Montana State Victories
The following NFIB victories will make a real difference for your business.
Recent NFIB/Montana victories:
Stopped significant cost increases ($600 million) to the comp fund
As the lead lobbying group in subcommittee, NFIB lead the fight stopping a premium increase of 15 to 20 percent. In addition, NFIB's Legal Foundation fought a precedent-setting case that would have cost over $300 million. If these two issues had gone the other way…it would have meant a combined $600 million increase in costs to the fund.
Passed health-care tax credit
Due to the efforts of NFIB/Montana members, health care credits will now be given to small businesses providing a $1,200 credit per employee per year. Eighty percent of our balloted members supported this legislation and NFIB/Montana took a lead role in helping pass this credit for qualifying businesses. This should impact an estimated 7,000 employers.
Defeated new business taxes
NFIB/Montana and its large membership were instrumental in defeating three key business tax measures. SB 513 would have put all corporations under an audit microscope regarding their use of legal tax incentives or shelters. SB 520 would have increased the top individual income tax rate by nearly 1 percent, while giving property owners and renters a $155 rebate and freezing capital gains taxes. SB 521 would have created an alternative minimum tax on corporations.
VICTORY: NFIB/Montana was a major force behind the passage of SB 363 in the 2003 Legislature, which places a cap on punitive damages in any civil lawsuit to three percent of businesses net assets or $10 million, which ever is less. Passage of this bill was a keystone in NFIB/Montana's tort reform agenda this year.
VICTORY: Thanks to members like you, NFIB/Montana was successful in the 2003 Legislature in helping to defeat five bills that sort to implement a local option sales tax of four percent to bolster local government spending by cities and counties.
VICTORY: During the August 2002 special session of the legislature, NFIB/Montana successfully lobbied to address state budget revenue shortfalls with cuts in government spending rather than raising taxes or implementing new taxes.
VICTORY: Thanks to members like you, NFIB/Montana was also able to lead the charge and help defeat a bill that would have allowed cities and counties to adopt a voter-approved, local-option sales tax of 4 percent.
VICTORY: The Montana legislature, in the final days of its 57th session, passed SB 323, which rectifies the Montana Supreme Court ruling last year that greatly expanded an employee's ability to bypass workers' compensation's exclusive remedy and sue his/her employer for workplace injuries. The bill statutorily places language in the law that says an employee can sue only if the injury was caused by an "intential" act by an employer.
VICTORY: Spearheaded by strong lobbying efforts of NFIB, lawmakers last year passed a bill that exempts the first $5000 of business equipment from taxation, cut the remaining equipment tax in half and paved the way to eliminate the business equipment tax over the next six years.
1999:
Business Equipment Tax: NFIB was a key supporter of SB 200 cutting the current 6 percent tax on business equipment to three percent, exempting the first $5,000 of equipment from taxation, and establishing a trigger by which the tax could be eliminated in six years.
Employer Immunity: NFIB spearheaded passage of SB 271 to gain immunity from civil lawsuits for employers who responsibly report job-related skills when giving a reference on former employees.
Intangible Tax: NFIB fought for passage of SB 111 to prevent the state from taxing intangible business property. Without passage, business might have experienced the largest tax increase in Montana history.
Minimum Wage: NFIB was instrumental in defeating two bills aimed at raising the minimum wage as high as $7.90 per hour.
1998:
One Stop Licensing Pilot: The program will allow grocery stores, convenience stores and gasoline stations to file the average six-to-eight licenses per location at one time with one check. The licenses included in the one-stop program are the business registration certificate, egg license, petroleum dealer's license, weighting device license, nursery license, food purveyor license, underground tanks registration, cigarette license, off-premise beer and wine renewal and employer registration. If successful, NFIB will push for expansion of the program to more businesses.
1997:
Property Taxes: Legislation sponsored by NFIB member Sen. John Harp passed, freezing property taxes and preventing a $100 million tax increase.
Environmental Self-Audits: NFIB member Rep. Scott Orr sponsored legislation which exempts businesses from penalties when they report violations discovered in self-audits.
Health Insurance: The Legislature passed a bill strongly supported by NFIB which allows 100 percent deductibility of individual, sole proprietor and partnership health insurance premiums on state income tax returns.
Independent Contractor Status: The C test requirements for employers hiring independent contractors were eliminated by passage of HB 252.
