The Kentucky Small Business Caucus is a standing coalition of organizations dedicated to the creation of a small business friendly environment.
Our issue selection process includes:

Pocket Book Issues

Issues that are selected for action must have a direct positive economic impact for the members of all Caucus organzations. 

Winnable Issues

Issues must have a reasonable chance for success.  KYSBC does not chase windmills or blue sky issues.  We are here to pass legislation that gains ground for small business.

Broad Issues

Issues must have overarching impact.  KYSBC does not enter into industry specific legislation unless it will become an issue of concern to all member organizations.



What Is the Small Business Caucus?

The Kentucky Small Business Caucus was formed in 2003 to provide a vehicle for coordinated action on behalf of all types of small business owners.   A wide variety of trade and professional organizations pooled their resources in an egalitarian effort to work on issues of common concern to all entrepreneurs  Currently over 40 trade and professional associations participate actively on behalf of their small business members.

 

Beginning in the Fall of 2005, the Caucus executed a series of Small Business forums across the state.  “One Lap Around Kentucky” goes literally from the Mountains in the east to the Purchase in the west with many stops in between, providing an opportunity for Small Business owners to hear first hand about the issues that directly impact them.  The meetings have consistently averaged 60-80 small business owners and 6-10 members of the General Assembly.

 

During the 2006 Regular Session, the SBC was instrumental in passage of the ICARE health insurance incentive program for small business.  The Small Business Caucus was the cause of the 2006 Special Session, resulting in an exemption from the Alternative Minimum Tax of $3Million net profit for Kentucky’s small business owners.  This was a tax savings of over $40Million.  In 2007, SBC was behind passage of a 5% Worker’s Comp Insurance discount for companies that voluntarily adopt a drug-testing program.  2009 brought passage of the nation’s first economic development tax credit strictly for small business.  Recent victories include: Legislation to bring standardization to all local payroll and business license tax forms; legislation addressing payment of interest for federal unemployment loans (saving Kentucky business in excess of $600Million); limiting physician drug dispensing to save worker's comp costs and many more.

 

The Kentucky Small Business Caucus is again planning an ambitious legislative agenda for 2013 including additional tax reforms, health insurance reforms, and workers’ compensation changes

 

During the Legislative Session, the Kentucky Small Business Caucus meets at the Capitol Annex every Thursday at 2:00PM.  Attendees discuss and are updated on issues of importance.  Efforts are coordinated on priority issues among the groups present.

 

The strength of the Caucus lies in the collective grassroots provided by member organizations.  Together, we CAN change the small business climate in Kentucky.