DES MOINES, IOWA (January 13, 2023) — The Iowa Restaurant Association, which advocates with the state legislature and state agencies on behalf of Iowa’s 6,000+ restaurants and bars, has announced the group’s 2023 legislative priorities. The Association will collaborate on several issues with other industries seeking to address workforce shortages, as well as ways to alleviate a portion of credit card fees charged to businesses that collect state sales tax.
The Association’s 2023 priorities include:
Support updates to youth employment laws including expanded eligible work hours and extension of “school license” driving privileges to include a “work license” privileges for those under age sixteen.
Support creation of a “vendor discount” to help alleviate the cost of credit card fees on sales tax. Twenty-seven states currently provide a means for vendors to recover a portion of the cost to process credit cards on sales tax.
Support for legislative establishment of “rules of engagement” for music-licensing companies, as well as state agencies who conduct compliance checks for businesses.
Support modification of liquor-license privileges for those who sell and serve alcohol on their premises to allow for direct purchase and delivery of liquor from the state, as long as minimum-order quantities are met. This would align the sale of spirits to the hospitality industry with Iowa’s three-tier alcohol distribution system.
Proactively engage in all efforts to reform property, corporate, and other tax structures to ensure the hospitality-industry tax burden is decreased, not increased.
In making the announcement, Iowa Restaurant Association President and CEO Jessica Dunker said, “Many of our issues legislative priorities are shared with other types of businesses. We intend to make sure that the voice and interests of the hospitality industry, which is the state’s second-highest sector employer, are heard and understood, when lawmakers are considering legislation.”
About the Iowa Restaurant Association
The Iowa Restaurant Association promotes, protects, educates, and advocates on behalf of Iowa’s 6,000+ restaurants and bars. Formed in 1933, it is one of the state’s longest-standing professional-trade associations.
