Reps. Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) has introduced legislation to expand start-up fee exemptions to more small businesses in the Commonwealth. “As chairman of the Subcommittee on Small Business for the House Commerce Committee, I’m making it my priority to support small business in my district and in every county in Pennsylvania,” said Brown. “I realize the vital role that small business has in our community and how closely they are tied to the people that live and work there.” Brown is working with Rep. Arvind Venkat (D-Allegheny) on the bipartisan legislation. In 2016, the General Assembly provided for an exemption (Act 135 of 2016) for veteran-owned and reservist-owned small businesses from certain state and local business start-up fees. House Bill 1905 would expand the current exemption to include women-owned, service-disabled veteran owned, minority-owned, disadvantaged businesses and businesses with five employees or less.