First time in 7 years that the Association has awarded a Legislator of the Year.
At their Annual Conference in New Bedford on Thursday October 1, 2026, the Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association (MMLA) presented Representative Kristin E. Kassner (2nd Essex District) with their prestigious Legislator of the Year Award, in recognition of her contributions to municipal law and local government. Rep. Kassner, a longtime planning professional, has championed municipal issues in the State House, consulting with MMLA and other stakeholders to file legislation to codify Site Plan Review and require land use board training; these bills are now included in the omnibus Economic Development bill. Rep. Kassner also serves on the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, and has filed budget amendments to increase Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA) to local communities.
“Representative Kassner has worked tirelessly and collaboratively with local government to improve communication among all stakeholders and to help make municipal voices, including the MMLA’s position and commentary on a variety of pending legislation, especially land use, heard on Beacon Hill,” said Attorney Christopher L. Brown, president of MMLA “With this award, we acknowledge her dedication and advocacy on issues impacting municipalities and all residents of the Commonwealth.”
“The Massachusetts Municipal Lawyers Association are the attorneys who stand with our communities every day. They understand how policy works on the ground. I have been so fortunate to partner closely with them to ensure that the laws we craft are not only visionary but workable for our cities and towns,” said State Representative Kristin Kassner (2nd Essex District). “I am deeply grateful for their collaboration, and profoundly humbled by this recognition as Legislator of the Year.”
The Mass Municipal Lawyers Association is the municipal law bar association for Massachusetts. The MMLA has served Massachusetts cities and towns and has provided municipal law educational opportunities to its members and public officials since 1946. MMLA members consist of attorneys whose practice includes providing legal services to cities and towns, or who otherwise devote a substantial portion of their practice to the advancement of municipal law. The MMLA presents a Legislator of the Year Award only periodically; the last time it was awarded was 2019. Its presentation to Rep. Kassner reflects the MMLA’s appreciation of her work in the Legislature.
Representative Kassner serves the 2nd Essex District, representing Ipswich, Hamilton, Rowley, Georgetown, Newbury, and Topsfield (Precinct 1). Rep. Kassner spent her career in planning and community development. As Planning Director for the Town of Burlington and a community volunteer, she dedicated two decades to improving quality of life for people and their environments. Her professional life has focused on consensus building and community planning, building fiscal stability, improving infrastructure and the environment and driving regional partnerships. Kristin has also served as President and Professional Development Officer of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Planning Association.
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