Government Affairs Forum

Senate President
Karen E. Spilka

June 11, 2026 9:45 am – 11:00 am InterContinental Boston

Overview

Join us for our Government Affairs Forum featuring Senate President Karen E. Spilka

Senate President Spilka will share her legislative priorities and vision for the Commonwealth.

Tickets

Individual Member/Government Rate: $75
Member Table of 10: $750
Individual Non-member: $120
Non-member Table of 10: $1,200

Government Affairs Forum

Senate President Karen Spilka has led the Massachusetts State Senate since 2018. During her tenure, she has led successful fights for universal free community college, expanded access to quality early education and care, and fairness and equity in public school K-12 funding through the Student Opportunity Act.

Her signature mental health care reform bill, signed into law in 2022, has been cited as a national model. She is a former small business owner who passed an economic development reorganization bill in the wake of the 2008 recession. A social worker and attorney by training, she has also championed issues such as juvenile justice and elder care that focus on our most vulnerable residents. As Senate Ways and Means Chair from 2015 to 2018, she helped lead efforts to efforts to build up the state’s stabilization fund, which is now at record levels.

Senate President Spilka represents the MetroWest communities of the Middlesex & Norfolk District, comprised of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway and Natick.

Hear Senate President Spilka share insights on legislative priorities and the future of policymaking in Massachusetts.

ABOUT THE EVENT SERIES

The Government Affairs Forum is the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s premier platform for connecting business leaders with key policymakers and public officials. These events provide timely insights into legislative priorities, economic policy, and regional development directly from decision-makers. It’s a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue that shapes the future of Greater Boston.

Press and media should RSVP to Casey Baines.

Questions? Contact us.

Angelica Medina

Senior Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Angelica

Speaker

Senator Karen E. Spilka

Senate President, Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Through hard work, a keen ability to navigate complex issues, and a demonstrated commitment to advocating for her constituents, Senate President Karen E. Spilka…Read more

Through hard work, a keen ability to navigate complex issues, and a demonstrated commitment to advocating for her constituents, Senate President Karen E. Spilka has established herself as a respected leader in state government.  

Representing the MetroWest communities of the 2nd Middlesex & Norfolk district—comprised of Ashland, Framingham, Franklin, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medway and Natick—Senate President Spilka is dedicated to the advancement of progressive social causes and a pragmatic fiscal policy of balancing investments in education, infrastructure, and economic opportunity with saving for the future. She has championed issues such as mental health, juvenile justice and services for the elderly and disabled communities. During her career, Senate President Spilka has been a social worker, small business owner and attorney, and she went on to become one of the first legislators in the nation to vote in favor of marriage equality and transgender protections.  

Karen Spilka’s tenure as Senate President has included the legislature’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. As a part of this response, the Senate President pursued the passage of Patients First legislation, which eliminated barriers to care and advanced support for community hospitals, COVID testing sites, medical staff and telehealth services. Despite a crisis that resulted in budget cuts throughout much of the country, Senate President Spilka’s leadership in establishing one of the most robust Rainy-Day funds in the country allowed Massachusetts to not only avoid cuts to social safety nets, but rather expand support for housing stability, food security, unemployment benefits and relief for the hospitality and restaurant industries.

Senate President Spilka’s first priority as Senate President was the passage of the Student Opportunity Act (SOA), the culmination of a twenty-year effort which combined the largest increase in education funding in Massachusetts’ history with changes to make future education funding more equitable. In the wake of protests stemming from the murder of George Floyd, she led the effort to pass one of the most comprehensive and intentional police reform bills in the United States, including the creation of a first-in-the-nation civilian-led commission with the power to independently investigate police actions. In response to the threat posed by climate change, she supported a law which provided a timeline for a complete transition away from fossil fuels and toward a carbon-neutral economy and which codified the concept of environmental justice into law. 

Most recently, Senate President Spilka has led a number of efforts to decrease the barriers to accessing quality mental health care, including directing state funding towards public awareness of mental and behavioral health, as well as to increasing the mental health workforce pipeline. She has also introduced the concept of Intergenerational Care Centers as a way to address the caregiving crisis in Massachusetts, provide support for women in the workforce, and encourage high quality caregiving for all residents, from infants to elders.

Senate President Spilka is a graduate of Northeastern Law School and holds a B.S. in Social Work from Cornell University. She has been married for over thirty years to Joel S. Loitherstein, an environmental engineer, and has three adult children, Heather, Scott and Jake, and two rescue dogs, Lincoln and Mikasa. 

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Agenda

9:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Registration & Networking

Guests arrive, sign in at registration, and network with fellow attendees.

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. | Keynote Speech

Senate President Spilka to address the business community.

10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Q&A

Chamber President & CEO, James E. Rooney, moderates Q&A with Senate President Spilka.

FAQs

What is included in my registration?

Access to a welcoming community of professionals over a great conversation and morning refreshments!

What should I bring?

An interest in connecting and networking with other professionals. Oh, and don’t forget business cards.

What should I wear?

Please come dressed for your day!

When should I arrive?

Registration begins a 9:30 a.m., with program starting promptly at 10 a.m.

Do I need to register in advance?

We have a limited number of tickets available for this event due to capacity limits. Government Affair Forum events are some of the Chamber’s most popular and we recommend registering in advance to secure your spot!

Press & Media

Press and media covering the event should RSVP to Casey Baines

InterContinental Boston

510 Atlantic Ave, Boston, MA 02210

Get Directions

All cancellations must be received at least three (3) business days prior to the event to avoid being charged or to receive a refund.

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce encourages persons with disabilities to participate, and engage fully, in its programs and events.

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, including but not limited to, listening devices, closed captioning, large print, wheelchair access, allergies and environmental sensitivities, or if you have any questions about the venue, event format, or virtual platform, please contact us at [email protected].

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Get Involved

Become a Member

About Us

Get to Know the Chamber

Member Benefits

Grow Your Business

Membership Directory

Not sure if you’re a member?

Events & Networking

WHAT’S NEXT

Upcoming Events

Engage & Learn

FEATURED EVENT

Premier Event

2026 Annual Meeting

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMMING:

Member Engagement

Maximize Your Membership

Register Now

Membership Directory

Discover fellow Chamber members.

Upcoming Events

Stay Involved

Talent & Workforce

Young Bostonians Collective

Strategic Communication for Better Collaboration

Massachusetts Apprentice Network

Women’s Leadership Program

Partnership with Boston Public Schools

Boston’s Future Leaders

Policy & Impact

GET INVOLVED IN OUR POLICY FOCUS AREAS

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

Talent

Senate President
Karen E. Spilka