NFIB, or the National Federation of Independent Business, the leading small business organization in South Dakota, thanks the legislature for a successful 2021 session, during which legislators passed two very important small business issues.

“South Dakota small business owners are calling this legislative session a victory,” said Lindsey Riter-Rapp, NFIB State Director in South Dakota. “After a tough year for many of our members, filled with financial sets backs and added frustrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our small business owners are thankful that the South Dakota legislature has taken action on two very important issues: COVID-19 liability reform and expanded access to broadband. Both will ensure that South Dakota small business owners can continue to grow and create more jobs for South Dakota’s economy.”

In a recent South Dakota NFIB survey, 99% of our small business owners asked for protection from COVID-19 related lawsuits. This legislation will stop anyone from bringing forward a lawsuit unless they can prove with clear and convincing evidence that the exposure resulted in a diagnosis of COVID-19. Our small business owners here in South Dakota are doing everything they can to safeguard their employees and customers from the pandemic. They shouldn’t have to worry about being the fear of a frivolous lawsuit when they are doing everything they can to keep their doors open and South Dakotans employed.

South Dakota’s lack of broadband is also a major problem. One in four people don’t have adequate internet access in half the counties. However, thanks to efforts by our legislators, $75 million will now be used to help close the broadband gap in rural areas of South Dakota. This means that South Dakota small businesses will not only be able to hire locally but be able to sell globally.