Mass. governor announces elimination of 38 outdated business regulations

The governor announced a package of regulatory cuts intended to ease burdens on Massachusetts businesses, saying the administration has identified and will eliminate 38 sets of rules that officials described as outdated.

The governor said agencies reviewed “over a 50 sets of regulations” and that the first installment of reforms removes 38 sets—“25% of the total of all regulations,” she said—targeting rules she and agency officials said created needless cost and paperwork for businesses and limited consumer choice.

The announcement came at an event with business and industry representatives from across the state and officials from the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABRA) and related regulatory divisions. The governor credited OCABRA and several division commissioners with the review and called the effort “deep” and “meaningful.”

“Today, we’re cutting down 38 different sets of regulations. That’s 25% of the total of all regulations,” the governor said, adding that the changes will “save businesses time” and “save businesses money.”

Undersecretary Ashley Stolba, who introduced details of the work, said the effort grew out of agency reviews and public feedback gathered through surveys and roundtables. Stolba said the administration will also launch a business “front door” website in the coming weeks to connect companies with state services and simplify incentive and grant applications. “That’s going to be a very easy website where businesses can go to, write their name, write the amount of employees they have, how can we be helpful,” Stolba said.

Officials gave several examples of regulations the administration intends to change or remove. Speakers said the state would rescind specific unit‑pricing requirements for grocery stores that had not been updated since 1996, remove state mandates requiring barbershops to display a barber pole, and eliminate paper‑only filing requirements for some banks and insurers. Commissioner Brian Houghton of the Massachusetts Food Association said unit‑pricing rules were last reviewed in 1996 and that updated rules should make it easier for stores and shoppers to compare prices.

Commissioner Sarah Wilkerson of the Division of Occupational Licensure said the changes affecting privately owned ski areas will align Massachusetts with nationwide standards for trail signage and that the state and ski operators do not expect the changes to reduce safety: “...you’re gonna see the same warning signs in every state,” Wilkerson said.

Agency officials emphasized that the reforms are intended to retain protections for public health and safety while eliminating requirements they described as antiquated or costly. Stolba noted parallel modernization projects, including a three‑year effort to merge three licensing systems into one and new digital platforms for home‑improvement contractor registration. Wilkerson said the Division of Occupational Licensure currently licenses over a half‑million people in the Commonwealth and is leading a project to unify licensing systems.

Business advocates at the event welcomed the announcement. John Hurst of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts said small businesses struggle with regulatory complexity and praised the administration’s “introspection” and follow‑through after prior reform efforts produced little change.

Officials said this package is the first installment and that additional regulatory reviews and public input will follow. The administration invited businesses and residents to submit feedback on regulations they find obstructive.

No formal vote or legislative action was announced at the event; agency leaders said some rescissions and amendments will proceed through the standard rulemaking and regulatory processes before taking final effect.