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H316 • 2025

An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living

An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Steven George Xiarhos
Last action
2026-02-09
Official status
Accompanied a study order, see H4790
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living

An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.

What This Bill Does

  • An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
  • 316) of Steven George Xiarhos and Donald R.
  • Berthiaume, Jr., for an investigation by a special committee on Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living, which shall be charged with oversight of matters to improve the ability of businesses, to form and thrive under law, and to lower the cost of living for residents and families.
  • Community Development and Small Businesses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-09 House

    Accompanied a study order, see H4790

  2. 2025-07-09 Joint

    Hearing scheduled for 07/15/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in B-1

  3. 2025-02-27 House

    Referred to the committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

  4. 2025-02-27 Senate

    Senate concurred

Official Summary Text

An Act to promote Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living
By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 316) of Steven George Xiarhos and Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr., for an investigation by a special committee on Massachusetts business competitiveness and affordable living, which shall be charged with oversight of matters to improve the ability of businesses, to form and thrive under law, and to lower the cost of living for residents and families. Community Development and Small Businesses.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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Bill H.316

SECTION 1. There is hereby established a committee on Massachusetts Business Competitiveness and Affordable Living, which shall be charged with oversight of matters to improve the ability of businesses, including small businesses, to form and thrive under Massachusetts law, and to lower the cost of living for Massachusetts residents and families. As part of this oversight, the committee will conduct an ongoing review of state statutes and administrative regulations to assess whether existing laws are impeding the ability of Massachusetts businesses to locate and expand their operations here in Massachusetts, as well as whether existing laws are artificially increasing the cost of living in Massachusetts, together with such related matters as the committee may determine from time to time. This review shall include, but not be limited to, an examination of state and local taxation policies, the cost of food and consumer goods, and the cost of education, housing, transportation, health care, child care, and utilities for Massachusetts residents.

The committee shall consist of twenty-one members, two of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; two of whom shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; two of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives; one of whom shall be the secretary of the executive office of administration and finance, or designee; one of whom shall be the secretary of the executive office of housing and livable communities, or designee; one of whom shall be the secretary of the executive office of health and human services, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, or designee; one of whom shall be the Massachusetts State Director of the National Federation of Independent Business, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chair of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts High Technology Council, or designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, or designee; one of whom shall be the President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, or designee; one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, or designee; and, one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce or designee.

The committee shall issue an annual report to the Clerks of the Senate and House of Representatives as to its findings not later than December 31 of each year, with recommendations of potential policy changes that could lower the cost of living for Massachusetts residents and families and make it easier and more affordable for businesses to locate and expand their operations in Massachusetts. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no member of the committee shall receive any compensation in exchange for their services.

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