Mass Coalition for the Homeless' Legislative Action Day - March 5. Registration is now open !!!

‼REGISTRATION IS LIVE: https://tinyurl.com/lad2026rsvp

Please join advocates, legislators, individuals with lived experience, providers, and allies at the Massachusetts State House for the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless' Legislative Action Day on Thursday, March 5th.

Registration will begin at 9:30 AM, and the formal agenda will run 10:00 AM –12:00 PM.

Mass Coalition for the Homeless' Legislative
Action Day - March 5. Registration is now open !!!

In the afternoon, participants will meet with legislative offices. The event will be hosted by State Representative Jim O'Day.

Learn more about the Coalition's 2025-2026 bill priorities, fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget priorities, and how you can take action to advance housing stability, homelessness prevention, equity, and human rights.

We hope to see you there!

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DTN7R8pj8k2/

Legislative update - early voting cost coverage advances

Via Senator Becca Rausch:

Legislative update - early voting cost coverage advances

"My bill to proactively pay for early voting costs, rather than making towns and cities pay from their own budgets and then get reimbursed, has been reported favorably by the Committee on Election Laws.

There’s no need to continually burden local budgets when we could issue funds in advance."

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ABvthHGRd/

For other legislation Senator Rausch has filed, check the list

https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/RLR0

Rep. Auchincloss introduces bipartisan, bicameral legislation to force Pharmacy Benefit Managers to act in employees’ best interests

U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) and Ryan Mackenzie (R, PA-07), alongside Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced the bicameral PBM Fiduciary Accountability, Integrity, and Reform (FAIR) Act. This legislation would establish fiduciary responsibilities for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) – the middlemen of drug pricing – requiring them to act in the best interests of employees relying on employer-sponsored health plans, while keeping plan costs low.

U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss

Currently, PBMs that provide drug benefits for employer health plans often get away with price-gouging because they are not legally required to put employees’ interests first. The PBM FAIR Act would ensure these middlemen are classified as fiduciaries under law, which will help curb hidden fees and practices that drive up what employees pay for their medications.

PBMs are directly responsible for:

• Marking up generic drugs at prices hundreds of times higher than actual cost,
• Limiting patient choice, and
• Denying claims with no or misleading explanations.

This bill reins in bad PBM practices and helps ensure employer-sponsored health care plans are affordable and accessible to all families.

“Instead of looking out for the best interests of employees, pharmacy benefit managers have been hitting them with prescription drug mark-ups, inconvenient pharmacy options, and wrongful denials,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss. “This legislation puts force of law behind the best interest standard. The PBMs either improve access and affordability, or they'll pay out in lawsuits.”

                                                                                                                    

“Pharmacy benefit managers play a major role in determining what patients pay for their prescriptions, yet they often operate with little accountability,” said Congressman Ryan Mackenzie. “The PBM FAIR Act brings transparency to the system by requiring PBMs to act as fiduciaries under ERISA, ensuring that patients come first. By holding middlemen accountable we can also deliver lower healthcare costs to policyholders."

“For too long, middlemen have used opaque pricing and misaligned incentives to line their own pockets at the expense of employers,” said Senator Marshall. “PBMs shouldn’t profit by steering plans toward higher‑cost drugs or practices that drive up prices. This bill holds them accountable and ensures that every decision they make prioritizes the health and financial interests of the plans and people they serve.”

“Pharmacy benefit managers should be held accountable for their role in raising costs of prescription drugs,” said Senator Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation is critical to ensuring that PBMs are doing what’s best for Americans who rely on lifesaving medication.”

This legislation is supported by the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC).

“Employers, workers, and families should be able to rely on those who provide services to employer-sponsored group health plans, such as pharmacy benefit managers, to adhere to the same fiduciary duties the employer is held to. That means working to save money for patients, and doing what is right for the plan’s beneficiaries. Today’s unregulated, “honor system” approach is not working. When PBMs are performing services on behalf of the employer, they are standing in the shoes of the plan sponsor and should be held accountable. ERIC applauds Representatives Auchincloss and Mackenzie, and Senators Marshall, Kaine, Grassley, and Hassan for leaving politics at the door and taking a bipartisan approach to clarify this important extension of current law,” said James Gelfand, President and CEO, ERIC.

The full text of this legislation is available ->   https://auchincloss.house.gov/imo/media/doc/pbm_fair_act.pdf

Boston Globe: "Massachusetts is getting a new state flag..."

"A jovial drawing of a Cod fish. A puppy sporting a tag that reads “small state, big heart.” And lots (and we mean LOTS) of drawings of pine trees.

