Priorities

PFMA will continue to push for improvements to Pennsylvania’s business climate. PFMA’s role cuts both ways on this issue, working to promote tax law that encourages growth and expansion while also educating lawmakers on the drawbacks and risks of tax policies we believe are misguided.

• PFMA supports legislation to exempt sales tax from being subject to credit card interchange fees. Rep. Greg Scott (D-Montgomery) has introduced HB 2394 on this issue.
• PFMA supports proposals to expand the current cap on the Sales and Use Tax Vendor Discount, which offers a small reduction in the amount of taxes owed by businesses that collect and remit sales tax to the state in a timely manner. Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester) and Sen. Kristen Phillips-Hill (R-York) have introduced legislation on this issue as HB 2278 and SB 1225 respectively.

PFMA supports efforts to reform and streamline regulations at the state level. Pennsylvania’s food supply chain works best when the regulatory landscape makes sense and is easy to navigate. While advocating for improvements to liquor, gaming, labor, food safety, environmental and labor regulations, among others, PFMA also will push back on regulatory changes that do not serve the best interests of the food industry.

• As lawmakers contemplate the regulation of games of skill, PFMA’s priority in this context is ensuring member businesses have the opportunity to participate on a level playing field if they choose to enter the marketplace.
• With the possibility of legalizing recreational cannabis, the association is also prioritizing a level playing field and opportunity for participation for its members and for all competitors, as well as highlighting the need for regulatory frameworks governing the safe sale of marijuana and related products such as Delta-8.

PFMA members rely heavily on a transportation network that is safe, reliable and fast. The association is focused on ensuring PennDOT, PEMA and other state partners understand this and are making the appropriate investments to ensure a consistently dependable system of roads, bridges, rail lines and ports. We are intent on making sure the business community, particularly the food industry, is not unfairly targeted as a means to pay for needed investments, through tolling or similar means.

• The association is focused on the development of the state’s EV charging network and ensuring that the private retail/fuel sector plays a strong role in the final product.

PFMA strongly believes in the value of food assistance and is heavily involved in both the state’s SNAP and WIC programs, representing the industry on key committees and work groups and maintaining an open line of communication between federal and state agencies and member businesses. Ensuring a smooth transition to online WIC is a key priority for the association in 2024, as are the following pieces of legislation:

• SB 244/HB 2095, bills by Sen. Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) and Rep. Dave Madsen (D-Dauphin) respectively, that would streamline the state’s SNAP distribution schedule.
• HB 2357, by Rep. Eddie Pashinski (D-Luzerne), would establish a statewide program to incentivize the purchase of healthy food by SNAP recipients.
• HB 2286, bipartisan legislation by Representatives Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia) and David Rowe (R-Snyder), would strengthen immunity language for donating food past that is safe to consume but past its recommended date label.

PFMA is prioritizing the following bills that would improve the alcohol sales landscape for our members:

• Register legislation – SB 117 – Sen. Judy Ward (R-Blair) would allow restaurant licensees with a wine expanded permit the ability to sell wine and beer at any register, require ID card readers at these registers, and permit a sales clerk under 18 to operate these registers except when alcohol would be purchased. If alcohol is to be purchased, an employee 18 or over would then operate the register. In addition, the bill allows customers to access beer and wine within the main store area.
• Delivery legislation – HB 41 – Rep. Marci Mustello (R-Butler) would authorize beer and wine delivery from local licensees by a WEP holder or licensed third-party facilitator.

Retail crime and illicit trade remain a key concern for PFMA member businesses. Following the successful passage of a state-level INFORM Act in 2022 and organized retail crime legislation in 2023, PFMA is closely monitoring the impacts of these policies to determine their efficacy and the possible need for further changes or refinements to Pennsylvania law. PFMA also understands the serious nature of cybersecurity, data privacy, fraud and other hazards of doing business in the 21st century and is committed to ensuring the industry has input in the development of policies dealing with these issues.

Hiring and retaining workers has been an enormous challenge for PFMA members in recent years. Businesses in the food industry straddle a variety of staffing disciplines, including front-facing retail employees, back office administrative and logistics staff, warehouse workers and truck drivers, each featuring its own unique hiring guidelines and requirements. PFMA believes minimizing obstacles and giving businesses the agility to keep up with a constantly evolving talent pool is crucial both for a healthy industry and a healthy labor force. The association also supports efforts to ensure opportunities for citizens returning to the workforce.

Including those specified above, PFMA maintains a portfolio of key issues that represent opportunities for food wholesalers, retailers, suppliers and others in the industry to grow and thrive. PFMA staff are in routine communication with members of the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office, acting as the voice of the industry to advance these opportunities through legislation and policy.