NFIB Outlines Small Business Agenda Ahead of Governor Lee's State of the State Address

Date: January 31, 2020

In advance of Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State Address on Monday, NFIB announced a full agenda on behalf of its 6,000 members in Tennessee. Those items include repealing the professional privilege tax on seven remaining professions, improving the process of audited taxpayers, and supporting a “right-to-work” constitutional amendment.

NFIB is part of the No Taxation on My Occupation Coalition that will take to the Hill on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Last year, Tennessee eliminated the tax on 15 professions. NFIB and other groups are asking lawmakers to finish the job and eliminate the discriminatory $400 tax on attorneys, doctors, financial advisors, and others.

“Repealing the professional privilege tax would emphasize that it is a fundamental a right to own, operate and grow a business in Tennessee,” said NFIB Tennessee Director Jim Brown. “Our current law says it’s a so-called ‘privilege,’ and we’re one of only six states with such an arbitrary tax.”

Brown also said NFIB is working on legislation that would address recent situations where small business owners were assessed or ready to be assessed back taxes, even though previous state guidance was inconsistent or not clear.

Earlier this week, NFIB testified in favor of SJR 648, which would initiate the process to embed Tennessee’s 73-year-old right-to-work law in our state Constitution. NFIB members are concerned with attempts in the courts (Indiana) and Congress (the PRO Act) to eliminate state right-to-work laws.

“No one’s employment should be conditional on paying dues to a union or any other organization,” Brown said, noting ongoing efforts in Virginia to overturn their 1947 law has the attention of Tennessee small business owners.

SJR 648 will be heard on the Senate floor Monday. It would need to pass both chambers this session by a 50 percent vote, and again in the 112th General Assembly by a two-thirds vote, before going to voters on the 2022 State Ballot.

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