NDHA National Restaurant Association

Senate Passes Common Cents Act: Cash Rounding Protections Head to the President

(Past member) — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 16:34:58 GMT

NDHA is sharing the following update from the National Restaurant Association.

The U.S. Senate has unanimously passed the Common Cents Act, legislation the National Restaurant Association played a key role in developing and advancing. The bill allows businesses to round cash transactions with customers to the nearest nickel when pennies are unavailable. It also protects businesses that follow the new rounding standard from nuisance lawsuits under federal, state, and local laws.

With final passage in both chambers of Congress, the Common Cents Act now heads to the White House for the President's signature before becoming law.

We thank Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI) and Robert Garcia (D-CA) and Sens. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) for their bipartisan leadership in championing the Common Cents Act and helping deliver this win for restaurants.

Two weeks ago, we asked restaurant advocates to speak up and urge the Senate to get this done. You answered the call.

The demise of the penny may not have been on our bingo card, but this victory is another reminder that even seemingly small policy changes can have real consequences for restaurants, and that our industry's voice matters when Congress is making those decisions.

Have questions about what this means for your business? Review the [Common Cents Act FAQ] on cash rounding and the new liability protections.

Thank you for making your voice heard and helping deliver a commonsense solution for restaurants.

Sean Kennedy, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Restaurant Association

Restaurant Industry Added Nearly 60,000 Jobs in August

(Past member) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:27:00 GMT

Eating and drinking places added a net 59,200 jobs in August, the largest single-month gain since January 2023, following job losses in both June and July. Restaurant employment is now running about 1.2% above pre-pandemic levels overall, though the recovery remains uneven: fullservice restaurants are still roughly 203,000 jobs below pre-pandemic levels despite recent stronger growth, while limited-service segments like quickservice and coffee shops are well above their pre-pandemic numbers. Growth also varies widely by state, with restaurant employment still below pre-pandemic levels in 16 states plus D.C., led by Vermont and D.C., while mountain states like Utah, Nevada, and Idaho have seen the strongest gains. Read more at restaurant.org.

New NRA Guide Helps Restaurants Prepare for Public Safety Incidents

(Past member) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 17:03:00 GMT

Restaurants are welcoming places, but operators, employees, and guests can face public safety challenges with little warning, from altercations and break-ins to robberies, assaults, and active threats. The National Restaurant Association's new Always Ready: Public Safety guide offers practical guidance to help restaurants reduce risk, prepare employees, respond with confidence, and recover safely after an incident, drawing on best practices from the FBI, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Association's ServSafe training program, and industry security experts. The guide covers preparing before an incident by identifying vulnerabilities, strengthening facility security, and training employees, responding in the moment with clear emergency protocols that prioritize life safety and coordination with first responders, and recovering after an event by supporting employees and guests, documenting what happened, communicating carefully, and restoring operations safely. No business can eliminate every threat, but planning, training, and clear procedures can help restaurants make safer decisions when seconds matter. Read more at restaurant.org.