Several influential business organizations have lined up their support for a legislative priority of Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones in 2024 intended to reduce barriers for small business owners and workers who require professional licenses to work in several dozen types of jobs in Georgia.

Jones last week unveiled the initiative with the support of the business community and the GOP Senate Caucus. He said it will streamline the licensing process for jobs from general contracting to truck driving and give lawmakers more control over state and local business regulations.

Jones’ small business plan has the support of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, the Food Truck Association of Georgia and the National Federation of Independent Business, a small business association.

Under Jones’ legislative plan to loosen regulatory constraints, the threshold for what is considered a small business in Georgia would expand from 100 to 300 employees, increasing the opportunity for hundreds of more businesses to receive incentives like tax relief and loan guarantees while also relaxing reporting requirements.

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During next year’s session, the Butts County Republican said he also wants to push the General Assembly to request an economic analysis of how proposed legislation and government regulations affect small businesses.

Jones