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March 5, 2025

Trump Labor Nominee Advances

After the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted 14-9 to advance former U.S. Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s (R-OR) nomination for Labor Secretary last week, the full Senate is expected to confirm her this week.

Dig deeper: During her testimony, Chavez-DeRemer reaffirmed her support for a commonsense joint employer standard, “right to work” laws, and the president’s economic agenda.

Our thought bubble: When the future of Main Street franchises was on the line, Chavez-DeRemer stood with America’s 830,000 franchised small businesses by supporting a repeal of the misguided joint employer rule, and IFA is proud to stand with her now.

CTA Enforcement Halted

On March 2, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it would not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) against U.S. citizens or domestic companies. 

What This Means: This positive development means that franchisees no longer must file an annual Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) by March 21, 2025.

Our thought bubble: IFA is pleased that enforcement of the unconstitutional and invasive CTA has been halted. If you have additional questions, you can contact IFA General Counsel Sarah Davies.

IFA Urges Action On Taxes

In a coalition letter last week, IFA urged Congress to permanently extend pro-growth tax reforms in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The coalition emphasized the importance of providing businesses with long-term certainty to drive economic growth, increase wages, and support job creation. 

Dig deeper: The letter highlights the need for action on the TCJA to prevent a $4 trillion tax increase on American families and employers. 

What's next: Making the tax cuts permanent would ensure long-term economic stability and allow business owners to make the long-term investments that drive growth, accelerate productivity, and increase prosperity across all segments of the economy.

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IFA Supports Death Tax Repeal

Last month, IFA led a letter in support of the Death Tax Repeal Act, which was reintroduced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA). 

Dig deeper: The legislation includes a full and permanent repeal of the federal estate tax and enjoys growing bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. 

Why it matters: IFA continues to advocate for policies that protect family-owned businesses and allow them to grow and create jobs. Upon the bill’s introduction, IFA Chief Advocacy Officer Michael Layman said, “The death tax creates a serious barrier for family-owned franchises, making it harder for them to transition to the next generation. Instead of reinvesting in growth and jobs, families are left scrambling to pay an unfair tax on already-taxed assets.”

IFA Seeks Amendments to Utah Bill

IFA has submitted amendments to Utah HB 441, a bill that would allow government intervention to prohibit franchisors from requiring a franchisee to operate on a day that conflicts with an individual’s religious beliefs.

Zoom in: The bill, introduced and sponsored by Rep. Ken Ivory, has cleared the state House and is expected to pass the Senate this week. IFA has been heavily engaged throughout the process, testifying in opposition in both House and Senate hearings. View IFA's House testimony here and Senate testimony here.

What’s next: Ahead of the legislative adjournment session on Friday, March 7, IFA continues working with Senate sponsor Mike McKell to support our proposed changes.

Connecticut Predictable Scheduling Bill Re-Introduced

In Connecticut, Sen. Martin Looney introduced SB 831, a predictable scheduling bill that impacts employers with 500 or more employees globally and food service establishments with 30 or more locations. 

Our thought bubble: IFA submitted a letter​ of opposition to the Joint Committee and will continue to monitor the bill's progress and engage as necessary. 

What's next: The bill received a hearing in the Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees this week.

Missouri Joint Employer Bill Receives Hearing

Missouri Rep. Matthew Overcast introduced HB 1068, a "good" joint employer bill clarifying that franchisees and their employees are not considered employees of the franchisor. The IFA-backed bill received a hearing in the House Economic Development Committee this week. View IFA's letter of support here. 

Why it matters: The IFA-led legislation effectively codifies the appropriate joint employer standard of "direct and immediate control" into Missouri law. Similar legislation, led by IFA, has become law in 21 other states.

What's next: The House Economic Development Committee is expected to vote on HB 1068 in the coming days. IFA and its members in Missouri will continue to support the bill’s legislative momentum.