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Governor Healey Launches ‘Massachusetts Means Business’ Initiative

Governor Healey illustrates the 'Massachusetts Means Business' initiative by shredding regulations.

News Summary

Governor Maura Healey has unveiled the ‘Massachusetts Means Business’ initiative, aimed at cutting state regulations by 25% to support local businesses. Spearheaded by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation, this initiative targets various sectors, including banking, retail, and cosmetology. The administration has committed to reviewing and amending numerous regulations, promising to enhance business efficiency and stimulate economic growth in Massachusetts. Despite facing political criticism, the initiative seeks to modernize regulatory frameworks and foster a business-friendly environment.

BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey has announced the launch of a new initiative called “Massachusetts Means Business”, aiming to cut state regulations by 25% to support local businesses. This move is designed to help business owners save both time and money while streamlining operational processes.

The initiative is spearheaded by the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR), which will oversee these essential regulatory changes. The Healey administration has committed to amending or eliminating a variety of regulations across multiple sectors, including the Division of Banks, grocery and retail unit pricing, cosmetology education, and ski resort trail signage.

As part of the announcement, Healey symbolically illustrated the initiative by shredding a stack of papers, representing the removal of unnecessary regulations. This action underscored the administration’s objective of engaging constructively with the business community to identify and eliminate ineffective regulations.

To date, the Healey administration has reviewed over 150 sets of regulations, resulting in a decision to reduce 38 of them. Notably, one specific regulation being removed is the requirement for barbershops to display a traditional barber’s pole outside their establishments. The updates also aim to modify the education requirements for cosmetology schools, removing burdensome mandates such as the need for a minimum of 25 chairs and sinks.

In a push towards modernization, new rules will eliminate the paper filing requirement for banks and insurance companies, facilitating a more digital operating environment. Ski areas are set to benefit from updated trail signage requirements that will align with national standards, promoting efficiency and consistency across facilities. Moreover, the grocery sector will find unit pricing regulations updated to allow for new labeling technologies, marking a significant update from guidelines that had not been revised since 1996.

Jon Hurst, President and CEO of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, noted the burdensome nature of excessive state regulations on business owners and expressed support for the initiative. Leaders across various industries have shown bipartisan support for regulatory rollbacks, arguing that such reforms will enhance economic competitiveness in the state.

This initiative fulfills a commitment made by Healey during her State of the Commonwealth address in January 2025, during which she vowed to create an environment conducive to business growth. However, the Healey administration is facing criticism from Republican opposition, who argue that the governor’s policies have negatively impacted Massachusetts’ business landscape.

Despite criticisms rooted in political opposition, the aim of the “Massachusetts Means Business” initiative is clear: it seeks not only to minimize regulatory burdens but also to modernize the licensing and inspection systems within the OCABR. This reflects a broader shift towards creating a business-friendly environment that encourages growth and innovation in the Bay State.

Governor Healey’s initiative promises a significant alteration in the Commonwealth’s regulatory landscape, promising benefits to businesses of all sizes in an effort to bolster economic activity and engagement with the local business community.