LANSING, Mich. — In an effort to help business owners keep up to date on pending Legislation and how it might impact their ability to be successful, state Sen. Jim Runestad will host a morning roundtable discussion on June 5.
“It is vital that we help our local business owners understand what is happening in the Legislature and how it might affect their operations,” said Runestad, R-White Lake. “This is especially important now that the new Democratic majority seems intent on returning the state to the failed policies of the Lost Decade. We must do all we can to help our business owners weather the coming storm.”
The roundtable event will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 5, at the Waterford Township Hall Auditorium, located at 5200 Civic Center Drive in Waterford. Panelists are expected to include officials from the Michigan Retailers Association, Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and National Federation of Small Businesses.
Runestad said there are a number of House and Senate bills put forward during the current legislative session that should raise serious concerns for small business owners, including:
- HB 4035 to impose “predictive scheduling” mandates for certain employers, including retail, hospitality, and food services.
- HB 4237 to repeal Michigan’s “local preemption law” and allow the state’s 1,800-plus local units of government to each enact their own laws governing wages, paid or unpaid leave time and other employee benefits.
- HB 4390, which mirrors a California law to limit the use of independent contractors in all industries, establishing a three-factor test with no exemptions and punishing violations as felonies with large fines and possible imprisonment.
- SB 14 to repeal Michigan’s law prohibiting state agencies from promulgating rules stricter than federal standards without Legislative approval.
“There are several bills currently making their way through the Legislature that would have disastrous effects on our small businesses. It’s imperative that our local owners know what is happening, how they can stand against it, and what they might need to do to brace for impact if these things get railroaded through by the Democratic majority and governor,” Runestad said.
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