NFIB State Director Annie Spilman released the following statement today following a House vote killing Senate Bill 14’s chances of passing during the current special session. The bill, which passed with strong bipartisan support in the state Senate, would have helped small businesses by stopping local governments from imposing their own employment rules and regulations:
“Our members are extremely frustrated and disappointed by Rep. Joe Moody’s absurd point of ‘disorder’ claiming that the issues addressed in Senate Bill 14 weren’t included in the proclamation issued by the governor in calling the second special session.
“Governor Abbott’s proclamation clearly called for lawmakers to address ‘legislation shielding private employers and employees from political subdivision rules, regulations, ordinances and other actions that require any terms of employment that exceed or conflict with federal or state law relating to any form of employment leave, hiring practices, employment benefits, or scheduling practices.’
Small business owners are still recovering from the pandemic and don’t have the time or the resources to navigate a confusing and contradictory patchwork of local ordinances that go beyond what state and federal law already requires. This remains a critical issue for small businesses, and we will continue advocating for commonsense legislation that sets political partisanship aside and creates an environment that allows small businesses to grow and create jobs regardless of what city or county they’re in.”
