Last week, I was proud to join fellow advocates impacted by Alzheimer’s and other dementia to witness passage of the Alzheimer’s Act of 2026 on the Massachusetts House floor. It was a privilege to watch the bill pass unanimously, 155-0, garnering widespread, bipartisan support.
That support wasn’t just given, though—it was built over two years and with the help of House leaders who care deeply about their constituents facing Alzheimer’s and dementia. In addition to the bill’s sponsor, Marlborough representative Danielle Gregoire, the legislation was championed by my own representative, John Lawn.
Representative Lawn serves as the Chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, a group with a significant job in the State House. Through hearings and studies, Rep. Lawn and colleagues moved our Alzheimer’s bill forward, carefully vetting its stipulations and speaking to relevant stakeholders. He did his homework, and he and his staff always came prepared.
But what Rep. Lawn did to set himself apart after my many years of grassroots advocacy was that he made an effort to remember me and my story, and he thought critically about what he could do in his role to improve his constituents’ lives. I have seen Rep. Lawn on several occasions outside of the State House (most recently at the Nonantum Festa!) and he has gone out of his way each time to check in and follow up.
I will be voting for Rep. Lawn on September 1 because he cares deeply about the issues impacting our communities, he listens and wrestles with the issues, and—most of all—he delivers.
Katherine O’Malley
Nonantum