Small business owners from across the state are urging their legislators to support a slate of workers’ comp reform that could come up for a vote in a Louisiana House Committee as early as Thursday.

Owners are also asking lawmakers to vote “yes” on long-needed updates to the state’s unemployment insurance system.

The House Labor Committee is expected to take up the workers’ comp legislation when it meets on Thursday. The bills are HB 119, 200, 529,618, 703, and 863.

NFIB State Director Leah Long said the bills would bring the state’s workers’ comp program into the 21st century and provide immediate financial relief to Main Street businesses.

“Inflation continues to drive up the cost of everything from raw materials to wages,” Long said. “Changing how Louisiana’s workers’ comp system operates would provide immediate financial relief to small businesses struggling to get through these difficult economic times.

Unemployment insurance reform

The UI reform bill, HB 119, would also relieve some of the economic pressure on Louisiana businesses.

“Louisiana’s unemployment rate was 4.2% in March. We don’t have figures for Louisiana, but according to the latest NFIB Small Business Economic Trends survey, 37% of small businesses nationwide have openings they can’t fill. It just makes sense to limit the time workers can college unemployment benefits when so many jobs remain unfilled,” she said.