NFIB Michigan Assistant State Director Tim Langholz testified today before the Michigan House Rules Committee in support of HB 4160, legislation that would re-implement a provision to ensure small businesses aren’t overburdened by government regulations. The bill provides a check on bureaucracy and forces our government regulators to more closely consider the impact of regulations on the small business community.

“What HB 4160 does is re-implement a common sense provision into state law that departments must justify why their administrative rules need to be stricter than the federal rules,” Langholz explained. “This provision strikes the balance between the need for flexibility when it comes to rule making, but provides some oversight to prevent bureaucratic overreach.  Small businesses need this type of common sense legislation.”

According to NFIB’s Problems & Priorities survey, small business owners rank “Unreasonable Government Regulations” and “Uncertainty over Government Actions” in their top 10 business concerns overall.

Langholz also pointed to a 2023 study by the National Association of Manufacturers, which shows the compliance costs for federal regulations per employee are staggeringly high. The costs are particularly burdensome for small business manufacturers, who also have to comply with additional environmental regulations.

NFIB supported the original law in 2018 and was outspoken in opposition to its repeal in 2023.