People, Power and Politics

The sky's the limit: ISO New England, the group that ensures adequate electricity, expects to have a sufficient supply of electricity to meet heightened demand this summer, and that public conservation or controlled outages will not be needed.

FRANKLIN

New Town Website Does Not Support “Cut and Paste” of calendar entries. Go to https://franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx to view directly. Steve Sherlock from Franklin Matters has kindly compiled and and shared the below information. Thanks Steve!

PorchFest, budget, Strawberry Stoll, budget… and then we’re done until the tax rate hearing this fall.

Yes, the final stretch on the evolution of the FY 2027 budget. As noted here last week, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen released an updated and ‘final’ version of the budget. The Finance Committee voted to approve it after reviewing and confirming the changes since they had seen the budget in April for their series of 4 budget hearings.

The recommendations they made were incorporated in this version along with updated numbers on new growth, health care (the last piece to the puzzle the Town was waiting for) and to the State funding expected via the Senate budget.

The House and Senate version of the State budget still need conference committee agreement to send it to the Governor for final decision. It is anticipated to not be changed much as this is an election year. The increases to local aid and Chapter 70 are needed here and elsewhere across the Commonwealth.

The School Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday at 7 PM. Their Policy subcommittee is scheduled to meet before that at 6 PM.

The Town Council will get their review and discussion on the updated FY 2027 budget at their session on Wednesday. The reduction in use of Free Cash (an accounting term that is neither ‘free’ nor ‘cash’) should help but some had previously indicated not wanting to use any. How and where they would provide the balance to the budget remains to be seen.

The Strawberry Stroll closes out the week on Friday overlapping in time schedule (4 to 8 PM) with the Farmers Market (2 to 6 PM) at the Town Common also on Friday.

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.

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 6/05/26, 10:00 PM ***

Franklin Public School Horace Mann Sub Committee Meeting - Cancelled

Monday, June 8 Time: 7:00 PM

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Monday, June 8 Time: 8:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06082026-2352

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, June 9 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06092026-2355

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, June 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06092026-2356

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Board of Trustees Meeting

Tuesday, June 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06092026-2349

Charles River Pollution Control District

Wednesday, June 10 Time: 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06102026-2350

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 10 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06102026-2357

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, June 11 Time: 2:00 PM 

No agenda available at this time

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, June 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06112026-2353

Franklin Public Schools Contractual Negotiations Meeting June 11

Thursday, June 11 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06112026-2327

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting - No Meeting

Thursday, June 11 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06112026-2347

Franklin Public Schools Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Friday, June 12 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06122026-2344

22nd Annual Strawberry Stroll @ Franklin Historical Museum

Friday, June 12 Time: 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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

Town/ School meetings

Planning Board Monday, June 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrcqCNbm3qU

Board of Health meeting - exclusive audio - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/board-of-health-hears-about-new.html

Finance Committee Wednesday, June 3 - https://www.youtube.com/live/FR_5FicbhCM?&t=208

Economic Development Subcommittee Thursday, June 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJsDcLu_-xk

Conservation Commission, Thursday, June 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoD3azLjTNM&t=1s

FHS/ Tri-County live streaming

• FHS Softball on June 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1FCIcIM3Y&t=584s
• Middle School 6th Grade Chorus & Orchestra Thursday, June 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR0mdC7goDY
• Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Chorus & Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soPfCoLNJpo
• Middle School Spring Band 06-04-26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e62I7nS2eI
• Franklin High School Class of 2026 Graduation - https://www.youtube.com/live/I771n9tYbSI?&t=671

