NFIB State Director Jim Brown said small business owners are urging lawmakers to pass SB 474 and HB 855, legislation that would let them remain open during a pandemic or other health emergency as long as they follow any government’s guidelines to keep customers and employees safe.
Senate Bill 474, sponsored by Sen. Bill Powers from Clarksville, goes before the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee tomorrow, while House Bill 855, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Powers, will be heard by the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee on Wednesday.
“The Tennessee Business Fairness Act is commonsense legislation that will help many small businesses survive another crisis like COVID-19 and keep people working,” Brown said.
“The bill seeks to ensure any government, state or local, stays away from picking winners and losers and ensures small businesses are on a level playing field with their big-box competitors,” Brown said. “Hopefully, we’ll never have another situation like we’ve had with the coronavirus, but if we do, we need to make sure small businesses can survive.”
