Starting October 29, business owners will receive some welcome regulatory relief, after Gov. Sean Parnell signed into law House Bill 32 on July 31.
HB 32, authored by Rep. Mia Costello, removes the burden of having to purchase multiple licenses if the business performs various activities under the same business name.
“When my constituents first brought this issue to my attention, I was surprised how significant a burden it could be to have to go through the licensing process multiple times for one business,” said Costello in a news release. “This bill improves Alaska’s small business climate and cuts through unnecessary red tape. One business, one business license.”
The new law represents is a big victory for NFIB, which lobbied extensively for its passage. In a letter to the governor encouraging his signature, NFIB/Alaska State Director Denny DeWitt said, “Small businesses do not have large margins, and this is one expense they should not need to pay. Small businesses that are required to purchase multiple business licenses are likely to be those that must be involved in several lines just to make ends meet.”
DeWitt cited someone who plows driveways in the winter and sells firewood in the fall as an example of a person currently needing two licenses. In addition to allowing businesses to purchase a single license for all its activities, HB 32 allows owners to make one change to their existing licenses without purchasing a new license. The new law also reduces the fee from $50 to $25 if the business is a sole proprietorship and the owner is a disabled veteran.
“This is common sense legislation that gets government out of the way so Alaska entrepreneurs can prosper,” Governor Parnell said. “I appreciate Representative Mia Costello’s work on this bill that was supported by many Alaska business owners.”
[Pictured above, from left to right, Kevin Turkington, NFIB/Alaska leadership council member; Al Tamagni, NFIB/Alaska leadership council chairman; Rep. Mia Costello; Gov. Sean Parnell]