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.htm

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

STATE HOUSE and BEYOND

After a legislative frenzy this week, Gov. Maura Healey heads into next week with some meaty bills on her plate. The House and Senate shipped her a $1.56 billion spending bill, a sprawling transportation bill that includes the annual money for cities and towns to repair roads and bridges, and legislation removing offensive language from state laws concerning individuals with disabilities. There's plenty more on the horizon, too. The Legislature is heading into a crucial stretch of the calendar in the first session under rules that soften the traditional July 31 deadline and allow negotiations and final votes to come later on legislation that gets assigned to a negotiating panel by then. The House's unanimous passage Thursday of sweeping data privacy legislation makes that issue eligible to go to a conference committee alongside the version the Senate unanimously passed in September. If the Senate passes its bill focused on the welfare of children in state care and foster care this coming Thursday as expected, that could go to conference with the child welfare bill the House passed in October. Those would join conferences already trying to iron out the different approaches the House and Senate took to the $63.4 billion fiscal year 2027 state budget, higher education infrastructure financing, early literacy reforms, and steps to protect non-criminal undocumented immigrants from federal enforcement actions. The Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus last month drew a direct line between the immigrant protection legislation's importance and soccer matches that Massachusetts will host beginning in about a week, attracting a wave of international visitors. The caucus urged "a legally-durable resolution that prioritizes the strongest protections for immigrant families ahead of the World Cup and coming events that bring global attention to our region." With the first of seven World Cup games in Foxborough scheduled for next Saturday night, next week is the last week of preparations and the beginning of a summer that state and local officials hope will spin off other beneficial economic activity. "While we may refer to it as soccer, football is the world's most popular sport, attracting billions of fans across the continent," Fall River Rep. Carole Fiola said Thursday as the House passed a bill that would let cities and towns authorize public alcohol consumption zones and extend last call by an hour, to as late as 3 a.m. The Senate appears poised to take the measure up, likely next week, though President Karen Spilka has also suggested she might want to go further to give municipalities the right to allow happy hours. Spilka will address the business community Thursday at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event, which could present her with an opportunity to shed light on the Senate's plans for a highly-anticipated energy bill and long-discussed primary care reform legislation.

The week begins Monday with memorial services at Faneuil Hall for former U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, who represented parts of Massachusetts in Congress for more than three decades and died last month at 86 years old. Expect to see fresh faces around the building: Monday also kicks off a series of intern orientations. Tuesday will bring a meeting between local government leaders and Healey administration officials, as well as a summit on the myriad changes and challenges facing MassHealth. It's also Portuguese Heritage Day. Lobbying on Wednesday will focus on farmworker protections and issues related to pets. The House will also meet in a formal session Wednesday. Spilka is not the only state leader giving a chamber speech Thursday. Healey will address the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce in Fitchburg at lunchtime, too. The Senate will be in a formal session Thursday, and is expected to pass child welfare legislation. World Cup festivities will get going Friday when the FIFA-sanctioned Fan Festival opens on City Hall Plaza in Boston. The first match to be played at "Boston Stadium" in Foxborough is scheduled for next Saturday.

Sunday, June 7, 2026

BIZ EXPERT JOINS KELLER: Jon Keller's guest is Babson College business expert Peter Cohan, who plans to discuss the AI revolution and the state's role in it, as well as investor perceptions of the Massachusetts economy. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

SCOTT BROWN: Former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, who is running in New Hampshire to return to D.C., is Matt Prichard's guest on the weekly @Issue sit-down. (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10)

DIZOGLIO ON THE RECORD: Auditor DiZoglio is the guest on WCVB's weekly "On The Record" program, just after the House and Senate each took actions to blunt her ability to audit the Legislature. (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB-TV)

DIZOGLIO AT ACT ON MASS: Auditor Diana DiZoglio headlines transparency group Act on Mass's spring fundraiser, where she will talk about the House-approved bill to narrow the scope of the voter-approved legislative audit and create a formal process to govern public access to legislative records. Act on Mass is leading the ballot campaign to open the Legislature and governor's office to the public records law, which this House bill is a more limited response to, and has also been involved in the fight for the Legislature to open its records to the auditor. A press release says DiZoglio will give a "performance" and offer her opinion on "where we can go from here." (Sunday, 2 p.m., Concord | Register)

