NFIB Survey: Health Insurance, Regulations, and Federal Taxes Top Concerns for Small Business Owners

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)/California released its quadrennial California Problems and Priorities Survey in conjunction with the NFIB national Problems and Priorities Survey, according to which small business owners list the cost of health insurance, government regulations, and high federal taxes as their top three concerns. “Many Americans are frustrated by the federal government’s failure to solve problems. Small […]

Small Businesses Call Governor Brown To Act On Six Bills

Although there are many legislators celebrating what has widely been regarded as a ‘very successful year for progressive legislative priorities,’ small business owners have little to celebrate as the 2015-2016 legislative session officially comes to a close. And while small business may not have been invited to the negotiation table on minimum wage, family leave, […]

Farm Overtime Bill Will Have Devastating Impacts

We are deeply concerned with the passage of AB 1066 today and the devastating impacts this bill will have on our small, independent farmers and the workers they employ. This mandate does not consider the thousands of agricultural workers who will lose their jobs and the billions of dollars in lost crop production resulting from […]

Gut & Amend Bill Would Hurt Small Farms

One out of eleven farmers in California is an NFIB member, and they are telling us this bill will have a devastating impact on their small, independent farms and farmworkers. This is why SB 1066 was defeated earlier this year. This freshly gutted-and-amended version does nothing to alleviate the serious concerns of our farmers across […]

For Small Business, Bills that are Good, Bad and Ugly

As the Legislature reconvenes this week for its final month of business for the 2015-2016 legislative session, NFIB California reflected on victories and challenges ahead per the “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly” bill list. Bills included in this list represent those which will have the greatest impact, either negative or positive, to our […]

Legislative Halftime: NFIB California Announces Updated Priorities

Following the legislative house of origin deadline last week, National Federation of Independent Business/California reflected on our victories and challenges ahead per our “The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly” bill list. Each year we proactively identify which bills will have the greatest impact, either negative or positive, to our 22,000 small businesses across California. […]

Governor Brown Signs Bill to Relieve Lawsuit Burden on Small Business

Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 269 (Roth) which gives some relief to small business. Among other things, the bill allows small businesses that hire a Certified Access Specialist to inspect their facilities a chance to fix Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues before a suit can be filed. It also allows all small businesses […]

Small Business Optimism Hits Two-Year Low

The NFIB business survey shows small business owners treading water with expected business conditions very negative. The Index of Small Business Optimism fell 1 point in February to the lowest reading in two years, with six of the 10 indices declining and four remaining unchanged, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ monthly economic survey released […]

From Oppose to Neutral Position on MCO Tax Proposal

Rising health care costs is the #1 concern for our small business members according to a survey we released last November. Because of that, we take very seriously any potential increases in premiums as a result of this legislation. Given the aggressive legislative timeline for the Governor’s Managed Care Organization (MCO) tax, we took an oppose […]

Feel the Burn: Aloe Vera Added to Prop. 65 List

There are two very different types of actors in the realm of making our economy tick. Entrepreneurs wake of every day trying to think of new ways to innovate, to expand, and thus create new jobs. Then there are the regulators in Sacramento who wake up every day thinking of new, creative ways to add […]