The CFA Voice® is the e-newsletter for Coalition of Franchisee Associations® and is strictly for informational purposes. CFA® does not endorse or support any of the views expressed in this digest.

Some stories highlighted in the CFA Voice® are contributed by CFA members. If you would like to share with fellow members the achievements, milestones, anniversaries, special events or more within your organization, please send your content to ChloeAnn Hibbard at chloeannh@elevanta.com

ASSOCIATION UPDATES

Dear CFA Members,

It has been my privilege to be the executive director of the Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA) these past four months. With the cooperation of the CFA Board, we have made significant progress in moving the mission of the CFA forward.

We continue to hold monthly board calls that ensure every board member, and more importantly, each member association is up to date with not only what the CFA is doing, but government relations coming out of Washington, D.C., and also any and all legislation coming out of state capitols.

The Virginia bill that recently passed and was related to non-competes was a big win for franchise owners. The CFA was involved in lobbying for this particular bill.

We held our spring board meeting in Miami, Florida. Robert Zarco invited us to use his offices, which we gladly accepted. He was able to join our meeting and discuss the current state of franchising.

The CFA has also received positive PR due to an article that was published in Franchise Times. Both CFA Chairman, Bill Mathis, and I stated how the CFA is continuing to educate franchise owners regarding government relations and franchisor/franchisee relations.

We have scheduled our first webinar for May 13, at 11 a.m. EDT, in which J. Hagood Tighe will present on "Employment Law Developments Every Franchisee Needs to Know in 2026"

I continue to look ahead and see how we all can make the mission of the CFA, “The Voice of Franchisees”, even stronger.

-Dave Glodowski

LEGISLATIVE NEWS

Maryland Franchise Reform Act Passes

The Maryland General Assembly has enacted, by overwhelming majorities, the Franchise Reform Act (Senate Bill 415 & House Bill 730), marking the first significant changes to the Maryland Franchise Registration & Disclosure Law (the “Maryland Franchise Law”) since its enactment in 1981. Governor Moore is expected to sign the legislation into law shortly and it will become effective on October 1, 2026.

Read more: Offit Kurman

DOL To Scale Back Joint Employer Liability for Businesses: What You Need To Know About the New Proposal

Businesses that utilize contractors or franchise out their brand may soon get some clarity about when those arrangements make them “joint employers” under federal minimum wage, family medical leave and migrant worker laws. The U.S. Department of Labor just released a proposal today outlining its approach to joint employer liability under a trio of laws, setting up a test that will give companies greater flexibility and less risk when entering into business relationships.

Read more: Fisher Phillips

Franchising Fact

Every 8 minutes,

a new franchise opens in a single business day.

Source: Webfx.com

POLITICAL & GOVERNMENT NEWS



The Coalition of Franchisee Associations (CFA) is celebrating a major legislative win in Virginia with the passage of House Bill 69 and Senate Bill 240, which prohibit non-compete clauses in franchise agreements. Signed into law by Abigail Spanberger and taking effect July 1, 2026, the legislation marks a significant step forward in protecting franchisee rights and expanding economic opportunity.

Backed by CFA advocacy and the leadership of Chris Head and Dan Helmer, this change removes barriers that have historically limited franchise owners’ ability to pursue new opportunities. The CFA views this as a meaningful step toward more balanced franchise relationships and a model other states may soon follow.

Read full Press Release here.

BUSINESS SMARTS

Being In Charge vs. Being a Leader

Just because somebody has a title that sounds authoritative, that doesn’t mean that they’re actually a leader. On the other hand, you don’t have to be the CEO in order to lead others. So, what does it take to truly inspire those around you to action?

Read more: MC Press

How To Improve Culture And Drive Success

CEOs and managers are expected to improve service and cut costs simultaneously. Something must give. Too often, what gives is the mental health and wellness of managers and staff. The consequences are severe. People leave their jobs or worse. Rehiring and retraining are expensive. Client relationships suffer. And all of this is happening against the backdrop of a shrinking labor pool.

Read more: Blog. CAI Online

THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS!

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CFA Mission Statement:

"To leverage the collective strengths of franchisee associations for the benefit of the franchisee community."

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNER MEMBERS!

Click here for a full list of the CFA's partner members.