The Massachusetts High Technology Council advocates for policies that will improve the Massachusetts business climate and enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to compete with other states for investment and job creation.

Since the late 1990s, Massachusetts has maintained its strong national rankings in healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability, thanks to a business-friendly environment that nurtures innovation, fuels investment, and propels job creation. This mutually reinforcing dynamic attracts a talented workforce, promotes economic stability, and creates a favorable atmosphere for businesses to flourish.

Massachusetts is now facing a business climate and competitiveness crisis. The Commonwealth is one of the most expensive states in which to live, operate a business, and create jobs. The state budget has skyrocketed 51% in just seven years, outpacing both inflation and personal income growth, and Massachusetts residents’ shoulder among the highest tax burdens in the nation. As families and businesses leave for lower-cost states, Massachusetts is not only losing tax revenue but also our workforce and the individuals who make up the very fabric of our communities.

This poses a particular threat to our highly mobile tech-driven economy, as the barriers to exiting high-cost states are lower than ever.

The Council supports policies that address key drivers of the Commonwealth’s outlier status and high business costs. This includes comprehensive reform in tax policy (corporate, income, and estate taxes), addressing employer benefit costs, and refining employment and labor laws. The overarching goal is to establish new competitive advantages while actively working to reform and defend against anti-competitive taxes, policies, regulations, and other barriers hindering private-sector growth.

To address these persistent threats to the state’s business climate and advance proactive solutions, the Council conceived and launched the Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA), the first cross-organizational, not-for-profit business entity of its kind in Massachusetts. MOA is committed to fostering a stronger, more competitive business environment across the state by bringing together a broad coalition of industries and stakeholders to address key challenges facing businesses today.

The Council has also joined forces with like-minded business associations to advance two questions for the 2026 ballot that will begin to address the Commonwealth’s tax and spend problems: an income tax cut from 5% to 4%, and a reform to the state’s tax revenue cap formula to align budget growth more closely with inflation and household wage growth and ensure more consistent and predictable excess revenue refunds to taxpayers.

The High Tech Council is committed to working with policymakers to protect and enhance Massachusetts’ competitive strengths to accelerate capital investment and job creation while expanding opportunities for all. Through collaborations with leaders from government, industry, and academia, our efforts seek to elevate the quality of life for Massachusetts residents and harness the invaluable contributions of innovation sector employers to fortify the economic well-being and fiscal health of the Commonwealth.