Advocacy in Action | July 2, 2026

NFL Sunday Ticket Changes Could Increase Costs for Restaurants & Bars

A big change is coming September 1 for restaurants that rely on football games to drive traffic on fall and winter Sundays. 

Starting with this upcoming season, restaurants and bars that have been using NFL Sunday Ticket to screen non-local games will have to sign up with the streaming service EverPass to continue doing that. As of this year, EverPass is the exclusive provider of NFL Sunday Ticket for businesses, taking over from DirecTV.

For many bars and restaurants, that will mean switching away from or adding to their satellite TV systems over the next few months, a prospect that is raising concerns for some operators and industry advocates due to the costs and complications involved.

The National Restaurant Association is calling for a pause on the transition to EverPass, at least for this upcoming season, in order to give restaurants more time to plan and figure out the technology. It has not engaged with EverPass directly, but it has shared its concerns with Congress, which held a hearing last week on the sports broadcast landscape.

CRHA will continue working with our National Restaurant Association partners and other state restaurant associations to advocate for the best possible outcome for restaurants.

NRA Calls on Congress to Delay Federal Ban on Hemp-Derived THC Beverages

The National Restaurant Association is calling on Congress to delay a federal ban on hemp-derived THC beverages that is scheduled to take effect in November, warning that the move could eliminate a growing $1.6 billion market opportunity for restaurants and hospitality operators. 

The Association urged lawmakers to establish a national regulatory framework for low-dose hemp-derived THC beverages rather than impose an outright ban. These non-alcoholic beverages contain small amounts of THC derived from federally legal hemp and have emerged as a popular alternative for consumers seeking a social beverage option without alcohol.

The Association supports regulations that include:

• Age verification requirements
• Product testing and quality standards
• Clear labeling and dosage disclosures
• Responsible marketing practices
• Enforceable impairment guidelines

It also recommends allowing states and local governments the flexibility to tailor regulations to their markets, similar to the approach used for alcohol sales. 

5% of restaurants serving alcohol already offer THC beverages, and 26% are interested if regulations are clarified - a $1.6B annual market opportunity!

TPS Termination for Haiti & Syria

Following last week's Supreme Court ruling in Mullin v. Doe, work authorizations for Haitian and Syrian TPS holders are currently set to expire July 1 — immediately before the July 4 holiday weekend, at the height of the summer season. 

The National Restaurant Association, joined by 12 State Restaurant Associations, including the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association, sent a letter to DHS Secretary Mullin urging an orderly implementation that protects employers and avoids an abrupt workforce disruption.

The letter makes three asks: 

• A 90-to-120-day transition period before work authorizations end
• Clear USCIS guidance on reverification timelines and I-9/E-Verify compliance
• Good-faith protection for employers acting on existing guidance while awaiting updated post-decision instructions

Why this matters to our industry:

• The ruling affects roughly 350,000 Haitian and 6,000 Syrian TPS holders. These are people who have been legally working in the US, in many instances for decades
• The reasoning in this case may bear on future terminations for other TPS countries

Read More

Federal Data Privacy Bill Advances in Congress

A key House Energy & Commerce subcommittee recently debated the SECURE Data Act (H.R. 8413), federal legislation that would establish a nationwide data privacy framework and preempt the growing patchwork of state privacy laws. 

The bill is particularly important to the hospitality industry because any changes to data privacy requirements could directly impact restaurant websites, mobile apps, and customer loyalty programs. 

Industry groups generally view the current proposal favorably because it preserves loyalty programs, establishes a national privacy standard, and does not include a private right of action that could increase litigation risk.

Other Local & Federal Advocacy Updates

• A federal court judge gave preliminary approval to a settlement in a long-running lawsuit over the interchange fees charged by credit card companies, but merchants say it doesn’t go far enough. Read more.

• Connecticut 2026 Primary Elections: Full list of candidates and contests on the August 11 ballot. Read more.

• Supreme Court uploads birthright citizenship, rejecting Trump’s proposed limits. Read more.

• This week, the FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP) released its updated 2026 guidance agenda, including possible new topics for guidance documents or revisions to existing guidance documents that HFP is considering. Read more.