COVID-19
Federal Relief – Trade groups are calling upon Congress to extend the deadline for businesses to apply for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. The House overwhelmingly approved legislation to push back the deadline from March 31 to May 31, extending the program. The measure now moves to the U.S. Senate for consideration. More details.
Liability – In Georgia, legislation protecting businesses from COVID-related liability claims until July 2022 passed the senate and is on its way to the governor’s desk for his expected signature. Florida lawmakers this week announced they have reached a compromise on COVID-19 liability legislation and will advance legislation to the governor’s desk next week. More details.
Wages
Federal – The Labor Department officially transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) its intent to proceed with revising (and likely repealing) the current 80/20 tipped wage standard.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delaware – The senate passed legislation raising the minimum wage to $15/hr by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Mexico – The governor signed a bill that eliminates the training wage in the state.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Hampshire – On a party-line vote, the senate rejected a proposal to raise the minimum wage to $12/hr by 2024.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Tennessee – Next week, a senate committee will hear legislation to raise the minimum wage to $12/hr by 2025.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
West Virginia – The senate passed legislation preempting localities from passing their own wage and hour, or other employment-related ordinances.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Paid Leave
California – The senate approved house-passed legislation to extend the existing COVID-19 supplemental paid leave law until Sept. 30.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Massachusetts – The senate passed legislation guaranteeing five days of paid sick leave for COVID-related illness, quarantining, or vaccination side effects.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Mexico – The senate passed amended legislation mandating employers to provide at least 64 hours of paid sick leave each year to full time, part time, temporary, and seasonal employees with one hour accrued for each 30 hours worked.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York – The governor signed legislation requiring employers to provide employees a maximum of 4 hours of paid time off per vaccine dose.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Allegheny County, PA – The county executive vetoed a paid leave proposal that would have mandated employers with 26 or more employees provide up to five sick days per year.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Philadelphia, PA – The city council passed legislation expanding and extending the city’s current COVID-related leave law.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Labor Policy
New York – Both the senate and the assembly released their budget resolutions. Included in both chambers’ resolutions is a proposed 18 percent business tax surcharge on franchise corporations with more than $1 million in net income.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New York City, NY – Councilmember Brad Lander announced this week at a rally for hotel workers that he will introduce right-to-recall legislation.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Alcohol
Arkansas – A house committee advanced senate-passed legislation allowing for home delivery of beer wine and spirits with a meal.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delaware – Legislation allowing cocktails to-go in sealed containers passed both houses of the legislature and is headed to the governor’s desk for his expected signature.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Maine – The governor signed legislation permitting restaurants and bars to sell cocktails to-go through Sept. 2022.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Mississippi – Legislation to create a new class of liquor license allowing home delivery has passed both legislative chambers but are somewhat different and the senate voted not to adopt the house version thereby forcing a conference committee.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
New Mexico – The governor signed legislation allowing for home delivery of alcoholic beverages and creating a new category of restaurant liquor licenses that modifies beer and wine licenses to include spirits.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Oklahoma – The house passed legislation temporarily allowing restaurants to serve cocktails to-go in sealed, tamper-proof containers.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
South Carolina – The house passed legislation allowing restaurants to sell cocktails to-go.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Wisconsin – The assembly passed legislation allowing restaurants and bars to serve cocktails to-go.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Delivery
Huntington Beach, CA – The city council defeated a proposal to cap third-party delivery fees at 15 percent.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Washington, DC – Legislation requiring third-party delivery platforms such as DoorDash and Uber Eats to obtain an agreement with a restaurant before they can offer their food on the app has been forwarded to the mayor for her expected signature.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Packaging
Maryland – The house passed legislation banning restaurants and retailers from giving away plastic bags at the point of sale with certain exemptions.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe
Los Angeles, CA – The city council voted to direct city staff to develop an ordinance mandating that restaurants (including ghost kitchens) would no longer provide utensils, napkins, straws and condiments with food or drink orders, unless requested.To Access Align's Analysis: Log In or Subscribe