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Legislative Notes
HELP IS ON THE WAY
BY SCOTT STENGER, STENGER GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
At the Federal Level
President Joe Biden recently signed the American Rescue Plan, which includes important provisions to benefit independently-owned taverns and restaurants that were negatively impacted by the pandemic.
Included in the $1.9 trillion bill is $28.6 billion allocated to finance a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) to help businesses in the food services sector. The new law allows for grants equal to the pandemic-related revenue loss of the eligible entity, up to $10 million per entity or $5 million per physical location. The grants are calculated by subtracting 2020 revenue from 2019 revenue. Entities are limited to 20 locations. The grant funds may be used to pay for, among other items, payroll, mortgage and rent, maintenance, operational expenses and utilities.
For details on how to apply, visit tlw.org or sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund.
At the State Level
On the state level, Gov. Tony Evers unveiled a plan to assist small, independent businesses. Wisconsin received $3.2 billion in federal funding under the American Rescue Plan.
The $2.5 billion investment includes $50 million for the tourism industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, and $600 million to help support small businesses, building on the successful We’re All In Small Business Grant Program, which has helped nearly 53,000 businesses so far throughout the pandemic. In addition to these investments to ensure Wisconsin’s economic recovery, the governor is also proposing a $200 million investment in infrastructure, a significant portion of which will go toward expanding broadband access.
Steffen (R-Green Bay) and Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma). The new law permits taverns, restaurants and supper clubs to sell cocktails to go in tamper-evident, sealed containers. Wisconsin joins 33 states that permit the sale of cocktails to go. For an industry that has seen a 40% decrease in revenues over the last year, passage of Assembly Bill 32 represents some much-needed good news. More must be done to help the struggling hospitality industry, but the passage of cocktails to go is a good start.
Assembly Bill 32 allows “Class B” licensees the ability to sell intoxicating liquor in to-go containers for consumption off premise. Again, the drinks must be in a container with a tamper-evident seal. Under current law, licensees are allowed to sell beer, as well as liquor, to go in their original, unopened containers. The new law, which took effect March 28, simply allows “Class B” licensees to sell their customers mixed drinks to go. It continues to be illegal to consume alcoholic drinks in a vehicle. TLW
Governor Signs Cocktails to Go Bill
