IL Small Business Policy News & Information

The latest news and information from NFIB in Washington, D.C., and in Illinois.

Automatic Increases Out of Minimum Wage BillOriginally, the bill called for annual increases tied to the consumer price index.
Last-Minute Workers' Comp Bill Unlikely Without ChangesLegislation to tweak existing state law would do more harm than good for Illinois’ small businesses.
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: NFIB Continues to Oppose Bad Prevailing Wage BillsMeasures would increase burden on Illinois' small businesses.
Union-Backed Pension Bill Passes SenateIt's unclear which of two competing pension bills will clear the Legislature.
$10 Minimum Wage Increase Back on TrackIn other developments, NFIB/Illinois continues to oppose a slew of bad prevailing wage bills.
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Prevailing Wage, Independent Contractor Report Bills Advance in LegislatureHere's a look at some of the bills we're following on your behalf.
CAPITOL UPDATE: Contractor Bill Clears CommitteeNFIB/Illinois opposes the measure, which would require construction contractors to file annual reports with the state listing all payments to independent contractors.
Northbrook, Olympia Fields Students Earn YEF ScholarshipsThe NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who have started their own successful small businesses.
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Assault on Small Business ContinuesThe House has narrowly passed a bill requiring contractors and subcontractors that want to bid on prevailing wage work to "participate" in an apprenticeship program.
Upcoming NFIB Area Action Council MeetingsEvents are planned for Belleville, Crystal Lake, Rockford and Aurora.
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Bill Would Restrict Who Could Bid on Prevailing-Wage WorkNFIB is vigorously opposing legislation that would require contractors and subcontractors to "participate" in an apprenticeship program in order to bid.
Affordable Care Act Workshop will be April 22 in BellevilleCan your small business afford the Affordable Care Act? Find out on Monday, April 22, when NFIB/Illinois and the NFIB Metro-East Area Action Council presents "The Future of Small Business Health Care: What to Expect in 2013 and How to Prepare for 2014."
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Auto IRA Bill Fails in CommitteeOther small-business bills on the agenda include the proposed Illinois Family Care Provider Act and new requirements for contractors under the state's prevailing-wage law.
Support a Young Entrepreneur: Buy a Glass of Lemonade on Lemonade Day
Support the next generation of small-business leaders by pledging to buy a glass of lemonade from a budding entrepreneur in your neighborhood this spring or summer!
Can Your Small Business Afford 'The Affordable Care Act'?We'll help you find the answer when we present a special seminar on what the federal health-care law means to small business on April 5 in Quincy.
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Bill to Create State-Run Workers' Comp Fund AdvancesPrevailing wage and pension bills also are winding through the General Assembly.
Automatic IRA Bills a Big Threat to Small BusinessThe legislation would require many employers to set up IRAs and deduct at least 3 percent from employees' paychecks.
CAPITOL ROUNDUP: Pension Reform, Concealed-Carry Law on Legislature's Front BurnerThe issues are expected to remain a focus for lawmakers in coming weeks.
Employment Security Announces New Monthly Wage ReportsIDES says it wants to stop fraud before it starts and save taxpayers $100 million a year.
NFIB/Illinois Supports Pro-Business Jobs PackageHouse members have introduced several bills aimed at making Illinois job creators more competitive with those in neighboring states.
Minimum Wage, Other Bad Bills Surface in General AssemblyNFIB/Illinois will continue to fight to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses.
Do Workers' Comp and Unemployment Insurance Reform Have a Chance?Sen. Kyle McCarter, a small business owner and critic of Illinois’ workers’ comp and UI systems, has filed multiple bills dealing with what many employers feel are injustices within those two systems. Rep. Dwight Kay has filed many similar bills in the Illinois House.
Sign Up Today for AAC Meetings in Springfield, Quincy, Metro-EastFind out whether your small business can afford the Affordable Care Act.
LISTEN: Raising Illinois' Minimum Wage is a Bad IdeaNFIB/Illinois State Director Kim Clarke Maisch was on WTAX-1240 AM in Springfield to talk about the latest Small Business Optimism Index and Governor Quinn's plan to raise the state's minimum wage to $10 an hour.
