Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker is hitting the pause button for new state regulations and halting the renewal of regulations for the next three months.Baker’s administration says a 90-day pause will allow the state to implement new guidance over business regulations, something Lieutenant Governor Kayrn Polito explained to business leaders in Pittsfield on Saturday.
“Most small businesses feel very overregulated,” Polito said. “Right now is an opportunity with a fresh look at regulations that are working and regulations that are not. Sort of peeling back so that we can remove some of those barriers for growth and help reduce the cost of doing business for individual owners so they can create more jobs.”
Effective until March 31, new regulations will be rejected except those addressing public health, safety, environment, welfare and unanticipated matters. Last week, Baker ordered a hiring freeze for state government and launched a 100-day agency-by-agency review.