What’s on ballots across the country this election season affecting restaurants?

The 2020 election is in full swing, and the restaurant industry is waiting to see what its future will look like. With the Senate adjourning before passing any coronavirus relief package, it’s time to turn to state and local elections to see what’s at stake for the industry further down the ballot.

We already covered the big-ticket views (for our full Presidential coverage click here), but there are dozens of ballot initiatives in 38 states that could pass and affect operators in states from Florida to California.

Here are the ballot initiatives across the country that could be passed on Election Day:

California

Proposition 15: The ballot initiative would amend Proposition 13, which in 1978 required that residential, commercial, and industrial properties be taxed based on their purchase price, with an annual adjustment based on inflation or 2%, whichever was lower. Proposition 15 would require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value.

Proposition 22, or App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policies Initiative (2020): 

Uber, Lyft, and Doordash are sponsoring a ballot initiative that would define app-based drivers as independent contractors and not employees, as well as enact several labor and wage policies, meaning workers won’t need to be paid minimum wage in California. Lobbying efforts from the three companies totaled over $200 million, one of the most expensive lobbying efforts in a state.

While states and cities across the country have attempted to regulate the third-party delivery industry, this is the first time voters will have the chance.

This impacts drivers who work with Uber Eats as well.

The initiative comes in response to a 2019 California law that made it mandatory for these apps to classify their workers as employees and provide health care, minimum wage, paid sick leave and unemployment insurance.

Colorado

Proposition 118: Though several chains and restaurants have enacted family-leave policies, this measure would make it required to meet certain family-leave requirements as a business owner. This is the first ballot initiative to address paid family leave in the country, although eight states and Washington, D.C., have paid family leave in place through legislation.

If the measure passes, it will establish a state-run paid family- and medical-leave program and allow Coloradans up to 12 weeks of paid leave funded by an additional 0.54% tax on paychecks that goes into a statewide pool of money.

Florida

Amendment 2: This initiative calls for a statewide $15 minimum wage by 2026. Should it pass, it would begin by raising the minimum wage to $10 by Sept. 30, 2021 and each Sept. 30 after would see a $1 increase in minimum hourly wages until it reaches $15 on Sept. 30, 2026. After that point, minimum wage would be adjusted annually for inflation starting Sept. 30, 2027.

In addition to these measures, several states across the country have marijuana legalization on the ballot.

When California legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2016, there was a boom in restaurants featuring the ingredient in menu items, and restaurants where smoking outside was legal.

Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, Mississippi and South Dakota all have ballot measures on the topic. The proposals in Arizona, Montana and New Jersey would legalize recreational marijuana. South Dakota will vote on both medical and recreational marijuana 

If these initiatives pass, we may see a rise in cannabis restaurants across the country.

Two territories are taking legalizing recreational drugs a step further: Oregon and Washington D.C. are voting on legalizing magic mushrooms.

Could this be another restaurant trend? We will only know if these initiatives pass on Nov. 3.

Contact Holly at [email protected]

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