From coast to coast, AAHOA advocacy furthered industry interests
By Almario Duehart, MPA, & Ryan Albers
In 2026, AAHOA continues to deliver meaningful advocacy victories at the state and local levels that directly strengthen the business environment for hotel owners across the country. Through coordinated engagement with lawmakers, coalition-building, and grassroots member participation, AAHOA has successfully championed policies that protect tourism funding, oppose burdensome regulations, support fair labor and tax practices, and create a more competitive operating landscape for hoteliers.
AAHOA’s advocacy efforts ensure that hotel owners’ voices remain at the forefront of legislative decision-making. These wins reinforce AAHOA’s commitment to protecting profitability, preserving operational flexibility, and driving long-term success for our members and the hospitality industry as a whole.
City of Ontario, CA: Defeat of Local Measure V & W
In Ontario, CA, Measures V and W were successfully defeated by educating voters and local leaders on the significant economic and operational impacts they would have had on hotels and local businesses. Measure V would have raised the minimum wage for hotel workers from $17 to $21 per hour, while Measure W would have required voter approval for large hotel and event center developments.
The coalition against these measures emphasized that the proposals would increase labor costs, create additional regulatory burdens, and threaten jobs, tourism competitiveness, and future investment in the region. Ultimately, voters rejected both measures, delivering a major win for the hospitality industry and protecting local hotel owners from costly mandates.
Connecticut & Virginia: Defeat of Predictive Scheduling Legislation
In Connecticut, SB 436, which would have imposed predictive scheduling mandates on retail, restaurant, and hospitality employers, failed to advance during the 2026 legislative session after facing strong opposition due to concerns about operational flexibility and staffing burdens.
In Virginia, HB 962, a broader labor package that included wide-ranging predictive scheduling requirements for employers, was left in the House Labor and Commerce Committee and failed to meet crossover deadlines, effectively ending the proposal for the year.
Thanks to Action Alerts sent by AAHOA, members wrote to their legislators, helping to halt each of these potential laws.
Georgia: Passage of Human Trafficking Awareness Training Legislation
Georgia lawmakers approved SB 570, the Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training Act, requiring hotels and shortterm rental operators to provide annual human trafficking awareness training for hospitality employees.
The legislation, developed in coordination with the hospitality industry, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and was heralded as a proactive measure ahead of major tourism events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The bill reflects successful collaboration between industry stakeholders and state policymakers to strengthen guest safety and human trafficking prevention efforts statewide. AAHOA Members engaged in discussions with lawmakers, expressing ardent support for the legislation and sharing firsthand perspectives on the effectiveness of training at their own properties.
Maryland: Passage of ShortTerm Rental Regulation Legislation
Maryland’s enactment of Senate Bill 624, the Jillian and Lindsay Wiener ShortTerm Rental Safety Act, establishes statewide fire and life-safety requirements for short-term rental properties. The law requires operators to install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, provide fire extinguishers, post evacuation diagrams and emergency contact information, and comply with local inspection requirements.
The legislation reflects growing attention to guest safety standards in the lodging industry and creates a more consistent regulatory framework for short-term rental accommodations across Maryland. This legislation also creates a more level playing field with traditional lodging, implementing similar safety standards across the board.
Oregon: Amended Transient Lodging Tax Increase Bill
In a partial industry win, Oregon’s HB 4148 was amended to avoid a more harmful funding shift. The bill changes how local transient lodging tax (TLT) revenues may be used by increasing the portion local governments can allocate toward regional services from 30 to 60 percent, while reducing the minimum amount dedicated to tourism promotion and tourism-related activities from 70 to 40 percent.
The measure also allows jurisdictions with grandfathered tax laws to utilize the new provisions, potentially directing additional lodging tax revenues toward broader city, county, or special district services.
Virginia: Defeat of “Right-to-Work” Repeal
Virginia SB 32, which sought to repeal the Commonwealth’s longstanding right- to-work law, failed to advance during the 2026 legislative session after being left in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee. Hospitality and business organizations opposed the measure, arguing repeal would increase labor costs and reduce workforce flexibility for employers.
The bill’s defeat preserved Virginia’s right-to-work protections and represents an important outcome for maintaining a competitive business climate for AAHOA Members.
Washington: Passage of Statewide Tourism Promotion Bill
In Washington, HB 2325 establishes a voluntary, industry-supported tourism assessment program designed to strengthen statewide tourism promotion efforts across the state. The bill allows tourism-related businesses to collectively invest in destination marketing initiatives while ensuring industry oversight and approval before any assessment is implemented. For the hospitality industry, the measure creates a more sustainable framework to promote tourism growth, increase visitor activity, and support local economies statewide.
Almario Duehart, MPA, and Ryan Albers are AAHOA’s Directors of Government Affairs. To learn more about AAHOA’s advocacy efforts, visit aahoa.com/government-affairs.
Image: Zentangle/stock.adobe.com
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