COVID-19
Restaurant Revitalization Fund – The U.S. Small Business Administration notified 2,965 previously-approved, prioritized Restaurant Revitalization Fund applicants that it will be unable to pay their remaining claims, following the outcome of lawsuits in Texas and Tennessee that barred the SBA from distributing grants on the basis of race and sex. Three separate lawsuits were filed against the SBA in April and May, claiming that the 21-day prioritization period of women and socially / economically disadvantaged individuals was a discriminatory policy. The SBA said in the letter sent to the rescinded grant recipients that the U.S. Department of Justice filed a notice and declaration in the Northern District of Texas and the Eastern District of Tennessee noting the payments would not be made. More details.
Liability – The Arizona governor signed legislation protecting businesses from COVID-related liability. More details.
Paycheck Protection Program – The New Hampshire governor signed legislation to exempt forgiven PPP and EIDL loans from the calculation of gross taxable income. More details.
Wages
Labor Department – The agency released its annual Spring Agenda and among other things, it signals their intent to amend existing wage laws with regard to tips.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delaware – The house passed legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Virginia – The governor proposed a plan which will allow the state to match an employer hiring bonus of up to $500 each for new workers at small businesses with fewer than 100 employees, as well as a state grant of up to $500 for each employee at a qualifying child care operation.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
Nevada – The governor signed legislation mandating that private employers with 50 or more employees must provide all employees with up to four total hours of paid leave for the purpose of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York – The assembly passed legislation expanding the definition of family members covered under the state’s existing paid family leave law to include siblings.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
Connecticut – The governor signed legislation requiring employers with at least one employee to disclose the wage range for vacant positions to applicants and existing employees.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Oregon – The governor signed legislation protecting employees against retaliation or discrimination if the employee takes part in protected labor activities such as organizing.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
Denver, CO – The city council passed an ordinance mandating that third-party delivery fees provide customers with itemized receipts including information on all fees and gratuities as well as a statement on the receipt that explains restaurants pay the companies a fee or commission for each order.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Elizabeth, NJ – The city council passed an ordinance capping third-party delivery fees at 15 percent or 5 percent of the cost of the original order when the order is delivered by an employee of the restaurant or an independent contractor with whom the restaurant has a contract.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Seattle, WA – The city council unanimously passed a bill requiring all third-party food delivery platforms to have written contracts with restaurants prior to placing them on their apps.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Alcohol
Massachusetts – The governor signed legislation extending cocktails to-go until May of 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Jersey – A house committee advanced legislation to permanently extend the current temporary allowance permitting cocktails to-go and home delivery of alcohol.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Oregon – The governor signed legislation allowing for the sale of alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Pennsylvania – The legislature voted to end the governor’s emergency declaration of March 2020 and with it the allowance for cocktails to-go and home delivery of alcohol.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Rhode Island – The senate passed legislation extending beer, wine and cocktails to-go until March of 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Packaging
Maine – Both the house and senate gave preliminary passage to legislation that would shift some recycling and waste disposal costs from local taxpayers to producers of hard-to-recycle packaging materials.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Menu Labeling
Red Lobster – The company is facing a class action complaint alleging that its farmed shrimp and Maine lobster are not sustainably sourced, as the company claims they are.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe