January 22, 2025

IFA Supports Labor Nominee

IFA last week announced our support for President Trump’s pick Lori Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Labor Secretary, highlighting her support of the repeal of the previous administration’s expanded joint employer rule last January. IFA urged the U.S. Senate to confirm her to the position.

Go deeper: On January 14, IFA member franchisors and franchisees met with former Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer in Washington, D.C., to hear about her priorities and express thanks for her support in Congress for franchising, namely on the joint employer issue.

Our thought bubble: “When the future of Main Street franchises was on the line, Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer stood up in support of America’s 830,000 franchised small businesses and their nine million employees,” said IFA President and CEO Matt Haller.

Trump Administration Announces Appointments

With U.S. Senate confirmation hearings and votes for other nominations scheduled in the days and weeks ahead, the White House announced sub-cabinet appointments. Of particular note to IFA include: 

• Marvin Kaplan, chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB);
• Keith Sonderling, Deputy Secretary of Labor;
• Andrew Ferguson, chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC);
• Mark Meador, FTC commissioner, filling the seat of the departing Lina Khan.

The big picture: Franchise businesspeople can look forward to more pro-franchising policies and deregulation from these agencies in the coming years.

Tax Outlook Webinar Next Week

As businesspeople brace for potential federal tax law changes this year, join IFA next Thursday, January 30, at 12:00 PM ET for a web program called “What to Expect When You're Expecting Tax Changes” as key parts of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire at the end of 2025.

Why it matters: IFA’s Mike Layman and Martin Reiser of S-3 Group, a Capitol Hill veteran and one of the architects of the TCJA, will explain what these changes mean for your business and how Congress will move forward on issues like bonus depreciation and small business deductions. 

What’s next: Don’t miss this chance to get clear tax insights—register now!

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Virginia Franchise Bill Clears Senate

In Virginia, the IFA-opposed SB 798 passed the state Senate last week and will crossover to the House of Delegates where it is expected to receive a hearing in the House Labor & Commerce Committee by mid-February.

Why it matters: The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Chris Head (R-03), would create the most severe restrictions on non-compete clauses in franchise agreements than any other state and ensure franchise agreements are governed by state law. 

What’s next: IFA has reached out to House Speaker Don Scott, as well as House Labor & Commerce Committee leadership to discuss the negative consequences of the bill. View IFA’s one-pager fact sheet on the bill’s harmful impact here.

Washington Introduces 'FAST Act'-Like Companion Bills

Washington’s companion bills SB 5062, sponsored by Sen. Derek Stanford (D-001), and HB 1128, sponsored by Rep. Mary Fosse (D-038), propose the creation of a Labor Standards Board (LSB) for childcare workers.

Why it matters: Similar to California’s FAST Act, this legislation would create an unelected board that imposes minimum employment standards on childcare workers in the state to include compensation, working conditions, and training. Read the House Labor & Workforce Committee’s bill analysis here.

What’s next: With hearings on both bills expected in the coming days, IFA is actively working with our partners in Washington to discern which of the two companion bills will be the ultimate ‘vehicle’ to move, which in turn will dictate our broader advocacy strategy.

Multiple Oregon Bills Spark Concern

Oregon Rep. Zach Hudson (D-49) recently introduced a number of anti-franchising bills in the House, while language outlining specific franchise rights has made its way into an omnibus bill introduced on behalf of an interim committee.

Zoom in: HB 2584, HB 2572, and HB 2590, all sponsored by Rep. Hudson, seek to interfere with existing franchise agreements relating to fee collection, supply chain, and operating hours. SB 167 includes language outlining specific rights and prohibitions governing the relationship between franchisors and franchisees.

What’s next: IFA is actively gathering intelligence about the bill sponsor to understand the bill’s origin and their prospects for moving forward.

Utah Bill Restricts Franchisee Operating Hours

Utah State Rep. Ken Ivory (R-39) announced he will introduce a bill that would restrict a franchisor’s hours of operation. 

The big picture: The bill stems from a handful of Nothing Bundt Cake franchisees in the state disputing a mandate requiring their doors to remain open on Sunday.

What's next: Utah’s state session officially started on Tuesday and official bill language is expected to be released soon. IFA has requested a meeting with Rep. Ivory. 

January 23 at 2:30 pm ET | New Supplier Member & First Time Supplier Attendee Pre-Convention Workshop | REGISTER

January 29 at 1:00 pm ET | 2025 FBN Webinar | REGISTER

January 29 at 3:30 pm ET | New Member & First Time Attendee Pre-Convention Workshop| REGISTER

January 30 at 12:00 pm ET | What to Expect When You're Expecting Tax Changes Webinar | REGISTER

February 10 - 13, 2025 | 2025 Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV | REGISTER

April 11 - 12, 2025 | International Franchise Show London, ExCeL London | REGISTER

May 4-6, 2025 | IFA Legal Symposium | SAVE THE DATE

May 6-7, 2025 | IBA/IFA Joint Conference | SAVE THE DATE

May 9-10, 2025 | The IFA World Franchise Show, Miami, FL | REGISTER