Welcome to the first issue of LWVMA's new Action Newsletter. At the beginning of every month, we will provide you with information to help you take action, advocate, and effect change here in Massachusetts.  

How can you get involved?
  • Attend State House hearings on bills you care about and show support for bills LWVMA will testify on
  • Come to Lobby Days to speak directly with your state Senator and Representative
  • Call or email your legislators to support or oppose legislation
  • Schedule an in-district meeting with your legislators
  • Attend forums, lectures, and workshops on key public policy issues
We hope that you find the information in these monthly updates informative and welcome your feedback at lwvma@lwvma.org.
Upcoming Opportunities for Action

[Please note: Our written testimony on bills listed here will be posted on our website as it becomes available.]
 
Criminal Justice Reform: LWVMA supports reform of the criminal justice system, including eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and increasing felony larceny thresholds.

Monday, June 5:  1 p.m. Hearing on criminal justice reform bills.  Joint Committee on the Judiciary, Hearing rooms A-1 and A-2, State House.  S777/H2359 Reducing Criminalization of Poverty; S944/H2309 Sealing juvenile records and expungement; S834/H3120 Pretrial and Bail Reform; and S847/H793 Restorative Justice.

Monday, June 19:  Hearing on additional criminal justice reform bills.  Joint Committee on the Judiciary.  Time, hearing room, and schedule of bills to be announced later.  Check here closer to the date.
 
Elections and Voting: A bill proposing that Massachusetts adopt automatic voter registration (AVR), S373/H2091, is a legislative priority for LWVMA in this session of the legislature.

Thursday, June 8:  1 p.m. Hearing on Automatic Voter Registration and Election Day Registration.  Joint Committee on Election Laws, Hearing room A-2, State House.  S373/H2091 Automatic Voter Registration; S371 Election Day Registration. 

Wednesday, June 28:  Automatic Voter Registration Lobby Day. Bring automatic voter registration to Massachusetts by supporting S373/H2091. 9:30 a.m., Room 428, State House for registration, speakers and training; 11 a.m., meet with your Senator and Representative.  

Environment: LWVMA supports efforts to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, and through an accelerated transition to clean, renewable energy.

Tuesday, June 13:  Carbon Pricing Lobby Day. We will be lobbying in support of the two carbon pricing bills.  Please click on the bill numbers for fact sheets: H1726 and S1821. The planned schedule is: 9 a.m. meet at Old West Church, 131 Cambridge St., to get organized; 10 a.m. to noon, meetings with Senators; noon to 1 p.m., lunch; 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., meetings with Representatives.  To register, click here.

Tuesday, June 20: 1 p.m. Hearing on Carbon Pricing bills.  Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, Room 437, State House.  Click on the bill numbers for fact sheets: H1726 and S1821.

Various dates in June: Senate Clean Energy Future Tour.  Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change is holding hearings throughout the state.  Hearings will be June 12, Springfield; June 19, Pittsfield; June 20, North Shore; and June 26, Boston.  See the committee's website for details for each event.  Launa Zimmaro, LWVMA's Specialist for environmental legislation, has prepared 

Immigration:  LWVMA supports higher education opportunities for undocumented youth and programs for immigrants and naturalized citizens to become engaged in civic life. 

Friday, June 9:  10 a.m.  Hearing on "Safe Communities Act."  Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, Hearing rooms A-1 and A-2.  A fact sheet on the bill, S1305/H3269, is available here.

Thursday, June 15:  10 a.m. Hearing on H644 to allow in-state tuition at state universities for certain undocumented students.  Joint Committee on Higher Education, Hearing room A-1.

For questions or additional information on these events, email Nancy Brumback, Legislative Action Committee chair, nbrumback@lwvma.org.
 
The LWVMA Legislative Update is distributed to all LWVMA members. Anyone can request the Legislative Update by clicking here. Please review this Update for articles of interest to your League and include them in your local Bulletin.

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