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Priorities

While PFMA monitors a multitude of proposed legislation, it focuses on certain priorities at the national and state level.

For a comprehensive list of legislation that PFMA is tracking, please visit the Issues page.

Federal Priorities

PFMA understands credit card swipe fees are near the top of the list of recurring business expenses for food retailers, and because there is no real competition between the two largest processing networks, businesses are powerless to combat rising fees, unfair treatment and a lack of innovation. PFMA is working with national partners to reform the nation’s credit payment processing system to introduce more competition into the marketplace and thereby improve the nation’s payment ecosystem overall.

Working to curb inflation is a priority for PFMA. Efforts at the federal level on this front include promoting domestic energy production, pushing for “breathing room” on cost-drivers such as tax increases, burdensome regulations, and tariffs, and advocating for policies to ease supply chain disruptions and supporting efforts to help customers through food assistance and other programs.

While PFMA is focused on tackling illicit trade at the state and local level, we also support federal work on this issue both on policy reforms and efforts to enforce current law. When possible and appropriate PFMA is committed to assisting national law enforcement on this issue and others including cybersecurity and fraud.

PFMA members rely heavily on a transportation network that is safe, reliable and fast. Complementing our focus on state infrastructure development, we also are prioritizing work to promote good policy at the federal level. Additionally, the association supports efforts to ensure the nation’s fueling market is effective and efficient. This includes a level playing field for all types of vehicle fueling infrastructure, and policies that allow drivers to get where they need to go as seamlessly as possible.

PFMA believes its members should be able to engage in the sale of products on an equal footing with others in the market. As part of a broader focus on regulatory reform, PFMA supports the establishment of federal regulations to provide clarity for retailers and consumers for the production, distribution and sale of hemp-derived products in the United States.

PFMA is prioritizing advocacy on federal labor issues including overtime, employee non-competes, OSHA walkarounds, and joint employer standards. In addition, the association believes its members are best equipped to make decisions regarding policies such as compensation, paid and unpaid leave for their employees.

Despite progress at the state level, fundamental reform of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) is required at the federal level. Anticompetitive practices by PBMs are driving grocery pharmacies out of business and items like Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) reform, a ban on spread pricing, and increased PBM oversight and transparency measures are critical to prevent this vital source of healthcare access from continuing to diminish.

PFMA recognizes the importance of focusing advocacy on this issue toward Congress, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, and the Farm Bill. In addition to safeguarding funding for programs like SNAP, priorities for the association include protecting consumer choice, advocating for practical stocking requirements, and making sure programs do not stagnate by consistently improving and adding enhancements like online access.

PFMA opposes policies that drive sales of tobacco and nicotine products underground to illegal, unsafe black markets, exacerbating crime and public health challenges rather than easing them. Examples include an outright ban on all vapor/e-cigarette products and flavors, and proposed revisions to tobacco product standards for nicotine. Instead, the association supports regulating and restricting the sale of the products to those over 21 years of age.

Payment Processing Reform

PFMA understands credit card swipe fees are near the top of the list of recurring business expenses for food retailers, and because there is no real competition between the two largest processing networks, businesses are powerless to combat rising fees, unfair treatment and a lack of innovation. PFMA is working with national partners to reform the nation’s credit payment processing system to introduce more competition into the marketplace and thereby improve the nation’s payment ecosystem overall.

Inflation

Working to curb inflation is a priority for PFMA. Efforts at the federal level on this front include promoting domestic energy production, pushing for “breathing room” on cost-drivers such as tax increases, burdensome regulations, and tariffs, and advocating for policies to ease supply chain disruptions and supporting efforts to help customers through food assistance and other programs.

Illicit Trade / Organized Retail Crime

While PFMA is focused on tackling illicit trade at the state and local level, we also support federal work on this issue both on policy reforms and efforts to enforce current law. When possible and appropriate PFMA is committed to assisting national law enforcement on this issue and others including cybersecurity and fraud.

Transportation and Infrastructure

PFMA members rely heavily on a transportation network that is safe, reliable and fast. Complementing our focus on state infrastructure development, we also are prioritizing work to promote good policy at the federal level. Additionally, the association supports efforts to ensure the nation’s fueling market is effective and efficient. This includes a level playing field for all types of vehicle fueling infrastructure, and policies that allow drivers to get where they need to go as seamlessly as possible.

Fair and Safe Marketplaces

PFMA believes its members should be able to engage in the sale of products on an equal footing with others in the market. As part of a broader focus on regulatory reform, PFMA supports the establishment of federal regulations to provide clarity for retailers and consumers for the production, distribution and sale of hemp-derived products in the United States.

Labor/Workforce Issues

PFMA is prioritizing advocacy on federal labor issues including overtime, employee non-competes, OSHA walkarounds, and joint employer standards. In addition, the association believes its members are best equipped to make decisions regarding policies such as compensation, paid and unpaid leave for their employees.

Pharmacy Reform

Despite progress at the state level, fundamental reform of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) is required at the federal level. Anticompetitive practices by PBMs are driving grocery pharmacies out of business and items like Direct and Indirect Remuneration (DIR) reform, a ban on spread pricing, and increased PBM oversight and transparency measures are critical to prevent this vital source of healthcare access from continuing to diminish.

