Welcome back. Deadline week at the Capitol brought the usual compression, but in a tied House it also underscored a broader reality of the 2026 session—getting a bill heard is not the same thing as getting it moving. 

• The current reality: committee work. Committees continued to hear a substantial volume of legislation before the first and second deadlines, yet relatively few measures appear positioned for smooth advancement. 

House remains in partisan deadlock. In the House especially, partisan balance continues to function as a brake. Bills may receive testimony, debate, and even some visible momentum, but absent bipartisan comfort, they often stall. That dynamic remains central to how we assess both risk and opportunity for the hospitality industry this year.

Reminder: Register for this year’s Day at the Capitol on April 8 before registration closes Thursday, April 2. We have a limited number of spots available.

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