NFIB State Director Rosemary Elebash released the following statement today following final passage of HB 103, a measure that would erase the distinction between “essential” and “non-essential” businesses during a pandemic or other declared emergency.

“This is great news for Alabama’s small businesses because HB 103 is going to help employers get through another crisis without shutting down and without cutting jobs,” Elebash said. “You should be allowed to open if you follow the government’s guidelines for keeping customers and employees safe. 

“When the government decides which businesses are ‘essential’ and which one’s aren’t, it’s really picking winners and losers, and that’s not right,” Elebash said. “A clothing store has the same right to remain open even if it doesn’t also happen to sell bread and milk.

“On behalf of NFIB’s small business members, I want to thank Rep. Jamie Kiel and Sen. Garlan Gudger for driving this legislation through the Alabama House and Senate, and we look forward to Governor Ivey signing it into law.”