On February 12, 2026, the Women’s Bar Association (WBA) of Massachusetts led by the WBA’s Legislative Policy Committee (LPC), hosted its 32nd Annual Legislative Breakfast at the State House. Legislators and their staff, WBA members and coalition partners joined the WBA’s LPC for its presentation of the organization’s 2026 legislative agenda. The annual breakfast serves as a platform for the WBA to advocate for its important legislative priorities.  

The WBA’s 2026 Legislative Priorities

State Senator Cindy F. Friedman offered welcoming remarks and stressed the importance of engagement on critical legislative issues at this well-attended event. She applauded the WBA for its leadership and persistent advocacy.  LPC Co-Chair Gisela DaSilva echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that the WBA’s legislative agenda is essential to advancing the WBA’s mission of promoting justice and equity.

Several notable speakers in attendance also voiced their support for the WBA’s 2026 legislative priorities:

• WBA President Julie Dick Palmer provided an overview of the WBA’s 2026 legislative priorities stressing the need for codified access to abortion, due process protections and safety for immigrant communities, employment protections for abuse survivors, civil legal aid funding, access to doula services, and increased cash assistance for low-income families in need.

  “This is a critical moment in American history, and we are all urgently called to advocate for a more equitable and just society. I urge everyone to join the WBA in working to strengthen protections for our most critical rights and freedoms." stated WBA President Julie Dick Palmer.
   

• Lynne Parker, Executive Director, Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation (“MLAC”) emphasized the critical importance of Civil Legal Aid Funding in the FY27 Budget Request, specifically, $53 million for MLAC (line item 0321-1600) and $4 million for Access to Counsel Program (line item 0321-1800).  Civil legal aid ensures that low-income individuals and families receive the legal assistance they need on issues such as housing, health care and other fundamental needs.
   
• Andrea Kramer, Chair of the Protected At Work Task Force urged support of An Act Relative to Employment Protections for Victims of Abusive Behavior, S.1294/H.2143, which provides important employment protections for victims of abusive behavior.  She explained that economic stability is critical to breaking the cycle of violence, as many survivors experience job loss or other employment-related consequences as a result of abuse.
   
• Jamie Ann Sabino, Deputy Director of Advocacy and Managing Attorney of the Civil Legal Needs for Victims of Crime Initiative (CLAVC), Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and WBA board member discussed the necessity of An Act Enhancing Abortion Care, S.1244, H.1815, emphasizing the importance of lifting restrictions on abortion access.  She spoke passionately about the WBA’s more than 40-year advocacy for women’s reproductive rights and stressed the hardships pertaining to access of abortion related to parental consent or judicial bypass for minors under 15 years of age as well as economic disparities, transportation obstacles, confidentiality concerns, and fear for safety.
   
• State Representative Lindsay Sabadosa spoke about the successful passage of recent maternal health legislation and stressed the importance of also supporting An Act Relative to Insurance Coverage for Doula Services, S.789/H.4344 to ensure that private and commercial insurance will cover doula services.
   
• Clare Heine, Staff Attorney, Greater Boston Legal Services shared some the difficult choices faced by low-income families between food, clothing or shelter, and urged the passing of An Act to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty, S.118/H.214, which provides cash assistance to low-income families, elders and individuals with disabilities.
   
• LPC co-chair Krina Patel highlighted the WBA’s additional supported legislation, including menopause awareness, access to free menstrual products, access to equitable representation in immigration proceedings, establishment of the state consumer data privacy act, protections for victims of economic abuse, protections for victims of abuse from abusive litigation, automatic sealing of criminal records in certain situations and building restorative and community connection for incarcerated individuals.

State Senator Patricia D. Jehlen offered closing remarks on the progress of women elected to the Legislature over the years, noting that when she first began serving, women did not have the same access to restrooms as their male colleagues and few women were elected or chaired legislative committees. However, during her tenure, she noted that there have been three female Senate presidents and two female chairs of Ways & Means.  Senator Jehlen, who will retire at the end of her term, takes pride in bills she has worked on over the years, including the Equal Pay Act for women, menstrual products access, wrongful convictions, and 2018 criminal justice reform. Senator Jehlen wished the WBA good luck with its legislative agenda and said she appreciated the WBA’s persistence because it can take a long time to pass legislation.