At the Chamber, we create meaningful impact through our public policy expertise and advocacy.

Working with our broad and diverse membership, the Chamber’s focus and attention to complex public policy areas move the needle. Through the Chamber, you are at the table on the issues that drive Massachusetts forward. The wide span of policy areas we cover gives us an advantage because we see the connections between them and their impact on people and employers throughout Greater Boston and the Commonwealth. For example, a strong transportation system will increase housing options and expand economic opportunities for downtown workers. The talent pipeline and business climate go hand-in-hand to create jobs and ensure that students and workers are skilled and ready to fill them.

We consistently apply critical and practical lenses in our analysis, looking at the effects on the economy, opportunity, and equity. This, combined with data, real world experience, and input from our members, steers us to positions that will make Greater Boston the best place for all businesses and all people to thrive.

Questions? Contact us.

Christopher
Chris Eicher

Senior Vice President, Policy

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Chris

The Latest Policy Updates

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Public Policy
business climate

Coalition of Business Leaders Highlight Concerns with House Data Privacy Bill

Business leaders caution that H.4746’s current language would create costly, impractical obligations for employers and urge lawmakers to adopt a more balanced, uniform data privacy framework.
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Press Release

Chamber President & CEO Delivers 2026 MA Business Outlook

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Press Release

Business Leaders Call for Stronger Graduation Standards for Our Students & the Commonwealth’s Future

Business leaders across Massachusetts urge swift action to strengthen high school graduation standards, calling for rigorous end‑of‑course assessments to protect student success and the Commonwealth’s economic future.
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Check Out This Year’s Massachusetts Business Outlook address

Our President & CEO, James E. Rooney, delivered an overview of the Commonwealth’s economic landscape, highlighting current strengths, emerging headwinds, and what these trends mean for businesses, residents, and policymakers across Massachusetts.

Watch the recording to hear his full perspective on the opportunities and challenges shaping the state’s business climate in 2026.

Watch the Full Recording

We concentrate on six priority areas

Business Climate

Climate & Energy

Health Care

Housing & Development

Talent

Transportation

Business for Federal Research Funding

The Chamber is proud to be a member of the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF)—a national coalition of 85 members across 35 states advocating for strong federal investment in research and development (R&D).

What BFRF Is

BFRF is a nonpartisan alliance of business organizations across the U.S. working together to influence Congress and the Administration to maintain and increase federal research funding. This coalition represents the collective voice of America’s business community to ensure science and innovation remain a national priority.

Why BFRF Matters

  • Drives Innovation: Federal R&D powers breakthroughs in healthcare, technology, and energy.
  • Strengthens the Economy: Research funding creates jobs, supports businesses nationwide, and boosts U.S. competitiveness.
  • Secures Global Leadership: Sustained investment keeps America at the forefront of scientific discovery and economic growth.

As a proud member of BFRF, the Chamber joins a nationwide effort to champion policies that prioritize research funding, because when science thrives, so does our economy and future.

Explore the 2025 Impact Report

Explore the Anchored in Excellence Report: How Eds & Meds Power Our Economy

Massachusetts’ education and healthcare sectors—known as “Eds & Meds”—generate over $155.9 billion annually and support 858,000+ jobs statewide. Dive into the report to see how these institutions drive innovation, create jobs, and shape the future of our economy.

Explore the full report

Our Impact

The Chamber’s public policy work directly translates to results and opportunities for our members. Whether it’s supporting a good policy action or preventing a bad one, we strive to create an environment for our region and Commonwealth to compete and grow in a changing world.

Recent Successes:

  • Our President & CEO James E. Rooney has led the Chamber’s collective voice of the business community for over 10 years and utilizes his unique background managing complex organizations in public policy formation. Utilizing his decades of experience in the policy world, James is a trusted voice in Boston, in Massachusetts, and across the nation.
  • In 2025, the Chamber relaunched a national coalition of chambers of commerce and business associations it originally co-founded in 2014. Representing over 80 chambers across 35 states, the Business for Federal Research Funding (BFRF) Coalition uses its collective voice to advocate for stable, secure federal funding for research and development, and continued support for indirect research costs. The Coalition regularly engages with policymakers to make sure they understand the vital role of federal research funding for local job creation, innovation and industry growth, and global competitiveness. The Chamber leads the Coalition with other Chamber partners, including the organizing of this year’s D.C. fly-in to visit the offices of more than 35 congressional offices to advocate on behalf of research funding.
  • The Chamber continues to play a key role in creating consensus on critical policy issues. With active roles on Governor Healey’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) Task Force, the Competitiveness Commission, and the Discovery, Research, and Innovation for Vibrant Economy (DRIVE) Coalition, the Chamber has a seat at the table on important policy discussions.
  • The Chamber acts as a steadfast advocate for critical transportation investments. After the release of the 2025 Transportation Funding Task Force’s Report, which our President and CEO James E. Rooney was appointed on to develop long-term transportation finance recommendations, Governor Healey and the Legislature worked together to develop a 2025 supplemental budget from excess surtax funds that included $758M in funding for the MBTA, RTAs, and our roads and bridges. In 2026 we will continue to advocate for a 50-50 split of income surtax funding for priorities in transportation and education.
  • In support of the Chamber’s advocacy for industries vital to the Massachusetts economy, it released a first of its kind report on the aggregate economic contributions of hospitals, colleges and universities – our Eds & Meds – to the state’s economy. The independently produced 2025 report finds that Eds & Meds support more than 1 in 5 jobs statewide, $155.9 billion in annual economic impact, and $4.1 billion in state taxes. The Chamber will continue to work with our members, key stakeholders, the legislature and the Governor to protect the state’s innovation economy and competitive advantage, including through continued support for stable federal research funding and the DRIVE Initiative.
  • In the fall of 2025, the Chamber released its updated 2025/26 tax reform policy agenda. The Chamber led the business community’s advocacy to the successful passage of the 2023 Massachusetts tax reform package, the first tax reform package in 20 years, and a good first step in ensuring the state remains a competitive place to do business. The law reformed the state’s estate tax, reduced the short-term capital gains tax rate, brought single sales factor into the state, and boosted the state’s Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP), among a myriad of additional favorable tax changes for the Commonwealth. The Chamber now advocates for the full repeal of the estate tax and to eliminate other outlier tax policies that hurt the state’s competitiveness.
  • In 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed the Mass Leads Act, a nearly $4 billion economic development bill that will bolster investments in Massachusetts’ life science sector and energize emerging industries like climatech and artificial intelligence. A Chamber priority, our team advocated for many of the critical investments and policy improvements included that will help maintain the Commonwealth’s leadership position in key industries and help attract new talent and jobs to the region. Critical policy goals such as permit tolling, EDIP flexibility, small business support, and reauthorization of the state’s successful life sciences initiative are just a few of positive outcomes included in the bill.
  • Signed by Governor Healey in 2024, the Chamber supported the Affordable Homes Act, a $5 billion housing bond bill that makes key investments in housing production, public housing preservation, and includes important policy improvements to facilitate housing development across the Commonwealth. Importantly, through the Chamber’s and its partners’ advocacy, the legislation did not include harmful policies such as transfer taxes, rent control, and other proposals that only hurt housing production and exacerbate affordability concerns without accelerating housing development.
  • The Chamber successfully advocated for essential energy grid siting and permitting reforms, included in 2024 omnibus climate legislation. These reforms will expedite important upgrades to our energy infrastructure needed as the Commonwealth transition to cleaner forms of energy.
  • We ensured the voice of the business community was heard in the development of the 2024 Francis Perkins Pay Workplace Equity Law, ensuring the Act’s success through reasonable and practical measures. Encouraging equitable and diverse workplaces will benefit the workforce and employers of today and tomorrow.
  • The Chamber, in partnership with 9 other regional Chambers of Commerce from Cape Cod to the Berkshires, co-founded the Massachusetts Chambers Policy Network. Representing over 10,000 member employers and more than 100,000 employees, the Chambers Policy Network uses its united and collective voice on behalf of the business community and advocates for public policy solutions that will strengthen the quality of life and economy in all regions of the Commonwealth. The Network continues to weigh-in on fiscal responsibility, unemployment insurance concerns, and transportation priorities among others.
  • We elevated the voice of the employer community with the Boston City Council through direct advocacy, effective testimony and engagement through our government affairs forums and leadership councils, fostering new connections and ensuring local decision makers have access to our members. The Chamber partners with the City of Boston on supporting Boston Public Schools, improving public safety, and elevating SPACE grantees.
  • The Chamber expanded its advocacy reach through the creation of its Amicus Advisory Board, which weighs in on important judicial cases that may impact the employer community broadly. With the help of our members, the Chamber files or joins amicus briefs when a judicial decision may have deep impacts on individuals and businesses in the Commonwealth. The Chamber is unique among business associations in that it advocates across all three branches of government.

Help Us Move Forward

 

We are a trusted, go-to resource for members, policymakers, and the public on issues affecting businesses, employers, the workforce, and the economy. If you’re a member, you have a dedicated policy contact who will answer your questions and listen to your feedback.

Members at the Advocate level and higher can join our Leadership Councils for deeper engagement with our policy team.

Contact our Policy Team

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