Monday, June 8, 2026

PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security accepts written testimony on three bills. A bill filed by Sen. DiDomenico would require buses bringing students from public, vocational, private and parochial schools to have seatbelts for every student (S 1662). The other bills would create a Firefighter Staffing Coordinating Council to provide municipal firefighter staffing recommendations and administer a newly created grant fund (H 5431); and implement fines on motorboat operators who operate wakesurfing too close to the shoreline (S 3099). (Monday, 9 a.m. | More Info)

9:30 CALL: Strategies for Children's 9:30 Call features Victoria Bergeron of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, who will provide an update on the state budget as House and Senate negotiators enter conference committee talks. She will also review key differences between the budget proposals, with a focus on early education investments. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Zoom)

MEMORIAL GATHERING FOR BARNEY FRANK: A memorial gathering is scheduled to celebrate the life and work of Barney Frank, who represented parts of Massachusetts for 32 years in the U.S. House and before that, served in the Massachusetts House. (Monday, 10 a.m., Faneuil Hall, Boston)

APP-DRIVER REGULATIONS HEARING: Department of Public Utilities holds a public hearing on proposed changes to regulations governing transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft, including new driver suitability standards, deactivation review procedures, annual safety training requirements and vehicle electrification mandates. The proposals have drawn opposition from the newly certified App Drivers Union and from Uber, both of which argue the rulemaking should be paused until their collective bargaining negotiations conclude, particularly because the regulations address issues such as driver deactivations that are expected to be negotiated in a first contract. (Monday, 10 a.m., One South Station, 3rd floor, Large hearing room, Boston)

WATER SUPPLY PROTECTION: Water Supply Protection Trust meets. Agenda includes a fiscal 2026 spending update, approval of the fiscal 2027 work plan and budget, and an update on last month's plane crash into a pond near the Quabbin Reservoir. (Monday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

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

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

STATE HOUSE INTERNS: As intern season begins at the State House, House Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement Chair Rep. Brian Murray hosts a program to welcome interns to the building. (Monday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)

MBAE EDUCATION AWARDS: Education Secretary Zrike and Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Martinez are among the featured speakers as Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education hosts its annual Leadership in Education Awards luncheon. Rep. Peisch will be honored for more than two decades of work on education policy, including her role in passing the 2019 Student Opportunity Act. Vertex Pharmaceuticals will be honored for its STEAM education programs. (Monday, 11:30 a.m., UMass Club, 1 Beacon St., Boston)

PBM LICENSURE: Division of Insurance holds an information session on finalized regulations for pharmacy benefit managers, which under a 2024 law must be licensed to operate in Massachusetts. Rep. John Lawn, co-chair of the Health Care Financing Committee, says the House is mulling additional reforms for PBMs this session. (Monday, 1 p.m. | Register)

LYNCH HOMES RIBBON CUTTING: Boston Mayor Wu and U.S. Rep. Lynch join the Boston Housing Authority, Beacon Communities, and residents to mark the completion of the final phase of the Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony in South Boston. The redevelopment, which began in 2009 and is named after the congressman's mother, brings the total number of affordable apartments at the 16-acre site to 887. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 319 E. 8th St., South Boston | Livestream)

BMC SOUTH PICKET: Registered nurses and health professionals at BMC South, represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Association, hold an informational picket as they press Boston Medical Center management to resume contract negotiations. The workers recently rejected what BMC described as its "last, best and final offer" and contend the proposal would increase healthcare costs for employees, fail to keep pace with the cost of living, and do little to address chronic staffing shortages they say are undermining patient care. (Monday, 2:30 p.m., outside BMC South, 235 North Pearl St., Brockton)

CHILD WELFARE AMENDMENTS: Deadline for senators to file amendments to child welfare legislation (S 3111) that emerged June 4 from the Senate Ways and Means Committee. (Monday, 2:30 p.m.)

