Review the documents below to explore VRLTA's Legislative Priorities for the current year and previous sessions. For more information, reach out to Tommy Herbert.
"The real value I get out of my membership is the advocacy and representation provided by the VRLTA. They actively work to protect the interests of the restaurant and hospitality industries, lobbying for favorable policies and legislation at both the state and national levels. Their voice carriers significant weight in the commonwealth, and I find comfort in knowing that my concerns as a restaurateur are being heard and acted upon."
- Frank Thomas Brunetto, Director of Operations, Enviro-care
Accomplishments - 2024 General Assembly Session
Advanced:
- Made Cocktails-to-go Permanent – Worked with a broad coalition to make permanent Virginia’s cocktails-to-go statute for ABC licensees. We worked with stakeholders like the Distilled Spirits Council of the US, the Virginia Distillers Association, the R Street Institute and others to keep this common-sense, consumer-loved option open for our restaurants. Third-party delivery was also extended for two years while they work with ABC to improve their compliance with the existing regulations.
- G3 Eligibility for Hospitality and Culinary Management Programs in VCCS – VRLTA worked with Delegate Betsy Carr to craft language in Virginia’s budget that will make students in Virginia Community Colleges studying Hospitality Management or Culinary Management eligible to apply for the G3 last-dollar tuition assistance program operated by the state for the benefit of VCCS students and industries with critical workforce needs. This language was included in the Budget bill that was ultimately signed by the Governor.
Defeated:
- Attempt to abolish Virginia’s Tipped Wage Credit – VRLTA was instrumental in protecting Virginia’s tipped wage from an attempt to abolish it, thereby avoiding an Armageddon for the Commonwealth’s restaurants like the one seen in DC that is pushing servers to race across the Potomac and leaving both operators and customers deeply unhappy. HB335 was passed in an amended form, but ultimately vetoed by the Governor.
- Attempt to Dictate Employment Practices – VRLTA was part of a coalition working to defeat HB990/SB370, which would have established a host of new requirements for employers in how they hire and promote employees in Virginia. Those bills were ultimately passed but vetoed by the Governor.
Worked On:
- Fee transparency – VRLTA worked to protect Virginia’s work on Tourism Improvement Districts by adding clarifying language into a bill which would have made sweeping changes to how or whether fees could be charged in the course of all kinds of businesses. VRLTA also worked to clarify in that bill that long-term, predictable surcharges like auto-gratuities for large groups were not caught up in that bill. SB388 was passed in the Senate but ultimately failed to pass out of the House of Delegates.
- Polystyrene Ban Move-up – VRLTA worked in concert with a coalition of industries, including the advanced recycling industry, to defeat the proposed moving-up of the effective dates for Virginia’s polystyrene food container ban. Our efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, as the move-up of the dates was included in the Budget bill signed by the Governor. The agreed-upon dates had previously been July 1, 2028 for operators with 20 or more locations, and July 1, 2030 for those with less than 20 locations. Now those effective dates for the ban will be July 1, 2025 and July 1, 2026 respectively. VRLTA will continue to advocate for Virginia’s restaurateurs in the 2025 Legislative Session on this topic.
- Dealer Discount – VRLTA once again worked to introduce a budget amendment in to reinstate the Virginia Dealer Discount, which is a rebate that is meant to apply to the portion of merchant-paid interchange fees that correspond to the merchant’s fulfilment of the obligation to remit state sales tax. As interchange fees continue to climb, more than doubling in the past decade, this costs lays heavier and heavier on merchants, who are only trying to do their duty by the government in remitting their taxes. The language was not ultimately adopted, but VRLTA will continue to bring these efforts in future.
Historical Accomplishments:
Get Involved Today!
Grassroots efforts within our association are critical to maintaining our success – and a great way to get involved is donating to the VRLTA PAC. From small independently owned business to corporations to simply those who share our values and beliefs, the VRLTA PAC is dependent on all our members to help us reach our fundraising goals.