Latest Small Business Headlines
All the headlines from our Small Business Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Bill Would Expand Okla. Small Business Insurance Plan
May 21 2007 // A bill vastly expanding the number of small businesses that qualify for a health insurance subsidy program is nearing floor action in the Oklahoma Legislature, a key lawmaker said recently. Gov. Brad Henry’s...
BOP evolution warrants a second look
May 21 2007 // Do you think of business owners policies (BOPs) as low-premium accounts that won’t make any money, are too labor intensive, or are more trouble than they’re worth? Don’t be so quick to judge. This line of...
U.S. Chamber: ‘Broken Lawsuit System’ Hurts Small Businesses
May 18 2007 // The tort system in the United States cost small businesses $98 billion in 2005, with the fear of lawsuits altering the way the small business owners make decisions, according to studies released at a Congressional hearing...
Ariz. Offers Insurance Resources for Small Businesses
May 3 2007 // The Arizona Department of Insurance (ADOI) is offering the state’s small business owners insurance curriculum on its online “insurance university, Insure U for Small Business. Six categories of small business...
Garden Receives Insure Montana Outstanding Agent Award
May 3 2007 // Montana State Auditor John Morrison has recognized Western States Insurance Agent Tim Garden with the Insure Montana Outstanding Agent Award for 2007. Garden was chosen for his outstanding work to help reduce the ranks of...
Texas House Passes Measure to Raise Small Business Tax Exemption
May 3 2007 // The Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 3928, the franchise tax correction bill, by Rep. Jim Keffer (Eastland), which increases the tax emption for small business in House Bill 3 passed during last...
Fla.’s Citizens to Provide Commercial Coverage for Small Businesses
Apr 27 2007 // Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s board of governors gave its approval Thursday of expanded commercial property insurance coverage for small businesses across Florida. “Our goal is to make coverage...
N.Y., Northeast Small Businesses Face Need for Disaster Insurance
Apr 27 2007 // Many small business owners in New York and the Northeast are still trying to recover from floods caused by as much as eight inches of rain earlier this month. Those who had flood insurance can recoup some of their losses,...
Insurance and Small Business Addressed at Big ‘I’ Conference
Apr 27 2007 // Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., and House Republican Whip Roy Blunt R-Mo., addressed 1,400 independent insurance agents and brokers at the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s National Legislative...
Few Sign up for Okla.’s Small Business Insurance Program
Apr 25 2007 // Only 2,000 workers have signed up for a state program that helps small companies provide health insurance to their employees. Nearly $70 million sits in a special fund for the program, but employers say the plan is so...
Texas House Committee OKs Small Business Tax Relief Measure
Apr 24 2007 // The Texas House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee has approved a provision that would help Texas’ small businesses by increasing the small business exemption under the franchise tax – an initiative...
La. DOI to Co-sponsor ‘Health Care Options for Small Business’ Seminar
Apr 13 2007 // The Department of Insurance Louisiana Health Care Commission will co-sponsor a free health insurance seminar for small business owners on April 25, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation Conference...
The Commissioners: John Morrison
Mar 26 2007 // Montana fights for uninsured, seeks catastrophe fund and captives The hallmarks of John Morrison’s legacy as Montana State Auditor, the Commissioner of Insurance and Securities, is to help provide more affordable...
Riley Health Proposal Appeals to Ala. Small Businesses
Mar 21 2007 // Chris Williams has to consider several factors when making decisions for his business. One of his most important decisions concerns health insurance for his employees. Williams owns Leisure Creations in Russellville, Ala.,...
Ala. Gov. Pumps up Small Businesses
Mar 13 2007 // Gov. Bob Riley visited a Montgomery, Ala. dry cleaners on Monday to promote his plan that would provide a tax incentive for small businesses to offer health insurance for their employees. At Dry-Cleaning Express in...
S.C. Gov. Sanford’s Business Reforms Include Workers’ Comp
Feb 23 2007 // Reforms aimed at improving South Carolina’s climate for small businesses are high on Gov. Mark Sanford’s list of things to do. The governor’s three-point plan – outlined in his State of the State...
One-on-one interviews with 15 insurance regulators
Feb 12 2007 // One-on-one interviews with 15 insurance regulators At a recent meeting of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Insurance Journal sat down with 15 insurance regulators to talk about issues affecting their...
Texas State Senator Files Bill to Provide Tax Relief to Small Businesses
Feb 6 2007 // State Rep. Harvey Hilderbran (Kerrville) has filed House Bill 1022 and House Joint Resolution 54 which clarify that personal vehicles used for the production of income are exempt from ad valorem taxation. “Most small...
Small Business Owners Could Benefit from New Pension Law
Jan 30 2007 // Now is the time for small business owners to bone up on a new law that makes big changes in employee retirement plans. The Pension Protection Act of 2006, passed in August, rewrote many of the rules on pensions in an...
Agents, brokers ready to pursue ambitious legislative agenda in 2007
Jan 29 2007 // There is a new political dynamic in Congress that presents both opportunities and pitfalls. Last year, the President signed into law pension and health care reform that will greatly benefit insurance consumers. House...