A Look at Arizona’s 56th Legislature: Small Businesses Win the Day

August 23, 2023 Last Edit: May 8, 2025

“With support from our member small-business owners, NFIB was able to quash several bills that would have been detrimental to small-business owners and their operations.”

A Look at Arizona’s 56th Legislature: Small Businesses Win the Day

TUCSON (Aug. 23, 2023) – “While several of the bills introduced this past session would have impacted small businesses — some good, some bad — a few did not make it across the finish line in the Legislature, and others fell victim to Governor Katie Hobbs’ veto,” writes NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich for the Arizona Daily Star. In the op-ed, Heinrich applauds small business owners for engaging their lawmakers during the regular session. From the regulatory relief that was signed into law, to the defeat of costly mandates, NFIB Arizona’s members played an essential role in the 56^th Legislature. CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed. Excerpts are below: Small business scores wins, avoids losses Arizona Daily Star August 23, 2023 By: Chad Heinrich After holding the longest session in state history at 204 days, the 56th Arizona State Legislature adjourned on Monday, July 31. […] Small-business owners who are subject to licensing and permitting regulations at the local government level will benefit from the passage of House Bill 2019, sponsored by Representative Travis Grantham. […] By ensuring basic procedural protections are followed, this bill will prevent the government from unfairly delaying or restricting access to permits of all kinds. With support from our member small-business owners, NFIB was able to quash several bills that would have been detrimental to small-business owners and their operations. Take, for instance, House Bill 2290, sponsored by Representative David Cook, which sought to impose additional healthcare mandates and thereby would have made healthcare coverage further out of reach for many small-business owners. […] Small business owners owe a debt of thanks to leaders in the Senate for stepping up and holding firm against this detrimental legislation. Mandates on small businesses can come as large, complex bills like the one previously discussed. Harmful mandates can also come as seemingly basic government requirements that have a popular appeal upon first look. The latter was the case with House Bill 2555, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Chaplik, which would have mandated that businesses accept cash as a form of payment. While this sounds easy enough, it puts many different types of businesses at risk. […] Thankfully, as was the case with HB 2290, the Senate served as the final arbiter and the bill did not receive a vote of the full Senate. […] In the legislature, thanks to a 1992 constitutional amendment that NFIB helped champion (Prop 108), any tax increase proposed requires a two-thirds vote of each legislative chamber to pass. And in 2022, Arizona voters approved Prop 132, which requires a 60% vote for ballot measures to approve tax increases. With these guardrails in place to prevent tax increases, NFIB members must continue to focus on supporting those who vote with small business on issues that matter within the legislative branch while also keeping close watch on the regulatory environment which is largely governed through the executive branch. […]

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Arizona

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