Advocacy in Action | May 22, 2025

Take Action Now to Support CT Tourism

With less than two weeks to go in Legislative Session, the Connecticut Restaurant Association is urging the Governor and the General Assembly to invest in the Connecticut tourism and hospitality industry. We are asking them to allocate 20% of our state’s existing Meals and Beverage Tax back toward our tourism marketing budget.  

 This change would inject more than $20 million toward tourism, at a time when our competitors in neighboring states are far outpacing us in both investment and visibility. It can be done without raising existing taxes or creating a new burden on residents or businesses. 

Without a change, state funding for tourism marketing is set to fall from $12.1 million in 2023 to just $4.5 million on July 1. For context, the average state tourism budget nationwide is $19.8 million, and the median is $12.2 million. Yes we are a small state, but we are still being outspent by our neighbors. And, Connecticut was one of just 15 states to decrease its tourism funding from 2023 to 2024. 

We can’t let this happen. The CRA is asking each of you to get involved by submitting a letter to your local state legislators, asking them to increase tourism marketing funding. Specifically, Connecticut should set aside 20% of the existing Meals and Beverage Tax to support tourism. 

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Take Action Now: Contact Your Senators to Vote Yes on the Credit Card Competition Act

Credit card swipe fees are one of the highest costs restaurant operators face—and they’ve more than doubled in the past decade. The U.S. Senate is preparing to consider the GENIUS Act, and during that debate, Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) plan to introduce the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) as a bipartisan amendment. 

Big banks are going to fight hard to block a vote on the CCCA. We need YOUR voice to push this over the line. 

We need you to contact your Senators to urge them to vote YES on the Credit Card Competition Act as an amendment to the GENIUS Act. 

This is our chance to stand up for fairer fees, stronger small businesses, and better value for our customers.

Big banks and credit card giants only need 40 votes to block the amendment. We need 60 votes to pass it—every single Senator’s vote is critical.

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US House Passes Trump Tax & Spending Mega-Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act of 2025, a wide-ranging tax and spending bill, poised to significantly benefit the hospitality industry.

The legislation, which passed with a vote of 215-214, still needs Senate approval.

This bill includes several key provisions vital for the hospitality sector:

• 23% Qualified Business Income Deduction: This allows pass-through businesses, which comprise approximately 90% of all hospitality businesses (LLCs, partnerships, S-Corps, and sole proprietors), to deduct 23% of their income before federal income tax, substantially lowering their effective tax rate.

• Full Expensing for Capital Purchases: Establishing 100% bonus depreciation, this provision allows hospitality operators to fully deduct the cost of new equipment, such as kitchen ovens, refrigerators, or catering trucks, in the year of purchase. This incentivizes investment in technology and efficiency while preserving crucial cash-on-hand.

• Restored Business Interest Expense Deduction: By increasing the cap on deductible business interest to 30% of EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), this measure helps hospitality groups managing loans or financing new projects by providing relief from high interest rates and retaining working capital.

The bill also delivers substantial wins for the workforce:

• "No Tax on Tips" for Tipped Workers: From 2025 through 2028, over two million tipped workers in hospitality will see their federal income tax burden on tips eliminated. Employees earning up to $155,000 annually will be eligible for this above-the-line deduction, while FICA contributions and the FICA 45B credit remain untouched.

• "No Tax on Overtime" Pay: The bill exempts the additional "half" of the 1.5X base pay rate for working over 40 hours per week from federal income tax.

• Support for Families: The legislation includes provisions for employer-provided family and medical leave programs, child care expenses, and a boosted child tax credit.

Live Coverage Here

Senate Passes "No Tax on Tips" Legislation

On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously to pass legislation that would eliminate the collection of federal income taxes on tips, moving a step closer to fulfilling one of President Donald Trump’s key campaign promises. 

The bipartisan legislation preserves the FICA 45B credit and would allow tipped workers to take home up to $25,000 in tips without being subject to a federal income tax. Tips received above $25,000 would still be subject to federal income tax, and all employee wages would be subject to FICA contributions. 

The legislation excludes “highly compensated employees” who earn over $160,000 per year and does not have an end date for No Tax on Tips treatment.

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Bill Tracker: Updated Weekly

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.

Bill Tracker