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S 180

Intimate Partner Violence

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brad Hutto

The bill expands MDFA Growth Capital leadership and creates a formal Growth Capital Advisory Board with guaranteed micro, small, and disadvantaged business input.

Committee report: Favorable Judiciary
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Bill Summary · S 180

Summary — S.180 (2025): "An Act improving microbusiness and small business representation"

Short title / purpose
- The bill amends Massachusetts General Laws chapter 23G to increase microbusiness and small‑business representation within the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency’s (MDFA) Growth Capital Division and to create a formal Growth Capital Advisory Board to advise agency leadership and the division.

Bill status and timeline (from provided record)
- Introduced: Jan 22, 2025 (Sen. Adam Gómez, Hampden)
- Printed as 180A: Feb 5, 2025
- Passed Senate: June 4, 2025; delivered to the House/Assembly June 4, 2025
- Referred to: Committee on Social Services (most recent referral in record)
- Hearing scheduled: July 15, 2025 (per record)
- Note: the legislative record provided contains duplicated and inconsistent action lines; the core bill text below reflects the Massachusetts state‑level measure contained in the docket.

Key provisions and changes
- Section 1 — Board membership increase
- Amends subsection (b) of G.L. c.23G, §2: increases the number of members from 9 to 12 by replacing the numeral “9” with “12”.
- Adds three specific member positions: (1) the executive director (or designee) of the Coalition for an Equitable Economy; (2) one microbusiness owner; and (3) one small business owner.

  • Section 2 — Establishes a Growth Capital Advisory Board (new subsections to G.L. c.23G, §48)

    • Creates a convened advisory board to provide feedback and guidance to MDFA leadership, the board of directors, and the Growth Capital Division.
    • Required participants (by statute) include: the Secretary of Economic Development (or designee); chairs of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies (or designees); the MDFA executive director (or designee); directors of each MDFA division (or designees); the MDFA chair and at least three other board members; the executive director (or designee) of the Coalition for an Equitable Economy; at least three socially or economically disadvantaged small business owners; at least three microbusiness owners; at least three small business support organizations; and at least three current or former participants in Growth Capital Division programs.
    • The advisory board may form subcommittees focused on specific small business assistance programs.

  • Additional representation requirement

    • Requires that at least one small business owner, one microbusiness owner, one small business support organization representative, and the executive director of the Coalition for an Equitable Economy serve on every working group and on hiring, screening, and advisory committees established by or for the agency where agency board members serve.

Who this affects
- The Massachusetts Development Finance Agency (MDFA), specifically its Growth Capital Division — governance and advisory structures.
- Microbusinesses and small businesses in Massachusetts — increased guaranteed representation in agency governance, program advisory and hiring/screening processes.
- Coalition for an Equitable Economy and small‑business support organizations — statutory seats and ongoing consultative roles.
- Current and prospective participants in Growth Capital Division programs — greater opportunity for participant input.

Potential impacts and implications
- Institutional: formalizes a broader, mandated stakeholder presence (including disadvantaged businesses and program participants) in MDFA decision‑making and advisory processes.
- Programmatic/policy: increased small business input may influence program design, outreach, approval/hiring practices, and prioritization of funds or assistance targeted to micro and disadvantaged small businesses.
- Fiscal: the bill text does not specify funding or new appropriations for implementing the advisory board or added board functions; potential administrative costs (staff time, meeting logistics) are implied but not quantified.
- Procedural: creates new statutory membership requirements and a standing advisory structure with authority to create subcommittees, and requires inclusion of small‑business representation on related committees.

Text references
- Amends G.L. c.23G, §2(b) and adds subsections (i) and (j) to G.L. c.23G, §48.

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

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