Daniel J. Connelly
Senior Vice President and Compliance Officer
+1.617.348.1685
Dan is Senior Vice President of Government Relations for ML Strategies. He has been directing policy in Massachusetts and the New England region for more than a decade. Dan represents trade associations and businesses across industries with interests before the executive, legislative, regulatory and municipal areas of government throughout New England.
Most recently, Dan served as Legislative Counsel in the Boston office of a large, international law firm. He previously served as the chief legal counsel to the Massachusetts Senate Committee on Ways and Means, where he was responsible for drafting the state’s multi-billion dollar budget, as well as reviewing all legislation referred to the committee. He has participated in the formulation of several substantial legislative proposals, including the Global Warming Solutions Act, Health Care Reform and the consolidation of Massachusetts’ transportation agencies. Upon returning to the private sector, Dan lobbied on behalf companies and trade associations in the New England region and held the position of executive director of the Product Management Alliance, a national organization of product manufacturers and organizations.
Education
- Western New England University (JD)
- Providence College (BA)
Case Studies
Case Study
ML Strategies helped a Massachusetts-based Fortune 500 Company change a decades-old Massachusetts state law that required a majority of a Fortune 500 company’s board of directors to be state residents. The proposed language was adopted by the legislature and became law.
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
Is Massachusetts Poised to Pass a Tax on Digital Advertising?
March 2, 2021|Blog
Governor Baker Releases FY2022 Budget Bill
January 28, 2021|Blog
Viewpoints
How Will Dollars From the Federal American Rescue Plan Reach Local Businesses in Massachusetts?
March 26, 2021| Blog
Congress has passed another coronavirus relief package, the American Rescue Plan (ARP), which allocates significant funding to states to address shortfalls experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these dollars are specifically allocated – in other words, they are already earmarked for funding particular, specific public sectors like transportation or for private uses like the hard hit restaurant and hospitality industry.
Is Massachusetts Poised to Pass a Tax on Digital Advertising?
March 2, 2021| Blog
Only a handful of states have sought to tax digital advertising, and the path forward is murky at best due to practical considerations, federal preemption and constitutional questions. However, there are at least 4 bills filed for the 2021-2022 legislative session in Massachusetts that would implement a tax on a company that advertises on a digital platform.
Governor Baker Releases FY2022 Budget Bill
January 28, 2021| Blog
During his annual State of the Commonwealth address, Governor Charlie Baker highlighted the heroic work of frontline workers and first responders throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, while reminding the Commonwealth that though we are close, we are not out of the dark quite yet. Gov. Baker’s FY2022 (“H1”) budget recommendations support that perspective and indicates the state is still feeling the economic impacts of the pandemic.
Massachusetts FY2021 Conference Report
December 7, 2020| Blog
The fiscal year 2021 (“FY2021”) budget process has been anything but typical. Shortly after Governor Baker’s budget proposal was released in January, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, reorienting the legislative calendar for the remainder of the 2019-2020 legislative session.
Massachusetts Legislature Negotiating Extending the 2019-2020 Session Beyond July 31st
July 30, 2020| Blog
Governor Charlie Baker just announced he is extending COVID-19 Order No. 13 that mandates the closure of non-essential businesses. This order, initially set to expire on April 7th, was extended to Monday, May 4th. This order will officially take effect tomorrow, April 1st at noon.
Massachusetts’ Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo Delivers Remote Chamber Address on Vision for the Remainder of Legislative Session
May 21, 2020| Blog
House Speaker Robert DeLeo addressed the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce today, highlighting the progress the Massachusetts House of Representatives has made amidst unprecedented times and a global pandemic.
Massachusetts’ Reopening Advisory Board Releases Reopening Report
May 18, 2020| Blog
Today, the Baker-Polito Administration’s Reopening Advisory Board published their report outlining a 4-phase schedule for reopening the Commonwealth since the closure of non-essential businesses on March 23. The plan is coupled with a new “Safer at Home” advisory, replacing the current “Stay at Home” advisory, to allow people to use the reopened businesses and services with stringent safety protocols in place.
The Sobering Truth behind COVID-19’s Impact on Massachusetts’ Annual Budget
April 20, 2020| Blog
Economists create graphs, charts and projections on the economy daily, crafting commentary to explain the ebbs and flows of market success and failures based on a variety of factors. That is no longer the case as the nation battles the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”).
Massachusetts: Corporate Board of Directors and Shareholders Meetings Changes as a Result of COVID-19
April 1, 2020| Blog
This week, Governor Charlie Baker issued COVID-19 Order No. 19, “Order Regarding the Conduct of Shareholder Meetings by Public Companies. This Order, which is effective immediately, suspends certain requirements of M.G.L. chapter 156D, section 7.08 that relate to shareholder meetings by remote means.
BREAKING NEWS: Governor Baker Extends Non-Essential Business Closures until Monday, May 4th
March 31, 2020| Blog
Governor Charlie Baker just announced he is extending COVID-19 Order No. 13 that mandates the closure of non-essential businesses. This order, initially set to expire on April 7th, was extended to Monday, May 4th. This order will officially take effect tomorrow, April 1st at noon.