COVID-19

Unemployment Benefits – At least 14 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming) have moved to cut off enhanced federal jobless benefits that were supposed to last until Sept. Meanwhile, Congress is considering extending enhanced unemployment benefits past Sept. although that seems increasingly unlikely. The issue has become a partisan flashpoint in the debate over incentivizing individuals to rejoin the workforce. States are also moving to reinstate limits on unemployment programs. Florida this week became the latest of roughly 30 states reinstating a requirement that the unemployed prove they are looking for work to receive state benefits. Also of note, federal lawmakers are reviewing funding for federal workforce development programs through a WIOA reauthorization bill. There’s also a federal bill under discussion that would divert monies toward return-to-work bonuses. At the state level, Montana this week began offering return-to-work bonuses to unemployment recipients who accept a job offer. 

Paycheck Protection Program – The Texas and New Jersey governors signed legislation to exempt forgiven PPP and EIDL loans from the calculation of gross taxable income. More details.

New York – The governor signed a bill implementing a model infectious disease prevention protocol and mandating employers either adopt it or a similar plan.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

U.S. Chamber of Commerce – The country’s leading business advocacy organization called on Congress to end the program allowing for $300/wk in supplemental unemployment benefits saying they are contributing to the country’s current labor shortage.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

McDonald’s – The company is partnering with the federal government to provide COVID-19 vaccine information on billboards, coffee cups and package seals.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Wages 

Delaware – On a party-line vote, a house committee defeated legislation calling for an economic impact study of pending legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15/hr.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Michigan – Activist groups filed a lawsuit against the state attorney general to compel her to overturn her predecessor’s opinion that the actions by the legislature three years ago regarding minimum wage were constitutional.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Chipotle – The company announced it was increasing pay rates across the board and would offer a starting wage of $11-$18/hr by the end of June.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

McDonald’s – The company  announced a 10 percent average hourly pay raise at the nearly 660 U.S. restaurants it operates.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Paid Leave

Biden Administration – The White House is considering using the budget reconciliation process to pass a national paid leave law if they can’t broker a compromise with Senate Republicans.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Labor Policy 

Biden Administration – The White House is escalating the conversation around child care in regard to their infrastructure plans.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

U.S. House – The House overwhelmingly passed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act which would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Connecticut – The house passed legislation requiring employers to disclose salary ranges for vacant positions and to provide comparable pay for comparable work.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Texas – A house committee advanced senate-passed legislation preempting localities from enacting regulations regarding paid sick leave and employee scheduling mandates.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Alcohol

California – The senate unanimously passed legislation permanently allowing cocktails to-go and home delivery of alcoholic beverages.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Florida – The governor signed legislation permanently codifying his previous executive order permitting cocktails to-go and home delivery of alcohol.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Iowa – The governor signed legislation extending delivery privileges of beer, wine, and spirits to third-party platforms like DoorDash and Grubhub.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Louisiana – The house unanimously approved legislation allowing cocktails to-go in sealed containers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Oklahoma – Legislation is on its way to the governor’s desk extending by one year the current law allowing cocktails to-go and home delivery of alcohol.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Texas – The governor signed legislation allowing for cocktails to-go and home delivery of alcoholic beverages with a restaurant meal.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Delivery

California – The assembly passed legislation mandating that a food delivery platform shall not arrange for the delivery of an order from a food facility without a prior agreement.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Louisiana – The house passed legislation expanding the permitting options for restaurants that want to serve cocktails to-go and deliver alcoholic beverages.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

New Hampshire – The senate passed legislation prohibiting a third-party food delivery service from advertising or delivering from a retail food establishment without a prior, written agreement.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

New York – The assembly passed legislation that would require third-party delivery services to have a valid agreement with a merchant.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

Packaging

Colorado – Legislation passed the house prohibiting stores and retail food establishments from providing single-use plastic carryout bags to customers and authorizing stores to provide recycled paper carryout bags to customers at the point of sale for a fee of at least 10 cents per bag.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe

New York, NY – The city council passed legislation that prohibits restaurants and other food service establishments from offering plastic straws to customers unless requested but would mandate eateries keep some plastic straws in stock for people who request them to accommodate customers with disabilities.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe