Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Small Business Wireless topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Bill to waive small‑business license fees and streamline wireless co‑location advances to hearing; local governments and industry negotiated language
Summary
Assembly Bill 4 23 would let certain sole proprietors elect a reimbursement option instead of paying unemployment insurance contributions, waive state business license fees for qualifying small businesses for up to two years, and simplify municipal permitting for wireless co‑location by instructing compliance with FCC rules.
Assembly Bill 4 23 drew a broad set of supporters and local government officials to the Commerce and Labor Committee on Friday. Sponsor Assemblymember Lisa Cole said the bill has three main parts: an option for certain sole proprietors to elect a reimbursement framework in place of unemployment insurance contributions; a temporary waiver of state business license fees for qualifying small businesses recruited by GOED and regional economic development authorities; and a streamlined process for co‑location of personal wireless facilities on existing towers.
"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy," sponsor Lisa Cole said. She told the committee the proposed fee exemption would eliminate the cost of state business license fees for up to two years ("between $400 to a thousand dollars total over 2 years depending on the type of entity the business forms"), that participating businesses would have to meet metrics or repay the state, and that the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) provided a friendly amendment on the unemployment portion.
The bill also contains language supported by the wireless industry to simplify municipal permitting for co‑location of wireless equipment. Carmen Rajamani of the Wireless Infrastructure Association said the shortened Section 10 in the amendment instructs applicants and municipalities to comply with applicable FCC rules governing telecommunications tower facilities. "This language will encourage deployment of innovative technologies," Rajamani said, and she emphasized co‑location on existing towers as the "fastest and least intrusive means of installing needed wireless infrastructure," a point AT&T reiterated.
Jody Stephens of the Wireless Infrastructure Association said the original draft had been more prescriptive but was significantly simplified after talks with Clark County, Henderson and municipalities. City of Henderson representative Nicole Rourke and Clark County planning official Ashley Kennedy testified in neutral to thank sponsors for negotiating changes and said the revised language alleviates local concerns while preserving compliance with federal rules.
Business groups including the Vegas Chamber, LVGEA and the Retail Association of Nevada testified in support of the bill's small‑business provisions, saying the measure would create recruitment tools for GOED and the eight regional economic development authorities and give new small businesses a modest financial incentive to locate in Nevada.
No committee vote was recorded on AB423 at this hearing. Committee members asked sponsor Cole to follow up on technical questions about whether a husband‑and‑wife business could qualify for the DETR reimbursement option; Cole said she would check with DETR.
