Advocacy in Action | February 12, 2026
2026 Connecticut Legislative Session Underway
Connecticut State Legislative Session began February 4th and adjourns May 6th.
CRA Members can get involved by:
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Staying informed: We will keep you updated with the latest information through these Advocacy in Action emails.
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Providing support: There may be times when we need immediate action from our members—whether it’s completing a quick survey, joining us at the Capitol, or lending your voice to critical initiatives.
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Joining committees: If you are interested in participating with the Legislative Committee, please e-mail us.
The Connecticut Restaurant 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 CRA 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.
Breaking News: Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act Set to Take Effect July 2026
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division handed down its decision in favor of Illinois restaurant operators and the larger merchant community regarding litigation over the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) that passed in June 2024.
The IFPA prohibits interchange fees from being charged on the sales tax and gratuity portions of any electronic transaction. The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.
This is a meaningful win for restaurants across the country. By affirming that states can limit excessive swipe fees, there is now a clear, legally viable path for legislators to reduce these burdensome costs.
While the decision is all but guaranteed to be appealed, it lays a clear legal path for other states to follow Illinois’ lead and address credit card processing fees—one of the highest and fastest‑growing costs facing restaurant owners today.
Should a similar law take into effect in Connecticut, the average full-service restaurant could expect to save ~$6,700 annually, and ~$1,700 for limited-service restaurants from the elimination of these fees.
64K H-2B Visas Authorized for 2026
The U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor issued a temporary final rule that authorized up to 64,716 additional H‑2B visas for FY 2026 — nearly double what was expected — to help employers facing severe seasonal worker shortages.
Last year, the National Restaurant Association joined a coalition urging DHS and DOL to release the full FY2026 supplemental H-2B allocation, citing ongoing seasonal labor shortages and the need for workforce certainty.
The supplemental visas will be available only to employers who attest that they are suffering or will suffer impending irreparable harm, defined in the rule as enduring permanent and severe financial loss, without the requested H-2B workers.
| Read More | Eligibility Requirements |
2026 State of the State Address
In his 2026 State of the State address, Governor Lamont emphasized that Connecticut is stepping up to protect healthcare access, stabilizing costs, and investing in affordability off the back of federal cuts. Initiatives like the CT Option will expand primary care access, no copays, and include aggressive healthcare cost control, designed to support small businesses, retirees, and working families.
Affordability remains central to economic competitiveness, including: targeted middle class tax relief, energy rebates to offset rising heating costs, and investments in energy efficiency.
Gov. Lamont’s proposed 2026–27 state budget includes limited direct relief for restaurants and hospitality businesses, but several provisions may have indirect impacts on operators and customers.
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The budget proposes a one time energy rebate for residents, funded by excess state revenues. The rebate is intended to help offset high electricity and heating costs and may provide a short term boost in discretionary spending that could benefit restaurants, bars, and hospitality venues.
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Certain state occupational licensing and renewal fees would be eliminated. While food service licenses are not included, this could lower costs for restaurant owners when hiring licensed trades for renovations, repairs, or equipment upgrades.
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Expanded eligibility for the state research and development tax credit would allow more pass through businesses to qualify. Hospitality operators investing in technology such as point of sale systems, online ordering, reservations, or operational efficiency tools may benefit.
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The budget does not include broad or permanent business tax relief.
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Slower growth in transportation funding could have longer term implications for tourism, workforce commuting, and customer access that support the hospitality industry.
State Economic Updates
Catch up on the latest edition of the Connecticut Economic Update from Sean Scanlon, State Comptroller.