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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 269 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 307
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Adam J. Scanlon
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act supporting economic growth of downtowns and main streets.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Adam J. Scanlon14th Bristol1/7/2025 1 of 19
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 269 FILED ON: 1/7/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 307
By Representative Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
307) of Adam J. Scanlon relative to the economic growth of downtowns and main streets.
Community Development and Small Businesses.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act supporting economic growth of downtowns and main streets.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. This Act may be known as the MassMakers Act. For purposes of this Act,
2the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires
3otherwise:
4 “Mass Main Streets”, the office of Massachusetts main streets established pursuant to
5Section 5 of this Act, for the purpose of protecting, coordinating, promoting, and revitalizing
6downtowns and commercial districts of the commonwealth’s cities and towns.
7 “MassMade business”, an enterprise which (i) has its principal place of business in the
8commonwealth; (ii) is in good standing with the department of revenue; (iii) is registered with
9Supply Mass/Buy Mass, as defined in this Act; and (iv) produces raw materials, including
10agricultural items, in the commonwealth, or manufactures products or goods in the
11commonwealth. 2 of 19
12 “MassMakers Portal”, the one-stop shop interactive web portal established pursuant to
13Section 3 of this Act for prospective and established businesses in the commonwealth, to serve as
14the single, unified entry point for business information and statutory and regulatory compliance.
15 “Massport Model”, the bidder selection model implemented by the port authority which,
16in the port authority’s requests for proposals, requires bidders to incorporate diversity and
17inclusion plans into their bids, such plans to be considered alongside traditional criteria when
18evaluating bids and given a weight of 25%.
19 “Microbusiness”, an enterprise which has its principal place of business in the
20commonwealth, is independently owned and operated, and (i) if a manufacturing firm, has 25 or
21fewer employees, or (ii) if a service, construction or non-manufacturing firm, has 25 or fewer
22employees and average annual gross receipts over the 3 previous years not exceeding
23$3,500,000, indexed for inflation.
24 “Minority business”, an enterprise which has its principal place of business in the
25commonwealth, is independently owned and operated, and at least 51% of which is owned and
26dominantly controlled by adult minority principals as defined in 425 CMR 2.02(1), or any
27successor regulation thereto.
28 “Small business”, a business entity, including its affiliates, that: (i) is independently
29owned and operated; (ii) has a principal place of business in the commonwealth; and (iii) would
30be defined as a ''small business'' under applicable federal law, as established in the United States
31Code and promulgated from time to time by the United States Small Business Administration.
32 “Supply Mass/Buy Mass”, the program established pursuant to Section 4 of this Act for
33the purpose of connecting local suppliers with local purchasers. 3 of 19
34 “Massachusetts-based business”, an enterprise that: (i) has its principal place of business
35in the commonwealth; (ii) is in good standing with the department of revenue; and (iii) has been
36in business for at least 1 year.”
37 SECTION 2. Section 22O of chapter 7 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020
38Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-
39 When procuring goods or services through requests for proposals, state agencies shall
40consider the bidder’s principal place of business in addition to other criteria when evaluating
41bids. The weight given to Massachusetts-based businesses when evaluating bids shall be
42determined by each agency of the commonwealth in collaboration with the executive office of
43housing and economic development, the executive office of labor and workforce development
44and the executive office for administration and finance.
45 SECTION 3. Chapter 9 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section
4631 the following section:-
47 Section 32: MassMakers Portal
48 Section 32. (a) There is hereby established a one-stop shop interactive web portal to be
49known as the MassMakers Portal for prospective and established businesses in the
50commonwealth. The state secretary, the executive office for administration and finance, the
51executive offices of education, energy and environmental affairs, health and human services,
52housing and economic development, labor and workforce development, public safety and
53security, and technology services and security, and the department of revenue shall jointly
54develop and implement the MassMakers Portal, which shall serve as a single, unified entry point
55for prospective and established businesses to obtain local business information and execute all 4 of 19
56statutory and regulatory compliance tasks required by the commonwealth in connection with the
57creation, continuing operation, or upscaling of business.
58 (b) In order to develop and implement the MassMakers Portal, the agencies identified in
59subsection (a) shall assemble a task force which shall consist of the state secretary, ex officio, or
60a designee, the secretaries of administration and finance, education, energy and environmental
61affairs, health and human services, housing and economic development, labor and workforce
62development, public safety and security, and technology services and security, ex officio, or their
63designees, the commissioner of revenue, ex officio, or a designee; 7 persons appointed by the
64attorney general, 1 of whom shall be from each of the 7 regions of the commonwealth: the
65western region, the central region, the northeast region, the Merrimack Valley, the metro west
66region, the Greater Boston region, and the southeast region; and 7 persons appointed by the
67governor, 1 of whom shall be from each of the 7 identified regions of the commonwealth. The
68governor, attorney general, state treasurer, and co-chairs of the task force shall have the
69discretion to appoint other members to the task force by majority vote. Persons appointed to the
70task force shall be members or representatives of the business community, including
71entrepreneurs, microbusiness owners, minority business owners and small business owners,
72and/or have demonstrated interests and experience in state agency processes, business
73regulations, web portal design and implementation, and/or other qualifications and experience
74that the appointing authorities determine are necessary to fulfilling the mission of the task force.
75Members shall be selected without regard to political affiliation, shall as fully as possible
76represent a diverse and equitable array of stakeholders, and shall serve without compensation.
77The state secretary, or a designee from among the members of the task force, and the secretary of 5 of 19
78housing and economic development, or a designee from among the members of the task force,
79shall serve as co-chairs.
80 (c) The task force shall perform a needs and cost assessment and may, subject to
81appropriation and the laws and regulations pertaining to the employment of consultants, employ
82such consultants as the task force deems necessary to assist in the execution of said assessment.
83Said assessment shall be completed and the results thereof shall be presented to the governor and
84the general court by March 1, 2025, to inform the budget of the next legislative annual session.
85The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
86 (1) recommendations on the location, design, functionality and scope of services of the
87MassMakers Portal, which at a minimum shall include:
88 (i) online account services through which businesses can monitor deadlines for
89submission of forms, documents and payments, as well as compliance status and standing with
90each state agency;
91 (ii) electronic applications for licenses and renewals thereof;
92 (iii) electronic payment options for fees and taxes incident to the creation, continuing
93operation or upscaling of business;
94 (iv) compliance alerts in connection with new or revised state statutes, regulations and
95procedures;
96 (v) toolkits and video tutorials on all aspects of starting a business in the commonwealth,
97operating a business, upscaling a business, completing forms and complying with state statutory
98and regulatory requirements in connection therewith; 6 of 19
99 (vi) Supply Mass/Buy Mass information, and coordination with Supply Mass/Buy Mass
100online services;
101 (vii) Mass Main Streets information, and coordination with Mass Main Streets online
102services;
103 and
104 (viii) technical assistance resources;
105 (2) an estimate of the costs of full implementation of the MassMakers Portal, including,
106but not limited to, those associated with technology, infrastructure, operations and maintenance,
107sharing and coordination of agency data, and security;
108 (3) recommendations for and an estimate of the costs of establishing and maintaining a
109help center staffed with persons trained to answer questions and assist with navigation of the
110MassMakers Portal;
111 (4) recommendations on the time-line for designing, developing and testing the
112MassMakers Portal, which at the latest shall have its first testing phase for the state secretary’s
113office to process new business registrations and associated fee payments by December 31, 2024 ,
114and shall have its second testing phase to submit tax payments with the department of revenue by
115December 31, 2025 ;
116 (5) recommendations as to the roles of the agencies identified in subsection (a) regarding
117ongoing operational management of the MassMakers Portal;
118 (6) a comprehensive analysis of the processes of all state agencies with respect to the
119creation, continued operation or upscaling of businesses located in the commonwealth, with a 7 of 19
120goal of simplifying and streamlining regulatory tasks and forms required by said agencies and
121strengthening the delivery of services provided by said agencies to entrepreneurs,
122microbusinesses, small businesses, and other businesses in the commonwealth;
123 (7) identification of any state statutory, regulatory or procedural changes that need to be
124made to effectuate the functionality of the MassMakers Portal;
125 (8) identification of existing entrepreneurial, microbusiness, small business, and other
126business assets, resources, web content and functions provided by state agencies to coordinate
127and incorporate such assets, resources, web content and functions into the MassMakers Portal;
128 (9) identification of potential impediments to functionality posed by federal law, if any,
129and recommendations for work-arounds or solutions to such impediments;
130 (10) the impact of prioritizing microbusiness applications and account services; and
131 (11) recommendations on potential incentives to encourage municipalities or regional
132planning authorities to create local portals for similar purposes or committed to similar mission
133outcomes as the MassMakers Portal, with the option of linking to or being incorporated into the
134MassMakers Portal.
