An Act to increase health insurance affordability for small business

This bill creates a tax credit for small businesses in Massachusetts with 26 to 50 employees to help offset the cost of health insurance premiums. To qualify, the business must have an average employee income of $57,000 or less, spend at least half of the total premium cost on insurance, and operate during a year when the state's unemployment rate is 5 percent or higher. The credit allows eligible companies to reduce their income tax liability by 15 percent of their qualifying health insurance expenses. Additionally, the bill requires the state insurance commissioner to conduct a biannual review of purchasing cooperatives and report findings on how they affect small business affordability.