Residents across Massachusetts tapped into their creativity when they submitted ideas for a new state flag, which comes after a multi-year push to replace Massachusetts’ current controversial state seal that depicts an Algonquin warrior with a bow and arrow standing beneath a raised broadsword held by a disembodied arm. Around the figure, a Latin motto roughly translates to: “By the sword we seek peace, but peace under liberty.”

But the state’s decision to replace the flag has sparked a heated debate about the erasure and sanitization of history. On one side, critics say the placement of the broadsword above the Native American figure valorizes the violence inflicted on Native American populations. But others, including some from Massachusetts’ indigenous communities, call it a true depiction of what happened to Native Americans in the state and said that removing the seal allows the Commonwealth to forget about past atrocities committed against this group."

Boston Globe: "Massachusetts is getting a new state flag..."

Continue reading the article online -> https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/08/19/newsletters/starting-point-massachusetts-flag-redesign/

You can find all the submissions at this link ->    https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-seal-flag-motto-submissions/download

You can take action (send an email) ASAP to help with funding local PEG studios (like Franklin.TV)

As you know, local PEG studios like Franklin.TV are nonprofit charities - funded by law via cable subscriber access fees.

As more subscribers 'cut the cord', our revenue drops.

In 2025, we are now below the revenue we had 15 years ago in 2010. Inflation has raised our costs in that same time period beyond an additional 50%.

The MA Telecom Committee on Beacon Hill has a hearing on July 10th. They are discussing legislation to mitigate our falling revenue via streaming TV access fees.

An Act to modernize funding for community media programming

• The House version is H.74  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H74  or https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H91
• The Senate version is S.41  https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S41

Some believe that we are irrelevant - a relic of old legacy TV service. We are definitely not that. Today, most PEG studios provide free live streaming for local community groups and their events, school sports, government meetings, and much more.

A letter of support from your organization to the committee legislators would be a great help.

Simply describe our work with you and how we have been helpful - and if so, even beyond producing any TV programs.

If the pending legislation fails, we will soon be forced to reduce our current level of community engagement and support.

We were given short notice and wish to show support from our community. Below is an email list of direct legislative committee contacts.

Please send your letter of support to them and please cc me as well.

We are testifying before the committee on Jul 10, 2025.  Hearing ->   https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5274

We hope to have them report out the pending bills favorably for a vote.

Much thanks,

Pete Fasciano

Michael.Moore@masenate.gov,

Pavel.Payano@masenate.gov,

Tricia.Farley-Bouvier@mahouse.gov,

james.hawkins@mahouse.gov,

Mike.Barrett@masenate.gov,

Barry.Finegold@masenate.gov,

Paul.Mark@masenate.gov,

peter.durant@masenate.gov,

Steve.Ouellette@mahouse.gov,

Christopher.Flanagan@mahouse.gov,

Thomas.Moakley@mahouse.gov,

Orlando.Ramos@mahouse.gov,

Steven.Owens@mahouse.gov,

tommy.vitolo@mahouse.gov,

Joan.Meschino@mahouse.gov,

Marc.Lombardo@mahouse.gov,

John.Gaskey@mahouse.gov

--

Pete Fasciano,

Executive Director,

Franklin.TV &

wfpr.fm 102.9

State Rep. Jeff Roy Visits Franklin's Horace Mann Middle School to Discuss Recess Legislation with Sixth Graders

Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Horace Mann Middle School (HMMS) teacher Joe Corey are pleased to share that students recently welcomed State Rep. Jeff Roy for an engaging conversation about the legislative process and an important bill that directly impacts them.

On a recent visit to the school, Rep. Roy met with the Grade 6 Team Lightning students to discuss pending legislation that would mandate 30 minutes of unstructured recess daily for all students in grades K-8. The visit was the latest in a series of civics-focused learning opportunities for students, who have been studying how bills become laws and advocating for causes for which they care.

State Rep. Jeff Roy recently visited with students at
Horace Mann Middle School to discuss the
legislative process and a pending
recess bill. (Photo Courtesy Franklin Public Schools)

Team Lightning educators — Mr. Joseph Corey, Ms. Lauren Goode, Mrs. Erin Bouchard and Mr. David Foster — facilitated the event, during which Rep. Roy shared his support for the recess bill and walked students through the steps of the legislative process. He noted that while the bill enjoys bipartisan support, the state’s legislative calendar runs in two-year cycles, meaning that even well-supported ideas can take time to become law.

"I really enjoyed how he explained the process of making a law," said student Clare Fisk. "It let me understand how our law would get passed. I also really liked when he told us examples of how other laws got passed."

