Ohio’s Small Businesses Look to teh Future: NFIB Unveils 2025 Legislative Priorities
As Ohio’s economy continues to evolve, the National Federation of Self-reliant Business (NFIB), the state’s leading small business advocacy association, has unveiled it’s 2025 Top Legislative Priorities. These priorities aim to foster growth, reduce costs, and ensure a thriving environment for ohio’s small businesses.
“As Ohio faces a fiscally tighter budget, lawmakers must avoid increasing taxes or shifting tax burdens on small businesses,” said Chris Ferruso, NFIB Ohio State Director. “Small business owners are reporting the highest level of optimism in years and are ready to grow their businesses – the Legislature should work to ensure this optimism builds and isn’t stifled by bad and costly policies.”
Key Priorities for 2025
Table of Contents
The NFIB’s agenda focuses on five critical areas designed to support ohio’s small businesses:
- Prevent Tax Increases on Small Business Owners
The NFIB is committed to preserving the business income deduction (BID) and preventing property tax burdens from shifting to the commercial class. Any erosion of the BID or an increase in property taxes would directly impact small businesses, stifling their ability to grow and thrive.
- Unemployment Compensation Modernization
Modernizing Ohio’s unemployment compensation system is a top priority. The NFIB supports reforms that ensure long-term solvency and provide certainty for employers, helping them navigate economic challenges with confidence.
- Reduce Small Business Health Care costs
Health care remains a significant expense for small businesses. The NFIB advocates for cost transparency and incentives for employers to provide health benefits. At the same time,the organization opposes policies that drive up health insurance premiums,which could place additional strain on small businesses.
- Prevent Energy Cost Increases on Small Businesses
Reliable and affordable energy is essential for small businesses to operate efficiently. The NFIB supports policies that ensure fair energy costs,opposing measures that increase expenses for small employers while offering discounted rates to larger energy users.
- Workforce Development & Licensure Reform
To address workforce challenges, the NFIB backs initiatives like TechCred, which reimburses employers for upskilling their workforce. This program helps businesses stay competitive while providing employees with valuable training opportunities.
A Path Forward
Ohio’s small businesses are a cornerstone of the state’s economy, and the NFIB’s 2025 priorities reflect a commitment to their success.by addressing tax burdens, modernizing systems, reducing costs, and investing in workforce development, these initiatives aim to create an environment where small businesses can flourish.
| NFIB 2025 Legislative Priorities | Key Objectives |
|————————————–|——————–|
| Prevent Tax Increases | Preserve BID, avoid property tax shifts |
| Unemployment Compensation | Modernize for solvency and certainty |
| Health Care Costs | Promote transparency, oppose premium hikes |
| Energy Costs | Ensure affordability, oppose unfair rates |
| Workforce Development | support TechCred for upskilling |
As Ohio’s Legislature considers these priorities, the NFIB’s advocacy will play a pivotal role in shaping policies that empower small businesses. With optimism on the rise, the focus now is on ensuring that this momentum isn’t derailed by unnecessary financial burdens or outdated systems.
For more details on the NFIB’s 2025 legislative agenda, visit their official priorities document.
Empowering Ohio’s Small Businesses: Insights into NFIB’s 2025 Legislative Priorities
As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, small businesses remain a vital part of the state’s success.The National Federation of Self-reliant Business (NFIB) has unveiled its 2025 legislative agenda, focusing on reducing costs, modernizing systems, and fostering a thriving surroundings for small businesses. Joining us today is Dr.Emily Carter, an expert in economic policy and small business advocacy, to discuss the key priorities and their potential impact on Ohio’s small business community.
Preventing Tax Increases for Small Businesses
Senior Editor: Dr. Carter, one of the NFIB’s top priorities is preventing tax increases on small business owners. why is this so critical, and what specific measures are being advocated?
Dr. Emily Carter: Tax increases can considerably hinder the growth and sustainability of small businesses. The NFIB is strongly advocating for the preservation of the business Income Deduction (BID), which allows small business owners to deduct a portion of their income from state taxes. Without this, many small businesses would face higher tax burdens, reducing their ability to invest in their operations, hire more employees, or expand. Additionally,the NFIB opposes shifting property tax burdens to commercial properties,as this could disproportionately affect small businesses.
Modernizing Unemployment Compensation
Senior Editor: Another key focus is modernizing Ohio’s unemployment compensation system. What changes are needed, and how will this benefit small businesses?
Dr. Emily Carter: Ohio’s unemployment compensation system needs reforms to ensure long-term solvency and provide certainty for employers. The current system can be unpredictable, especially during economic downturns, leaving businesses unsure of their financial obligations. By modernizing the system, businesses can better plan for the future, knowing thay won’t face unexpected spikes in unemployment taxes. This stability is crucial for small businesses,which frequently enough operate on tighter budgets.
Reducing Health Care costs
Senior Editor: Health care costs are a major concern for small businesses. What initiatives is the NFIB supporting to address this issue?
Dr. Emily Carter: Health care remains one of the largest expenses for small businesses. The NFIB is pushing for greater transparency in health care pricing,which would help employers make more informed decisions about coverage options. Additionally, the organization supports incentives for businesses to provide health benefits to their employees. Simultaneously occurring, the NFIB opposes policies that drive up health insurance premiums, as these increases can place undue financial strain on small businesses.
ensuring Affordable energy Costs
senior Editor: Energy costs are another area of focus. How is the NFIB working to ensure small businesses aren’t burdened by rising energy expenses?
dr. Emily Carter: Affordable and reliable energy is essential for small businesses to operate efficiently. The NFIB is advocating for policies that ensure fair energy rates for all businesses, opposing measures that would increase costs for smaller employers while offering discounts to larger users. By leveling the playing field, small businesses can better manage their operational expenses and remain competitive.
Investing in Workforce Development
Senior Editor: Workforce development is a key priority, with the NFIB supporting programs like TechCred. How does this initiative benefit small businesses and their employees?
Dr. Emily Carter: The TechCred program is a fantastic initiative that reimburses employers for upskilling their workforce. This not only helps businesses stay competitive by ensuring their employees have the latest skills but also provides workers with valuable training opportunities. For small businesses, investing in workforce development can lead to increased productivity, employee retention, and overall growth. It’s a win-win for both employers and employees.
Conclusion
Senior Editor: Dr. Carter,thank you for sharing your insights on the NFIB’s 2025 legislative agenda. It’s clear that these priorities are designed to create a more supportive environment for Ohio’s small businesses. By addressing tax burdens, modernizing systems, reducing costs, and investing in workforce development, the NFIB is laying the groundwork for a thriving small business community. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of these initiatives in the coming years.