135 (d) The task force may, subject to appropriation, appoint and may remove all such
136employees as may be necessary to carry out the work of designing and implementing the
137MassMakers Portal based on the results of the needs and cost assessment. Unless otherwise
138provided by law, all such appointments and removals of employees shall be made under chapter
13931. 8 of 19
140 (e) The state secretary shall hold as a separate fund and may expend such sums as may be
141appropriated for the MassMakers Portal by the general court, and may accept gifts, donations,
142grants or bequests or any federal funds for any of the purposes set forth in this section, which
143shall be credited to the fund. All available money in the fund that is unexpended at the end of
144each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure by the
145task force in the subsequent fiscal year.
146 (f) The state secretary is hereby authorized to promulgate regulations to assure the timely
147and effective implementation of this section.
148 SECTION 4. Chapter 10 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
149is hereby amended by inserting after section 35PPP, the following new section:
150 Section 35QQQ. (a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context
151requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-
152 “Agency”, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development.
153 “Commercial areas”, meaning central business districts, town centers, commercial
154corridors (“Main Streets”), neighborhood-serving commercial districts, and other walkable,
155mixed-use areas.
156 “District management entities”, which may include business improvement districts as
157defined in section 1 of chapter 40o of the general laws, parking benefit districts as defined in
158section 22A1/2 of chapter 40 of the general laws, cultural districts as defined in section 58A of
159chapter 10 of the general laws, or other district management strategies approved by the agency.
160 “Secretary”, the Secretary of Housing and Economic Development. 9 of 19
161 ''Fund'', the Downtown Vitality Fund, established under subsection (b) of section 35QQQ
162of chapter 10 of the general laws.
163 ''Dedicated remote retailers sales tax revenue amount'', all moneys received by the
164commonwealth equal to 1 per cent of the receipts from sales from remote retailers, which include
165both remote marketplace sellers and remote marketplace facilitators as defined by 830 CMR
16664H.1.9.
167 (b) There is hereby established on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be
168known as the Downtown Vitality Fund. There shall be credited to the fund the dedicated remote
169retailers sales tax revenue amount. Annual receipts into the fund on account of any fiscal year
170shall be considered to meet the full obligation of the commonwealth to the fund for said fiscal
171year.
172 (c) Amounts in the fund shall be held by the Executive Office of Economic Development,
173exclusively for the purposes of the fund, and the agency shall disburse amounts in the fund,
174without further appropriation, upon the request from time to time of its Secretary. All amounts in
175the fund, including investment earnings, shall be available for expenditure by the agency for any
176lawful purpose.
177 (d) The agency shall report annually on grants dispersed by the fund to the clerks of the
178house and senate and to the house and senate committees on ways and means.
179 (e) The agency shall make expenditures from the fund for the following purposes and
180subject to the following guidelines:
181 (1) To provide grants to establish district management entities in commercial areas. 10 of 19
182 (2) To provide operating grants to help strengthen and sustain existing district
183management entities approved by the agency. sustain.
184 (3) To provide technical assistance grants for local district management entities to
185conduct studies or launch new programs, and which might be paid to a third-party entity.
186 (4) The agency will establish guidelines for awarding grants, which will incorporate the
187following priorities: support small business districts in Gateway Cities and other low-income
188areas; expand entrepreneurship opportunities among underrepresented communities; strengthen
189cultural identity and prevent cultural displacement; provide multi-year operating funding where
190appropriate; and encourage a local match set at a level commensurate with the strength of the
191local market economy.
192 (f) Not later than September 1 of each year, the secretary shall file a report in writing with
193the joint committee on community development and small businesses and the house and senate
194committees on ways and means concerning the grants made in the fiscal year ending on the
195preceding June 30.
196 (g) The secretary shall adopt regulations to carry out this section, including providing an
197application and selection process.
