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Bill

H 491

An Act including worker-owned businesses in economic development programs

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill expands state economic development programs to include and fund worker-owned cooperative businesses as eligible recipients of public support.

Bill reported favorably by committee as changed and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 491

Legislative bill overview

H 491 seeks to expand Massachusetts' economic development programs to explicitly include and support worker-owned businesses as eligible recipients of state funding, incentives, and development assistance. The bill was favorably reported by committee in December 2025 and is currently under review by the House Ways and Means Committee, which will determine budgetary implications.

Why is this important

Worker-owned cooperative businesses operate under different governance structures than traditional corporations, potentially affecting job quality, wealth distribution, and community economic resilience. Including them in state economic development programs could redirect public resources toward an alternative business model while raising questions about program administration, cost, and whether existing programs adequately serve this sector.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional scope: Unclear what qualifies as "worker-owned" and whether the bill requires full employee ownership, majority ownership, or board representation, which affects implementation complexity and cost
  • Program administration burden: State agencies may need new expertise to evaluate and support worker-owned businesses differently than traditional enterprises, raising operational questions and expenses
  • Fiscal impact uncertainty: The bill's cost depends on how many worker-owned businesses apply, what level of support they receive, and whether this represents new spending or reallocation of existing economic development funds—a key concern for Ways and Means Committee review

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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