Food and Nutrition Support

PFMA recognizes the importance of focusing advocacy on this issue toward Congress, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, and the Farm Bill. In addition to safeguarding funding for programs like SNAP, priorities for the association include protecting consumer choice, advocating for practical stocking requirements, and making sure programs do not stagnate by consistently improving and adding enhancements like online access.

Tobacco Policy

PFMA opposes policies that drive sales of tobacco and nicotine products underground to illegal, unsafe black markets, exacerbating crime and public health challenges rather than easing them. Examples include an outright ban on all vapor/e-cigarette products and flavors, and proposed revisions to tobacco product standards for nicotine. Instead, the association supports regulating and restricting the sale of the products to those over 21 years of age.

State 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. Last session Rep. Greg Scott (D-Montgomery) 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. This session Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester) and Sen. Kristen Phillips-Hill (R-York) are spearheading this issue. In the House legislation has been introduced as HB 315, and in the Senate as SB 473.

PFMA believes its members should be able to engage in the sale of products on an equal footing with others in the market. Equally, customers should be able to trust that the products they choose to buy from retailers, including PFMA members, are genuine, secure, and comply with relevant laws and regulations.

  • 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 for competitors, as well as highlighting the need for regulatory frameworks governing the safe sale of marijuana and related products such as Delta-8.

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. Amid federal changes, ensuring the state maintains its commitment to providing robust financial and administrative support for SNAP and WIC is a key priority.

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

  • Register legislation – Introduced as SB 765 by 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 – Introduced as HB 1451 Rep. Marci Mustello (R-Butler), would authorize beer and wine delivery from local licensees by a WEP holder or licensed third-party facilitator.

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.

Retail crime and illicit trade remain a key concern for PFMA member businesses.

  • The association is working to secure continued levels of funding for the state Office of Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit.
  • 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.

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.

Ensuring Recently Passed Priority Legislation is Implemented Effectively

  • Language in the 2025-26 state budget requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to conduct a study of the state’s SNAP distribution schedule, the timeline along which benefits are sent to recipients each month. Long a pain point for participating retailers, Pennsylvania is the only state that structures its distribution schedule on a county-by-county basis. Importantly, the language prescribes a funding mechanism for adopting necessary changes to the state’s distribution schedule. PFMA will continue to emphasize the need for improvements to the current system.
  • Implementation of a statewide program to incentivize the purchase of healthy food by SNAP recipients included in the 2025-26 state budget.
  • 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.
  • To control the proliferation of dangerous and illicit products, PFMA supported the creation of a list of approved Electronic Nicotine Delivery System products allowed for sale in Pennsylvania. Legislation establishing such a directory was passed into law in late 2025 and the association will monitor implementation of this policy closely.

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.

Taxation

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. Last session Rep. Greg Scott (D-Montgomery) 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. This session Rep. Paul Friel (D-Chester) and Sen. Kristen Phillips-Hill (R-York) are spearheading this issue. In the House legislation has been introduced as HB 315, and in the Senate as SB 473.

Fair and Safe Marketplaces

PFMA believes its members should be able to engage in the sale of products on an equal footing with others in the market. Equally, customers should be able to trust that the products they choose to buy from retailers, including PFMA members, are genuine, secure, and comply with relevant laws and regulations.

  • 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 for competitors, as well as highlighting the need for regulatory frameworks governing the safe sale of marijuana and related products such as Delta-8.

Food Assistance

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. Amid federal changes, ensuring the state maintains its commitment to providing robust financial and administrative support for SNAP and WIC is a key priority.

Alcohol Policy

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

  • Register legislation – Introduced as SB 765 by 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 – Introduced as HB 1451 Rep. Marci Mustello (R-Butler), would authorize beer and wine delivery from local licensees by a WEP holder or licensed third-party facilitator.

Transportation and Infrastructure

 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.

Illicit Trade / Organized Retail Crime

Retail crime and illicit trade remain a key concern for PFMA member businesses.

  • The association is working to secure continued levels of funding for the state Office of Attorney General’s Organized Retail Crime Unit.
  • 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.

Workforce Development / Job Creation

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.

Regulatory Reform

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.

Ensuring Recently Passed Priority Legislation is Implemented Effectively

  • Language in the 2025-26 state budget requires the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to conduct a study of the state’s SNAP distribution schedule, the timeline along which benefits are sent to recipients each month. Long a pain point for participating retailers, Pennsylvania is the only state that structures its distribution schedule on a county-by-county basis. Importantly, the language prescribes a funding mechanism for adopting necessary changes to the state’s distribution schedule. PFMA will continue to emphasize the need for improvements to the current system.
  • Implementation of a statewide program to incentivize the purchase of healthy food by SNAP recipients included in the 2025-26 state budget.
  • 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.
  • To control the proliferation of dangerous and illicit products, PFMA supported the creation of a list of approved Electronic Nicotine Delivery System products allowed for sale in Pennsylvania. Legislation establishing such a directory was passed into law in late 2025 and the association will monitor implementation of this policy closely.

Industry Opportunities

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.

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