PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Fall 2021

20 • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Fall 2021 LEGISLATIVE CORNER STATE LOCAL FEDERAL State Items COVID-19 RECOVERY PRIORITIES After the Legislature adjourned in June without addressing several of PRLA’s critical recovery priorities, namely streamlining expanded premise for outdoor seating, updating several catering permit issues, and making cocktails-to-go permanent, the PRLA took the summer to strategize our next steps. PRLA members spent the summer discussing this and other topics with members of the General Assembly at Chapter Legislator Roundtable events and other meetings. When the Senate reconvened in the fall, it became quickly apparent that there still was strong opposition to provisions in our primary bill, HB 1154, specifically allowing licensees to sell cocktails-to-go but not canned, ready-to-drink cocktails. PRLA continued conversations with senate leadership to get something done on behalf of the industry. The result was to move HB 425 (Dowling), which addressed everything in HB 1154 except for cocktails-to-go, and extended the sunset deadline by three years for two provisions. HOUSE BILL 425 SIGNED AS ACT 81 The Senate and House both unanimously passed HB 425 in their respective chambers, and Gov. Wolf signed it into law on November 5, 2021. Now known as Act 81 of 2021, the provisions in the bill take effect immediately and address the following items: • Outdoor Seating (expires Dec. 31, 2024) » Streamlines extension of premise, which means licensees no longer need to wait for approval to extend or change their outdoor seating areas. » The outdoor seating area can be extended to anywhere within 1,000 feet of the currently licensed premise. » There is no cost to extend the premise. • Off-premise catering permits (expires Dec. 31, 2024) » Eliminates the $500 permit fee (likely to start in 2022). » Eliminates the need to file for the permit before March 1. » Eliminates the five-hour limit on events. » Eliminates the 52 event per year cap. • Other Provisions » A licensee that permanently closes can sell their unused wine and spirits to another licensee. This provision does not expire. » A license that was placed in safekeeping during the COVID-19 disaster declaration may stay in safekeeping for an additional year at no cost. NOVEMBER 2021 ELECTION RESULTS Republicans in Pennsylvania saw success in voters’ choices this November to fill open seats on statewide appeals courts, including a vacancy on the state Supreme Court. However, these wins do not change the Democrats’ majority on the state’s high court. In Pittsburgh, Democrat Ed Gainey became the first Black mayor of Pennsylvania’s second-most populous city. Gainey is reported to have tapped his former colleague state Rep. Jake Wheatley to become his deputy mayor. Wheatley is expected to resign from the Pa. House of Representatives to take the position. Harrisburg will have a new mayor, too, when Democrat Wanda Williams declared victory of incumbent Eric Papenfuse. Democrats also won two special elections for open seats in Democratic-leaning districts in the state House of Representatives.