THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024

IRA Attended NRA Public Affairs Conference 2024

Thank you to everyone who attended the NRA Public Affairs Conference this week! It was a great success. We met with representatives from all over Illinois, including Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10).

Two members of the Illinois delegation, Former IRA Chairman Kevin Vaughan and IRA Board Member Dan Raskin, spoke at a press conference with Senator Dick Durbin on credit card swipe fees. Read more about the press conference here.

Issues that the IRA/NRA advocated for include:

• Lowering swipe fees by promoting the Credit Card Competition Act
• Protecting the tip credit
• Stopping the FTC's ban on restaurant surcharges

Immigration has also been an important topic for the NRA. Former IRA Chairman and Current NRA Board Member Sam Sanchez was featured in a New York Times article on the push to provide work permits for long-term undocumented immigrants. Read the article "New migrants get work permits. Other undocumented immigrants want them, too" here.

Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board & Niles Mayor Express Opposition to HB5345

Opposition to House Bill 5345, the bill to eliminate the tip credit statewide on January 1, 2025, continues to grow. Both the Chicago Sun-Times Editorial Board and Mayor George D. Alpogianis of Niles penned editorials against the proposed bill. Read them below:

• CST Editorial Board (4.7.24): "Take a wait-and-see approach before eliminating subminimum wage for tipped workers in Illinois"
• Mayor George D. Alpogianis (4.9.24): "Getting rid of tipped wages in Illinois would be the final blow to many restaurants"

Protect Illinois Hospitality showed in full force for testimony at the state capitol, but we still need your help! Please take the following steps to conti+nue the fight:

1. Keep the pressure on your own representatives. Click here to fill out a call to action that goes directly to them.
2. Post about it on social media. Check out some sample posts and images here.

Illinois Senate Approves Change to BIPA

Last Thursday, the Illinois Senate advanced the first significant change to the Illinois' Biometric Privacy Act (BIPA) since 2008. The legislation now says that the initial collection of biometric data, such as a fingerprint, counts as one violation instead of considering each individual scan a violation.

Click here to read the article from Capitol News Illinois.

Survey: IL Restaurant Employees Oppose Eliminating Tip Credit

A recent survey of tipped restaurant employees in Illinois found that a strong majority agree that the current tipping system works well for them and should not be changed. The survey of Illinois servers, bartenders, and other tipped staff was conducted in February 2024 after state lawmakers introduced legislation to eliminate the tip credit.

Click here to read the survey's press release and click here to read the full survey.

Update on Illinois Fee Disclosure Bills

Last month, committees in the the Illinois House and Senate passed bills that would make it unlawful to: (1) offer, display, or advertise an amount a consumer may pay for merchandise without clearly and conspicuously disclosing the total price; (2) fail, in any offer, display, or advertisement that contains an amount a consumer may pay, to display the total price more prominently than any other pricing information; (3) misrepresent the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged; or (4) fail to disclose clearly and conspicuously before the consumer consents to pay, the nature and purpose of any amount a consumer may pay that is excluded from the total price, including the ability to refund the fees and the identity of any merchandise for which fees are charged.

The IRA is currently involved in conversations regarding these bills, and we will continue sharing updates.



Click here to read the House bill.

Click here to read the Senate bill.

Registration Open for Meet the Experts on May 15^th at Tree House Chicago

Meet the Experts 2024 will be May 15 from 5-8pm at Tree House Chicago, 149 W. Kinzie St. Thank you to our sponsors Cook County Small Business Source, GFS, Taft Law, and Tree House Chicago.

Expert sign-ups are now open! Click here to register.

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please reach out to Christine DeSousa.

Register for the National Restaurant Association Show

We’re eagerly anticipating your presence at the 2024 Show, where an extraordinary lineup awaits. Picture it—a sold-out Show floor bustling with exhibitors, a dynamite keynote discussion with José Andrés, a surprise Photo Moment in the Grand Concourse, exciting programming, inspiring demos, and so much more.

But to be a part of it, you need to register! Operators get a free ticket with a current IRA membership. Please email Christine DeSousa for your comp code.

Webinar: Introducing Your Business into the Airport Marketplace

Join the Illinois Restaurant Association, Chicago Hospitality Partners, the Women’s Business Development Center, and the Cook County Small Business Source to learn more about how to get your business into the airport space. Hear from experts in the field about navigating the bidding process, licensing, joint ventures, ACDBE certification, and more.

Date: Thursday, April 25, 2024

Time: 10:00AM CT

**Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español.**

**此网络研讨会有中英双语放送选项**

Register here.

Empower Your Small Business with an Advantage Illinois Loan

Discover a pathway to empowerment with an Advantage Illinois loan. This inclusive and accessible loan program provides a stepping stone for those seeking financing, flexible eligibility requirements and low interest rates for low to moderate income individuals.

Click here to learn more.

IRA New Member Spotlight

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS