I will be reintroducing SB 504 of the 2023-2024 Session, designed to assist small businesses in providing health care benefits to their employees.

Specifically, this legislation will provide a mechanism for employers to join together to offer quality health insurance as a benefit for their employees, some for the first time. When small businesses group together, they are able to spread out the risk across the group and negotiate for more affordable health insurance coverage the same way large businesses currently purchase health benefits on the group insurance market. This will provide a decrease in costs for small businesses and puts the employer in a competitive position to maintain and attract a talented workforce.

Previous cosponsors included Senators Laughlin, Rothman, Phillips-Hill, Hutchinson and Costa.

I hope you will join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.