04/13/2007
NFIB/Texas scores major victory for small business in Texas!
NFIB/Texas worked hard to kill harmful amendment to a senate bill
As we reported last week, the House Regulated Industries Committee inserted language into SB 482 that takes away your right to appeal to the Texas Public Utility Commission when you have a valid complaint with your service provider. This is a right you've enjoyed and may need if you have a problem with your electric or telephone service company. If it had passed, your only option would have been to spend thousands of dollars engaging legal counsel and taking your fight to state court -- even if you're contesting a few measly dollars.
We engaged the entire Texas House of Representatives and asked them to repeal this harmful provision in SB 482. Chairman King relented and took out the harmful provisions that we worked so hard to kill. Now, small-business owners will retain their access to this government service you have been paying for. This issue was a Key Vote for NFIB/Texas, and we'll continue to make sure your legislators know we're serious about keeping this basic right for all small-business owners.
Tax rendering deadline is this Monday, April 16
As a Texas business owner, you have until Monday, April 16 to render your property with county appraisal districts. Your home county relies on this information to help them in setting property values. Businesses may list taxable inventory, furniture and fixtures, machinery and equipment and other property it has owned or managed as of January 1.
According to the state's office of comptroller of public accounts, the rendition process helps county appraisal districts appraise business property fairly and accurately. They say that if some businesses are not paying their fair share of property tax, it places a greater tax burden on other business owners and homeowners.
If you need more information you can e-mail the Comptroller's property tax division at ptd.cpa@cpa.state.tx.us or call the property tax hotline at (800) 252-9121. The comptroller's rendition forms and decreased value report forms are available on the Web.
Members, get us members!
Texas is adopting our national Member-Get-a-Member Program, designed to increase membership, strengthen relationships with legislators, and increase activism and the creation of AAC's. The program uses existing members who are willing to work with sales representatives to create a database of potential members. You, our members, can spot a future member better than anyone else. Whether they're a church or Rotary club acquaintance, a colleague or an old friend, chances are your contacts care about many of the same issues we're fighting for. Contact your sales representative if you'd like to help make our voice bigger, louder and stronger.
NFIB president and CEO coming to Austin
Register today to meet our NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer on Wednesday, May 2. Stottlemyer will be traveling from Washington, D.C., to Austin to meet with our NFIB/Texas members. We will have a legislative luncheon with our NFIB/Texas staff, NFIB members and non-members at Carmelo's Ristorante in Austin (504 E. 5th Street) from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. We will then head to the Capitol for legislative visits and hearings if the schedule permits. Find out the latest on the new business tax. Be heard at the state and federal level! Get more information or register for this event.
We want to hear your story! We are collecting information on small-business owners who pay the franchise tax now and under the new margins tax model will be paying significantly more than what they paid under the franchise tax model. As you know, this new business tax will hurt a lot of Texas small-business owners and we are working to bring awareness to this harmful tax! We want to bring your story and others like yours to the media and at the capitol. If the above criteria fit you, please e-mail Malaise Murphy. We've got a big fight to fight and need your help. Thank you for your feedback and being active in NFIB. Your involvement is greatly appreciated.
