Advocacy in Action | February 20, 2025

Listen: Reinvesting the 1% Meals & Beverage Tax

CRA President & CEO, Scott Dolch, has been on the air discussing topics that are top of mind for our industry this legislative session. 

This morning, Scott appeared on WICC: The Voice of Connecticut show Melissa in the Morning with Melissa Sheketoff to talk about the importance of reinvesting the 1% Meals and Beverage Tax and its potential significant positive impact on the industry and the communities they serve.

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Beneficial Ownership Information Update

The House unanimously passed a bill that puts a one-year delay for small businesses to report on beneficial ownership information (BOI).  If passed by the U.S. Senate and signed into law by President Trump, the deadline to submit BOI reports would move from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026.

Enforcement of the current deadline is temporarily on hold while several legal proceedings decide whether BOI reporting requirements can proceed. However, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) could resume enforcement within 30 days if a court opinion rules in their favor.

No Tax on Tips Act

The push to eliminate taxes on tips has gained bipartisan attention, with Rep. Steven Horsford’s TIPS Act seeking to eliminate the tipped wage, while Sen. Ted Cruz’s No Tax on Tips Act keeps the current tipped wage structure intact.

Sean Kennedy, EVP of Public Affairs for the National Restaurant Association, called Cruz’s version “sensible legislation” that includes refinements and protections that make it fiscally responsible. The National Restaurant Association estimates more than 2M tipped servers and bartenders work in the industry nationally.

Bill Tracker

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. 

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