Legislative Wins
Youth Employment Opportunities
Secured expansion of youth employment opportunity including: lowering of age for restaurant alcohol service to 16, extension of work hours for 14 and 15-year-olds to 9 p.m., and elimination of work permit for teens.
Third Party Delivery Food Safety Protections
Established food safety requirements for all third party delivery companies including the ability to maintain appropriate holding temperatures and not allowing paid passengers, animals, children, smoking, or vaping in the car.
Automatic Sunday Sales Privilege
Passed legislation to eliminate the additional fee and application for Sunday sale of alcohol. It is now a standard privilege included with all class “C” retail alcohol licenses.
Third Party Delivery Restaurant Protections
Secured legal protections for restaurants from predatory practices of Third Party delivery companies which requires an agreement between delivery companies and restaurants and includes fines for pirating of menus and intellectual property.
Beer Purchase for Resale from Any Retailer
Secured a change to the privileges of all Class C liquor license holders giving them the ability to purchase up to five cases of beer or canned cocktail for resale in their establishments. If need be, eligible product can be purchased at a local retailer (grocer, box store, c-store, etc.) once every 24 hours.
Cocktails to Go
Secured permanent privilege for restaurants and bars in Iowa to offer Cocktails-to-Go language to consumers across the state. Also ensured that batching and crowler-style packaging was allowed.
$40 Million Restaurant/Bar Relief Fund
Worked with the IEDA, legislators, and the Governor’s office to secure $40 Million in direct relief to Iowa’s restaurants and bars due to losses from COVID mandates.
Secured Significant DRAM Reform
The IRA drafted and secured changes to the legal standard of liability for alcohol service from, “knew or should have known someone was or would become intoxicated” when served to “directly served a visibly intoxicated person”— decreasing DRAM insurance premiums and risk for hospitality operators across Iowa.
Won State Level Pre-emption in Key Employment and Packaging Areas
Lead on legislation stopping cities and counties from creating their own minimum wage or tip wage rates, as well as stopping local mandates on paid sick leave or predictive scheduling. Also, stopped local bans on specific packaging products or limiting drink sizes. Iowa’s business playing field is equal for operators regardless of the city or county they operate in.
Won Changes to Driver’s License Program for Those 21+
Worked with partners to get changes to Iowa Driver’s License policy encouraging young Iowans to change their vertical driver’s licenses to a horizontal format within 30 days of their 21st birthdays and making it possible to complete the process online.
Stopped ABD Compliance Officers from becoming designated “Peace Officers,”
Stopped State Mandate to Use Federal E-verify System
The IRA helped slow down state proposed mandates on using the Federal e-verify system for verification of legal work status. The Association supports common sense reform but many operators find the federal system cumbersome, difficult to use and unreliable particularyly those who employ students and minors.
Helped Pass Better Definitions for Franchisee & Franchisors
Passed legislation which ensures franchisees and its employees are not employees of the franchisor from the standpoint of many employment laws.
Pass Better Service Animal Definitions
Worked with partners to distinguish service animals from “comfort animals” and define business owners rights when people abuse definitions.