AUSTIN (Aug. 6, 2025) – The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) here in Texas, along with the state’s business groups, is urging lawmakers to expand the state’s emergency bridge loan program to include more small business owners this special session. In conversations with KLIF News’ Clayton Neville and 710 KURV’s Sergio Sanchez, NFIB State Director Jeff Burdett discussed how the bridge loan program would benefit small business owners and the hardworking Texans they employ.

On KLIF News, Burdett highlighted how access to capital can help small business owners weather the storm and keep their employees on payroll.

“When a natural disaster strikes, the small businesses are the most affected,” Burdett said. “They need some cash reserves, and they need an injection of capital to get through. You’re not able to pay employees with a credit card.”

On 710 KURV¸ Burdett noted that natural disasters can become economic disasters without access to bridge loans.

“If [small businesses] can’t pay their employees for the first couple of months – without cash – then those employees go away,” Burdett said. “That makes it almost impossible to restart that business. What we’ve seen [is that] 40% of businesses, if they don’t open within a couple of months after a disaster, permanently close.”

CLICK HERE to listen to Burdett’s full conversation on KLIF. CLICK HERE to listen to Burdett’s full conversation on 710 KURV.

BACKGROUND:

NFIB Texas, along with the business coalition, supports Senate Bill 26 and House Bill 109, identical bills that strengthen and simplify Texas’ small business disaster recovery infrastructure by:

• Consolidating two disaster loan programs, adding small businesses to the already successful Micro-Business Disaster Recovery Loan Program to improve clarity and enhance government efficiency.
• Clarifying that loans may be used to cover payroll costs, providing a lifeline to help businesses retain employees and maintain operations during the recovery period.
• Building on the current model so that small businesses will repay their loans to participating Community Development Financial Institutions—a structure that protects the State of Texas, replenishes the fund for future disasters and helps small businesses bridge the gap between immediate need and longer-term support like federal SBA assistance or insurance payouts.