CABO VERDEAN CULTURAL CENTER: Special Commission on Cabo Verdean Cultural Center meets. The commission is tasked with looking into creating a Cape Verdean cultural center in Boston, including a nonprofit to oversee the construction and management of the center and the associated costs. Agenda includes a legislative update, finalizing subcommittees and a discussion of President Jose Neves visiting Massachusetts. (Monday, 4 p.m., Teams | More Info & Access Info)

MASSDOT CAPITAL INVESTMENT: MassDOT discusses its five-year Capital Investment Plan, with a focus on investments planned for southeastern Massachusetts. The event is hosted with the Old Colony Planning Council and the Southeastern Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization. (Monday, 4 p.m. | Register)

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

TECH INNOVATION SUMMIT: The Boston Globe, in partnership with Axon, holds a Tech Innovation Summit featuring speakers including Ben Downing of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; Alicia Barton of Vineyard Offshore; Ian Bowles of Windsail Capital; Nicole Collins of Heartwood & Co; Dr. Aisha Francis of Franklin Cummings Tech; and Dr. Grace Wang of WPI. The event is available in person and virtually. Tickets are $200. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., The State Room, Boston | Register)

MASBUDGET HOUSING FORUM: MassBudget hosts a virtual PolicyTALKS discussion on housing affordability, featuring Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson, Worcester City Manager Eric Batista, Springfield No One Leaves Executive Director Rose Webster-Smith, and UMass Boston economics professor Keren Horn. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m. | Register)

MEDICAID SUMMIT: With MassHealth poised to undergo drastic eligibility changes, a Medicaid Summit is hosted by The Council of State Governments, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Council, and CSG East. It's also sponsored by the chairs of the Health Care Financing Committee and the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Sessions will explore the implementation of new work requirements and more frequent redeterminations, the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, and Medicaid-funded home and community-based services and direct care workforce challenges. Another panel will dive into the financial impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on state budgets, potential tax code changes, and which Medicaid programs to keep and which states can no longer afford. Leslie Darcy, chief of MassHealth's Office of Long-Term Services and Supports, in January pointed out the office delivers care that is not required by the federal government. Officials may make further cuts to the personal care attendant program, and also trim spending for adult foster care and day habilitation. "I think we all just need to have some honest conversations about what the commonwealth is going to be able to support over the next 10 years, so that we are being thoughtful and good public stewards of taxpayer dollars," she had said. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Room 428 | Register and Zoom)

PORTUGUESE HERITAGE DAY: 42nd annual Portuguese Heritage Day is celebrated. Co-chairs of the Portuguese American Legislative Caucus, Rep. Cabral and Sen. Rodrigues, will welcome guests beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the House Chamber. Following the official ceremony, celebrations will move to the Great Hall where there will be food and entertainment. (Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., House Chamber)

STATE HOUSE INTERNS: State House interns attend a three-hour introductory program as they begin their summer internships. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)

LGBT AGING COMMISSION: Commission on LGBTQ Aging holds its quarterly meeting. The commission is tasked with studying the health, housing, financial, psychosocial and long-term care needs of older LGBTQ adults and their caregivers, and make recommendations. (Tuesday, 11 a.m, More Info | Zoom)

SHARED APPRECIATION MORTGAGES: Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office holds a public hearing on setting reporting requirements for shared appreciation mortgage entities and disclosure requirements to protect borrowers. The regulations stem from a controversial provision within a 2024 economic development that effectively protects BlueHub Capital, a Roxbury nonprofit that was sued in 2020 over predatory lending allegations. Campbell has publicly opposed the provision. (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., Conference Room 3, 21st floor, 1 Ashburton Place, Boston | More Info and Livestream)

ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION FORUM: RENEW Northeast hosts an afternoon forum on electric transmission infrastructure, featuring the release of a new white paper on transmission planning in New England and panel discussions on policy, affordability, reliability, and regional grid coordination. Weezie Nuara, deputy secretary for federal and regional energy affairs at the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, is among the featured speakers. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Federal Reserve Plaza, 600 Atlantic Ave., Boston)

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMISSION: Local Government Advisory Commission meets with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and administration officials scheduled to discuss state budget and revenue developments, the governor's economic development proposal, and her recently filed micromobility bill. Local officials are also expected to outline municipal priorities. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room 157)

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING: Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness' Committee for Supportive Housing Production and Services meets. For access, contact Joshua.cuddy@mass.gov or 1-857-260-1663. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. | More Info)

PCA WORKFORCE: Personal Care Attendant Workforce Council meets. Agenda includes MassHealth updates and an executive session for a bargaining update. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

250 REVOLUTION MEETING: Special Commission on the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution meets. Chairs Sen. Paul Mark and Rep. Sean Garballey will give remarks. Dusty Rhodes of Sail Boston will give a presentation on the tall ships visiting Boston this July. The state's Office of Travel and Tourism and Revolution 250 will give updates. The commission will also discuss planning for a state time capsule. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Virtual | Agenda and Access)

ASHLAND ARBORETUM: Ribbon-cutting ceremony is held for the Ashland Arboretum, situated on a previously contaminated industrial site that was vacant for decades. Senate President Spilka of Ashland attends. (Tuesday, 4 p.m., 409 Eliot St., Ashland)

TANNERY SUPERFUND OPEN HOUSE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosts an open house and site visit at the Creese and Cook (Former) Tannery Superfund Site, where residents can meet directly with agency staff and learn about ongoing investigation and cleanup efforts. The former leather tannery operated for decades before closing in 1983, leaving contamination that includes arsenic, lead, chromium and other hazardous substances in soil and wetlands. (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., 20 Cheever St., Danvers)

SHORTSLEEVE UNITY: Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve and his preferred running mate, lieutenant governor candidate Shawn Oliver, hold a "unity rally" in Fairhaven. On June 4, former gubernatorial candidate Mike Kennealy endorsed Mike Minogue, who outpolled both Shortsleeve and Kennealy among delegates at the party's convention in April. (Tuesday, 6 p.m., Traveler's Ale House, 111 Huttleston Ave., Fairhaven)

BOSTON SENATORS FORUM: Boston Democratic Wards 4 and 5 Committees host a double-header candidate forum to hear from candidates in two Senate districts that will feature Democratic primary contests this September. Sen. Will Brownsberger and challenger Daniel Lander will speak from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. From 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., attendees will hear from Sen. Nick Collins and the other two Democrats vying for that seat, Latoya Gayle and Juwan Skeens. Brownsberger and Collins both helped block Boston Mayor Wu's plan to reconfigure Boston's residential and commercial property tax burdens beyond what is allowed by state law. She has endorsed Gayle in the contest against Collins, and Lander is a former Wu aide looking to unseat Brownsberger. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Berklee College of Music, Boston | Register)

MASSDOT KINGSTON: MassDOT holds a public hearing on a proposed replacement of Smiths Lane over Route 3 in Kingston. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. | Register)

EASTHAM/ORLEANS ROTARY: MassDOT holds a public meeting about a proposed project to reconstruct the Route 6 rotary in Eastham and Orleans. (Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Orleans Town Hall, 19 School Road, Orleans | More Info)

MOULTON TOWN HALL: U.S. Rep. Moulton hosts a telephone town hall for constituents to ask questions and share concerns. Moulton will also give an update on his work in the U.S. House, and his campaign for U.S. Senate will likely color the event. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Register)

EPA SUPERFUND PUBLIC HEARING: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency holds a public hearing on its proposed interim cleanup plan for groundwater contamination at the Baird & McGuire Superfund Site in Holbrook. Officials will also accept oral comments from residents. The plan addresses long-standing contamination from historic chemical manufacturing operations, including pesticides, solvents, and arsenic in soil and groundwater. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Holbrook Middle-High School, auditorium, 245 South Franklin St., Holbrook)

