Advocates urge committee to require greater diversity on public boards and commissions

Nicole Lockhart Rios, speaking for MassNOW, testified in favor of legislation (H.3398 and S.2160) aimed at promoting diversity on public boards and commissions. "Including diverse perspectives doesn't just change who's at the table, it changes the outcomes and strengthens the entire system," Lockhart Rios said. She described MassNOW's internal goal to ensure half of its board members are women of color and urged the committee to require public bodies to better reflect the Commonwealth.

Lockhart Rios cited data points to argue underrepresentation on public boards: she said people of color hold roughly 12% of board positions despite representing nearly a third of the state's population, and that some boards have 30% or fewer women. She said those gaps mean issues affecting particular communities can go unseen and that diversity is practical as well as aspirational.

Supporters framed the bills as a policy step to strengthen government deliberation and responsiveness; testimony did not include specific legislative text or budgetary details for implementing the proposals. The transcript records no committee vote on H.3398 or S.2160 during the session recorded.

Committee members did not take formal action on the bills within the provided transcript; after testimony, the chair closed the hearing by motion and vote.