Massachusetts Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo raised the prospect at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event on Wednesday, according to BostInno and other reports.

DeLeo, a Democrat, cited complaints that students who get their degrees at area colleges end up leaving the state because of non-competes. “We want to make sure those people are staying and working and raising their families here in Massachusetts. That’s why we came up with the compromise relative to the 12-month expiration,” he noted.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune‘s technology newsletter.

Non-competes have long been a hot issue in the Bay State. Opponents say the agreements, which many prospective employees have to sign as a condition of employment, keep talented labor from taking new opportunities and even force some top tech talent to flee for California or other jurisdictions where non-competes are unenforceable. A non-compete can now last for several years.

Will Dell Continue EMC’s Scorched-Earth Non-Compete Policies?

Some local employers, notably Hopkinton, Mass.-based EMC (EMC), strongly support non-competes and have lobbied against changes.

Former Gov. Deval Patrick proposed changes two years ago, but that effort went for naught.

For more on what hiring will look like in 2016, watch:

DeLeo’s proposal also includes a provision that would require employers to explicitly tell job candidates that they will be asked to sign an agreement in advance and that low-wage workers be exempt from non-compete agreements.