sciences at Harvard University and co-director of the Institute on Policing, Incarceration, and Public Safety at the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research. Registration is required. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., lecture hall at the Main Public Library 449 Broadway, Cambridge | More Info and Registration)

WEST BROADWAY BUS STOP: MBTA's West Broadway Bus Stop and Safety Improvements project team hosts a public information session about the planned safety and accessibility upgrades at the intersection of West Broadway and Dorchester Avenue. (Wednesday, 6 p.m., CRISPR Therapeutics, 105 West First Street, Boston | More Info and Register)

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026

GROUP INSURANCE COMMISSION: Group Insurance Commission meets. The agency is in the early stages of making benefit changes for the next plan year in response to surging costs. Some options involve increasing co-pays for urgent care and emergency room visits, and raising the surviving spouse contribution rate. "The budget challenge is real," GIC Executive Director Matt Veno said at last month's meeting. "We've been asked to do our part at the GIC to help prepare a responsible budget. That being said, the plan design and premium rates are ultimately the commission's decision." The GIC this month rolled out its new program with Vida Health for GLP-1 weight loss drugs, an arrangement that's being counted on to save Massachusetts $30 million annually, according to Veno. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m. | More Info)

MBTA AUDIT AND FINANCE: MBTA Audit and Finance Subcommittee holds a hybrid meeting. (Thursday, 9 a.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info)

KERSHAW ON 9:30 CALL: Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw appears on the “9:30 Call” hosted by Strategies for Children. Kershaw is expected to discuss agency updates, an overview of the EEC’s January Board meeting and take questions. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m. |More Info and Access)

CHIA HEARING: Center for Health Information and Analysis holds a public hearing on replacing the regulatory section dealing with the Standard Quality Measure Set, a set of measures that's determined by the agency's executive director and based on recommendations from an advisory committee. The new regulation deals with using and establishing the set, as well as reporting requirements for payers, providers and provider organizations. The changes stem from the 2024 health care market oversight law. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

BUSINESS ENERGY SOLUTIONS WEBINAR: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the chamber’s nonprofit arm, holds an online presentation titled “Energy Efficiency Solutions for Your Business with Eversource” as part of its Small Business Strong initiative. The presentation is meant to help small businesses owners learn about energy efficiency programs and how to reduce operating expenses and improve sustainability. The presentation will also offer information on offerings like the 100% Landlord-Tenant Program, 100% Not-forProfit Program and CDO Program. The event is held in partnership with the chamber, Eversource and National Grid. Registration is required. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Registration)

MBTA PLANNING, WORKFORCE & DEVELOPMENT: MBTA Planning, Workforce, Development and Compensation Subcommittee holds a hybrid meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info)

CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission holds a public meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Union Station 2 Washington Square, Worcester | Access and more Info)

MASSDOT OUTDOOR ADVERTISING: MassDOT Office of Outdoor Advertising holds a virtual public meeting. (Thursday, 11 a.m. | More Info and Register)

SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats meet in a caucus. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate President's Ceremonial Office and Virtual)

MBTA SAFETY, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT: MBTA Safety, Health and Environment Subcommittee holds a hybrid meeting. (Thursday, 11 a.m., State Transportation Building, 2nd Floor, 10 Park Plaza, Boston | More Info)

HEALTH CARE FINANCING: Joint Committee on Health Care Financing holds a hearing on seven bills. Among them is H 4353 / S 2587 relative applied behavioral analysis reimbursement rates as well as H 4425 / S 2737 relative to Medicare coverage of end-stage renal disease. The committee will also take testimony on H 4453 to establish an exemption for personal vehicle value from the MassHealth asset limit. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Hearing Room A-1 | Agenda and Access Info)

FARMLAND PARTNERSHIP: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources holds a webinar about the 2025 Progress Report, which details accomplishments in implementing the state's Farmland Action Plan. The webinar will also discuss Farmland Partnership Program Grants that were announced last month. (Thursday, 12 p.m. | Register)

SENATE: Senate meets in a formal session with plans to take up six bills. Four of the bills (S 2899, S 2900, S 2901, S 2902) address property taxes, including Sens. Brownsberger and Collins bills that take various approaches to tax relief. The Senate is expected to take up another two bills, one (S 2898) of which would close the existing eight-month gap in financial reporting requirements for ballot question committees, according to the Ways and Means Committee. Another (S 2903) would make a new license plate available to the surviving families of law enforcement who died in the line of duty. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Senate Chamber | Agenda TBA)

EARLY CHILDHOOD AGENDA: Strategies for Children hosts the Winter Convening of the Early Childhood Agenda over Zoom. Strategies for Children plans to share an overview and history of the agenda, which launched in 2022 and is meant to offer opportunities for learning and collaboration to make changes in early childhood systems across the state. During the event, there will also be discussions on changes in early childhood federal investments, policies and regulations as well as how to protect current investments and plan for the future. (Thursday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Registration)

ALLSTON I-90 MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION TASK FORCE: Allston I-90 Multimodal Transportation Project Task Force holds a hybrid public meeting. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center, 123 Antwerp Street, Brighton | More Info and Register)

Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

CHELSEA DTA: Department of Transitional Assistance's Chelsea Advisory Board meets. (Friday, 9:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

HERSTORY EXHIBIT: The HERstory: Volume III opens for public viewing until 4:30 p.m. The exhibit covers photos of 91 former Senate presidents, mostly men, with photos of influential Massachusetts women. Members of the public can view the exhibit through the doors closest to the Senate Chamber. (Friday, 9:30 a.m., Senate President’s Ceremonial Office)

ALLIED MENTAL HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES: Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions meets. Members will review public comments on regulatory changes dealing with mental health counselor licensure, marriage and family therapist licensure, ethical codes and standards of conduct, and the fee schedule for different registration types. (Friday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

CLEAN WATER TRUST: Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees meets remotely. The meeting was originally scheduled for Jan. 8 and was postponed because of a conflict, according to a spokesperson for Treasurer Deb Goldberg, who chairs the trust. The agenda includes an executive committee report and vote to elect Matthew Gorzkowicz, the state’s Administration and Finance Secretary, as vice chair. The trust also plans to vote on asset management grant commitments and agreements as well as clean water and drinking water commitments, including some as much as $50 million. (Friday, 2:15 p.m. | Zoom Access)

Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026

COMMUTER RAIL SERVICE: Commuter rail service will be suspended at North Station through Sunday due to signal improvement work being done just outside the station, according to the MBTA and Keolis Commuter Services. Service disruptions are planned for select weekends through April. Along the Newburyport/Rockport Line, local and express shuttle buses will run between North Station and Swampscott, and local buses will serve Wonderland to connect to the Blue Line. On the Haverhill Line, Orange Line service will replace regular train service between North Station and Oak Grove. On the Lowell Line, local and express shuttle buses will replace regular train service between North Station and Anderson/Woburn Station. On the Fitchburg Line, Red and Green Line service will replace regular service between North Station and Porter. (Saturday, Jan. 17 | More Info and Schedules)