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ADVOCACY - Central to the LRA MissionThe LRA advocates on the industry’s behalf at all levels of government. They work tirelessly to keep our elected officials focused on the facts. COVID-19 remains a crisis for our industry, and the road to recovery requires continued support.
In addition to supporting the advocacy efforts of the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the LRA works directly with Louisiana’s U.S. Senators and Representatives on federal legislation, with the goal of securing meaningful financial relief for restaurants, hotels and bars impacted by the pandemic. We invite you to join us at Restaurants Act, the restaurant industry’s grassroots and resource center– a one-stop hub for restaurants, employees, customers, and industry partners. During the COVID-19 crisis and beyond, we hope this site will become a go-to resource for the entire industry, providing a comprehensive look at information and resources at the federal, state, and local levels. 
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Key Federal Accomplishments:
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): The LRA partnered with the NRA in the early days of the pandemic to advocate for industry relief on a federal level. Once the PPP was rolled out, the LRA pushed for an extension of the program timeline and a shift in the eligible forgivable expenditures, allowing restaurants to use their loans to cover more overhead costs. We partnered with the NRA once again to secure a second round of loans, and advocated to include non-profit organizations in the funding (including the LRA).
Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Expansion: We expanded eligibility for this important tax credit so PPP recipients could also benefit, and we fought to increase the ERTC amount to $19,000 per employee.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF): After a year of working closely with the NRA and other industry partners, we helped secure this significant, industry-specific source of grant funding.
Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Expansion: We expanded eligibility for this important tax credit so PPP recipients could also benefit, and we fought to increase the ERTC amount to $19,000 per employee.
Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF): After a year of working closely with the NRA and other industry partners, we helped secure this significant, industry-specific source of grant funding.
Key State Accomplishments:
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The 2021 Louisiana Legislative Session ended June 10 with the passage of several bills of significance to our industry. Led by the LRA President and CEO Stan Harris, the LRA Advocacy Team worked diligently right up until the 6 p.m. deadline on the last day, to ensure that these items remained in a posture for passage this session.
We sincerely thank each member of the House and Senate, especially those we consider our "Hospitality Heroes," who authored and aided in the passage of legislation to support restaurants, bars and hotels. Read about them and the legislation here. |
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Tourism Recovery Legislation:
Of the $1.2 Billion American Rescue Plan funds allocated to Louisiana, $77 million was dedicated to tourism promotion, marketing and sales funding. This will be used to support local tourism economies through Convention and Visitors Bureaus (CVB) across the state, helping restaurants, hotels, venues, and attractions gain future business, group and leisure travelers. Sales Tax Legislation:
Did you know that businesses operating in multiple parishes have to remit sales & use tax to each individual municipality? House Speaker Schexnayder authored House Bill 199 which will bring the opportunity to streamline this process to a vote of the people. Louisiana and Oregon are the only states that continue to collect sales & use tax this way. |
Alcohol Legislation:
Can you imagine owning or operating a hotel and learning that in Louisiana, there is no permit specific to serving alcohol through room service, the restaurant, bar or banquets? Senate Bill 76 by Sen. Kirk Talbot defined the licensing for hotels in Title 26 regulations. 
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Advocacy During a Pandemic:
During the pandemic the LRA Advocacy Team worked successfully through a Legislative Session that was irregular in every way imaginable. There were also two special sessions in 2020, which were in large part guided by the work of the Louisiana Legislative Task Force, of which LRA CEO Stan Harris was a member. In preparation of the two special sessions, one in which the Main Street Grant Program to support Louisiana’s small businesses was born, the LRA worked with its members to testify before the Task Force on how the legislative process could better support the industry.
During the pandemic the LRA Advocacy Team worked successfully through a Legislative Session that was irregular in every way imaginable. There were also two special sessions in 2020, which were in large part guided by the work of the Louisiana Legislative Task Force, of which LRA CEO Stan Harris was a member. In preparation of the two special sessions, one in which the Main Street Grant Program to support Louisiana’s small businesses was born, the LRA worked with its members to testify before the Task Force on how the legislative process could better support the industry.
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COVID-19 Business Liability Protections:
Senate Bill 508, by Senator Patrick McMath and Representative Rick Edmonds, was signed into law as Act 305. This law provides a restaurant owner or operator protection from a guest alleging they contracted COVID-19 by using this business. It does not contain any protection for an employer from an employee claim that may be subject to workers’ comp. Its term aligns with the first through any further executive orders specific to COVID-19. Louisiana was one of the first states in the nation to pass legislation to provide liability protection for restaurants. |
House Bill 826, by Representative Thomas Pressly, was signed into law as Act 336. This provides additional liability protection and additionally indemnifies businesses, government agencies, trade show organizers and event planners for civil damages for injuries or death from COVID-19 unless they can prove the high legal standard of “gross negligence or willful misconduct.” The state has indicated that adhering to OpenSafelyla.gov guidelines complies. |
Local Advocacy
The LRA Advocacy Team extends its reach to local issues impacting restaurants. As the pandemic evolved, we witnessed the public health emergency turn the decision making reins over to local municipalities to set their policies and protocols. As city and parish councils began to introduce ordinances that impacted restaurants, the LRA activated its members encouraging them to contact their councilmembers to explain how an ordinance would impact their operations.
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Kitchen Cabinet New Orleans
The LRA has supported the Restaurant Advocacy Fund (RAF) for many years, recognizing it as the main source of funding to promote and defend our industry at the state and local levels. Throughout the pandemic, advocacy at the local level, particularly in the New Orleans (a major tourism hub), resulted in the LRA being awarded an RAF grant allowing us to expand upon our reach and messaging. With COVID-19 still top of mind for the city’s leadership, this funding will aid in our efforts to address the myriad of issues that continue to emerge as the city looks toward recovery. |
Hospitality PAC
Government decisions impact every aspect of the restaurant industry, including our bottom line. Legislation affects the ways meals are prepared, served, paid for and enjoyed. Sound public policy begins with the LRA's Hospitality Political Action Committee (PAC)—the industry’s leading trade association PAC.
Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations dedicated to raising and spending money to support or defeat political candidates. In the political world, strength in numbers is particularly important.
The most effective way you can make a difference is to contribute to the LRA’s Hospitality PAC. When you join the LRA or renew your LRA membership, you can easily contribute to the PAC. The benefit of contributing to the LRA Hospitality PAC is that your contributions are pooled with others who share the same goal of protecting, promoting and defending the restaurant industry, making a stronger impact than individual efforts.
The Hospitality PAC is bipartisan and candidates are interviewed and evaluated on their support of pro-restaurant, pro-business and pro-free enterprise issues. Supporting the Hospitality PAC is an investment in the future of our industry, as well as your bottom line.
Political Action Committees (PACs) are organizations dedicated to raising and spending money to support or defeat political candidates. In the political world, strength in numbers is particularly important.
The most effective way you can make a difference is to contribute to the LRA’s Hospitality PAC. When you join the LRA or renew your LRA membership, you can easily contribute to the PAC. The benefit of contributing to the LRA Hospitality PAC is that your contributions are pooled with others who share the same goal of protecting, promoting and defending the restaurant industry, making a stronger impact than individual efforts.
The Hospitality PAC is bipartisan and candidates are interviewed and evaluated on their support of pro-restaurant, pro-business and pro-free enterprise issues. Supporting the Hospitality PAC is an investment in the future of our industry, as well as your bottom line.