Rep. Roy also expressed his appreciation for the students’ civic engagement, especially after learning they had submitted written testimony to the Joint Committee on Education in response to a May 6 hearing on the bill. Many students watched the hearing live in class and followed up with persuasive letters and poems advocating for recess.

"I have never met an important person of authority before," said student Sebi Ciporkin. "Their presence actually gave me goosebumps."

Students found the experience both inspiring and informative, from understanding the legislative timeline to learning about the differences between emergency bills and standard filings.

"I enjoyed meeting with my elected representative and senator because it is cool to learn more about the law-making process and it is just overall pretty cool to meet with someone who represents our state," said student Desi Camp.

The visit followed a similar conversation with state Sen. Becca Rausch, who met with students earlier this year. Both lawmakers offered students encouragement and advice for strengthening their advocacy efforts.

"They listened to our research, told us that they were on board, and then told us their facts," said student Theo Perry. "They listened to our poems and were surprised, impressed and kind."

Rep. Roy, a Franklin resident and parent of three HMMS alumni, shared memories of his own children enjoying recess and expressed concern that middle schoolers today often go without it due to academic time-on-learning requirements from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

"We’re so proud of our students for engaging so deeply with the democratic process," said Superintendent Giguere. "Their thoughtful questions, persuasive writing and respectful dialogue with elected leaders demonstrate the powerful impact of student voice."

"An Act to establish a study of Kingsbury Pond in the town of Norfolk" - H1061

"An Act to establish a study of Kingsbury Pond in the town of Norfolk" -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1061

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2025 from 01:00 PM -  5:00 PM in A-1

Anyone can submit written public comment or sign up to make public comment in person. The instructions to do so are here: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/5121

 

 

Note: A view of the legislative history shows that this bill has been submitted for multiple sessions. Maybe with this hearing process, it might actually get acted upon.

"An Act to establish a study of Kingsbury Pond in the town of Norfolk"  - H1061

School Committee Legislative Forum - Feb 24, 2025 (audio)

FM #1388 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1388 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Legislative Forum held on Monday, Feb 24, 2025. The Forum was held in the FHS Lecture Hall and broadcast via cable, Zoom, and to YouTube by Franklin TV. The audio of that recording is available here as a podcast. 

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan was host, welcomed Superintendent Lucas Giguere who provided a briefing on the school redistricting and school budget.

Chair Callaghan turned to the legislative delegation, Senator Becca Rausch and State Representative Jeff Roy for their opening remarks before getting into some prepared questions. After the prepared questions, the audience was allowed to ask questions or make comments.

The recording runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1388-school-cmte-legislative-forum-02-24-25/

--------------

The Franklin TV video is available for replay here -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuUN6giRqc0 

The agenda doc can be found -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02242025-1582 

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pX-uJFiDmOih9nE4vdq9QSr7qeGlQwQH/view?usp=drive_link 

Photos taken during the event -> 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/821vCMxw7Br6KakP8 

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

School Superintendent Lucas Giguere

School Committee Legislative Forum - Feb 24, 2025 (video)

The Franklin School Committee conducted a Legislative Fourm with Senator Becca Rausch and State Representative Jeff Roy on Monday, Feb 24, 2025. 

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan moderated the event. School Superintendent Lucas Giguere provided some remarks the state of the schools. Some questiosn were asked of the delegation before opening the floor to questions from the audiance.

Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuUN6giRqc0

My notes in one PDF as written during the event ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pX-uJFiDmOih9nE4vdq9QSr7qeGlQwQH/view?usp=drive_link

Photos taken during the event -> 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/821vCMxw7Br6KakP8

School Superintendent Lucas Giguere

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, February 24, 2025 ???

Monday, February 24

9:00am Fallen Hero Recognition: David Laughlan III - WWII (Veterans Walkway - Franklin Town Common) 

6:30pm Legislative Forum (Franklin High School)

**  Town Meetings today   **

6:30 PM - Franklin School Committee Meeting (Legislative Forum @ FHS)

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02242025-1582 

7:00 PM - Franklin Agricultural Committee (not broadcast) https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02242025-1591

7:00 PM -  Library Board of Directors Meeting (not broadcast)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/?#_02242025-1593

7:00 PM - Recreation Advisory Board (not broadcast)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02242025-1535

7:00 PM - Planning Board

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02242025-1594 

--------------

Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Franklin School Committee is pleased to host the Legislative Forum on Feb 24, 2025

The Franklin School Committee is pleased to host the Franklin Legislative Forum on February 24th at 6:30 PM in the Franklin High School Lecture Hall.

