Deasy: Legislation to provide restaurants relief passes House

Bill includes initiatives on outdoor dining, licenses in safekeeping and off-site catering

HARRISBURG, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Dan Deasy, D-Allegheny, applauded the passage of legislation today that would provide relief measures to help the restaurant industry in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deasy, the Democratic chair of the House Liquor Control Committee, said the Senate amended H.B. 425 to include language from his proposed legislation to remove barriers to outdoor dining. The legislation also included initiatives authored by state Rep. Anita Kulik, D-Allegheny, to relax some requirements for safekeeping liquor licenses and by state Rep. Napoleon Nelson, D-Montgomery, expanding off-site catering permits.

“Restaurants have been doing everything in their power to stay afloat as this pandemic persists,” Deasy said. “This bill would provide much-needed assistance to these business owners by giving them flexibility in countering some of the obstacles they’ve struggled with for nearly two years.”

House Bill 425 has passed the House and the Senate and is currently awaiting the governor’s signature.