198 (h) There shall be established a board to be known as the Downtown Vitality Advisory
199Board. Said board shall consist of 15 members, who shall be citizens of the commonwealth, and
200appointed by the secretary. The members of the board shall include at least one representative of
201the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MassDevelopment); at least one representative
202of the Massachusetts Cultural Council; at least two business improvement districts; at least two
203cultural districts; at least one Gateway City mayor, manager, or economic development director; 11 of 19
204at least one non-Gateway City municipal representative; and at least three members from small
205businesses or groups serving underrepresented communities, including immigrants and people of
206color. Of the members originally appointed, 3 shall serve a term of 1 year, 3 shall serve a term of
2072 years, and 3 shall serve a term of 3 years in a manner determined by the director. Thereafter, as
208the terms of said members expire, the director shall appoint members for terms of 2 years.
209Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the director for the remainder of the unexpired term.
210All members shall serve until the qualification of their respective successors. Members shall
211serve without compensation. The board shall advise the director on the activities and uses of the
212fund including, but not limited to: reviewing and making recommendations on grant
213requirements and selection criteria, and reviewing grant applications and making
214recommendations relative to grant awards. The advisory board shall, from time to time, submit
215recommendations to the legislature on any legislative changes it deems necessary for the
216successful operation of the fund.
217 (i) The secretary may contract with a private organization to carry out some or all of the
218agency’s duties provided in this section.
219 SECTION 5. Chapter 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section
22010A and inserting the following section:-
221 Section 10A: Supply Mass/Buy Mass; MassMade
222 Section 10A. (a) In order for the commonwealth to execute on its responsibility of
223facilitating expansion of the local economy, MOBD shall establish a program to be known as
224Supply Mass/Buy Mass for the purpose of connecting local suppliers with local purchasers, 12 of 19
225whether public or private, institutional, commercial or individual. In implementing said program,
226MOBD shall:
227 (1) establish requirements for local suppliers to register as MassMade businesses with
228Supply Mass/Buy Mass;
229 (2) design and implement a Supply Mass/Buy Mass interactive web portal through which
230local suppliers can register as MassMade businesses and create MassMade business profiles with
231industry-specific information;
232 (3) assemble a searchable database of MassMade businesses through the portal by
233industry, raw materials produced or products or goods manufactured, and other identifying
234characteristics, with specific search features independently tailored toward local institutional
235purchasers, commercial purchasers, and individual purchasers;
236 (4) develop toolkits and training videos available through the portal to guide MassMade
237businesses to better understand the needs and procurement processes of local institutional and
238commercial purchasers;
239 (5) enable local institutional and commercial purchasers to issue requests for proposals
240through the portal and MassMade businesses to respond to such requests through the portal;
241 (6) promote live networking events through the portal to connect MassMade businesses
242with local institutional and commercial purchasers;
243 (7) determine those raw materials, products or goods needed by local institutional and
244commercial purchasers currently purchased outside the commonwealth or from foreign
245countries, especially raw materials, products or goods required for the first time; inquire whether 13 of 19
246other local institutional or commercial purchasers are in need of such raw materials, products or
247goods; assess whether any MassMade businesses are capable of producing or manufacturing the
248needed raw materials, products or goods with additional capital or retooling;
249 (8) coordinate and connect the portal with the MassMakers Portal;
250 (9) identify other obstacles to conducting business in the commonwealth and advance
251resources through the portal to address those obstacles to the extent possible;
252 (10) promote public-private partnerships;
253 (11) develop, evaluate and recommend policies, initiatives and incentives to prevent
254consumer flight from local suppliers in the cities and towns of the Merrimack Valley and other
255border municipalities to suppliers in New Hampshire or other tax advantaged states or from other
256sources; and
257 (12) undertake any other activities necessary to implement the purposes of this section.
258 Dedicated effort shall be made to encourage diversity and advance equity based on race,
259color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic
260information, ancestry, disability, and language in implementing Supply Mass/Buy Mass.
261 (b) MOBD may consult with and seek input from interested stakeholders and shall work
262with entities including MassMade businesses, regional economic development organizations,
263microbusiness and small business associations, chambers of commerce, the supplier diversity
264office, the Massachusetts marketing partnership and the office of consumer affairs and business
265regulations in order to collect and provide business and product information related to 14 of 19
266MassMade businesses. All Supply Mass/Buy Mass information shall be readily accessible and
267free to the public.
