Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to call a special session this week to appropriate $772 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The session is expected to address a host of critical issues including broadband expansion, infrastructure improvements, and replenishment of the unemployment trust fund. Returning the unemployment trust fund to pre-pandemic levels would help avoid a tax increase for small business owners a top priority for NFIB.

Property tax legislation

NFIB members have long supported changes to the Business Personal Property tax statute. HB 82 by Rep. Danny Garrett (Trussville) and Sen. Clay Schofield (Guntersville) changes the business personal property tax to exempt the first $40,000 of business personal property tax from taxation. The bill is pending.