The Florida chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is monitoring lawmakers convening for the Legislative Session in Tallahassee, as the organization is advocating for several proposed bills it says would foster small businesses.
The Florida NFIB has issued its top five proposed legislative measures, which it says would most likely benefit retailers and other entrepreneurs. Bill Herrle, NFIB Florida Executive Director, said there are many proposed measures that could help ease what he calls heavy-handed regulation that hurts small business owners.
“This Legislative Session, Florida’s small business owners have identified several pieces of legislation that would lessen the regulatory burdens on small businesses and further improve the business climate,” Herrle said. “Florida is a great state to run and operate a small business, and our members are looking forward to the Legislature advancing more pro-small business policies during the Session.”
A significant bill could repeal some local taxes on businesses. The measure (SB 122) sponsored by Sen. Keith Truenow, a Tavares Republican, amends the term “merchant’ that would prohibit some municipalities from revising tax rates, and it would “repeal local gross receipts business taxes except for those already enacted,” the NFIB news release said.
A bill that could ease some regulations is a measure sponsored by Sen. Stan McClain, an Ocala Republican, that would reduce requirements for businesses to post notices of employment with employment agencies and labor organizations. The proposal (SB 1698) provides an alternative to posting job-related notices online rather than solely in hard copy.
Meanwhile, a House bill (HB 191) sponsored by Rep. Shane Abbott, a DeFuniak Springs Republican, looks to modify circumstances and criteria for reemployment assistance. The measure would increase the verification criteria for reemployment assistance and establish an employer hotline to report reemployment assistance fraud.
NFIB officials are also backing a proposed House measure (HB 221) sponsored by Rep. Ryan Chamberlain, an Ocala Republican, that would ease the minimum wage requirements for new hires. That would allow employers a nine-month voluntary waiver of the state minimum wage while new employees are being trained.
And the NFIB is endorsing a Senate bill (SB 240) that would end required auxiliary non-recyclable containers for businesses. The measure is sponsored by Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican.
“NFIB supports legislation that preempts the regulation of single-use containers to the state,” the NFIB news release said.
