By Sam Larson
Vice President, Government Affairs
The Massachusetts Legislature is in the home stretch of its 2023-2024 session and bills of importance to business remain in play.
All bills need to be passed and sent to Governor Maura Healey by July 31. With six and a half weeks to the deadline, AIM’s Government Affairs team is hard at work making sure member opinions are heard on Beacon Hill.
Here are the five major business-related issues that need to be resolved before the end of the session.
- Economic Development-Governor Healey’s $3.5 billion economic stimulus package has yet to be debated by the House of Representatives or the Senate. The proposal would recommit $1billion to the life sciences industry during the next 10 years and would steer another $1 billion to support the emerging climate tech industry. AIM strongly supports the bill and is fighting to add pro-business tax policies.
- Housing – The House committed $6.5 billion in bond authorization to promote new housing construction that would address the affordability crisis in Massachusetts. The Senate will likely take up the bill in the next few weeks. AIM helped to eliminate the proposed 0.5-2% transfer tax on real estate worth more than $1million and will be lobbying against the tax in the Seante.
- The Fiscal Year 2025 Budget – The House and Senate passed similar versions of a $58 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025, which starts on July 1. The two branches still need to resolve a few differences. Will they back the House’s increased investment in the MBTA or the Senate’s proposal for free community college? Or Both?
- Wage Transparency – The House and the Senate have both passed versions of an employment-law bill that would require businesses to post the salary ranges of open positions to employees and applicants. Negotiators have not reached a final deal on the measure. AIM obtained protections for members and supported a provision thar violations carry only minimal penalties.
- Health Care – The crisis at Steward Health Care Systems has dominated the debate. Both the House and Senate have committed to passing legislation that will limit the way private equity companies operate in health care. The House is pushing reforms to regulate hospitals while the Senate is advocating regulations for the life-sciences industry.
