NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer testified today before the House Regulatory and Administrative Procedures Committee today, telling lawmakers that South Carolina needs to protect small businesses from unfair lawsuits related to the novel coronavirus and take other action that makes it easier for small businesses to reopen.
Homeyer called on legislators to ease the regulatory burden on small businesses in the wake of the pandemic. “Complying with new rules and regulations is difficult in the best of times, and these aren’t the best of times,” Homeyer said. “We’re asking that the state delay the implementation of new regulations and avoid enacting new ones until we’ve fully recovered from the pandemic and the resulting shutdown.
Homeyer, who testified before the committee remotely, also said a recent NFIB survey found that nearly 70% of small business owners are concerned about an increase in liability claims. “The past two months have been a trial for small businesses,” he said after the hearing. “As small businesses begin the process of reopening, we must establish protections from the threat of lawsuits that exploit the already damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Even during normal times, the cost of defending itself against even one bogus claim can be enough to put a small business out of business,” Homeyer said.
