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State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
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REP. WARD, BIPARTISAN SMALL BUSINESS CAUCUS INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
(ST. PAUL) — Today, the bipartisan Minnesota House Small Business Caucus unveiled their legislative agenda for the 2012 Session. Two of the bills on the Small Business Caucus’s agenda were chief-authored by Rep. John Ward (DFL – Brainerd).
Rep. Ward joined other members of the Caucus to highlight their legislative agenda to help address the barriers small business face.
"We have dozens of small businesses in our district, and I regularly hear about their challenges," said Rep. Ward. "These bills are specific ways we can resolve issues and make a positive difference.
"Small businesses are a vital part of our economy and we should do all we can to address their needs so they can continue to grow and hire more Minnesotans."
Rep. Ward is the chief author of HF 253, a bill that would repeal accelerated pre-payment of state sales taxes for small businesses. Approximately 160,000 businesses in Minnesota pay this accelerated tax.
Ward is also the chief author of HF 1827, which would equalize the small business penalty interest rate with the personal penalty interest rate. Currently, small businesses pay a much higher penalty rate than individuals. This bill would lower the small business penalty to the individual penalty rate.
“Small businesses employ nearly 50 percent of Minnesota’s private sector workforce , making their recovery and future growth absolutely essential to our long-term economic success," added Rep. Ward. “If we work together in a bipartisan fashion, we can get this work done for small business owners across our state and set out state up for a brighter tomorrow.”
The Small Business Caucus is proposing these bill packages:
Taxes
• Reduce property taxes on small businesses by exempting the first $150,000 of value from the state property tax (To be introduced)
• Repeal the accelerated pre-payment of state sales taxes for small businesses (HF253)
• Allow an upfront sales tax exemption for capital equipment purchases rather than the current requirement to submit paperwork for reimbursement (HF1842)
Finance and investment
• Expand and enhance the Angel Investment Tax Credit program, including businesses requiring long term FDA approvals and expanding its use in greater Minnesota (HF1823)
• Assist small businesses with health insurance costs by continuing to support Section 125 group plans, continuing rewards for those paying 50% of the premium cost, and by removing an unworkable mandate (HF248)
• Equalize the small business penalty interest rate with the personal penalty interest rate (HF1827)
Removing barriers
• Allow small businesses under certain conditions to voluntarily request advisory inspections and remediate violations before penalties are imposed (To be introduced)
• Require the Department of Employment and Economic Development to provide a permitting and regulatory ombudsman to assist startups and small businesses (HF 2095)
• Provide relocation cost relief for business affected by eminent domain (HF1833)
• Allow casket sales by companies that are not funeral homes (HF482)
• Veteran-owned small businesses included in the state’s contract set-aside program (HF1821)
News Items
- Local Projects Among $18 million in Small Cities Development Grants - (Posted: Jun 12 2013 9:46AM)
- Rep. Ward Encourages Non-Profits to Apply for MNsure Consumer Assistance Grants - (Posted: Jun 3 2013 1:39PM)
- Rep. Ward Appointed to Serve on Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs - (Posted: May 30 2013 9:58AM)
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