Press Release: 4/23/2026

Gov. files economic development bill

 

Gov. Maura Healey on April 16 filed a $305 million economic development bill, called the Mass Wins Act, that she said is aimed at positioning Massachusetts as a global destination for companies looking to invest, grow and create jobs, while strengthening the state’s competitiveness and lowering costs for businesses.

The governor said the package builds on last year’s Mass Leads Act, and reflects a changing economic landscape and the need for continued, strategic investment to maintain the state’s edge in key industries such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, climate technology, defense and robotics.

“Massachusetts has always competed on the strength of our people, our ideas and our willingness to lead,” she said in a prepared statement.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said the legislation “brings together the tools to support our communities, back our businesses and unlock growth in every region.”

Of particular note to municipalities, the bill would establish consistent definitions for the site plan review process, a policy area that the MMA has been actively involved in during recent years. Additionally, the bill would enable municipalities to opt-in to zoning changes focused on commercial conversion incentives, intended to transform underused properties into housing. The bill also proposes a provision that would explicitly allow mayors to initiate zoning proposals in cities.

The administration said the bill is organized around five core pillars focused on driving innovation, reducing barriers to growth, expanding access to opportunity, supporting business development, and strengthening the state’s long-term economic foundations.

The five pillars are:

• GlobalMass: Elevating Massachusetts’ Global Economic Leadership — A seed investment of at least $50 million would be used to attract global capital into Massachusetts-based companies, with $20 million for site development and infrastructure to attract international companies to Massachusetts.

• A More Affordable Massachusetts: Lowering Costs for Businesses — The fee for starting a new business would be reduced from $500 to $100, and 20,000 more businesses would gain access to the Small Business Energy Tax Exemption. The administration said the bill would authorize discounted utility rates for large employers relocating to Massachusetts without increasing costs for other ratepayers, and would make the building code appeals process more consistent and predictable.

• Talent that Starts Here and Stays Here — The administration said the bill would strengthen the state’s talent pipeline and support early-career workers through targeted updates to the noncompete law, alongside a $10 million annual internship tax credit program to expand access to early-career opportunities and help connect talent to in-state employers.

• A More Competitive Massachusetts — The bill includes $100 million for defense sector innovation to support infrastructure, research and supply chain development across national security technologies, and $75 million to expand the application of artificial intelligence across key industries and invest in emerging technologies like quantum computing.

An additional $25 million would support the state’s globally recognized robotics cluster, while $25 million would provide capital support for companies expanding or constructing facilities in the state.

The bill would also advance grid innovation and streamline approvals for climate technology deployment.

• OneMA: Expanding Opportunity Across the State — The bill has $25 million dedicated to downtown and community revitalization projects that support local growth and vibrancy. The bill would streamline zoning processes in Devens, and reduce barriers for internationally trained nurses and licensed engineers to enter the workforce.

The bill includes $25 million in new capital investments in the creative economy, and would expand eligibility for the Cultural Facilities Fund to support community and cultural assets.

The bill would also align key tax credit programs across agencies to improve consistency, coordination, and overall effectiveness.

The Mass Wins Act is expected to have a hearing in the coming weeks. The full legislation and bill summary are available at Mass.gov/MassWins.