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

MASSDOT PREQUALIFICATION: MassDOT's Prequalification Committee meets. Executive session starts at 8:40 a.m., with the open meeting resuming at around 9:50 a.m. for decisions and votes. (Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL: Public Health Council meets. Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein gives an update, which will likely touch on World Cup preparations and newly released data that show opioid-related fatalities in 2025 fell below 1,000 deaths for the first time in more than a decade. There will also be an update on Alpha gal syndrome, after Goldstein said the Department of Public Health is ramping up monitoring for the tickborne illness. The council will also have a roundtable discussion on various topics. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

9:30 CALL: Strategies for Children's 9:30 Call features Dr. Daniel Santos, director of public works in Barnstable, who will discuss his study of Open Town Meeting in Massachusetts and why participation in the state’s form of direct democracy remains limited across the state's 260 town meeting communities. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., Zoom)

MASSDOT FINANCE AND AUDIT: MassDOT Board of Directors' Finance and Audit Committee meets. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. | More Info and Livestream)

FOOD POLICY COUNCIL: Massachusetts Food Policy Council meets. Agenda includes updates from the Legislative Food System Caucus and the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative. (Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY: Massachusetts School Building Authority Executive Director Mary Pichetti and MSBA Chair Treasurer Goldberg announce the winner of the 17th annual My Ideal School Contest. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Room 428)

MASSDOT CAPITAL PROGRAMS: MassDOT Board of Directors' Capital Programs Committee meets. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

FAIRNESS FOR FARMWORKERS: Fairness for Farmworkers Coalition is holding a rally and lobby day for the so-called Fairness for Farmworkers Act (H 2108 / S 2011 and S 2012). The bill would close longstanding exemptions in state wage and hour law that leave farmworkers without the state minimum wage, overtime protections or a guaranteed day of rest. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., State House steps)

HOUSE FORMAL: House holds a full formal session, with roll calls starting at 1 p.m. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

SENATE DEMS CAUCUS: Senate Democrats meet in a caucus. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate President Spilka's office and virtual)

PETS LOBBY DAY: The MSPCA, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Animal Legal Defense Fund and Humane World for Animals host their annual lobby day, supporting legislation passed in the Senate to expand pet-inclusive housing and "end the puppy-mill-to-pet-shop pipeline." Organizers will also present awards to animal advocates and collect donations of towels, bedding and pet food for shelter animals. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Great Hall)

STATE HOUSE INTERNS: State House interns attend a three-hour introductory program as they begin their summer internships. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL HEARING: Governor's Council holds a hearing on reappointing Mark DeFrancisco to the Appellate Tax Board and re-designating him as chair. He has more than four decades of experience in state and local taxation. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., Council chamber | Livestream)

GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL: Governor's Council meets in an assembly. The body could approve Gov. Healey's nominations of Gregory Bartlett as clerk magistrate of Southern Berkshire District Court and Alison Silber as associate judge in the Probate & Family Court. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Council chamber | Livestream)

AUTHOR TALK: State Library of Massachusetts hosts an Author Talk with Donna Seger and Brad Austin, who edited the book "Salem's Centuries: New Perspectives on the History of an Old American City." The book compiles essays from faculty and graduates at Salem State University's History Department. It dives into the Salem witch trials, the Civil War and the city's maritime history, highlighting "the history of the indigenous and enslaved peoples of Salem," according to a State Library blog post. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., State Library, Room 341 | More Info and Livestream)

SMALL BUSINESS DATA WEBINAR: Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosts a free webinar, "How to Turn Daily Data into Real Profit," as part of its Small Business Strong Learning Series. Richard Holmes, founder and lead consultant of Inara Consulting Group, will discuss how small business owners can identify and track key performance metrics to increase profitability. The House last week passed a data privacy bill to restrict companies' use of personal information, but applied only to companies that control or process personal data on at least 100,000 consumers. (Wednesday, 12 p.m., Virtual | Press RSVP to cbaines@bostonchamber.com)

