TAKE ACTION: ASK YOUR STATE REP. TO CO-SPONSOR HOUSE MASS WINS ACT PRIORITIES
Ami Bennitt, co-founder of the #ARTSTAYSHERE Coalition, leading a session on protecting creative workspace at the 2026 Creative Sector Summit. Photography by Ethan de Aguiar.
We need advocates to contact their state representatives TODAY (Tuesday, July 7, 2026) and urge them to co-sponsor Amendments #357, #78, #136, and #303 before the House takes up H.5562 (The Mass Wins Act) on WEDNESDAY, July 8, 2026.
Take 10 minutes to call your state representative’s office and send them an email explaining why you support these amendments. You can use these templates to help you craft your message:
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Use this form to look up your State Representative and their office phone number.
Here is a template script you can use when you call:
“Hello, my name is [Name] and I am a constituent of Representative [Name of State Rep].I am calling today to share my support for the following amendments to the Mass Wins Act (H.5562):
I support amendments #78, #136, #303 and #357. All four will strengthen Massachusetts’ creative sector.
I want to encourage Rep. [Name of Rep] to co-sponsor these amendments.
Thank you for for your time and for taking my support into account. I am also happy to answer any questions Rep. [Name of State Representative] or you have about the amendments.”Some Tips:
The more personal you make your call the better. Sharing details about the impact arts and cultural experiences have had to your community is great.
State Representatives’ staff will be getting a lot of calls today and tomorrow about this bill. If they don’t take long to speak with you, that’s okay. They will be tallying every call they receive about this bill and amendments.
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You can use this template to get started with writing your email to your State Rep. Please personalize your message to include more information about why these amendments are important to you and your community!
TEMPLATE:
Subject Line: Please co-sponsor priority creative economy amendments
Dear [REP. NAME] and staff,
As a constituent, I respectfully urge you to co-sponsor these amendments to H.5562 to support a stronger creative economy:
#78, “Adding Massachusetts Cultural Council to grant administration,” filed by Rep. Sean Garballey to add the Mass Cultural Council as administering partners for a new capital grant program supporting arts, culture, and the creative economy.
#136, “Cultural Facilities Fund Eligibility Expansion,” filed by Rep. Steve Owens ensuring that all primarily cultural municipal facilities are eligible for Cultural Facilities Funds.
#303, “Contracting of Digital Replicas,” filed by Rep. Tackey Chan to require a performer’s informed consent in executing a contract for any transfer of rights of that individual’s likeness or voice.
#357, “Grow and Maintain the Creative Economy,” filed by Rep. Dan Cahill to protect and expand creative workspaces in Massachusetts.
Arts and culture are a major economic driver in Massachusetts, contributing $29.7 billion annually, supporting 135,000 jobs, and generating over 4% of the state’s economy.
[INCLUDE PERSONAL STATEMENT ABOUT WHY THESE POLICIES AND INVESTMENTS ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU]
Strengthening the creative economy is not only necessary for maintaining the Commonwealth’s vibrancy, it is also essential for achieving the rest of our state’s economic development priorities. The creative economy is crucial for stimulating local economies, generating tourism, and instilling pride in community.
I urge you to co-sponsor these amendments to H.5562 and to advocate for them with your colleagues in the House. Please prioritize supporting creative workers and the creative economy this session.
Sincerely,
[NAME]
[ADDRESS - THIS IS HOW THEY IDENTIFY YOU AS CONSTITUENTS]
[EMAIL]
Calling and sending a personal email is more impactful than sending a form email, but any outreach is better than no outreach. If you only have time for a quick action, you can send a form message to your state representative here:
HELP US GET THE WORD OUT
We expect there to be a lot of amendments to H.5562.
We need your help winning attention over these amendments by getting the word out to your collaborators, audiences, and board members that there’s an opportunity to move these policy priorities TODAY.
Help us get the word out by sharing our posts about this call to action, sending someone the link to this page, or forwarding advocacy emails from the MASSCreative Action Network.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ADVOCACY EFFORT & THE MASS WINS ACT
The House is voting on their version of the Mass Wins Act on Wednesday, July 8th. The Mass Wins Act is this session’s economic development bond bill.
Rep. Dan Cahill filed Amendment #357 “Grow and Maintain the Creative Economy” to get the Creative Space Act included in the Mass Wins Act.
The Creative Space Act is one of the MASSCreative Action Network’s priority bills this session and would establish “creative space” and “presentation space” definitions that towns and cities can use to protect and expand creative workspaces in Massachusetts. It will also give towns and cities the option to create municipal trust funds to acquire, purchase, maintain, and hold onto creative maker spaces.
Three other amendments were filed that the MASSCreative Action Network is supporting:
#78, “Adding Massachusetts Cultural Council to grant administration,” filed by Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development House Chair Sean Garballey to add the Mass Cultural Council as administering partners for a new capital grant program supporting arts, culture, and the creative economy.
#136, “Cultural Facilities Fund Eligibility Expansion,” filed by Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development House Vice Chair Steve Owens ensuring that all primarily cultural municipal facilities and tribal government-owned facilities are eligible for Cultural Facilities Funds.
#303, “Contracting of Digital Replicas,” filed by Rep. Tackey Chan to require a performer’s informed consent in executing a contract for any transfer of rights of that individual’s likeness or voice.
