February 3, 2025
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Read MoreThe Massachusetts House of Representatives voted 149-0 Thursday to approve compromise legislation governing the use of non-compete agreements.
Associated Industries of Massachusetts has opposed efforts to ban or limit the use of non-competes, but has also engaged in productive discussions with House Speaker Robert DeLeo on the issue.
“AIM recognizes and appreciates the approach that Speaker DeLeo has taken in the debate over non-compete agreements,” said John Regan, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at AIM.
“The speaker recognizes the need to protect business interests at a time when non-competes are a vital part of protecting investments and ideas created by employers of all sizes and from all industries. As the speaker has noted in the past, Massachusetts cannot be an “invented here and manufactured elsewhere’ commonwealth.”
The House proposal makes three positive changes from legislation originally advanced by the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Labor & Workforce Development. The changes address some of the major concerns expressed by AIM and other members of the business community in a June 20 meeting with Speaker DeLeo:
AIM has expressed support for several provisions of the revised bill that clearly define the conditions under which non-competes may be used:
Amid these improvements, concerns remain. AIM urges the House of Representative to consider several changes:
AIM continues to maintain that there is no evidence that the use of non-compete agreements harms Massachusetts’ position as as a globally recognized leader in innovation. In fact, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings indicate that the well-heeled venture capitalists pushing to limit non-competes use such agreements themselves.
Employers believe selective use of non-competes protects the significant investments that allow their companies to be global leaders in their industries and to create jobs in the commonwealth. The compromise legislation begins to recognize that Massachusetts employers need flexibility and legal options to protect intellectual property.
AIM looks forward to working with members of the Legislature to address the changes that remain to be made.
Employers seeking to learn more about the non-compete issue may contact me at bmacdougall@aimnet.org.