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September 2, 2026

TWO WEEKS AWAY: IFA26 Advocacy Summit

The IFA26 Advocacy Summit is just two weeks away, and it is shaping up to be the largest franchise advocacy event on record, taking place in Washington, D.C. on September 14–16. You can still register today!

Why It Matters: This is our one shot to get the American Franchise Act passed through Congress to protect franchising for the long-term. The more voices we have advocating, the more lawmakers we will reach. The IFA team will prepare and chaperone attendees to head to Capitol Hill and push for passage of the bill - which is the most important legislative effort for franchising to date. 

What else: This year’s Advocacy Summit will feature the 55th U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the Ruthless podcast hosts,The Economist’s Alice Fulwood, IFA President and CEO Matt Haller, IFA Chair Sam Ballas, and more.

One more fun thing: Today, IFA announced 89 Franchisees of the Year who will be celebrated in Washington during the event. Congratulations on this accomplishment!

California COMPETE Act Clears Legislature

Earlier this week, California lawmakers passed AB 1776, the Competition and Opportunity in Markets for a Prosperous, Equitable and Transparent Economy (COMPETE) Act, which broadens the state's principal antitrust statute to reach anticompetitive conduct by a single firm.

Why it matters: IFA opposed the bill for its potential adverse impact to common franchise practices like cooperative purchasing and uniform brand standards. The bill was scaled back in the Senate, leaving suggested and maximum resale pricing, national value promotions, and designated supplier and rebate programs to be governed by existing California antitrust law but requiring franchisors to now consider the “market power” they hold over franchisees and how monopsony theories will be applied to labor markets.

What’s next: The measure was sent to California Governor Gavin Newsom, who must sign it by September 30, 2026 for the law to take effect January 1, 2027.

EPR Trial Upholds Oregon Law

On August 27, an Oregon District Court rejected the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributor’s (NAW) challenge to Oregon’s recent extended producer responsibility (EPR) law, which will require businesses to pay fees based on the volume of covered packaging and other covered products they bring into the state. 

Why It Matters: The IFA Law Center filed an amicus brief in the lawsuit, citing the discriminatory treatment to franchised small businesses simply because they operate as a part of a franchise system while non-franchised small businesses are exempt.

What’s next: NAW disagrees with the decision and is weighing an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, which also covers California and could shape the pending challenges to California’s EPR law. Franchise brands subject to Oregon’s EPR law should note that the February injunction against enforcement is now dissolved and Oregon may now enforce required reporting and fees against every covered producer. 

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