The 2021 session of the Texas Legislature will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and we’ll be tracking any bills that could have an impact on your small business. 

One of the most pressing issues facing lawmakers is what the state can do to help small businesses get through and recover from the economic downtown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One in four small businesses surveyed last month by the NFIB Research Center warned they may have to close within the next six months unless economic conditions improve soon. 

Specifically, NFIB supports the proposed Texas Economic Protection and Recovery Act, a legislative package intended to help small businesses and other employers impacted by the coronavirus stabilize, rebuild, and grow. 

The package includes provisions addressing workforce development, codifying COVID-19 waivers that gave businesses the regulatory flexibility needed to operate during the pandemic, and consistent employment standards across all cities and counties in the state.

If you have any questions about small business legislation, contact NFIB State Director Annie Spilman at annie.spilman@NFIB.org or State Legislative Director John McCord at john.mccord@NFIB.org.