Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H316 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3926 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 316
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Steven George Xiarhos
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven George Xiarhos5th Barnstable1/17/2025Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr.5th Worcester2/11/2025 1 of 3
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3926 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 316
18	18	By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 316) of
19	19	Steven George Xiarhos and Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. for an investigation by a special
20	20	committee on Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living, which shall be
21	21	charged with oversight of matters to improve the ability of businesses, to form and thrive under
22	22	law, and to lower the cost of living for residents and families. Community Development and
23	23	Small Businesses.
24	24	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
25	25	_______________
26	26	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
27	27	(2025-2026)
28	28	_______________
29	29	An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living.
30	30	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
31	31	of the same, as follows:
32	32	1 SECTION 1. There is hereby established a committee on Massachusetts Business
33	33	2Competitiveness and Affordable Living, which shall be charged with oversight of matters to
34	34	3improve the ability of businesses, including small businesses, to form and thrive under
35	35	4Massachusetts law, and to lower the cost of living for Massachusetts residents and families. As
36	36	5part of this oversight, the committee will conduct an ongoing review of state statutes and
37	37	6administrative regulations to assess whether existing laws are impeding the ability of
38	38	7Massachusetts businesses to locate and expand their operations here in Massachusetts, as well as
39	39	8whether existing laws are artificially increasing the cost of living in Massachusetts, together with
40	40	9such related matters as the committee may determine from time to time. This review shall
41	41	10include, but not be limited to, an examination of state and local taxation policies, the cost of food 2 of 3
42	42	11and consumer goods, and the cost of education, housing, transportation, health care, child care,
43	43	12and utilities for Massachusetts residents.
44	44	13 The committee shall consist of twenty-one members, two of whom shall be appointed by
45	45	14the Governor; two of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall
46	46	15be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; two of whom shall be appointed by the
47	47	16Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority
48	48	17Leader of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be the secretary of the executive
49	49	18office of administration and finance, or designee; one of whom shall be the secretary of the
50	50	19executive office of housing and livable communities, or designee; one of whom shall be the
51	51	20secretary of the executive office of health and human services, or designee; one of whom shall be
52	52	21the President of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, or designee; one of whom shall be
53	53	22the Massachusetts State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, or
54	54	23designee; one of whom shall be the Chair of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, or
55	55	24designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, or
56	56	25designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, or
57	57	26designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, or
58	58	27designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Municipal
59	59	28Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts Association
60	60	29of Realtors, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Boston
61	61	30Chamber of Commerce, or designee; and, one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of
62	62	31the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce or designee.
63	63	32 The committee shall issue an annual report to the Clerks of the Senate and House of
64	64	33Representatives as to its findings not later than December 31 of each year, with 3 of 3
65	65	34recommendations of potential policy changes that could lower the cost of living for
66	66	35Massachusetts residents and families and make it easier and more affordable for businesses to
67	67	36locate and expand their operations in Massachusetts. Notwithstanding any general or special law
68	68	37to the contrary, no member of the committee shall receive any compensation in exchange for
69	69	38their services.