PRESENTED BY:

October 7, 2026

Senate Confirms Sonderling as Labor Secretary

What Happened: Last week, the U.S. Senate confirmed Keith Sonderling as U.S. Secretary of Labor, who is pictured above in the red tie with IFA President and CEO Matt Haller, IFA Chairman Sam Ballas of East Coast Wings + Grill, and IFA Board members in Washington, DC, in September.

Why It Matters: IFA previously urged the Senate to swiftly confirm Sonderling, citing his deep understanding of the franchise business model and his record of supporting policies that provide clarity and certainty for franchise businesses, including an updated, commonsense joint employer standard.

What's Next: IFA looks forward to continuing its work with Secretary Sonderling and the Department of Labor to advance policies that protect the independence of franchise businesses and support continued growth and job creation across the franchise community.

FTC Announces Franchise Sellers Settlement

What Happened: The Federal Trade Commission reached a settlement with Premier Franchising Group and Franchise FastLane, the first time the agency has enforced the Franchise Rule against a third-party franchise sales organization for an alleged Franchise Rule violation. 

Why It Matters: IFA applauded the action as it makes clear that the Franchise Rule applies to everyone involved in selling a franchise, including franchise sales organizations and other third-party sellers, aligning with IFA’s Responsible Franchising principles.

What Else: IFA continues to call on the FTC to modernize the Franchise Rule and the state registration process to improve disclosure requirements, and is developing a third-party franchise seller education curriculum modeled after its CFE program and Fran-Guard.

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Congress Advances Terrorism Risk Bill

What Happened: Before leaving Washington, the Senate also passed the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 (S.4395). Ahead of the vote, IFA sent a letter urging swift passage of the bill.

Why It Matters: The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) provides a vital federal backstop for terrorism risk insurance, keeping private coverage accessible and affordable for commercial properties, hospitality brands, retail locations, and franchise systems. 

What’s Next: The bill extends the public-private reinsurance mechanism for seven years, through December 31, 2034.