December 11, 2024

IFA Secures Major Win In Minneapolis

On December 5, IFA scored a major win for franchising in Minneapolis when the City Council voted to sustain Mayor Jacob Frey’s veto of a proposed Labor Standards Board (LSB). 

Zoom out: IFA’s work in Minneapolis over the past year, beginning with engagement during the Open for Opportunity visit in early 2023, demonstrated why this proposal would have harmed business owners and consumers. 

Yes but: While this is a victory in the Twin Cities, the fight continues elsewhere, as similar challenges emerge in Los Angeles and other cities.

IFA’s Haller Headlines Media Event

Today, IFA President and CEO Matt Haller headlined a marquee media event featuring Congressional Franchise Caucus co-chair U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), who also serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

Zoom in: The event featured a great discussion of policy priorities critical to the franchise model and an insider’s look at the upcoming tax debate in Congress. Don’t miss the conversation, available here.

Look ahead: On January 14, days before the new administration takes power, IFA will be participating in another press event titled “The Road Ahead For America’s Small Businesses." Learn more or register here.

IFA Urges Rejection of NLRB Nominee

Ahead of the planned U.S. Senate vote this week to extend the nomination of Lauren McFerran, chair of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), for a third five-year term, IFA urged lawmakers to reject the “last ditch” effort.

Our thought bubble: As the architect of the joint employer rule intentionally designed to undermine Main Street franchises, Chairman McFerran’s tenure at the NLRB has become indefensible. Not only the future of franchising hangs in the balance, but also the mandate of the Trump administration to create more upward mobility and opportunity. 

What else: On December 3, IFA sent a separate letter urging the U.S. Senate to reject McFerran’s nomination, which passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) along a 11-10 party line vote in August.

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IFA Team Recognized With Awards

In a major recognition of their effective advocacy, IFA’s Matt Haller, Mike Layman, and Jeff Hanscom were all featured on The Hill’s annual list of top lobbyists.

The big picture: From bipartisan support for a common sense joint employer standard to passing key pieces of Responsible Franchising in California to launching the IFA-led “Coalition to Save Local Businesses” (CSLB) into a 501(c)(4) organization, 2024 was a banner year for the entire IFA government relations team.

What’s next: The incoming administration creates opportunities abound for the franchise community, and look for more key wins from the IFA team in 2025 on our policy priorities.

Court Halts CTA Compliance

On December 3, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas halted enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), providing temporary relief to reporting companies and franchisees ahead of the January 1, 2025 deadline.

Zoom out: The CTA would have required most franchisees to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report with the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). 

What’s next: The Department of Justice (DOJ) is expected to appeal this decision on an expedited basis. IFA will continue to monitor this litigation and its implications on the future of the CTA.

IFA Addresses Concerns of Another Port Strike

On December 6, IFA sent a letter to the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) urging a return to the negotiating table to avoid another work stoppage and supply chain disruptions.

Dig Deeper: On October 3, the ILA and USMX reached a tentative agreement on wages and agreed to extend the current contract until January 15.

What’s Next: With just six weeks remaining in the contract and concerns growing over the role of automation in the workforce, IFA will continue working with both sides to avoid another work stoppage.

 House Passes Deregulation Bill

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Prove It Act (H.R. 7198),” that protects small businesses from government overreach by giving small businesses a larger voice in the regulatory process.

Why It Matters: The IFA-supported Prove It Act may be a preview of Republican Washington’s plans in 2025. 

The big picture: Following years of burdensome regulatory overreach, IFA will champion efforts to reduce regulations on the franchise business community in the year ahead. Click here to see IFA’s policy priorities.

December 11 at 3:00 pm ET | Black Franchise Leadership Council (BFLC) Virtual Year-End Celebration | REGISTER

December 12 at 1:00 pm ET | International Franchise Show London Webinar - Expanding Your Brand to UK and Europe | REGISTER

December 12 at 3:30 pm ET | New Member Onboarding Webinar | REGISTER

February 10 - 13, 2025 | 2025 Annual Convention, Las Vegas, NV | REGISTER

April 11 - 12, 2025 | International Franchise Show London, ExCeL London | REGISTER

May 4-6, 2025 | IFA Legal Symposium | SAVE THE DATE

May 6-7, 2025 | IBA/IFA Joint Conference | SAVE THE DATE

May 9-10, 2025 | The IFA World Franchise Show, Miami, FL | REGISTER