268 (c) MOBD shall hold as a separate fund and may expend such sums as may be
269appropriated for Supply Mass/Buy Mass by the general court, and may accept gifts, donations,
270grants or bequests or any federal funds for any of the purposes set forth in this section, which
271shall be credited to the fund. All available money in the fund that is unexpended at the end of
272each fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure by
273MOBD for Supply Mass/Buy Mass in the subsequent fiscal year.
274 (d) MOBD is hereby authorized to promulgate regulations to assure the timely and
275effective implementation of this section.
276 SECTION 6. Chapter 23A of the 2020 Official Edition of the General Laws is hereby
277amended after section 13 by inserting the following new section:-
278 131/2. Office of Massachusetts Main Streets
279 Within Office of Business Development, there shall be established an Office of
280Massachusetts Main Streets. The Office of Massachusetts Main Streets shall serve as the
281principal agency for promoting and protecting the downtown and commercial districts of the
282commonwealth’s cities and towns. The Office of Massachusetts Main Streets shall provide
283informational, marketing, and technical assistance to federal, state and local Main Street groups
284and coordinate federal, state and local Main Street efforts to further accomplish the goal of
285promoting and protecting downtown and commercial districts of the Commonwealth. 15 of 19
286 (b)(1) The executive director of MMS shall be appointed by the governor, and serve at
287the pleasure of the governor. The position of executive director of MMS shall be classified under
288section 45 of chapter 30 and the executive director of MMS shall devote full time during
289business hours to the duties of MMS.
290 (d) The executive director of MMS may, subject to appropriation and with the approval
291of MOBD, appoint and may, with like approval, remove all such employees as may be necessary
292to carry out the work of MMS. Unless otherwise provided by law, all such appointments and
293removals shall be made under chapter 31. The executive director may, subject to appropriation
294and the laws and regulations pertaining to the employment of consultants, employ such
295consultants as the executive director may deem necessary.
296 (g) MMS may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or bequests
297or any federal funds for any of the purposes set forth in this section, which shall be credited to
298the Mass Main Streets Trust Fund established pursuant to subsection (h).
299 (h)(1) There shall be a Mass Main Streets Trust Fund which shall be administered by
300MOBD as custodian for MMS and held by MOBD separate and apart from its other funds. There
301shall be credited to the fund such sums received pursuant to subsection (g) and such sums as may
302be appropriated for MMS by the general court.
303 (2) All available money in the fund that is unexpended at the end of each fiscal year shall
304not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for expenditure by MMS in the subsequent
305fiscal year.
306 (3) MMS shall submit an annual report to MOBD, the clerks of the senate and house of
307representatives and the joint committee on community development and small businesses not 16 of 19
308later than December 31 on the cost-effectiveness of the fund. The report shall be made available
309on the MMS website. The report shall include: (i) expenditures made by MMS from money out
310of the fund to promote the revitalization of downtowns and commercial districts of the
311commonwealth’s cities and towns and to otherwise fulfill the mission of MMS pursuant to this
312section; and (ii) expenditures made by MMS for administrative costs.
313 SECTION 7. Chapter 23A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
314section 66 the following section:-
315 Section 66A: Microbusiness and minority business strategy commission; members;
316powers and duties; meetings; annual report
317 Section 66A. (a) There shall be a microbusiness and minority business strategy
318commission within, but not subject to the supervision or control of, the executive office of
319housing and economic development. The mission of the commission shall be to enhance the
320economic vitality of the commonwealth’s microbusinesses and minority businesses, recognizing
321the fundamental role that microbusinesses and minority businesses play in the economy and the
322contributions made by microbusinesses and minority businesses to the general welfare of the
323commonwealth.
