January 7, 2026
Small business looks to build upon successes from 2025
What it means: Learn more about what Congress can do to improve the economic and regulatory landscape for small businesses in NFIB’s legislative priorities list.
Our take: Despite several key small business wins in 2025, Congress has a lot of room to build upon the legislative successes for small business owners. Lowering operating costs, securing affordable health care, and limiting regulations on small businesses will be key in improving business conditions in 2026.
Learn More: Learn more about the progress small businesses have made through 2025. 
Small businesses saw great progress last year. The permanent extension of the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction will help more than 33 million small businesses across the country invest in their businesses and communities.
Important regulatory relief exempted U.S. small business owners from the invasive Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement that posed security risks and significant penalties. This win for small business is not yet fully across the finish line. Congress needs to permanently exempt US small businesses or repeal the BOI mandate so a future administration does not rewrite this regulation. The data from US small businesses that have already filed their BOI also need to be destroyed.
NFIB’s top legislative priorities for 2026 include:
- BOI reporting
- Credit card swipe fees
- Lower taxes
- Affordable health care options
- Labor mandates
- Electricity and fuel costs
- Right to Repair
- Regulatory reform
- Stopping foreign investor lawsuits
See the full legislative priorities list for more insight on the most impactful issues for small businesses in 2026.
Learn More: See small business victories achieved in 2025. 
NFIB is a member-driven organization advocating on behalf of small and independent businesses nationwide.
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