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

MASSDOT EASTHAMPTON: MassDOT holds a public hearing about proposed improvements for Mountain View School in Easthampton to boost the number of students who can walk or bike there. (Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. | Register)

Thursday, June 11, 2026

9:30 CALL: Strategies for Children's 9:30 Call features Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw, who will provide agency updates and take questions following the EEC Board meeting, with interpretation services available in Spanish and Portuguese. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m., Zoom)

SPILKA AT CHAMBER: Senate President Karen Spilka joins the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce for a government affairs forum that arrives as the Senate pushes forward with its agenda and the traditional questions linger about how it will sync with the House's plans. (Thursday, 9:45 a.m., InterContinental Boston, 510 Atlantic Ave., Boston | RSVP and More Info)

STATE WORKFORCE BOARD: Massachusetts State Workforce Board meets to hear updates and discuss workforce programs and priorities. The meeting is chaired by Sen. Oliveira, chair of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development, and co-hosted by Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia. (Thursday, 10 a.m., William J. Dean Technical High School, 1045 Main St., Holyoke)

GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS: Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence hosts a "Wear Orange Community Gathering" as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The event will feature speakers on violence prevention and community safety initiatives, along with a resource fair. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Sam Adams Park, 6 Faneuil Hall Sq., Boston)

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT TRUST: Economic Empowerment Trust Fund Board meets. Treasurer Goldberg chairs. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Remote | For access email sophie.m.stevenson@tre.state.ma.us)

CANNABIS COMMISSION: Cannabis Control Commission is scheduled to hold the second business meeting in its new, three-person iteration. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Worcester Union Station, 2 Washington Sq., Worcester | Agenda and Livestream)

SENATE FORMAL: Senate meets in a formal session and is expected to pass child welfare legislation (S 3111) that emerged June 4 from the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The bill establishes a Foster Child Bill of Rights to guarantee certain necessities for children in foster care related to their safety, health care, and education; ensures that educational records of children in state care travel with them from their previous school district; enhances the work of the Office of the Child Advocate to protect children and investigate cases of abuse, harm, and fatalities including by raising the pay for the job; and requires that abuse and harassment protection orders made on behalf of a child do not expire simply because the child has reached the age of majority. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

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

POSTPARTUM COMMISSION: Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression meets. They will discuss the House and Senate budgets, future planning, commissioner updates and upcoming events, according to their agenda. (Thursday, 11 a.m. | Access)

STATE HOUSE INTERNS: State House interns attend a three-hour introductory program as they begin their summer internships. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Gardner Auditorium)

CLIMATE BANK BRIEFING: Ceres hosts a legislative briefing on a proposal to establish a Massachusetts Climate Bank. Supporters are angling to have the policy included in energy legislation expected to reach the governor's desk by the end of this session. A state climate bank, supporters say, could unlock private investment in climate resilience and clean energy projects and help address energy affordability for businesses and households. Speakers include Ceres Senior Policy Advisor Rishi Reddi, Connecticut Green Bank's Bert Hunter, Amalgamated Bank's Nicole Steele, and Boston University School of Law Associate Professor Madison Condon. In 2023, Gov. Healey launched a Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, the nation’s first green bank dedicated to affordable housing. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Room 428)

END OF LIFE OPTIONS: Compassion & Choices Massachusetts Action Network and the End of Life Options MA Coalition host a lobby day highlighting legislation (S 1486/H 2505) that would allow mentally capable, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to request medication to end their life. Speakers include Sens. Jo Comerford and Will Brownsberger, Reps. Jim O'Day and Ted Philips, and advocates who will share personal experiences with terminal illness and end-of-life care. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Nurses Hall)

