Amendment #1217 to H4000

Establishing a Commission to Study Out-of-State Migration

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Muradian of Grafton, Vieira of Falmouth and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following section: 

“SECTION XX. There shall be a commission to study the factors that drive out migration by both residents and businesses in Massachusetts.

The commission shall include the secretary of the executive office of economic development, who shall serve as the chair; the secretary of the executive office of housing and livable communities or their designee; the commissioner of the department of revenue or their designee, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on revenue, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on economic development, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on housing, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on transportation; one member who shall be appointed by the house minority leader; one member who shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; the CEO of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable or their designee, the CEO of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts or their designee; the president of the National Federation of Independent Businesses or their designee; and the president of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants or their designee.

The commission shall study factors contributing to businesses and residents relocating, including but not limited, tax policies, including the fair share tax; estate tax policies, including the tax imposed on corporations under section 39 of Chapter 63 of the general laws, otherwise known as the “sting tax”; costs of living; business operating costs; employment opportunities; and workforce challenges. The commission shall hold no fewer than three public hearings to receive testimony from businesses, stakeholders, and residents about what state policies and economic challenges are influencing them to or have resulted in their choice to relocate out of Massachusetts.

The commission shall develop recommendations to promote economic competitiveness in the commonwealth, and to prevent outmigration of businesses and residents. The commission’s recommendations shall include, but not be limited to, proposals to reform state tax policies that encourage businesses to stay in the commonwealth, initiatives to promote economic development and workforce competitiveness in the state, and strategies to improve costs of living for Massachusetts residents.

The commission shall submit a report with its findings and recommendations to the clerks of the house and senate, and the joint committee on economic development within 12 months of the passage of this act.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1217 to H4000

Establishing a Commission to Study Out-of-State Migration