NFIB State Director Nathan Humphrey and three members of the NFIB Georgia Leadership Council went before the House Small Business Development Committee today to talk about the state of Georgia’s small businesses and their priorities in this year’s session of the General Assembly.

Humphrey, who attended the meeting in person, discussed the latest NFIB Small Business Problems & Priorities report and told the panel, “Georgia’s small business climate is actually very good in comparison to some of the other states in the country.” The state also has done a good job of managing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing businesses to remain open as long as they follow certain guidelines to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, he said.

NFIB’s legislative priorities this session include extending COVID-19 liability protections for small businesses, ensuring that forgiven expenses paid for by federal Paycheck Protection Program loans can be deducted on state income taxes and ensuring that businesses that follow COVID-19 safety guidelines can remain open.

Humphrey was joined by LC members Mychal Walker of the Walker Agency in Duluth, Brian Mayfield of Techquidation in Woodstock, and John Sambdman of Atlanta-based Samson Trailways of Georgia. Speaking via video call, they told committee members about the issues affecting their small businesses.