This forum offers a valuable opportunity to engage directly with MA Senator Rausch and State Representative Jeff Roy to discuss key issues impacting our community.

We encourage community members to attend this event and take advantage of this opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue with our local legislators!

Franklin School Committee is pleased to host the Legislative Forum on Feb 24, 2025

Franklin School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/page/school-committee

Representative Roy Calls for Primary Seat Belt Law at the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts Advocacy Day

On February 4th, 2025, the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA) hosted their annual Brain Injury Annual Advocacy Day at the Massachusetts State House. They were advocating for bills requiring commercial health insurers to cover cognitive rehabilitation services for survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI), continued funding for the Statewide Head Injury Program, and State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy’s primary seat belt bill. 

Rep. Roy attended the Annual Advocacy Day to show his support and addressed the crowd about HD.1180 An Act establishing a primary seat belt law. As he noted in his remarks, “Seatbelts offer the best defense from injury or death in car crashes. Seat belts promote safety, save lives, and save money.”

Rep Jeff Roy addressed the crowd

In fact, statistics demonstrate that we could save 45 lives, prevent 500 injuries, and save $525 million over 5 years with a primary seat belt law in effect. According to a recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine, the single greatest opportunity to improve health and reduce premature deaths lies in personal behavior and seat belt use is yet another form of impaired driving that must be addressed. Massachusetts ranks 46th in the nation in seat belt use, lagging the national rate by nearly 10 percent, reinforcing the need for this legislation.

Held at the state house every year, the BIA-MA event provides information on legislative ambitions to constituents, survivors, and elected officials. The push for advocacy does not stop with their policy agenda, as the event is also provides a platform for survivors of traumatic brain injuries to share their personal story on the significant impact of TBI. 

(L-R) Ali Rheaume, Rep Jeff Roy

During the event, Franklin’s Ali Rheaume, a traumatic brain injury survivor., shared her own experiences, stating, “Brain injuries are ‘invisible", meaning you cannot see what the impact is simply by looking at someone. I may look good, but you have no idea that I actually feel confused, foggy, or even in pain. 

“You may get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, drive to work, navigate work all day, and not have to think twice about any of those actions or decisions. For someone who sustained brain injury, every task is a big deal. Choosing your clothes, remembering a schedule, and problem-solving along with sudden issues that arise such as traffic, can all be extremely difficult. It takes cognition, which is affected by brain injury, and that is why we are strongly advocating for new laws, such as Rep Roy’s bill.”

The BIA-MA also presented attendees with an “Unmasking Brain Injury” exhibit. This offered compelling visual insight into TBI survivors’ everyday experiences through their artistic works. Through the speeches of Massachusetts Legislators, BIA-MA, MassAbility, and other survivors, the annual Brain Advocacy Day hopes to ensure stories like Rheaume’s are heard throughout the state. 

For more information on the Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts, please visit https://biama.org/.

Boston Globe: "In re-filed bill, Healey takes second swing to allow cities and towns to raise taxes on hotels, meals, cars"

"Governor Maura Healey on Friday filed legislation geared toward cities and towns that would cement the option for hybrid public meetings, and allow local leaders to raise the tax rate on hotel stays, meals, and cars in their borders.

The sprawling proposal, which Healey previewed to municipal leaders at the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s annual conference in Boston last week, mirrors parts of legislation that Healey filed a year ago, which died in the Legislature.

Among those provisions she’s reintroducing are three tax proposals that her administration last year estimated could collectively generate more than $150 million in new annual tax revenue for towns and cities.

Boston Globe: "In re-filed bill, Healey takes second
swing to allow cities and towns to
raise taxes on hotels, meals, cars"

They include a provision that would allow towns and cities to collect a 1 percent tax on meals in restaurants and local stores, up from the current 0.75 percent maximum. Healey’s bill would also create an option for cities and towns to charge an additional 5 percent on the motor vehicle excise fee residents pay."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required) ->

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/31/metro/healey-municipal-bill-taxes/

or 

Link to legislation document -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/healey-files-mea/download

Link to Gov Healey's press release -> https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-files-municipal-empowerment-bill-to-enhance-ability-of-local-leaders-to-deliver-high-quality-services-for-their-communities

Franklin School Committee schedules Legislative Forum on February 24 - 6:30 PM

The Franklin School Committee is excited to host the upcoming Franklin Legislative Forum on February 24th at Franklin High School Lecture Hall at 6:30 PM. 

survey -> https://forms.gle/tomt66xtVYyK8KyKA

This forum is an opportunity to engage directly with legislators and discuss important issues affecting our community. 

