The Louisiana Legislature gaveled into session on Monday, April 10, for a fiscal subject session that is set to wrap up Thursday, June 8.

NFIB State Director Dawn McVea says small business owners shouldn’t expect too much out of the legislature this year. “This session will likely have a lot more talk and a lot less action,” she said. “It’s an election year in Louisiana, so no one is really seeking to upset the apple cart too much. We expect a lot of time to be spent on so-called social issues, but issues such as tax reform will likely have to wait until next year, when we’ll have a new governor and a new legislature.

“However, we will continue to defend against employer mandates that seek to tell you how to run your business along with what pay and benefits to offer,” McVea said. “We will be your voice about why tax reform is needed and continue the pound the drum. We are happy to be supporting insurance reform this year and are hopeful that will get done and get you overdue relief on property and casualty insurance issues. We need more competition in that market to help drive costs down.”

If you have any questions on specific small business issues, contact McVea directly at dawn.mcvea@NFIB.org.