Right to Start Policy Impact
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo signs the nation’s first-ever Right to Start Act in 2023; pictured wtih Right to Start’s Chief Government Affairs Officer Jason Grill, Chief Operating Officer Kim Lane, and Ambassadors Heather Brown and Doug Erwin
New businesses create almost all net new jobs in the United States. Entrepreneurs create stronger communities, grow GDP, create homegrown jobs, increase community wealth, diversify goods and services, increase lifetime incomes, and fight inequality and poverty.
50
states with active stakeholder engagement
60
pieces of policy inspired by Right to Start
7
states have implemented our recommendations
Support for entrepreneurship is nearly unanimous across party lines.
The entrepreneurial spirit is deep in our DNA. 94% of voters – nearly unanimously across party lines – say “it’s important to America’s future” that citizens have a fair opportunity to start and grow their own businesses.
But too many of these everyday heroes face barriers that shouldn't be holding them back.
Government processes and the system overall make it harder on entrepreneurs to start and grow. In fact, 92% of voters say that starting a new business today is difficult or very difficult. 81% of entrepreneurs say that the government favors big businesses over them, and 69% say the government doesn’t care about them at all.
We can fix this together.
Right to Start’s policy recommendations are pro-growth measures, which will remove barriers and streamline processes to starting, cut red tape, advance homegrown job creation, and build a stronger connection between entrepreneurs and state government.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson signs the 2024 Right to Start Act; pictured w/ Jason Grill and Senator Travis Fitzwater
What began as an idea — that everyone should have the opportunity to start a business and build their entrepreneurial dreams — has grown into a national movement.
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
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Policy Inspired by Right to Start
Our policy recommendations inspired the following states to take action. For more information on our recommendations, visit our Field Guides here.
Alabama
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Arkansas
2023:
HB1037: To Establish The Right To Start Pilot Program For Healthcare Portability.
HB1655: To Encourage State Agencies To Award A Portion Of State Contracts To Arkansas Businesses That Have Been In Operation For Less Than Five (5) Years.
HB1656: To Require A Report Concerning Funds Supporting Programs For Individuals Starting New Businesses Or Businesses Established Within The Previous Five Years.
HB1657: To Encourage The Award Of Workforce Development Funding To New Businesses And Businesses That Have Been In Operation For Less Than Five Years.
HB1658: To Require A Report Concerning Economic Development Funding Supporting Organizations Or Programs For New Businesses Or Businesses Established Within The Previous Five Years.
HB1659: To Encourage The Award Of Economic Development Funding To New Businesses And Businesses Established Within The Previous Five Years.
HB1660: Concerning A Report By The Director Of The Arkansas Economic Development Commission Concerning Contracts Awarded To Businesses In Operation Less Than Five Years.
HB1669: To Eliminate Barriers To Starting A New Business; To Amend Arkansas Income Tax Law; To Allow Certain New Businesses To Defer Paying Certain Income Taxes; And To Create The Arkansas Entrepreneur Extension Program.
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California
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Colorado
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Connecticut
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Georgia
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Kansas
2022:
HB 2735: Providing three years of income tax incentives to new businesses, requiring the secretary of administration to submit a report to the legislature concerning contracts awarded to new businesses and establishing the Office of Entrepreneurship within the Department of Commerce.
2023 - 2024:
HB 2123: Establishing the office of entrepreneurship within the department of commerce, encouraging that 5% of state contracts and certain incentive funding go toward Kansas businesses that have been in operation for less than five years, encouraging the elimination of first-year business fees and requiring the office of entrepreneurship to submit an annual report to the legislature.
The Kansas Department of Commerce created the Director of Small Business and Entrepreneurship position within its office in 2024. This was inspired, in part, by an all-day hearing in the Kansas State House Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Economic Development on entrepreneurship in the state and HB 2123 that same year.
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Michigan
2024:
HB 5463: Creating an Office of Microenterprise Development.
Michigan Governor Appoints First-Ever Entrepreneurship Officer
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced in May 2024 the appointment of the state’s first-ever Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer, Ben Marchionna, to “help build a community of innovation and make Michigan a place where innovators and entrepreneurs feel seen and heard and work together to drive us forward.”
Right to Start worked to elevate the importance of entrepreneurship policy and a dedicated liaison with the Governor's Senior Staff and through engagement with the Michigan Microbusiness Coalition.
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Missouri
2021:
HB 1202: Changes the laws regarding state contracts, taxation, non-compete agreements, and the Department of Economic Development.
2022:
HB 1590: Changes the laws regarding state contracts, taxation, and the Department of Economic Development.
2023:
SBS 3 & 69: Establishes a Right to Start Act and a Office of Entrepreneurship
HB 268: Establishes a Right to Start Act and a Office of Entrepreneurship
2024:
SB 894: Modifies provisions relating to the promotion of business development. Right to Start Act and Office of Entrepreneurship. Signed into Law.
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Nevada
2023:
AB 77: Revises Provisions Governing Economic Development and Established an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. Signed into Law.
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New Mexico
2023:
HB 118: Creates Office of Entrepreneurship.
New Mexico established an Office of Entrepreneurship within the Economic Development Department in 2023. To start, the state hired a coordinator that will be a point of contact for entrepreneurs, strengthen connections with resource providers, and provide guidance to resources and funding opportunities. This was inspired, in part, by HB 118.
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New York
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North Dakota
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Oklahoma
2022:
SB 1838: Requiring a percentage of state contracts to be awarded to certain businesses.
2023:
SB 119: Economic development; creating the Right-to-Start Act.
SB 812: State government; requiring certain report relating to state contracts that are given to certain businesses.
HB 2111: State government; requiring a percentage of state contracts to be awarded to certain businesses.
Pennsylvania
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Tennessee
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Vermont
2024:
H 709: An act relating to creating the Office of Entrepreneurship and other programs pertaining to entrepreneurs
Washington
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