Mo. house passes ‘big government’ bill

Known as the Big Government, Get Off My Back Act, House Bill 1870 was approved by the Missouri Legislature Wednesday.

The bill prevents the state government from imposing any user fees on small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.

The act also provides special tax incentives to small businesses who hire new employees and pay them at or above the state average salary.

“This is truly an economic development bill benefiting our small businesses,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins, the bill’s sponsor. “Small businesses are definitely the backbone of the state of Missouri and we want to help them prosper.”

A similar bill was enacted six years ago in Missouri, but it had an expiration date. HB 1870 is an extension of that law and will expire again at the end of 2020.

The Big Government Get Off My Back Act has only to be signed by the governor to become law.