NFIB State Director Leah Long says lawmakers delivered several big wins for small businesses in this year’s regular session of the Louisiana Legislature, which gavelled to a close this afternoon.

“Legislators understood that small business is the foundation of Louisiana’s economy, and they passed a number of bills that are going to help local businesses grow, hire, and succeed.”

Here’s a look at some of this year’s small business victories:

Fixing the Legal System to Lower Insurance Costs

NFIB supported several bills aimed at stopping lawsuit abuse and helping reduce insurance premiums. These included:

• HB 431 by Rep. Emily Chenevert, which limits damage awards if the person suing is mostly at fault.
• HB 434 by Rep. Jason DeWitt, which adds a “no pay, no play” rule with a $100,000 cap for uninsured drivers.
• HB 450 by Rep. Michael Melerine, which ends a rule that assumed all injuries were caused by an accident, even without proof.
• SB 231 by Sen. Mike Reese, which changes how courts decide what someone can recover for past medical bills.

“These new laws will help make the system fairer and reduce insurance costs that are hurting small businesses,” Long said.

Improving the Workforce

Lawmakers also passed two bills to help create a better system for job training and hiring:

• HB 624 by Rep. Stephanie Berault moves the Department of Children and Family Services under the Louisiana Workforce Commission, which will now be called Louisiana Works.
• HB 617 by Rep. Kim Carver changes how DCFS is organized so services work better together.

“These bills support Louisiana’s new ‘One Door’ workforce policy,” Long said. “They bring services under one roof, so it’s easier for job seekers to find help and for small businesses to find workers.”

Stopping Harmful Mandates

NFIB also helped stop SB 223, a bill that would have forced many small retailers to follow strict new safety rules. The bill would have required small businesses to do risk reports, hold regular training, and even install panic buttons or hire security guards in some cases.

“Small business owners care about safety, but SB 223 went too far,” Long said. “It would have added extra costs and paperwork that many small businesses simply can’t afford.

Long said, “This session was a big step in the right direction. Lawmakers supported real solutions that help small business owners succeed and keep Louisiana’s economy strong.”