NFIB State Director Ben Homeyer says stopping lawsuit abuse is the small business organization’s top priority in this year’s session of the South Carolina General Assembly, which will convene on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

“The General Assembly did a lot last year to improve South Carolina’s business climate, but one important piece of legislation that failed to pass was Senate Bill 533, a measure that would have helped Main Street businesses by finally addressing lawsuit abuse in the state,” Homeyer said.

“Lawmakers must remember that small businesses cannot afford large legal departments to fend off every frivolous claim brought against them,” he said. “The cost of defending against just one meritless lawsuit could be enough to shut down a small business for good, and that’s something our state cannot afford.”

Other legislative priorities include:

• Reducing or eliminating the business personal property tax. “High business personal property taxes place a significant financial strain on small business owners. NFIB is calling for a reduction in these taxes to enable businesses to reinvest in growth and job creation,” Homeyer said.
• Income tax reduction. “South Carolina’s small businesses often pay individual income tax rates because they are structured as pass-through entities, he said. “Our small business members need further reductions in income tax rates to ensure small businesses can thrive in a competitive marketplace and keep more of their hard-earned revenue.”
• Combatting organized retail theft. “Retail theft is already a crime, but organized smash-and-grab robberies are a growing concern that threatens the profitability and security of small businesses. NFIB looks forward to working with legislative leaders to strengthen penalties and enforcement measures to deter criminal activity and protect South Carolina retailers,” Homeyer said.

NFIB is South Carolina’s leading small business advocacy organization, representing a cross-section of the state’s economy.