How it Works on Beacon Hill

Learn about the Massachusetts legislature’s process and how to advocate for the passage of bills.

LWV of the Plymouth Area hosted this event on Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 pm.

Agenda

Welcome and introduction–Vedna Heywood, Plymouth Area League of Women Voters, Board member of LWV of Massachusetts

Legislative Overview–Jennifer Muroff, League of Women Voters of Needham, Member of the LWV Massachusetts Legislative Action Committee

Panel

Moderator: Therese Murray, Former Senate President

Participants:

Senator Susan Moran
Representative Kathleen LaNatra
Representative Mathew Muratore
Representative Steven Xiarhos

Q&A

Resources

Jennifer Muroff’s presentation included a number of resources that are available to citizens who want to get information about work going on in the legislature as well as strategies for advocating for important legislation.

LWVMA Supported Legislation for 2019-20 session updated in April for 2021-22 session: https://lwvma.org/advocacy/league-supported-legislation/
How the Legislature Works Featuring Beacon BLOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyQX6Y7MB5k&t=40s
Demystifying the State Budget featuring Beacon BLOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeoHKE6-QwY&t=16s
LWVMA Citizen Lobbyist Handbook: https://lwvma.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Citizen-Lobbyist-LWVMA.FINAL_.pdf
How a Bill Becomes Law documents
- https://malegislature.gov/Content/Documents/HowAnIdeaBecomesLaw/HowAnIdeaBecomesLaw.pdf
- https://www.masslegalservices.org/system/files/library/Legislative_Process2019.pdf
House leadership https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Leadership/House
Senate leadership https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Leadership/Senate
Joint Ways and Means https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Detail/J39

Download a copy of Jennifer’s presentation here.