To ensure that the topics most important to you are considered, we invite you to submit questions in advance. Whether you have concerns about education, funding, infrastructure, or ideas for improving our community, we want to hear from you!

Reply to the survey -> https://forms.gle/tomt66xtVYyK8KyKA 

This survey will be open through Friday January 31st.

New Legislation Aims to Protect Drinking Water, Provide Financial Assistance for Private Well Testing Statewide

As MassDEP Studies Potential Program, Coalition for Safe Drinking Water Urges Bill Passage

Legislation filed this week would enable Massachusetts to develop minimum statewide water quality standards for private wells and expand a financial assistance program to remediate wells affected by PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and other harmful contaminants in drinking water supplies.

The filing of the bill (SD.847) by Sen. Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and Rep. Natalie Blais (D-Sunderland) was applauded by the Coalition for Safe Drinking Water, a grassroots group led by RCAP Solutions and supported by The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts that is focused on equitable access to clean and safe drinking water.

New Legislation Aims to Protect Drinking Water, Provide Financial Assistance for Private Well Testing Statewide

More than half a million Massachusetts residents – located heavily in rural areas but also in all 351 cities and towns – rely on private wells for their drinking water.  Yet many are consuming water that may be unsafe because the source is not regularly tested and treated like public water supplies and could have harmful contaminants such as PFAS, arsenic, radon, uranium and more.  A 2023 poll revealed that 92% of residents believe that state government should play a role in ensuring safe drinking water for all.

“As the Legislature continues to address PFAS contamination in communities across the state this session, it’s crucial that the hundreds of thousands of households relying on private well water have access to clean and safe drinking water,” said Sen. Eldridge.  “That’s why I’m proud to once again file legislation to empower the DEP to regulate private wells and establish a program to help homeowners test their wells for dangerous contaminants.”

The initiative gained momentum last year in the state budget process, with $100,000 appropriated to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to conduct a study and make recommendations for a statewide program to ensure that drinking water from private wells is safe to consume.  The MassDEP study is currently in progress.

The newly filed legislation would grant the MassDEP clear authority to establish standards and define testing requirements for new and existing wells to ensure effective implementation.  Upon the sale of a home, a private well used for drinking water would have to pass a test for the transaction to be completed (similar to the state’s Title 5 septic system regulations).  The state would make resources available to assist eligible homeowners with the cost of well water upgrades.

“We applaud Senator Eldridge, Representative Blais, Representative Kilcoyne and Representative Sena for their leadership on this important issue.  Too many homeowners are not aware of what’s in their well water or how the presence of PFAS and other contaminants could harm their family’s health,” said Brian Scales, President & CEO of RCAP Solutions, a nonprofit community development corporation based in Worcester.

“Massachusetts residents who live in municipalities with public water systems have access to water that is tested and treated to meet state and federal standards, but those protections do not extend to those who rely on well water,” said Amie Shei, Ph.D., President & CEO of The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts.  “Wells require regular testing and maintenance, just as public water systems do, but not everyone is aware of the need or can afford these services – creating a regional equity issue that can be addressed through this legislation.”

RCAP Solutions’ Private Well Program to Protect Public Health, funded by The Health Foundation, conducted over 500 water quality tests of private wells across several Massachusetts communities from 2020 to 2022, finding that about a third of the wells contained levels of contaminants higher than state health standards or suggesting potential health risks.

For more information about the legislation and the Coalition for Safe Drinking Water, please visit www.whatsinyourwellwater.org.

About RCAP Solutions

RCAP Solutions is an integrated community development corporation working with a multi-faceted suite of services in communities throughout the northeastern part of the U.S. and the Caribbean. Established in 1969 (as Rural Housing Improvement), RCAP Solutions has supported the power and potential of communities for over half a century as strategists of community-wide well-being. Our mission is to foster personal and public self-reliance and improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and the communities in which they live. For more information, visit: www.rcapsolutions.org.

About The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts

The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts is dedicated to improving the health of those who live or work in Central Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on vulnerable populations and unmet needs.  Through its unique and impactful approach to grantmaking, The Health Foundation supports community-identified health issues, with health defined broadly to include social determinants of health and with a focus on promoting health equity.  As a health conversion foundation launched in 1999 following the sale of the not-for-profit HMO Central Massachusetts Health Care Inc.  The Health Foundation’s grants have totaled over $59 million to more than 230 unique organizations over its history.  For more information, visit www.thfcm.org.

Direct link to legislation -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD847