The High Tech Agenda

State Business Climate, Government News, & Public Policy Updates

The Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA) continues to offer critical insights and elevate public understanding of both short-term issues and long-term trends impacting Massachusetts’ competitiveness.

Last month, MOA launched a statewide campaign to expose the state government’s $2.1 billion mismanagement of federal unemployment insurance (UI) funds. With Massachusetts already burdened by some of the nation’s highest UI tax rates, the error threatens to shift the cost onto struggling businesses. In response, MOA’s campaign spurred small business owners and other constituents to send over 13,000 letters to Beacon Hill, demanding lawmakers avoid raising UI taxes.

MOA is also polling voters about state spending and tax policies. As state government prepares its FY26 budget and considers raising taxes to support increased state spending, recent findings reveal widespread skepticism about the benefits of higher taxes:

On April 23, Council President Chris Anderson co-authored a Boston Globe Op-Ed with Pioneer Institute’s Jim Stergios, highlighting the broader risks of new tax proposals. Drawing on Massachusetts’ experience, the piece examines the potential consequences of Rhode Island’s proposed millionaires’ tax and underscores the fiscal implications of such policies.

Stay updated on the latest from MOA by subscribing to the organization’s weekly newsletter.

Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee released its proposed FY26 budget. The budget notably excludes any proposals to increase taxes but continues concerning fiscal trends, such as significant spending growth and a reliance on one-time revenues. The Council issued a statement urging state leaders to rein in spending and avoid dependence on temporary revenues or future tax hikes.

Just as Massachusetts families and businesses must live within their means, so too must the state, especially with the risks of federal funding cuts and a potential economic downturn ahead. You can read the Council’s full statement here.

The Commonwealth has launched a Massachusetts Tariff Response and Business Operations Support Initiative (MA TRBO) to help Massachusetts companies, particularly manufacturers, navigate ongoing uncertainty and impacts from changes in federal tariffs. As a first step, the MassTech Collaborative is gathering information from Massachusetts businesses on the potential impacts to their operations and what support the state could provide. You can find more information and a link to the state’s survey here.

MHTC News & Updates

As debates surrounding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) intensify and tariff and trade policy remain top of mind for global business leaders, Alex and Kyle will explore:

Attendees will gain valuable insights, participate in interactive discussions, and connect with senior leaders from across Massachusetts’ innovation ecosystem while enjoying delicious food and cocktails. 

Featured insights from the speakers include:

• AEI REPORT: Understanding the Effects of Tariffs | April 23, 2025 – Kyle Pomerleau 
• ARTICLE: Tariffs Will Make It More Expensive to Invest in America | April 11, 2025 – Kyle Pomerleau 
• ARTICLE: Tariffs Cause Short-Term and Long-Term Economic Pain | April 7, 2025 – Kyle Pomerleau 
• ARTICLE: Getting Business or “C” SALT Right | March 14, 2025 – Kyle Pomerleau 
• ARTICLE: A Preferential Corporate Tax Rate for Manufacturing Would Be Bad Policy | February 27, 2025 – Kyle Pomerleau

Due to limited capacity, we encourage you to RSVP now to secure your spot.

Please contact Jenny Enfield with registration questions. 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this series, including a Fall 2025 program. Support from our members ensures robust engagement on the policies shaping our economic future. For more information, contact Sarah Anderson Brunelle.

In response to rapidly evolving global trade policies and their impact on various industries and services relevant to our members, the Council has launched Tariffs, Trade, & Security: Strategic Insights for MHTC Members, a curated virtual thought leadership series designed to inform and support executive leaders to navigate tariff-related uncertainty.

The series kicked off with two engaging member-only briefings:

• April 16: James Mulvehill, Managing Director and Trade and Customs Leader at KPMG, offered a practical assessment of the current trade landscape and shared how multinationals are managing volatility and planning for long-term resilience.
• April 23: Robert Smith, Principal and Global Trade Strategy Leader at EY, provided a real-time update on new U.S. tariff activity, including Section 232 investigations into pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals, and outlined forward-looking strategies for risk mitigation. 

These highly interactive sessions are part of our MassVision2050 Public Policy Series and are open exclusively to senior leadership from Council member organizations. Upcoming programs will continue to feature leading experts from across our member organizations and deliver practical guidance on the policies and pressures reshaping global business.

Keep an eye out for details and invitations for future sessions over the next several weeks.

Interested in contributing your organization’s expertise? Contact Chris Anderson or Elizabeth Mahoney to learn how to get involved.

On April 16, the MassVision2050 Cybersecurity Community advanced its 2025 agenda with a member-only tabletop exercise on Ransomware Preparedness & Response. Led by Joe Flores, CEO of UnRavl Technologies and former Massachusetts Cybersecurity Advisor for CISA, the session featured a hands-on simulation emphasizing executive decision-making and cross-functional coordination during a cyberattack. Members also received a threat briefing and an expert presentation on adversarial engagement and deception strategies by MITRE Engage Lead Maretta Morovitz. The Council thanks Joe, Maretta, Doug Robbins, and the MITRE team for their invaluable contributions and for hosting the event.

This session followed our March 5 program on Insider Threats & Corporate Espionage, where attendees engaged in expert-led discussions with FBI Special Agents and PwC’s Rima Hajjaj and Matthew Gregson, learning best practices in threat identification, prevention, and intelligence-driven mitigation.

These member-only programs are a central component of the MassVision2050 Cybersecurity Community, designed to equip our member organizations with actionable insights and practical tools to enhance cyber readiness. This year’s agenda includes:

Stay tuned for more details on these upcoming sessions. For questions or to get involved, please contact Jenny Enfield.

Why Sponsor?

Get involved today—purchase tickets, explore sponsorships, or donate.

Please contact Steve Weglinski at sw********@********ch.org for more information.

MHTC’s Elizabeth Mahoney Runs Boston Marathon in Support of Samaritans