AUSTIN (July 24, 2023) – “Despite being home to more than 3 million small businesses and the eighth largest economy in the world, a recent CNBC study has alleged that Texas is not one of the top five states to do business in America, ranking it behind Minnesota in a business-friendly climate,” NFIB State Director Annie Spilman writes in an op-ed for the Austin American Statesman. “You’d have to be more than a few sandwiches shy of a picnic to think the Lone Star State is second to the North Star State.”

Spilman points to the stark contrasts between what lawmakers advanced in both states’ legislatures, hailing Texas’s passage of meaningful tax and regulatory relief as just two examples of many pro-business reforms this legislative session.

CLICK HERE to read the full op-ed. Excerpts are below.

CNBC Ranking Doesn’t Do Texas Business Climate Justice Austin American-Statesman July 23, 2023 By: Annie Spilman

Our workforce, economy, and cost of doing business all outrank Minnesota. These are foundational to the day-to-day necessities of running a business. But because we ‘missed the mark’ in a handful of arguably subjective categories, we came in sixth place nationally. […]

Among other pro-free market reforms, Texas lawmakers cut property taxes and eased the regulatory burden, both of which will ensure small business owners can keep their doors open and create new jobs for hardworking Texans.

Minnesota took the exact opposite approach. For starters, lawmakers raised taxes and fees on business owners big and small, despite having an $18 billion budget surplus. […]

Here in Texas, lawmakers gave more than half of our state’s budget surplus back to the taxpayers. The $18 billion property tax cut helps residents and business owners alike, slashing local ISD taxes and providing targeted relief to small businesses. […]

Despite bipartisan opposition and deep concern from the business community, Minnesota has enacted a paid leave mandate that includes a $1.5 billion per year payroll tax hike on small business owners and workers. While big box retailers will be able to shoulder the mandate, it’ll be near impossible for small business owners to comply. […]

Gov. Greg Abbott, working hand in hand with the 88th Legislature, signed into law a bipartisan bill that makes clear that in Texas, commerce is regulated at the state and federal levels, not at the city and county levels. This landmark bill provides greater certainty in the regulatory landscape of our state and makes it easier for small business owners to comply with regulations while growing their operations, creating new jobs, and investing in their communities. […]

Though there’s a wide swath of political persuasions, our lawmakers listen to job creators, because they know that Main Street businesses are deeply tied to the identity and well-being of a community. […]

While some so-called ‘experts’ might publish studies questioning our state’s business climate, job creators know there’s no better place to set up shop.