Vella Introduces Legislation Assisting Small Businesses in Providing Employee Benefits

ROCKFORD, Ill. – In order to provide additional resources to both workers and small businesses, state Rep. Dave Vella, D-Rockford, introduced legislation providing a tax credit to hospitality businesses that offer their workers various employee benefits.

“With the many challenges that small businesses have had to overcome over the past year and a half, it is important that we are providing them with the resources they need to attract and keep the workers that keep their businesses running,” said Vella. “Not only does this legislation address a major problem that many of our local small businesses face, it will also provide workers with many helpful benefits that they deserve.”

In response to worker shortages in the hospitality industry, Vella introduced House Bill 4214, which provides a tax credit to hospitality employers equal to the amount they paid for employee vision and dental benefits, life insurance and short-term disability coverage, allowing them to offer these benefits without losing yearly revenue.

During his time as a state representative, Vella has worked to provide support to local small businesses. He helped pass legislation this session that cuts taxes for many small businesses by allowing them to avoid the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction cap. Vella also introduced legislation waiving municipal and county licensing fees for veteran-owned businesses.

“It is essential that we are addressing the issues that our small businesses and workers are facing,” said Vella. “With how critical these businesses are to our local economy, we ensure that we are doing everything in our power to help them keep their doors open.”