NFIB State Director Leah Long wrote the following column thanking House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise for their role in making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanant.

Louisiana’s small business owners recently scored one of their biggest victories in years, thanks in large part to House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

Their leadership was critical in passing the recent tax bill which made the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent. For small business owners, that means stability, certainty, and the ability to plan for the future without the fear of a sudden tax hike.

This deduction was first created in 2017 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. It allows small businesses to deduct up to 20% of their business income from federal taxes, helping put them on equal footing with their larger corporate competitors, expand, and create jobs. For many entrepreneurs, it has been the difference between keeping the doors open and locking up for good.

But unlike the corporate tax cuts included in the 2017 law, the Small Business Deduction was only temporary. It was set to expire at the end of 2025. That meant nearly every small business in Louisiana—99.5% of all businesses in the state—was staring down the possibility of higher taxes in just a matter of months.

At a time when Main Street businesses were already stretched thin by rising labor costs, inflation, and supply chain disruptions, this uncertainty weighed heavily. Many owners were reluctant to hire, expand, or invest in new equipment because they didn’t know what their tax bills would look like.

Without action from Congress, an estimated nine out of ten small businesses nationwide would have faced higher taxes than their larger corporate competitors. That would have tilted the playing field against local businesses and made it harder for them to survive.

That’s why Speaker Johnson and Leader Scalise’s efforts were so important. By making the 20% Small Business Deduction permanent, they removed that cloud of uncertainty and gave entrepreneurs across Louisiana and the nation the confidence to move forward.

The stakes for our state couldn’t be higher. Louisiana’s economy depends on small businesses. They aren’t just job creators, they’re community builders. They sponsor youth sports teams, support local charities, and provide opportunities that keep our towns and cities strong. When small businesses succeed, Louisiana thrives.

Making the deduction permanent ensures that these businesses will have the same tax certainty as large corporations. It gives them room to grow, reinvest in their employees, and strengthen their communities.

My organization’s small business owner-members fought for this outcome for years, but it never would have happened without Speaker Johnson and Leader Scalise’s help. They listened to the voices of small business owners in Louisiana and across the country and helped steer the provision through Congress and to President Trump’s desk.

On behalf of the thousands of NFIB members in Louisiana, I want to thank Speaker Johnson and Leader Scalise for standing with Main Street. Their leadership has helped secure a stronger future for Louisiana’s small businesses, their employees, and their communities.