Katie Gerber, Communications & Engagement Manager, Connecticut Restaurant Association.
By Katie Gerber, Communications & Engagement Manager, Connecticut Restaurant Association
At midnight on Wednesday, June 4, the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned Sine Die and the 2025 Legislative Session came to a close.
The Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) represented the industry across many pieces of proposed legislation. With the support of our members, we successfully supported legislation to ensure the strength and prosperity of restaurants and hospitality businesses across the state, while also successfully stopping numerous bills that would have harmed our member businesses.
The CRA extends a huge thank you to our members for their strategic engagement that helped advance key legislation and stop harmful proposals in their tracks—proof of the power of an informed and united industry voice. Here are some highlights from this year’s sessions.
Tourism Budget Utilizing 1% Meals & Beverage Tax | Multiple Bills DID NOT PASS
Unfortunately, the state’s tourism budget will be cut down to only $4.5 million, from more than $12 million just two years ago. The CRA will continue to fight on this issue, as we are extremely disappointed with the decision, which may negatively impact the hospitality industry.
Credit Card Interchange Fees Collected on Sales Tax | Senate Bill 1460 DID NOT PASS
This bill would have prohibited credit card companies from including sales tax in the calculation of interchange fees. The CRA is committed to bringing back this legislation in 2026.
Predictive Scheduling | Senate Bill 831 DID NOT PASS
The CRA fought against this bill, which would have required employers to post employees’ schedules two weeks ahead of time and face penalties if changes were made to those schedules.
Blood Alcohol Level | Senate Bill 1376 DID NOT PASS
The CRA fought against this bill that would have lowered the state’s blood alcohol level for driving under the influence from .08 to .05. The CRA is committed to ensuring the highest quality of employee alcohol service training and certification. More information can be found on our website: ctrestaurant.org/alcohol-certification.
Delivery Tax 28 Cents | Senate Bill 1447 DID NOT PASS
The CRA fought against this bill that would have required an additional 28-cent tax on all food deliveries, as well as other deliveries in the state.
Single-Use Plastics & Polystyrene | House Bill 6229 DID NOT PASS
The clock ran out on a proposal that would have initially banned single-use plastics, including straws and utensils, and also ban the use of polystyrene. The bill was eventually changed to a study, but in the waning hours of the session, it was not taken up for a vote. The CRA remains committed to working with our members to help provide options for environmentally sustainable products.
Tax on Sweetened Beverages, Syrups & Powders | House Bill 7273 DID NOT PASS
The CRA fought against this bill that would have added a 2 cent per ounce tax on sweetened beverages, syrups and powders.
Prohibition on Noncompete Agreements | Senate Bill 354 DID NOT PASS
The CRA fought against this bill that would have prohibited noncompete agreements.
Green Crab Sold at Food Service Establishments | House Bill 6222 PASSED
The CRA fought to support this bill, which now exempts restaurants from needing to obtain a bait dealer’s license to purchase and prepare bait species for public consumption, which includes green crabs.
Thank you to our CRA members for using your voice to help shape legislation, protect our industry and make a real difference. Your presence drove meaningful change and protected what matters most to our industry. This included testifying at the Capitol (thank you Grecia Ludena, Jacob Rodriguez and David Standridge), speaking at press events (thank you Olivia Formica and Scott Miller) and attending advocacy events such as Night at the Capitol, Women in Hospitality and press events across the state.
A special thank you to our contract lobbyist Nicole Griffin and her team from Powers, Griffin & Hill for all their efforts at the Capitol this session and throughout the year. In addition, thank you to the National Restaurant Association team for supporting us in our advocacy efforts and for providing resources throughout the session
and beyond.
Not a Connecticut Restaurant Association member? Let’s change that! Head to ctrestaurant.org/join.