Governor Signs Bill Helping Small ContractorsThe new law was necessary to address a recent Supreme Court decision that tipped the Mechanics Lien law in favor of lenders and against contractors when a property or development went into default.
Keep Up with NFIB/Illinois on Twitter!State Director Kim Clarke Maisch is tweeting the latest small-business news and developments this legislative session @KimMaisch.
LISTEN: Illinois State Director Talks to WROK About Minimum WageKim Clarke Maisch says raising the state minimum wage would hurt the state's small-business owners and employees.
State of the State: Wage Increase Would Hurt Small BusinessesIn his State of the State Address, Gov. Pat Quinn called for a wage increase that would do little but cause small businesses to cut employee hours and jobs.
SURVEY: Small-Business Owners Overwhelmingly Oppose Wage IncreaseNFIB research shows that if Illinois raised the minimum wage to $10.65 and tied it to the CPI it would wipe out 21,000 jobs and reduce the state's economic output by roughly $4.5 million.
VICTORY: NFIB Helps Stop Outrageous New Asbestos RulesNew rules proposed by the Illinois Department of Public Health would have driven up the cost of asbestos removal for small businesses.
Help Us Fund Scholarships for Illinois' Young EntrepreneursYour tax-deductible contribution will help fund college scholarships for students who have started their own small businesses.
Lame-Duck Session Ends, New Lawmakers Sworn inOutgoing lawmakers left plenty of issues for this year's Legislature to tackle.
YEF Scholarship Deadline EXTENDED to Jan. 6The award recognizes graduating high-school seniors who have started their own small businesses.
Minimum Wage, Pension Reform Top Legislature's Agenda for 2013Here's a look at some of the issues we'll be facing in the General Assembly.
New Study Shows Higher Minimum Wage Will Wipe Out JobsBacked with a new study by the NFIB Research Foundation, Director Kim Maisch warned lawmakers that raising the minimum wage would result in the loss of tens of thousands of jobs.
IL NFIB Says Make Holiday Parties Fun for Employees, Not LawyersThe NFIB Legal Center provides tips for small businesses to have great holiday parties without risking safety or lawsuits.
Shop Small Business This YearIn a special commentary distributed statewide, Director Kim Maisch urges Illinois residents to shop this year at small businesses.
Illinois Faces New Challenges After Election: What to Expect in 2013Director Kim Maisch analyzes the election and what it means for Illinois small businesses.
Check Out NFIB's 2012 State Voter Guides (Member Login Required)Election Day is here.
NFIB Illinois Welcomes "I Built My Business" Bus TourDirector Kim Maisch announced today that Rockford Illinois will be the second stop on the NFIB "I Built My Business" bus tour aimed at raising small business issues in the remaining days of the election.
NFIB/Illinois Voting Record Published by Crain'sNFIB/Illinois released its Voting Record recently. Crain's Chicago Business published the report this week.
Governor Moves Ahead with Health ExchangeDirector Kim Maisch reports that the Governor's health care team is working to create a health exchange under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
NFIB Makes Legislative EndorsementsDirector Kim Maisch today announced the legislative candidates whom NFIB members have endorsed in the upcoming election.
NFIB Endorses IL Rep. Joe Walsh for ReelectionDirector Kim Maisch says that small business owners on the North Shore need freshman Congressman Joe Walsh back in Washington.
NFIB Endorses Dold in 10 Congressional DistrictDirector Kim Maisch said that it's important for small business owners on the North Shore to work hard to reelect Congressman Bob Dold.
Want Fewer Sales? Expand the Sales Tax to ServicesIn a special opinion piece published recently in Crain's Chicago Business, Director Kim Maisch challenges the argument for expanding the state sales tax to services.
IL Small Businesses Disappointed by SCOTUSDirector Kim Maisch said that her members are deeply disappointed by the SCOTUS ruling that that now Congress must repeal the health care law.
Capitol RoundupFind out what's happening in Springfield with Capitol Roundup, a weekly legislative report by State Director Kim Maisch.
Special Legislative UpdateDirector Kim Maisch reports on a special weekend legislative session in which lawmakers acted on legislation affecting small businesses.
Capitol RoundupDirector Kim Maisch reports on the latest developments in Springfield.

National Issues

National Elections

NFIB In My State

In This Section

In This Section

In This Section

NFIB MyBusiness

Columnists

In This Section

IL Small Business Policy News & Information

About NFIB

Follow Us

Keep Informed

Get Breaking Legislative Alerts Directly on Your Mobile Device.

Contribute to NFIB