Legislative Action Committee

1. Federal Preemption of New York's Scaffold Law

• Support H.R. 3548 to preempt New York's Scaffold Law on federally funded projects.
• Advocate for inclusion of H.R. 3548 in the federal surface transportation or highway reauthorization bill.
• Support the Build More New York Coalition.
• Promote construction safety while reducing excessive litigation and insurance costs that inflate project expenses and limit competitiveness.

2. Litigation Transparency & Judicial Reform

• Support federal legislation addressing foreign litigation funding and abusive legal practices.
• Promote transparency, fairness, and predictability in the civil justice system to limit undue liability exposure for businesses.

3. Small Business Tax Relief & Compliance Reform

• Support permanent exemption of American-owned small businesses from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting.
• Advocate for continuation of lower corporate tax rates, capital expensing, and expansion of the federal R&D tax credit.
• Support elimination of federal income taxation on tips.
• Preserve State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions critical to New York employers.

4. Credit Card Competition, Swipe Fees & Chargebacks

• Support legislation such as the Credit Card Competition Act.
• Advocate for transparency and competition to reduce swipe fees that disproportionately burden small businesses.
• Support federal remedies addressing credit card fraud and unfair chargeback practices.

5. Health Care Affordability for Small Businesses

• Support expansion of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and Association Health Plans.
• Advocate for reduction of federal health care mandates that drive premium increases.
• Promote market-based solutions that expand affordable coverage options for employers and employees.

6. Energy Affordability, Reliability & Infrastructure

• Promote federal energy policies that ensure affordable, reliable, and resilient energy for businesses.
• Support permitting reform and energy infrastructure investments that strengthen grid reliability.
• Oppose energy mandates that raise costs without improving reliability or economic competitiveness.

7. Federal Permitting Reform & Infrastructure Investment

• Support U.S. Chamber-led permitting reform initiatives.
• Advocate for predictable timelines, coordinated agency review, and transparent processes.
• Support federal investment in transportation infrastructure, freight mobility, and broadband expansion.

8. Workforce Availability & Immigration Policy

• Support comprehensive immigration reform that expands legal workforce pathways for high-skilled, lesser-skilled, and agricultural workers.
• Streamline visa and work authorization processes.
• Monitor impacts of federal immigration enforcement funding on regional workforce availability.

9. Right to Repair

• Support federal Right to Repair legislation to reduce repair costs, promote competition, and support small businesses and consumers.

1. Business Climate, Tax Competitiveness & Fiscal Discipline

• Improve New York State's overall business climate and economic competitiveness.
• Oppose new or expanded taxes, fees, and assessments that raise employer costs.
• Advocate for fiscal restraint and transparency amid continued growth in state spending.

2. Labor Law Expansion & Employer Compliance Burdens

• Oppose employment law changes that significantly increase compliance complexity, litigation risk, and administrative costs.
• Advocate for balance in labor policy that protects workers while preserving employer flexibility.
• Monitor and respond to expanded leave mandates, including paid prenatal leave and expanded safe and sick leave requirements.

3. Wage & Salary Threshold Impacts

• Advocate for policies that mitigate the cumulative impact of minimum wage and salary threshold increases.
• Promote alignment between state and federal wage and overtime standards to preserve competitiveness.

4. Workers' Compensation Reform

• Monitor proposals linking workers' compensation benefits to SSDI.
• Support reforms that improve predictability, affordability, and long-term sustainability of the workers' compensation system.

5. Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund Reform

• Advocate for long-term solutions to stabilize the UI trust fund.
• Support employer tax relief, interest mitigation, and structural reforms to prevent future funding crises.

6. Energy Costs, Transparency & Reliability

• Advocate for full transparency regarding NYSERDA mandates, surcharges, and state-imposed energy costs.
• Oppose cost shifting that disproportionately impacts employers and consumers.
• Support a balanced energy policy that prioritizes affordability, reliability, and achievable implementation timelines.

7. State Power Authority & Utility Governance

• Oppose state takeover of private utility transmission infrastructure.
• Protect Private investment, workforce stability, and property rights.

8. SEQRA & State Permitting Reform

• Support streamlined SEQRA review processes.
• Advocate for predictable timelines and reduced duplicative environmental reviews to accelerate responsible development.

9. BOI / LLC Transparency Act (State-Level)

• Oppose duplicative state-level BOI or LLC reporting requirements.
• Support efforts to prevent conflicting or redundant compliance mandates.

10. Sustainability & Single-Use Plastics Policy

• Support flexible compliance approaches, including "Please Ask" policies.
• Balance environmental goals with cost and operational realities for businesses.

11. Childcare Expansion & Workforce Policy

• Support childcare solutions that expand access for working families without imposing excessive regulatory or financial burdens on employers.
• Advocate for sustainable funding, regulatory simplification, and workforce development within the childcare sector.
• Oppose cost shifting, unfunded mandates, and policies that exacerbate labor shortages or wage pressures.

1. Economic Development & Infrastructure

• Support business attraction and expansion efforts throughout Dutchess County.
• Advocate for infrastructure investments including energy, broadband, transportation, and airports.
• Support regional governance discussions related to Stewart International Airport.

2. Broadband & Wireless Expansion

• Support expansion of broadband and wireless infrastructure, including projects such as the Union Vale cell tower.

3. Downtown Revitalization & Business Districts

• Support the Poughkeepsie Business Improvement District (BID).
• Promote initiatives focused on cleanliness, safety, accessibility, and economic vitality.

4. Transportation & Traffic Impacts

• Advocate for revisions and further study of Route 44/55 arterial redesign to ensure business access and traffic flow.
• Support transportation planning that accounts for economic and commercial impacts.

5. Community & Youth Investments

• Support youth center capital improvements and BRICK grant applications with appropriate fiscal oversight.

1. Legislative Action Committee Engagement

• Feature the Legislative Action Committee at Contact Breakfasts and Chamber forums.
• Facilitate direct engagement between members and elected officials.
• Continue grant support advocacy, letters of support, and coalition engagement.