The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released the following statement after the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (S. 567), the most anti-franchise, anti-small business piece of legislation in Congress, on party lines. Instead, IFA urged support for the Save Local Business Act and the Protections for Socially Good Activities Act, which were offered as amendments today and would protect franchises from unworkable joint liability standards.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) last week submitted comments to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Request for Information on the franchisor-franchisee relationship. Hundreds of franchisors, franchisees, suppliers, and the business community at large echoed the need to protect franchising and avoid a one-size-fits-all regulation that will harm the entire business model.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today submitted comments in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Request for Information (RFI) on franchise agreements and franchisor business practices. IFA stresses how franchising covers hundreds of lines of business and why the franchise relationship works as it is designed, while also suggesting workable updates to the Franchise Rule. IFA’s comments were echoed by franchise brands, franchisees and suppliers across industries.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released the following statement after Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su’s appearance before the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce on the Department’s FY2024 budget request. The hearing comes as Su’s nomination to serve as Secretary of Labor is pending in the U.S. Senate.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released the following statement after the California Assembly passed AB 1228, the Fast-Food Franchisor Responsibility Act, legislation that would establish joint liability between California quick-service franchise brands and their independent franchisees with 100 or more locations nationwide.

Earlier today, the International Franchise Association (IFA), alongside Danny Seiden with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Kim Sabow with the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association, Tony Bradley with Arizona Trucking Association, and Chad Heinrich with the Arizona National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), hosted a virtual discussion with members of the Arizona and Washington, DC press to discuss the grave concerns the Arizona business community has with the nomination of Julie Su to lead the U.S. Department of Labor.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released the following statement after the New Jersey Assembly passed A-1958, legislation that would damage hospitality franchises in the state. A-1958 would insert the state government into private franchise contracts, promote litigation, and diminish brand standards – the foundation of the franchise model.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today applauded the introduction of the Save Local Business Act, legislation that will clarify the joint employer standard and protect the independence of local franchise businesses, introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rep. James Comer (R-KY).

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to reject a “blanket ban on noncompete clauses in franchise agreements,” highlighting that an across-the-board ban would harm franchisors and franchisees, damaging the franchise business model. The comments are in response to the Commission’s recent Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for its proposed “Noncompete Clause Rule.”

The International Franchise Association (IFA) today released the following statement on Julie Su’s confirmation hearing to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Su was questioned on her history of bias toward franchising, her stance on the joint employer relationship, and her lack of experience: