Advocacy in Action | March 19, 2026
2026 Legislative Tracker
The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association actively monitors a wide range of legislation throughout each legislative session. It's important to note that the introduction of a bill does not guarantee its passage.
The CRHA Bill Tracker gives you a sense of the breadth and variety of legislation we track throughout session, as well as an overview on the status of each bill. This tracker will get updated regularly with the latest information coming out of session.
Last week, 11 restaurant owners from across Connecticut joined Scott to travel down to Washington, DC to meet with our delegates to discuss important issues facing our industry. They stepped away from their restaurants, teams, and families to make sure the voices of local operators are heard.
- J Timothy’s Taverne - Plainville
- The Main Pub - Manchester
- Amber Room Colonnade - Danbury
- Mulberry Street Pizza - Manchester
- Mofongo Restaurant - multiple
- Barcelona Wine Bar - multiple
- Bar Bouchée - Madison
- The Flour Girl - Hebron
- Elm Restaurant - New Canaan
- Brushmill by the Waterfall - Chester
- Oyster Club - Mystic
Thank you to these leaders who showed up and represented Connecticut’s restaurant community!
Team CT joined more than 450 restaurant owners, industry leaders, state association executives, and Association at the Restaurants Act Public Affairs Conference. Attendees held 340 meetings on Capitol Hill - a record for the conference - and a powerful demonstration of the industry’s unified voice.
Save the Date for next year’s Public Affairs Conference: June 21–23, 2027
HB 5537: Imposing a Tax on Certain Sweetened Beverages, Syrups & Powders to Fund Universal Free School Meals Program
Scott joined Larry Cafero & Jude Malone of Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of Connecticut, and State Representative Vincent Candelora, to oppose HB 5537, a proposal that creates a statewide tax on sweetened beverages, syrups, and powders, with the revenue dedicated to funding a universal free school meals program for Connecticut students.
While the hospitality industry strongly supports efforts to ensure that children in Connecticut have access to nutritious meals, this must be pursued in a sustainable manner that doesn’t place burdens on restaurants and small hospitality businesses. The tax would significantly increase operating costs, force higher menu prices for consumers, and create an unsustainable precedent of funding public programs through a single industry.
The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association urged the committee to reject House Bill 5537 or pursue alternative funding mechanisms that do not disproportionately impact our industry.
| Watch Testimony | Read Testimony |
HB 5524: An Act Concerning the State's Materials Management System
The Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association testified against HB 5524 this week, arguing that it places unclear, inconsistent, and disproportionate regulatory burdens on restaurants and hotels.
HB 5524 proposes updates to Connecticut’s materials management system, including expanding organic waste separation requirements, restricting the use of expanded polystyrene in foodservice, and requiring single-use items like utensils and straws to be provided only upon customer request. The bill aims to reduce waste and improve environmental outcomes, but it introduces new compliance obligations, particularly for restaurants and hospitality businesses, through broader recycling mandates and product restrictions — all of which could increase costs and operational complexity for already strained hospitality businesses.
| Watch Testimony | Read Testimony |
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
The United States and Mexico officially began discussions Monday in preparation for this year’s review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Maintaining the agreement is critical to keeping supply chains stable and menu prices affordable.
The National Restaurant Association will be closely monitoring the talks and continuing to advocate for a stable, predictable trade environment for restaurant operators to keep menu prices affordable.
Sean Kennedy breaks down what this means for restaurants in his latest 90‑Second Update on trade.
Webinar: New Tax Deductions Could Mean Bigger Refunds for Restaurant Employees
🗓️ Monday, March 23
🕓 2PM
Millions of restaurant and hospitality workers could qualify for new federal tax deductions when they file their 2025 returns. Under No Tax on Tips and No Tax on Overtime, eligible employees may be able to deduct reported tips and overtime premium pay from their federal tax returns, and even in some state tax returns.
To help employees make the most of these changes, the National Restaurant Association is hosting a free, employee-focused webinar with H&R Block.