By: Sam Bradley, GMB, CGR, CGP
Sam Bradley Homes
While many of our members were focused on Home Show activities this week, life goes on in Jefferson City. Frequently, those of us exhibiting in the annual HBA Home Show were asked “How much does it cost to (FILL IN THE BLANK)?” It is a fair question (although not always easy to answer!).
I found myself asking the same question when, on Friday, I received the update report from our state lobbyist. The eight page report is a list of proposed legislation that would impact HBA members. Several are related to the current prevailing wage debate and disaster issues from last year’s floods in northern Missouri, and the tornado in Joplin.
From the 60 bills that were listed in the report, I noticed at least 20 that will either reach into your financial bottom line or force you to change the way you do business. In quick summary the issues are: workers’ compensation insurance changes, employee rights, statewide licensing (specifically for electricians and home inspectors), construction contract and real estate contract modifications/regulations, radon notification requirements, changes/modification of foreclosures/mediation, property taxes and insurance fraud.
Several of these bills have received their first and second readings and will soon be debated. At this time I have no clue as to what the monetary cost will be for these bills once they become law, but I can guarantee that they will cost you. The actual cost will be determined by how the people we elect to represent us vote on the issues.
I want to encourage every HBA member to do a simple math equation. Take the number of proposed bills that will cost your business more if passed – let’s say at least 20 in this case — and multiply that by 5, 10, or 100. Take the total and contribute that amount to your political action committee, the Coalition for Building a Better Tomorrow, to help elect people to office who understand our concerns. To do nothing will cost you much more.