Rausch Talks Budget, Bills at Needham Town Hall

September 12, 2025
• Currently serving her fourth term as state senator, the Needham Democrat discussed her legislative actions and the state dollars funding projects and initiatives in the district.

State Sen. Becca Rausch held a town hall Wednesday night to share insight into the state budget and her work for the approximately 185,000 people in her district.

And while she represents 11 municipalities, Needham, the most densely populated in the district and where Rausch lives, frequently appeared in her presentation.

Of the $60.9 billion state budget, more than $18.7 million in unrestricted funds went to Needham to cover school supports, transportation and local government. Rausch also highlighted two town earmarks: a $70,000 electric vehicle for the town’s assessing department and $100,000 for preschool playground improvements.

From fare-free regional transit to a “record investment in education” and universal school meals to energy and environmental affairs, the budget aims “to support families and communities and businesses all across the state,” Rausch said.

“[We’re] really making these investments that reflect the needs and wants of the people and the community,” she said.

An additional $350,000 went to Hope and Comfort, a Needham-based nonprofit that provides products such as shampoo, deodorant and toothbrushes to residents in need across the state.

“The reason that we need this organization so badly is because the existing government programs like WIC and SNAP provide food and other kinds of supports, but don’t provide hygiene products,” Rausch said. “So this organization is effectively filling that gap.”

The Massachusetts Women’s History Center, also based in Needham, received $200,000 ahead of the launch of its hall of fame celebrating significant women from the Bay State. The organization had also earned a $40,000 state grant as part of the Massachusetts 250 initiative.

A constituent asked about budgetary impacts from the federal government, which Rausch said was significant. Those cuts particularly hurt the state’s science and research sector, she said.

A majority of the office’s constituent services and connections served Needham residents, Rausch said.

Regarding funding for other municipalities in her district, Bellingham received $13.8 million, Medfield received nearly $10 million and Millis received $7.2 million. Just over $3 million went to Minuteman High School, a regional voc-tech school from which 10 Needham seniors graduated last spring.

Rausch currently serves as senate chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and of the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government.

Of the more than 50 bills she filed this session, many focused on improving elections and voting systems and strengthening residents’ health and education, she said.

Her Elections Upgrades Act — which she considers to be “the longest, most comprehensive bill I’ve ever filed” — aims to improve voting systems and accessibility while also supporting local county clerks.

Rausch criticized Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services who has expressed vaccine skepticism, and spoke about her Community Immunity Act that looks to increase vaccination rates among children. Other bills, such as the state’s Shield Law 2.0, preemptively guards protections from federal action on issues such as abortion access and gender-affirming care, Rausch said.

“The Trump administration is utter chaos all the time,” she said.

On both policy and budgeting, Rausch said she and fellow lawmakers are keeping tabs on frequent federal changes in an effort to respond accordingly.

“At a state level, we’re trying to be responsible,” she said, “and we’re extremely well aware of what is actually happening in Washington.”