With theft becoming an increasing problem for Main Street businesses, NFIB supported several bills to curb retail crime. These proposals will help provide law enforcement with increased options when prosecuting those perpetrating retail crimes. The legislation will assist in curbing theft by providing much needed flexibility for law enforcement to prosecute criminals that prey on Massachusetts small businesses.

Additionally, legislation was heard before the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to reduce instances of gift card fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2023 gift card “draining” and other scams cost upwards of $217 million nationwide. These pieces of legislation will help ensure those tampering and manipulating gift cards will face the appropriate penalties under state law. The bills create updated definitions of what constitutes gift card fraud and sets proper penalties for these types of crimes.

NFIB provided testimony for the Joint Committee on Revenue to address sales tax issues. This included legislation repealing the state’s confusing and burdensome advanced sales tax collections. This new method of remitting the sales tax to the state has been nothing but problematic for many smaller businesses. And for those businesses facing fines from the Department of Revenue for problems remitting their advanced sale tax payments, NFIB supported a bill allowing discretion to factor in intent before issuing hefty fines.

Since Massachusetts businesses serve as revenue collecting agents for the state, NFIB provided favorable testimony for a bill that authorizes a vendor’s collection allowance. Those businesses that collect and remit the state sales tax will be allowed to keep 2% of that revenue annually up to $750. Nearly 30 states across the country already allow this practice and it is only fair and equitable that small businesses are compensated for providing this service to the state.

Finally, NFIB supported bills lowering the state sales tax to 5% from the current 6.25% and legislation to join 37 other states by not taxing rolling stock.