Advocacy in Action | February 13, 2025
Webinar Recap: CRA Legislative Session Update
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this week's webinar, 2025 Legislative Session Update.
Thank you to CRA President & CEO, Scott Dolch, CRA lobbyist Nicole Griffin (Powers, Griffin & Hill) and Attorney Ryan O’Donnell (Pullman & Comley) for providing valuable updates and insights.
In case you missed it, you can view the webinar on demand via the button below.
Your continued engagement is critical as we navigate an increasingly complex business landscape. Now more than ever, it is essential for our community to stay informed, actively participate, and stand united as an industry. Legislative decisions impact our businesses, workforce, and communities, and a strong, collective voice is key to ensuring that our interests are represented.
For any additional questions, please contact our CRA team at info@ctrestaurant.org. Members can schedule a meeting with Liz Barry, Membership & Events Manager, or text the CRA team any time using our Member Only Text Hotline at this number: (860) 390-9266.
Proposed Connecticut Hospitality Fund: Reinvesting the 1% Meals & Beverage Tax
The CT Meals & Beverage 1% Tax generates more than $100 million annually! Senate Bill 739 - An Act Concerning the Distribution of the Sales and Use Taxes Imposed on Meals Sold by an Eating Establishment, Caterer or Grocery Store, aims to redirect this tax back to the municipalities.
The creation of the Connecticut Hospitality Fund would support the reinvestment of these tax dollars back into local communities.
- How This Fund Would Help:
Invest in our local Municipalities to support their local hospitality sector and find ways to build through grants, economic development, target marketing and more. - Fund the CT Tourism Office at a competitive level to our peer states, as for every $1 invested into CT Tourism has a return of at least $7.
- Rebuild our sector’s workforce through hospitality specific training, as these programs provide the tools and resources needed to attract, promote and maintain our future industry leaders.
Sign Up for Text Alerts
Sign up for CRA Advocacy Text Alerts to keep up to date with the latest information throughout legislative session.
Including:
- Action Alerts on important legislative issues
- Reminders about industry update webinars
- Invites to industry compliance events
Article: Immigration Enforcement Actions & Compliance - Best Practices for Employers
Through a series of sweeping executive orders, the Trump Administration has launched a systematic overhaul of U.S. immigration policy. The Administration’s prioritization of immigration enforcement will likely impact employers across the United States.
Pullman & Comley have provided the following overview of key immigration law provisions, along with best practice recommendations for employers in responding to immigration enforcement actions by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other agencies.
Bill Tracker: Updated Weekly
The Connecticut Restaurant Association actively monitors a wide range of legislation throughout each legislative session. During the first weeks of the 2025 Legislative Session, several bills of interest were introduced. It's important to note that the introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage.
To give you a sense of the breadth and variety of legislation we are tracking, here are just a few of the bills currently on our radar. Should any of these bills progress through the legislative process, we will provide timely updates and additional information to keep you informed. The below webpage will be updated weekly.
A reminder, the introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage, and we will provide updates as needed.