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Legislation and Agenda

AIM’s advocacy on behalf of the employer community has been a hallmark of its activities since 1915, when the association was founded.  The primary focus of this advocacy has been legislation on Beacon Hill in Boston, although over the years AIM has also responded to federal legislation in Washington, D.C. though its lobbyist there.  When necessary, AIM’s legislative advocacy includes leadership on ballot questions having a significant impact on employers.

With more than 6,000 bills filed in every two-year session, the guiding principle has been to address proposals that would increase costs, negatively affect the employment relationship, or increase regulatory burdens on employers.  At the beginning of each session, AIM produces two blueprints, the Public Policy Agenda and the Legislative Agenda.  The first is a broad look at pending or emerging policy issues, including legislation; and the second is the affirmative legislative agenda for AIM

AIM’s advocacy includes both oral and written testimony before legislative committees, one-on-one conversations with representatives and senators, plant tours, media relations, and policy briefings.  Importantly, AIM uses new grass-roots tools to involve members, such as AIM Voice, a targeted interactive method for personal communications between employers and elected officials.

In the list to the left, please see AIM's Legislative and Public Policy Agendas and all related legislation, testimonies, bill summaries and bill text, arranged by topic.  Legislation is classified as either Affirmative or Responsive.

• Affirmative items are AIM’s proactive legislative proposals to change policy and laws to support employers and a positive economic climate.
• Responsive items are issues and proposals by others requiring employer advocacy to either achieve good policy and laws, or avoid bad policy and laws, to achieve and maintain a positive economic climate.

Click here for the text of The General Laws of Massachusetts.

For a detailed description of the Massachusetts legislative process, by which a bill becomes a law, please see the Commonwealth’s booklet Lawmaking in Massachusetts.