A Fargo lawmaker has introduced a bill designed to help smaller retailers survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I kind of call it the 'Renaissnace for the Little Guys," said Rep. Pamela Anderson (D-Fargo).
Anderson’s bill would allow retailers with 16 or fewer full-time employees to keep the state sales tax they collect for calendar year 2021. That only applies to the five percent state imposed sales tax, and does not affect local sales tax collections.
"We've gotta keep these small, micro-businesses, small companies, that are the main streets everywhere," Anderson said. "That'll help with their cash flow this year."
Anderson said these kinds of businesses didn't receive federal CARES Act money.
"So this is one way to help them stay in business," Anderson said.
The measure will be heard in the House Finance and Taxation Committee.
