IFA STATEMENT ON THE DEFEAT OF THE “PROTECT ALABAMA SMALL BUSINESS ACT”
(MONTGOMERY, ALA., JUNE 5) – The International Franchise Association (IFA) today applauded the Alabama House of Representatives for its opposition to the so-called “Protect Alabama Small Business Act” (H.B. 352/S.B.129) in the Alabama Legislature.
The legislation sought to codify franchise contracts into Alabama state law, which would increase regulation on small business owners, reduce franchisee equity, and damage brand standards and public safety.
“The ‘Protect Alabama Small Business Act’ was the most harmful franchise-related legislation ever proposed in any state,” said IFA Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Matt Haller. “Its defeat is a sign that Alabama remains open for business. IFA and Alabama’s 12,000 franchise businesses thank the Alabama House of Representatives for their opposition to this bill.”
An analysis by market research firm FRANdata estimates that this legislation would have prevented more than 1,100 franchise units from opening and 12,000 jobs from being filled. Their analysis also showed that Alabama franchise growth to lag behind neighboring states while costing the state’s economy nearly $1 billion.
In addition to opposition from numerous Alabama franchise owners – many of whom testified about how the bill would harm their business – more than 80 franchise brands, including Hilton, Chicken Salad Chick, The UPS Store, and McDonald’s opposed the bill.
For more information, please visit www.protectalabamabusiness.org.
Celebrating 59 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.