SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2340        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Adam Gomez

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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 improving microbusiness and small business representation.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2340        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act improving microbusiness and small business representation.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (b) of Section 2 of chapter 23G of the General Laws, is hereby amended by striking “9” before the word “members” and replacing it with “12” and adding the following after the phrase “healthcare financing”:-

1 of whom shall be the executive director of the Coalition for an Equitable Economy or their designee, 1 of whom shall be a mircorbusiness owner, 1 of whom shall be a small business owner,

SECTION 2. Section 48 of chapter 23G of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding the following subsections:-

(i) The agency shall convene a growth capital advisory board to provide feedback and guidance to the agency leadership, board of directors, and growth capital division to carry out this chapter that shall include the secretary of economic development or their designee, the chairs of the joint committee on economic development and emerging technologies or their designees, the executive director of the agency or their designee, the directors of each agency division or their designees, the chair and at least 3 other members of the agency’s board of directors, the executive director of the Coalition for an Equitable Economy or their designee, at least 3 socially or economically disadvantaged small business owners, at least 3 microbusinesses, at least 3 small business support organizations, at least 3 current or former participants of programs administered by the growth capital division, provided further that the advisory board may establish subcommittees related to specific small business assistance programs.

(j) At least 1 small business owner, 1 microbusiness owner, 1 small business support organization representative, and the executive director of the coalition for an equitable economy shall serve on every working group and hiring, screening, and advisory committee established by or for the agency on which other members of the agency’s board of directors serve.