NFIB informed state senators on Tuesday, Feb. 16, that it was key-voting Senate Bill 38, a measure help reduce legal expenses for small business owners under certain conditions. 

 

Key-voting means we told lawmakers where our members stand on the issue and that we will report the vote to our members, their constituents.

 

SB 38, the Small Business Owners/S-Corp Fairness Act, would let owners who aren’t lawyers represent the business in civil actions where the amount in question is $25,000 or less.

 

“Small businesses are especially vulnerable when it comes to litigation, “Thompson said. “The cost of hiring a lawyer and defending itself against even the most frivolous claim can be enough to break a small business financially, even if the case is eventually thrown out of court. Letting small business owners defend themselves in certain cases would greatly reduce the cost of litigation.”

 

The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday by a vote of 47-0 on second reading and passed again on third reading. It now moves to the House.