Old North News

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is actively supporting Senate Bill 24, a legislative proposal designed to assist small businesses in maintaining health benefits for their employees. NFIB State Director Gregg Thompson announced that the organization is "key-voting" the bill, emphasizing its significance to small business owners.

“By ‘key-voting’ Senate Bill 24, we’re reminding Senate members that small business owners overwhelmingly support this important legislation and that we’ll report each and every vote on this bill to our members, their constituents,” Thompson stated.

Thompson highlighted the ongoing challenge faced by small businesses due to escalating health insurance costs. “Small business owners have struggled for years with rising health insurance costs, making it harder and harder for them to offer coverage,” he said. He noted that government-imposed mandates often result in increased premiums, forcing business owners into difficult decisions: absorb the cost themselves, pass it onto employees, or cease offering coverage altogether.

Senate Bill 24 aims to address these issues by requiring any new health insurance mandates proposed in the General Assembly to be counterbalanced by repealing an existing mandate of equal or greater cost. Additionally, it stipulates that the state must fully fund any new mandates to prevent financial strain on small businesses.

“We can’t let well-intended but costly mandates stop small businesses from providing benefits to their employees,” Thompson remarked. “Senate Bill 24 helps keep coverage affordable so more small businesses can continue to offer it. That’s why our members are urging their representatives to vote yes on SB 24.”