324 (b) The commission shall consist of the following 19 members: the secretary of housing
325and economic development, ex officio, or a designee; the secretary of administration and finance,
326ex officio, or a designee; the chair of the commission against discrimination, ex officio, or a
327designee; the executive director of Massachusetts Main Streets, ex officio, or a designee; the
328director of the supplier diversity office, ex officio, or a designee, and 14 persons appointed by
329the governor, 2 of whom shall be from each of the 7 regions of the commonwealth: the western 17 of 19
330region, the central region, the northeast region, the Merrimack Valley, the metro west region, the
331Greater Boston region, and the southeast region. Of those 14 appointees, at least 3 shall be
332microbusiness owners or representatives of microbusiness owners in underserved communities
333or communities with a high percentage of low-income households, at least 3 shall be minority
334business owners or representatives of minority business owners in underserved communities or
335communities with a high percentage of low-income households, and at least 3 shall be founders
336or organizers of platforms, pop-up markets, or other vendor collaboratives serving
337microbusinesses organized for similar purposes or committed to similar mission outcomes,
338and/or minority businesses organized for similar purposes or committed to similar mission
339outcomes for advancing equity based on race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender
340identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, disability, or language.. (c) Members
341of the commission may serve a maximum of 3 consecutive 3–year terms. A vacancy occurring
342on the commission shall be filled within 90 days by the original appointing authority. A person
343appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve initially only for the balance of the unexpired term. The
344commission shall annually elect from among its members a chair, a vice chair, and any other
345officers it considers necessary. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation
346for their services but shall be reimbursed for any usual and customary expenses incurred in the
347performance of their duties. Members shall be considered special state employees for the
348purposes of chapter 268A. Each member of the commission shall be a resident of the
349commonwealth.
350 (d) The commission shall serve as a research body for issues critical to the welfare and
351vitality of the commonwealth’s microbusinesses and minority businesses and shall: (i) study,
352review and report on the status of microbusinesses and minority businesses in the 18 of 19
353commonwealth; (ii) advise the general court and the executive branch of the impact of existing
354and proposed state laws, policies and regulations on the commonwealth’s microbusinesses and
355minority businesses; (iii) advance legislative and policy solutions that address the needs of the
356commonwealth’s microbusinesses and minority businesses; (iv) advocate to ensure that the
357commonwealth’s microbusinesses and minority businesses receive a fair share of state
358investment; (v) work with lending institutions, insurance companies, and other private businesses
359in the commonwealth to encourage formation of seed money and microcredit opportunities for
360facilitating the starting up and upscaling of microbusinesses and minority businesses in their
361efforts to obtain loan money and operating capital from private and public lenders; (vi) promote
362collaboration among the commonwealth’s microbusinesses and minority businesses to improve
363efficiency in delivery of services and other cost efficiencies; and (vii) develop and support access
364to state resources for the commonwealth’s microbusinesses and minority businesses. The
365executive office shall provide the commission with adequate office space and any research,
366analysis or other staff support that the commission reasonably requires.
367 (e) The commission shall meet on a quarterly basis at the discretion of the chair. Meeting
368locations shall rotate between the 7 regions of the commonwealth identified in subsection (b).
369Meetings shall be open to the public pursuant to sections 18 to 25, inclusive, of chapter 30A.
370 (f) The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or
371bequests or any federal funds for any of the purposes of this section. The funds shall be deposited
372in a separate account with the state treasurer, shall be received by the state treasurer on behalf of
373the commonwealth and shall be expended by the commission under the law. 19 of 19
374 (g) The commission shall annually, not later than June 2, report the results of its findings
375and activities of the preceding year and its recommendations to the governor and to the clerks of
376the senate and the house of representatives who shall forward the same to the joint committee on
377economic development and emerging technologies.
378 (h) Notwithstanding any general or special law, regulation, policy or procedure to the
379contrary, microbusinesses shall be exempt from the annual report fees imposed by the state
380secretary’s office, and minority businesses that qualify as microbusinesses shall be exempt from
381the diversity certification and third-party certification application fees imposed by the supplier
382diversity office. The state secretary is hereby authorized to promulgate regulations to assure the
383timely and effective implementation of this subsection.
384 SECTION 8. Section 22A of chapter 40, as so appearing, is hereby amended by inserting,
385in paragraph 1, line 28, after the phrase “improvements to the public realm” the following words:
386“including district management activities and operations”
387 SECTION 9. Section 22C of said chapter 40, as so appearing, is hereby amended by
388inserting, in line 11, after the phrase, “public transportation station accessibility improvements”
389the following words: “district management activities and operations,”.
390 SECTION 10. Chapter 66 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after
391section 5A, the following section:-
392 Section 5B. Limited liability entities and business and nonprofit corporations organized
393or registered to do business in the Commonwealth, shall keep all local, state and federally issued
394operating licenses in a binder that shall be made readily accessible to the public upon verbal
395request during normal hours of operation.