President’s Bulletin
July 2026
From the Office of the President
The Path Has Changed. The Mission Has Not.
Dear Massachusetts High Technology Council Members,
Last month, the state Supreme Judicial Court removed the proposed income tax reduction ballot question from the November ballot.
While some immediately framed the decision in terms of winners and losers, our perspective is different.
As I wrote recently in the Boston Business Journal, meaningful progress—whether in business, innovation, or public policy—is rarely linear. Companies succeed by investing, learning, adapting, and continuing to move forward. Public policy leadership requires the same discipline.
Over the past two years, our objective has never been limited to advancing a single ballot question. It has been to elevate affordability, competitiveness, and economic opportunity as defining issues for Massachusetts’ future—and to build the long-term research, communications, and citizen engagement capacity needed to sustain that work.
By that measure, significant progress has been made.
Today, affordability, outmigration, housing costs, taxes, and competitiveness have become central topics of discussion among business leaders, policymakers, the media, and the public.
The pathway changed.
The mission did not.
Read my July 2, 2026 Boston Business Journal guest column: Anderson: Mass Must Stay Engaged on Economic Reform.
The national conversation has continued as well.
On July 5, The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board published “A Massachusetts Ballot Dirty Trick,” arguing that the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision stemmed from a materially misleading ballot summary prepared by the Attorney General’s Office rather than from the merits of the proposal itself. Regardless of one’s views on the underlying tax policy, the editorial underscores that Massachusetts’ affordability, competitiveness, and tax climate remain issues of national interest—and that the need for thoughtful, long-term reforms has not diminished.
Our competitiveness agenda continues with another important initiative.
The proposed reform to Massachusetts’ State Tax Revenue Growth Limit (Chapter 62F) recently submitted the final round of certified signatures required to qualify for the November 2026 statewide ballot.
The Massachusetts High Technology Council supports this proposal because it encourages long-term fiscal discipline while preserving the Commonwealth’s ability to invest in essential priorities.
What the proposal DOES
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Modernizes an outdated revenue growth formula that has triggered taxpayer refunds only twice in more than four decades.
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Better aligns allowable state tax collections with the Commonwealth’s economic growth.
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Includes surtax revenues in the calculation so all taxpayers are treated consistently.
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Returns excess revenues to taxpayers more predictably when state tax collections grow faster than the economy.
What the proposal DOES NOT do
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It does not reduce existing tax rates.
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It does not require spending cuts.
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It does not eliminate legislative authority over the state budget.
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It does not prevent the Commonwealth from funding education, transportation, health care, or other priorities.
Rather, it creates a more sustainable framework that balances responsible government investment with protections against excessive long-term growth in state tax collections.
Read our statement announcing the filing of the final signatures and check out an analysis of this proposal’s benefits from the Mass Opportunity Alliance.
CNBC's Top States for Business Rankings Released This Week
Tomorrow, July 9, CNBC will release its 20th annual America’s Top States for Business rankings—one of the nation’s most closely watched assessments of state competitiveness. Last year, Massachusetts jumped from #38 to #20. This year, defense industry impacts will be a newly weighted factor in the 2026 rankings. Watch the CNBC preview.
The rankings provide an important independent benchmark across factors including:
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Cost of Doing Business
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Workforce
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Infrastructure
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Economy
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Technology and Innovation
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Business Friendliness
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Quality of Life
These results help inform the Council’s ongoing competitiveness agenda and provide valuable insight into how Massachusetts compares with other leading innovation states.
Special Briefing
Executive Insights: A Conversation with CNBC's Scott Cohn on the 2026 Top States for Business Rankings
Wednesday, July 29 | 10:00 AM ET | via Zoom
Following the release of the rankings, the Council will host a special virtual briefing featuring Scott Cohn, CNBC Senior Special Correspondent and creator of the Top States for Business study.
Scott has addressed Council members previously and will provide an exclusive, in-depth review of Massachusetts’ performance, the trends driving this year’s rankings, and what they mean for our Commonwealth’s future competitiveness.
Registration information will be distributed shortly.
Looking Ahead
The Council’s competitiveness agenda continues to gain momentum across multiple fronts. In the weeks ahead, we will continue advancing policies that strengthen Massachusetts’ long-term competitiveness while also leading initiatives that help position the Commonwealth for future growth.
In partnership with the Healey-Driscoll Administration and industry leaders, we are helping shape recommendations to strengthen Massachusetts’ defense technology and national security innovation ecosystem through the Governor’s SHIELD initiative. Read the Governor’s July 3 SHIELD report announcement.
At the same time, our new MassVision2050 Skills & Talent Intelligence Capability is rapidly moving from concept to implementation, with sector-focused collaborations in semiconductors and defense technology already underway to better align workforce development with employer demand.
Together, these efforts reflect the Council’s long-standing approach: combining policy leadership, strategic partnerships, and market-driven solutions to ensure Massachusetts remains the world’s leading place to innovate, manufacture, and grow.
Thank you for your continued engagement and leadership.
Support the MassVision2050 Mission
Advancing Massachusetts’ long-term economic competitiveness, innovation capacity, and workforce strength requires sustained leadership—and meaningful investment. The Massachusetts High Technology Council’s work to advance the MassVision2050 agenda is made possible through the engagement and financial support of our members and partners.
Organizations can support the Council’s mission through several avenues, including charitable contributions to the MassVision Foundation, support for the Mass Opportunity Alliance, and sponsorship of MassVision2050 initiatives. These investments directly enable rigorous, data-driven policy analysis, cross-sector collaboration, and scalable initiatives that strengthen the Commonwealth’s innovation economy and expand opportunity statewide.
We are grateful for the continued leadership of our members and welcome conversations with organizations interested in deepening their partnership with the Council and advancing a shared vision for Massachusetts’ future.
To confirm your support or explore the funding approach that best aligns with your goals, please contact Council President Chris Anderson at ch***@**tc.org.