Virginia State Victories
The following NFIB victories will make a real difference for your business.
Recent NFIB/Virginia victories:
Eliminated Virginia's death tax
Having come within two votes of ending the death tax in Virginia in 2003, NFIB never gave up! We grew our membership using the death tax issue to gain votes and influence with Republicans, Democrats and Independents in the Virginia Legislature. This victory will prevent the selling off of small businesses and family farms to pay the government more taxes when the owner dies, keeping the business in the hands of the family.
Stopped the minimum wage increase, keeping payroll costs down and saving jobs
NFIB helped block a minimum wage increase from the current $5.15 per hour to $8.15 per hour, saving many small-business owners significant money annually and preserving Virginia jobs. This effort also will stop job losses, lost productivity and lost business (leading to lost profits even for business owners who pay more than the minimum wage.) If this bill were to pass, workers making less than the $8.15 per hour, but more than the $5.15 minimum would demand a pay raise as well.
Established a health insurance pool for small business
The new law authorizes small businesses, defined as those with fewer than 50 employees, to join together to purchase health insurance coverage for their employees and allows small businesses that currently have a coverage plan to increase health insurance options for their employees. This legislation provides small businesses with purchasing clout, bargaining power and wider coverage selection.
Raised small claims court threshold from $2,000 to $5,000
Small-business owners can now take a case to the informal small claims court on matters costing up to $5,000. Small claims courts operate without having an attorney or jury present, and allow the judge to make the final decision. Eliminating legal fees in small claims matters will save an average small business about $1,000 in legal fees.
Streamlined the state procurement process for small business, saving time and making it easier to apply
NFIB worked with the Legislature to ensure small-, women- and minority-business owners get a larger share of state contracts. In addition, the paperwork certification process has been simplified so small-business owners can focus on running their businesses rather than filling out duplicate forms.
Defeated costly new health-care mandates, keeping premiums down
NFIB helped to defeat costly health-care mandates in 2006, which kept premiums lower for small businesses. This is a big victory, because there were many efforts to add various mandates to health-care policies. One such mandate would force all small-business owners to provide coverage for gastric bypass surgery for those who are morbidly obese. The average cost of this surgery in Virginia is $20,000. If passed, this bill would have added an additional $72 per year on to the cost of every single person's health insurance policy.
Passed Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Act
The bill requires all agencies to conduct an impact analysis of proposed regulations, specifically on small business. It requires state agencies to work with small business and find less costly alternatives to comply with new costly regulations BEFORE applying the regulations, and allows a small-business owner to take an agency to court if he did not get a fair hearing about the new regulations.
Enacted Health Savings Accounts
The legislature will allow insurance companies to offer health savings accounts. HSAs are tax-free savings accounts for medical expenses, allowing more small-business owners to get affordable health coverage for themselves and their employees.
Blocked new health-care mandates
No health-care mandates were added to the health-care policies of small business in 2005. This is a big victory since there were many efforts to pass on various mandates onto health-care policies.
Eliminated June pre-payment of July sales tax
A scheme was devised to force many businesses with more than $1.3 million in annual sales to pre-pay their estimated July sales tax in June to cover the state budget. Legislation was passed to eliminate this scheme for all the biggest corporations in Virginia.
Enhanced business tax assessment appeal process
Provides that when any taxpayer appeals to court from an adverse decision of the State Tax Commissioner regarding the assessment of a local business tax, (and pays any amount of tax not in dispute), the business owner does not have to pay the disputed portion of the tax until the court makes a final decision.
$4 billion tax increase defeated
NFIB was the only business group to oppose a $4 billion general tax increase on small-business owners, in the form of personal income taxes, gasoline taxes and service taxes. While the legislature ultimately passed a $1.6 billion increase, NFIB's action effectively held back another $2.4 billion in taxes that would have fallen directly on owners of small and independent businesses.
Passed sales tax prepayment exemption
NFIB helped win an exemption for businesses with less than $1.3 million in annual sales from making estimated prepayments of sales taxes, based on the administration's proposal to collect July sales tax receipts from all merchants in June.
Thirty-five percent unemployment compensation increase shortened
NFIB worked with the legislature to defeat the administration's proposed extension of the 35 percent increase in unemployment compensation benefits and roll back the benefits to pre-Sept. 11, 2001, levels.
2003 - The exorbitant 2001 Unemployment Compensation benefits were reduced and shortened. Fees for writing bad checks were raised from $25 to $35 -- and under a court's order, attorney's fees can be collected.
2002 - NFIB prevented small-business owners from pre-paying their July Sales and Use Tax.
2001 - NFIB helped kill a bill that would have required small businesses to offer hearing aide insurance in their health insurance policies.
2000 - NFIB helped kill a bill that would have mandated any business that does business with the government pay all their employees equal to 125 percent of the federal poverty level.
1999 - NFIB helped champion an amendment to Senate Bill 430 that exempted small businesses from the provisions of a new mandate requiring more insurance for increased mental health benefits.
1998 - After a long campaign, NFIB was able to help pass House Bill 1354, which set up small claims courts in all Virginia localities.
1997 - Legislation was passed to exempt small business owners from serving jury duty if it would cause them to shut their doors to business.
1996 - NFIB helped and encouraged a bipartisan group of legislators to form a Small Business Caucus at the General Assembly. The SBC plans on regular meetings throughout the session, especially during the beginning of future legislative sessions.
1993 - NFIB pushed for a bill that guaranteed businesses with less than 26 employees access to health insurance in Virginia.
1992 - NFIB/Virginia helped pass legislation that made it possible for merchants to collect civil damages from thieves.
