Lawmakers seek to enhance state's climate for small-business owners

The plan reduces franchise taxes by 5 percent, provides a $1 million deduction for businesses with revenue of up to $20 million, lowers the tax rate for 1040EZ tax form filers and gives companies relocating to Texas from out of state a one-time moving expense deduction.

Perry's plan also would make permanent the state's small-business tax exemption, which currently affects 29,000 businesses and is scheduled to end in 2014.

"Gov. Perry's tax relief proposals will go a long way in helping entrepreneurs and smaller businesses grow during this period of economic recovery," said Will Newton, executive director of the Texas branch of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

Business-friendly state

The 2011 Small Business Survival Index lists Texas as the third-friendliest state for small business, but lawmakers said they hope to boost it to No. 1 with several ideas.

One proposal would require the comptroller and state agencies to give preferences to small businesses when purchasing goods or services with a value of less than $500,000. Another would create a state Small Business Advisory Council.

"One of the things that would be most beneficial is to allow small businesses to compete on a level playing field with their larger competitors, especially those out-of-state, for state contracts," Pendland said. "Our chamber has long advocated at the federal level for the elimination of the exemption [of sales taxes] on Internet sales. That would give main street merchants a level playing field with the great Internet merchants of the world who now enjoy a competitive advantage because they pay no sales taxes."

Underscoring the importance of small business in the Lone Star State, the House of Representatives has a committee dedicated to small businesses—the House Economic and Small Business Development Committee—which is considering more than 100 bills this session.

In its interim report to the Texas Legislature, the committee recommended that lawmakers make it easier for students to get entrepreneurship education, ease tax burdens on small businesses, create incentives for investing in small businesses, consolidate resources for entrepreneurs and brand the state as immigrant-friendly.

"Most small businesses are not intended to become the next huge corporation," the report said. "But their impact on the economy is important, and we could use a lot more people who, but for a little encouragement, might open their own businesses. [Future entrepreneurs] are probably already in our state, and they don't even know it."

The cottage industry

Bills by Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, would expand the list of foods allowed to be made and sold by small, independent artisans to include non–potentially hazardous foods such as candy, dried fruits, cereal, granola, dry mixes and vinegar.

It also allows those foods to be sold at farmers markets, farm stands, fairs and similar events directly to customers.

Producers would still be required to label their items as home-produced and to include the producer's name and address.

The bill provides opportunities for micro- and startup businesses to meet the growing demand for locally produced foods in both rural and urban areas, Rodriguez said.

Legal labor certification

Legislation by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, would create a "Made in Texas" certification for businesses that use the E-verify system to make sure their employees are in the U.S. legally.

The bill would benefit small businesses because it rewards them for following the rules, he said.

"If you're a small-business owner, I think you're being penalized," Capriglione said. "If you're trying to keep to the rules [and] follow the laws, you'll find that you're paying these extra expenses and maybe some other business isn't, and I think that's unfair."

To follow specific bills written by lawmakers

Representatives:

www.house.state.tx.us/members

Senators: www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members.htm