About the New Hampshire Small Business Coalition
The New Hampshire Small Business Coalition is dedicated to empowering Granite State small businesses by advocating for policies rooted in Republican leadership: lower taxes, fewer regulations, and greater opportunities for growth. We believe that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and our mission is to ensure they have the freedom and support to thrive.
Founded by Rep. Brian Labrie, a seasoned entrepreneur with deep ties to New Hampshire’s business community, the Coalition brings real-world experience to the forefront. As the owner of B.H. Labrie Landscape Co. and Drop One Portables, Rep. Labrie understands the challenges and opportunities small business owners face every day. His vision for the Coalition is built on this frontline know-how, combining practical insights with a commitment to principled governance.
We stand for policies that cut through red tape, reduce financial burdens, and unlock the potential of New Hampshire’s hardworking entrepreneurs. Whether you’re a sole proprietor, a family-run operation, or a growing enterprise, the New Hampshire Small Business Coalition is here to amplify your voice and champion your success.
Join us as we work to build a stronger, more prosperous future for small businesses across the Granite State.
Legislative Wins for Small Businesses: 2025 Bills
The New Hampshire Small Business Coalition actively engages with legislation that impacts small businesses. In the 2025 session, we’ve handled dozens of key bills that could significantly affect small business owners. Below, we outline some of these bills, our stance, and how their outcomes—whether passed or killed—benefit small businesses. These actions reflect our commitment to empowering Granite State entrepreneurs.
KILLED – HB503-FN: A Multi-Tax Assault on Small Businesses
Proposal: Effective July 1, 2025, this bill raised multiple tax rates: the Business Profits Tax (BPT) from 7.5% to 8.5%, the Business Enterprise Tax (BET) from 0.55% to 0.75%, the Meals and Rooms Tax on meals from 8.5% to 9.0%, and reestablished the Interest and Dividends Tax at 5% for taxable periods ending on or after December 31, 2025.
- Taxes It Would Have Increased: Business Profits Tax (BPT): Increased from 7.5% to 8.5% on taxable business income, adding a 1% hike. Based on a TY2022 BPT tax base of $11.3 billion, this would generate an extra $112.9 million annually by FY 2027, directly taxing small business profits.
- Business Enterprise Tax (BET): Raised from 0.55% to 0.75% on the enterprise value tax base, a 0.2% jump. Using a TY2022 BET base of $44.5 billion, this would add $88.9 million yearly by FY 2027, hitting small businesses’ revenue streams.
- Meals and Rooms Tax (Meals Portion): Upped from 8.5% to 9.0% on meals over $1.00, a 0.5% increase. With FY 2024 meals tax revenue at $367.7 million, this would tack on $21.6 million annually, taxing small restaurants and eateries.
- Interest and Dividends Tax: Reinstated at 5% on income from interest and dividends over $20,000, previously repealed. Estimated to raise $123.8 million yearly by FY 2027 from a TY2022 base of $3.2 billion, this would tax small business owners’ personal investment income.
Reason for Rejection: The House terminated this bill to halt a sweeping tax increase that would have burdened small businesses with higher profit, revenue, and operational taxes, while also taxing owners’ personal earnings, preserving New Hampshire’s low-tax environment.
KILLED – HB378-FN: Relative to an Employee’s Unused Earned Time
What It Did: Required employers to pay out unused vacation and personal time as wages when an employee was involuntarily separated due to business closure, ownership change, or termination without a return guarantee. It also mandated tracking and reporting earned time and allowed transferring unused time to a new owner if agreed in writing.
- Costly Payouts: Forced small businesses to pay out unused time during financial hardship (e.g., closures), straining budgets
- Extra Red Tape: Added tracking and reporting duties, burdening small firms with limited resources and risking legal penalties for errors.
KILLED – HB558-FN: Creating a Public County Registry of Monthly Rent Charged by Landlords and Prohibiting Use of Algorithms or Software To Determine Rental Rates
Proposal: Established a public rent registry and banned landlords from using technology to set rental prices.
Impact on Small Businesses:
- Loss of Pricing Control: Restricted small landlords’ ability to set competitive rates based on market conditions, potentially reducing rental income.
- Administrative Overhead: Required ongoing reporting to a county registry, adding time and cost burdens to small property owners without sufficient staff.
KILLED – HB69: Requiring Businesses To Use the Federal E-Verify System
What It Proposed: Mandated all businesses to use E-Verify to confirm employee eligibility, aiming to streamline hiring processes
- Increased Costs: Small businesses would face new expenses for training, software, or staff time to implement E-Verify, straining tight budgets.
- Administrative Burden: The extra step in hiring could slow down recruitment, a big issue for small firms needing quick staffing solutions.
- Potential Penalties: Non-compliance risks (fines or audits) could hit small businesses hardest, as they often lack HR departments to manage such mandates.
KILLED – HB487: Relative To Providing Employees With Advance Notice of the Work Schedule
Proposal: Required employers to provide employees with burdensomeadvance notice of work schedules
Impact on Small Businesses:
- Operational Constraints: Limited scheduling flexibility for small businesses in dynamic industries like retail or food service, hindering responsiveness to market demands.
- Compliance Risks: Exposed small employers to potential penalties or legal challenges for unintentional scheduling violations, straining limited resources.