The High Tech Agenda
January 2025
State Business Climate, Government News, & Public Policy Updates
Shaping a Proactive Policy Agenda
This month, the Council launched a collaborative effort to develop a proactive policy agenda, as approved by its Board of Directors. This initiative prioritizes pro-growth solutions to address both immediate and long-term challenges.
Virtual working group meetings are being held in January and February to identify key issues, propose actionable solutions, and prioritize strategies. The remaining sessions will take place on the following dates:
- Thursday, February 6
- Thursday, February 27
Council member input is essential for developing a robust policy agenda that tackles Massachusetts’ competitiveness challenges and the obstacles facing member businesses.
To learn more or participate in these sessions, please contact Council Vice President Elizabeth Mahoney at elizabeth@mhtc.org.
The Governor’s FY26 Budget Proposal
Last week, Governor Healey released her FY26 budget proposal, which funds key workforce and economic development initiatives but also continues concerning budgeting trends. The budget increases support for effective education and workforce programs like Early College and Innovation Career Pathways and expands career technical education. It also funds the implementation of the 2024 economic development bill, aligned with the Council’s MassVision2050 goals.
However, the Governor’s proposal relies on one-time revenues and over $300 million in tax hikes to balance the budget, including a cap on the deduction for charitable contributions. It also misuses income surtax revenues, using them to supplant rather than supplement funding for education and transportation. As residents and businesses continue to leave Massachusetts for more affordable states, the Council opposes these tax increases and urges state leaders to manage spending responsibly to avoid relying on temporary revenues and tax hikes.
Early 2025 Policy Engagement
As the 2025-2026 legislative session begins, the Council is focused on key issues impacting employers.
The Massachusetts Unemployment Insurance system, already one of the costliest systems in the United States and on track to be insolvent by 2028, has a new $2.1 billion cost being placed on all employers for errors created by state government officials during COVID. Employers should not be held responsible for a mistake they didn’t make—a sentiment shared by the public, according to a Mass Opportunity Alliance (MOA) poll. Driven by data and strategic guidance from MOA, the Council and other aligned business groups will raise awareness of this critical competitiveness issue and advance solutions that protect employers.
Following the passage of Question 2 in November, eliminating the only statewide high school graduation requirement, the Governor and Legislature have expressed interest in establishing a new graduation standard. The Council, a vocal opponent of Question 2, continues to advocate for the importance of a strong statewide graduation requirement. MOA polling conducted after Election Day reveals that 75% of the public support a new statewide graduation standard.
Mass Opportunity Alliance 2024 Year-End Report
Advancing Opportunity, Competitiveness, and Economic Prosperity
The MOA is a dynamic and powerful resource supporting pro-growth policies and economic opportunity for all. Since launching in September, MOA has rapidly established itself as an aggressive, communications-focused entity that amplifies essential messages and builds a grassroots army committed to our shared vision, laying a strong foundation for the work to come.
MOA’s original research, analysis, and fact-checks on key issues like the cost of living, high taxes, and outmigration have been featured in over a dozen major news outlets. MOA’s polling provides timely insights on relevant issues, such as the finding that 82% of Massachusetts residents believe their taxes are too high.
MOA has built a thriving digital presence from scratch, with over 10,000 social media followers and 10,000 email subscribers. MOA has also tackled false narratives head-on, providing credible data and clear-eyed insights to counter misguided policies.
Read more about these early accomplishments in the MOA Annual Report.
MHTC News & Updates
MassVision2050 Cybersecurity Community 2025 Program
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Small Group Discussion: Insider Threats & Corporate Espionage
Enhance your organization’s internal defenses by cultivating a security-conscious culture and identifying key behavioral indicators of insider threats.
- Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM ET
- Location: MKS Instruments
- Featured Speakers: FBI Special Agents/Private Sector Coordinators William Scott O’Donnell and Micheline Dadiego
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Tabletop Exercise: Ransomware Preparedness & Response
Participate in an interactive tabletop exercise to develop effective strategies for preventing, detecting, and responding to ransomware attacks.
- Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM ET
- Location: The MITRE Corporation
- Featured Speakers: Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Massachusetts Cybersecurity Advisor Joseph Flores
These programs provide a unique platform for confidential, executive-level engagement and hands-on training, and all Council member senior executives are encouraged to participate in them. By connecting member organizations with key stakeholders, the MassVision2050 Cybersecurity Community advances practical strategies and fosters a proactive approach to cybersecurity.
Invitations for the March 5 program were sent to members earlier this week containing further details on the event agenda and RSVP instructions. Members will receive the official invitation with registration information for the April 16 event shortly.
For more information or to get involved, please contact Jenny Enfield at jenny@mhtc.org.
NEW: Workforce Skills Forecasting & Talent Attraction Project
The Council is launching a groundbreaking MassVision2050 Engaged Workforce initiative to enhance workforce strategies for globally competitive industries. Led by the MITRE Corporation, the Skills Forecasting and Talent Attraction Project will develop a technology-agnostic analytics platform that integrates diverse data sources to improve talent attraction, retention, and workforce planning for globally competitive industries. The initiative will initially focus on microelectronics and semiconductors, but its insights will support industries across Massachusetts.
The insights from this project have the potential to significantly impact talent attraction strategies for industries and regions alike by focusing on:
- Building data-driven insights to forecast skills needs
- Evaluating workforce movement and talent flow within innovation ecosystems
- Designing strategies to foster equitable and adaptable workforce environments aligned with the MassVision2050 framework
Council members were invited to a virtual briefing to learn more about this effort. Please contact Sarah Anderson Brunelle at sarah@mhtc.org with questions or inquiries about getting involved in the project.
MassVision2050 Engaged Workforce Webinar Recap: Unlocking Untapped Talent
On January 14, STEMatch Founder and CEO Chris Zannetos joined the Council for a MassVision2050 Engaged Workforce webinar to discuss how community college graduates are a powerful, untapped source of talent for entry-level tech jobs. Attendees learned about the STEMatch COMPETE program, with Rich Arsenault from Mimecast sharing his company’s positive experience with it. Participants also received insights and advice on skills-based hiring and collaborating with community colleges and non-profits like STEMatch to build an inclusive workforce pipeline that meets evolving business needs.
Catch up on the discussion and explore related resources:
For more information or to get involved, please reach out to Chris Zannetos directly at chris@stematchma.org.
MHTC’s Elizabeth Mahoney Running Boston Marathon to Support Samaritans
Support Elizabeth’s Fundraising Efforts
If you would like to support Elizabeth’s fundraising efforts, you can make a contribution online here or via check:
Checks can be made to “Samaritans, Inc.” with “Elizabeth Mahoney” in the memo line and mailed to:
Samaritans, Inc.
41 West Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Information on corporate sponsorships is available here.