NORTH CENTRAL CHAMBER: Gov. Healey delivers the keynote address at the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce's 42nd annual business meeting and luncheon, where she is expected to speak about the state's economy and her plans for affordability and business growth. Healey has said the state economy is at an inflection point, and she pitched her $305 million economic development bill as a response to heightened competition in some of the state's most prized industries last month. "I think it's time to use our advantage and our position to position our economy for the now and for the future; compete for new jobs, compete for talent, compete for capital and investments. We want to let the world know that Massachusetts is open for business, this is a place where you can come start a company, grow a company, build a future," Healey told lawmakers in May. The governor's detractors believe a much more substantial overhaul of taxes and policies are needed to help the state compete. (Thursday, 11:45 a.m., Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Dr., Fitchburg | Register)

HEALTH POLICY COMMISSION: Health Policy Commission board meets to consider a final Cost and Market Impact Review report on the proposed primary care affiliation between Mass General Brigham and CVS Health MinuteClinic. Commissioners will also discuss recent healthcare market transactions, review findings from an evaluation of the agency's C4SEN investment program, and hear the executive director's report before entering executive session. (Thursday, 12 p.m., Livestream)

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AWARDS: Governor's office gives awards for excellence in supplier diversity. (Thursday, 1 p.m., Great Hall)

RESEARCH BUREAU SERVICE AWARDS: Research Bureau hosts its annual Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards, recognizing five Worcester-area public employees: Worcester Public Library Community Resource Manager Christina Connolly, Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission housing manager Emily Glaubitz, Worcester Health & Human Services Community Navigator Richard Gonzalez, Worcester Public Schools Innovation Career Pathways leader Kelsey Lamoureux and Parent Information Center student assignment officer Sue Obiero. (Thursday, 5 p.m., DCU Center, Worcester)

MHSA HOME FOR GOOD: Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance hosts its annual Home for Good fundraiser, where Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues will receive an award for work advancing housing and homelessness policy. Kayak co-founder Paul English and advocate Delphia Bizzell will also be honored. (Thursday, 6 p.m., WBUR CitySpace, 890 Commonwealth Ave., Boston)

Friday, June 12, 2026

INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on proposed rates for competitive integrated employment services. Officials say the Department of Transitional Assistance and other agencies are introducing new employment supports, aimed at giving providers "more flexibility and options to help attract and retain staffing." The new service will cost about $2.4 million. (Friday, 9:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

LONG-TERM RESIDENTIAL SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on proposed rates for adult long-term residential services. The state is expanding from four to five geographic regions to create a new Cape and Islands region to help "agencies and providers service their communities more effectively," according to the hearing notice. The proposed change will cost nearly $190 million. (Friday, 10:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

DEVELOPMENTAL, SUPPORT SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public hearing on updating rates for certain developmental and support services. The change will cost about $265,000. (Friday, 11:30 a.m. | More Info and Access)

WORLD CUP FANFEST: FIFA Fan Festival Boston opens, featuring livestreaming of the Canada vs Bosnia Herzegovina match at 3 p.m. and the 9 p.m. tilt between USA and Paraguay. Festival also features cultural showcases and more. The fanfest will be open each day through June 27. Advance registration required. (Friday, 2 p.m., City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Square, Boston)

VETERAN AWARD: Executive Office of Veterans Services holds the Deborah Sampson Award Ceremony. The annual award "recognizes those who advocate for, uplift, and empower women in the veteran community." (Friday, 1:30 p.m., Great Hall)

TOUR GUIDE ORIENTATION: Orientation session held for State House tour guides ahead of the summer busy season. (Friday, 2 p.m., Nurses Hall)

Saturday, June 13, 2026

HAITI vs. SCOTLAND: Haiti and Scotland face off in this year's first FIFA World Cup match at Foxborough's "Boston Stadium." (Saturday, June 13, 9 p.m., Boston Stadium, Route 1, Foxborough)