Perfect opportunity for small business community to get engaged

Election season is upon us. Illinois politicians have just started their 2026 legislative session. There is a window every two years when voters have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard.

That window has opened and presents small business owners and advocates a tremendous opportunity to engage and collectively advocate for their interests.

The small business community should come together and demand solutions to a health insurance crisis, which is having a devastating impact on small businesses. There are proposals at the federal and state level that could impact health insurance premiums and coverage.

These reforms include enhancing transparency, putting guardrails around the cost of certain drugs, increasing competition in the health insurance market, and supporting innovative solutions for businesses lacking good options. This also is the time to push state politicians to take meaningful action on property taxes. The time for talking about this should be over. Politicians should be pressed to act.

Red tape continues to be a costly burden for small businesses. Each year more mandates seem to be placed on our state’s employers while reducing antiquated red tape is remarkably difficult.

Small business owners should put this issue front and center, advocating for politicians to analyze rules and regulations and make common-sense changes when appropriate. This is also an important time to remind federal legislators and candidates about the impact tariffs are having on many small businesses. The uncertainty being caused by changing tariff policies is something that should be consistently put before politicians.

These are just some of the issues impacting small businesses and perhaps you would like politicians to address others. That is an even more compelling reason to get involved. As constituents with connections in the community, do not discount your ability to influence politicians.

One way to get involved is to attend political forums. To amplify engagement, ask a small business-related question and introduce yourself to the participants after the forum concludes. The more substantive the question the better. Putting politicians on the record in front of a crowd is an important way to hold them accountable should they backtrack later. Reaching out to a politician’s office is also a great way to advocate for an issue or position.

While posting and commenting on social media can be highly divisive, it remains a powerful way to highlight an issue. It is doubtful mean-spirited social media engagement will effectively sway politicians or others, while substantive and respectful posts and comments will be much more effective.

The small business community has the critical mass to have a huge impact on both policy and the political process. The stakes are high for the small business community, and this is an important and meaningful time to get engaged.

• Elliot Richardson is president and co-founder of the Small Business Advocacy Council.