NFIB State Legislative Director Tim Nungesser released the following statement today on House Bill 1227, an anti-small business measure that passed the House Judiciary Committee this morning:

“Supporters say it’s the ‘Online Market Transparency Bill,’ but it’s really ‘Big Box-Big Brother.’ It isn’t about reducing online crime. It’s about making it harder for small businesses to compete online.  

“This is one of the more unseemly efforts of big business to shove small operators aside. No major operators would be subject to the onerous provisions outlined in H.B. 1227, like providing private bank account numbers and spelling out exactly which suppliers they use to get their merchandise. 

“We don’t see this as anything but a one-sided, anti-competitive measure that would help big businesses at the expense of small and independent businesses, and we urge the legislature to reject it.”