COVID-19
Federal Relief – The House Small Business Committee approved legislation to provide small businesses with $50 billion in emergency aid to recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Included in the package is the Restaurant Rescue Plan, for which $25 billion is earmarked for grants to restaurants in distress. Specifically, the $25 billion round of funding would be divided into government-funded grants with a maximum of $10 million per restaurant group or $5 million per individual restaurant location. Eligible businesses include foodservice and drinking establishments like restaurants, bars, caterers, breweries, taprooms, and tasting rooms that are not part of an affiliated restaurant group with more than 20 locations. Participants cannot be publicly-traded and there are limits on private equity firms. Participants also cannot currently be an applicant for the Shuttered Venues Operators grant program. The bill now goes to the House Budget Committee to be included in a comprehensive aid package. More details.
Paycheck Protection Program – Numerous states are working on legislation to exempt Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans/grants from state taxes and ensuring that all expenses paid through PPP funds will be tax-deductible. This week, New Jersey’s governor announced the state will allow deductibility. Many other states are considering legislation that would as well. Notably, Ohio and Wisconsin advanced legislation this week. More details.
Georgia – The house passed legislation extending COVID-19 liability protections for governments, healthcare providers, and businesses. The law provides a shield against businesses that take steps to protect the public and workers; however, businesses that engage in gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm could still be liable under the legislation. The law was due to expire July 2021 but if passed by the senate, it will extend protections until July 2022. More details.
Danny Meyer – The Enlightened Hospitality Investment firm led by the Shake Shack founder is attempting to raise $100 million for “Health Pass,” a platform created by airport security vendor, Clear. The mobile app would connect people’s identities to COVID-related information such as test results and vaccination status and potentially make it easier for them to safely resume public-facing activities such as indoor dining and sporting events. It’s already in use by the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, MGM Resorts, and others. More details.
Wages
Congressional Budget Office – The agency released an analysis of the impact of a $15/hr minimum wage that had been requested by Sen. Bernie Sanders. Among CBO’s predictions of how a minimum wage increase would affect workers, the budget office estimated nearly a million people would be lifted out of poverty. At the same time, it would result in the loss of 1.4 million jobs, pushing hundreds of thousands of workers out of the labor force by the time the federal minimum reaches $15/hr in 2025, disproportionately affecting “young, less educated people.”To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
U.S. House – On a party-line vote, a house committee advanced legislation increasing the federal minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Hawaii – Legislation to raise the minimum wage to $12/hr by 2022 passed unanimously out of a senate committee and is headed for additional committee stops.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Rhode Island – The senate passed legislation increasing the minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Irvine, CA – The city council preliminarily approved a measure raising grocery workers’ salaries by $4/hr.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
San Jose, CA – The city council approved a measure raising grocery workers’ salaries by $3/hr for 120 days.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Amazon – In reaction to the $61.7 million settlement the company reached last week with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a class action lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts by a driver seeking restitution for the unpaid tips, claiming the company broke state laws and breached its contracts with drivers by withholding the tips.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
Virginia – The house passed legislation requiring essential businesses to offer paid leave to their workers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
Labor Department – Julie Su, the current secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, has been tapped by the Biden Administration to become the deputy labor secretary.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
San Joaquin County, CA – The county unanimously passed a 15 percent cap on third-party food delivery fees for the remainder of the declared emergency.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Hoboken, NJ – The city approved a temporary cap on third-party delivery fees at 15 percent.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Lincoln, NE – The city council passed an ordinance to cap third-party delivery fees at 15 percent for the duration of the pandemic.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Alcohol
Alabama – The senate passed legislation that would allow the delivery of sealed beer, wine and liquor from grocery stores, restaurants and other licensed retailers to homes in Alabama.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Kentucky – Legislation passed out of a senate committee allowing for home delivery and carryout of alcoholic beverages when ordered with a meal.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Mississippi – A bill to allow for home delivery of beer, wine and spirits survived the crossover deadline and will now be considered by both chambers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Mexico – A house committee heard two bills, one providing for a new class of restaurant license that allows for the home delivery of beer, wine and spirits and another restricting the varieties, quantities and volumes of alcohol that can be delivered.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Wisconsin – A senate committee heard two bills, one permanently allowing cocktails to-go as well as home delivery of beer, wine and spirits.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe