Massachusetts Boards, Commissions, and Departments

Civic Engagement, Civil Rights, and Equity

• Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)The state’s civil rights enforcement agency. Investigates complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, education, and credit.
• Massachusetts Commission on the Status of WomenAdvocates for policies that promote the rights and well-being of women across the Commonwealth.
• Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (ODEO)Ensures equity and inclusion in state employment and services.
• Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC)A nonprofit coalition of organizations promoting civic education across the state. Not a state agency, but a key partner in Massachusetts civics education.

Environment and Recreation

• Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)Ensures clean air, clean water, and safe management of waste and hazardous materials.
• Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)Manages state parks, forests, beaches, trails, and recreational facilities across Massachusetts.
• Department of Fish and GameManages wildlife, fisheries, and hunting and fishing programs throughout the Commonwealth.
• Department of Agricultural ResourcesSupports Massachusetts farms, regulates food safety, and promotes local agriculture.

Health and Human Services

• Department of Public Health (DPH)Oversees statewide health services, disease prevention, emergency preparedness, and vital records.
• Department of Children and Families (DCF)Protects children from abuse and neglect and supports families in crisis.
• MassHealthProvides health insurance coverage for eligible low-income residents, including children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
• Department of Mental Health (DMH)Provides mental health services and supports to adults and children across the Commonwealth.

Public Safety

• Massachusetts State PoliceProvides statewide law enforcement, criminal investigation, and public safety services.
• Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)Coordinates the state’s preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation for emergencies and disasters.
• Department of Correction (DOC)Operates state correctional facilities and manages rehabilitation, reentry, and public safety programs.

Transportation

• Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT)Plans and maintains the state’s roads, bridges, rail, and transportation infrastructure.
• Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)Operates the subway, bus, commuter rail, and ferry services across Greater Boston and the state.
• Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)Handles driver licensing, vehicle registration, and REAL ID.

History, Arts, and Culture

• Massachusetts Historical CommissionProtects historic and archaeological resources and maintains the state register of historic places.
• Massachusetts Cultural CouncilFunds and supports arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences programs across the state.
• State Library of MassachusettsServes state government and the public with access to legal, legislative, and historical collections.

Business, Labor, and Innovation

• Department of Revenue (DOR)Administers state tax laws, collects revenue, and enforces child support obligations.
• Department of Labor StandardsEnforces workplace safety rules, wage and hour laws, and labor standards across Massachusetts.
• Small Business Development Center (MSBDC)Federally funded program offering free advising and support to small businesses and entrepreneurs across Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MassTech)Drives innovation in digital health, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies across the Commonwealth.

Serve Locally: Boards in Your City or Town

The list above is state government, appointed by the Governor. But the boards you can actually reach, and in some cases join before you turn 18, are the ones in your own city or town. Every Massachusetts community runs on a set of local boards and commissions, and most of the people on them are volunteers who simply raised their hand. They meet in public under the same Open Meeting Law (M.G.L. c. 30A, §§18-25) that governs the State House, so you can watch any of them work before you decide to join.

• Two ways onto a board: elected or appointed. Some local seats are filled at the annual town or city election. Many more are filled by appointment: by the select board in most towns, by the mayor in most cities, or by a town or city manager where the charter says so.
• Appointed seats are the open door. An elected seat usually requires you to be a registered voter, but an appointed seat often asks only that you live in town. That is why a student can serve on some local boards. A number of communities also create associate or student seats to bring in new and younger voices, so ask your clerk which boards near you do.
• These boards decide real things. Wetlands, new construction, historic buildings, library hours, and local arts grants are all settled at this level, close enough to touch.

• Conservation CommissionProtects local wetlands and open space. Three to seven members, appointed by the select board or mayor (M.G.L. c. 40, §8C).
• Planning BoardReviews subdivisions, zoning, and how the community grows. Elected at town meeting or appointed, depending on the charter (M.G.L. c. 41, §81A).
• Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)Hears requests for variances and special permits from the zoning bylaw. Appointed, and often seats associate members too (M.G.L. c. 40A, §12).
• Historical CommissionIdentifies and protects a community’s historic buildings and sites. Appointed by the select board or mayor (M.G.L. c. 40, §8D).
• Local Cultural CouncilAwards state arts and culture grants funded through the Mass Cultural Council. Appointed, welcomes new volunteers, and a great first board.
• Library TrusteesSet policy and help steer the budget for the public library. Elected in most towns, appointed in many cities.

How to get appointed: it is less formal than it sounds. Find the current openings on your city or town website, which usually keeps a boards-and-commissions page with a short application or letter of interest. If you do not see one, email or call the town clerk or the select board’s office and say which board interests you and why. Then go to a meeting of that board and introduce yourself. Volunteers are almost always needed, and showing up is most of the work.