Public Health Funding and New ADU Title 5 Guidance

WMPHA news & updates

April 8, 2025

Support Local Public Health Funding in the State Budget

Happy National Public Health Week! Please join us in celebrating by taking action today to protect funding for local boards of health in the FY26 state budget.

Note that this is a lobbying activity -- you can do it, but if you are employed by a town or city, you may need to do it from your home email address. For clarification, see MAHB's lobbying guide here.

Please contact your State Representative and State Senator TODAY and ask them to protect the health of Massachusetts residents by supporting funding for local and regional boards of health at the level of $9.2 million in the FY26 state budget.

How can you take action? It’s easy!

Step 1. Find your State House Representative and State Senator by following this link: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

Step 2. Use MPHA's phone script and email template tools to support your outreach to your State House Representative and State Senator.

Step 3. Once you’ve contacted your legislators, pass this action alert along to a friend or colleague and encourage them to act as well!

Your voice really matters -- we hear this from legislators all the time!

Trainings and Workshops: MAHB Comes to Northampton

MAHB Annual BOH Certification Program April 26

Municipal Board of Health members, Health Directors, Inspectors, and Agents are invited to the annual MA Association of Health Boards Certification Program. There are three sessions this year, and the Western MA one is on April 26 at the Hotel Northampton. Note that if your Board of Health training budget is not able to pay, your shared service arrangement can use Public Health Excellence grant funds to cover your registration. Agenda items include: Legal Authority of Boards of Health

Hearings, Orders, and Enforcement
Governance: Open Meeting, Public Record Requests, Disruption
A “Deep Dive” Into the Effects of SAPHE 2.0 on Local Boards of Health
Case Studies in Tobacco, Cannabis, Synthetics
Opioid Settlement Updates
Environmental Case Studies
Nuisances/Noisome Trade Siting
Litigation Updates and Important
Decisions from the Supreme Judicial Court

JOB BOARD

New Title 5 Guidance for Accessory Dwelling Units

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has released new guidance for permitting ADUs with septic systems. An updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is being created as well, and will be available soon.

You can review the guidance at: https://www.mass.gov/lists/title-5septic-systems-policies-guidance

WMPHA Website

Thanks to financial support from DPH and help from Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, WMPHA has a new website! Please check out our archive of training materials and newsletter, helpful resources, Executive Committee meeting minutes, and more!

Access prior trainings online at WMPHA Trainings and Webinars Webpage

Access prior newsletters at WMPHA Newsletter Archive Webpage

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Western Massachusetts Public Health Association | Website