victories

NFIB Arkansas Small Business Victories >>

Corporate Tax Reform

Passed a bill that reduced the corporate tax rate from 6.5% to 5.9% which resulted in a $40,000,000 tax break for businesses. We also doubled the net operating loss carry forward from 5 years to 10. This change will result in tax savings of $70,000,000 per year for small business

Prevented the Creation of a Vehicle Miles Driven Tax

NFIB defeated a bill that would have created a tax of 1.5 cents for each mile driven in Arkansas. The tax would been collected by installing a tracking device in Arkansas vehicles.

Unemployment Insurance Tax Cut

Passed legislation that reduces the amount of wages that employers pay unemployment insurance on from the first $10,000 to the first $7,000.00. The legislation is estimated to save business owners $55 million per year.

Passed Legislation to Keep Cities From Making Labor Laws

NFIB passed SB668, by Senator Bart Hester, which prohibits local governments from passing their own employment requirements. This will prohibit cities from raising the minimum wage. Cities in other states, like Seattle Washington, have established minimum wages of $15 per hour.

Stopped Overreaching Legislation Limiting Retail Parking Lot Lighting and Signs

The night sky bill sought to limit a business owners ability to use lighted signs to advertise and light their parking lots. The legislation would have allowed local governments to set limits on when outdoor parking lot and advertising signs could be lit and how bright the lighting could be. The bill’s stated purpose was to end “light pollution” and stop “wasteful use of energy.”

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NFIB/Arkansas Legislative Victories >>

Passed Legislation that Saves the Arkansas Unemployment System $50,000,000 Per Year

HB1489 reduced the maximum period a person can be on unemployment from 25 weeks to 20 weeks, and lowered the average weekly benefit payments. These changes will lower the cost of unemployment insurance for business owners.

Passed the Property Owners’ Bill of Rights

HB1908 enables property owners to receive court costs and attorney’s fees when they have to sue the government in eminent domain actions, if the government’s initial purchase offer undervalued the property by 20% or more.

Supported Legislation that Ended Lawsuit Lending

Frivolous lawsuits cost all of us money in increased insurance premiums, and ridiculous legal fees. SB882 will reduce lawsuits in Arkansas by pulling the plug on the outside funding that enables them.

Defeated the Bill that Would Have Created an Earned Income Tax Credit

NFIB successfully opposed HB1344 the so-called “earned income tax credit.” This scheme taxes small business owners, and gives the money as a tax refund to people who often do not pay into the tax system.

Prevented the Creation of a Vehicle Miles Driven Tax

NFIB worked to defeat HB1716, which would have created a tax of 1.5 cents for each mile driven in Arkansas. The tax would have been collected by installing a tracking device in Arkansas vehicles.