Support the American Franchise Act at the IFA26 Advocacy Summit

The 2026 IFA Advocacy Summit will take place September 14-16 in Washington, DC. Franchisees, franchisors, and suppliers will have the opportunity to advocate for the future of franchising with national leaders and policymakers.

The three-day event connects the franchising community with lawmakers to protect and advance the franchise business model. Attendees will learn about the latest legislative and policy issues affecting franchising before heading to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and discuss the industry's priorities.

This year’s Summit comes at a crucial time, as momentum behind the American Franchise Act continues to build, making this one of the most important moments for franchise advocacy in a generation. The American Franchise Act is the most significant federal legislation for franchising. The bill would provide long-needed certainty around joint employer rules after a decade of changing regulations, reinforce the independence of franchise owners, and help protect opportunities for current and future entrepreneurs.

During the Summit, the franchise community will come together to help advance this landmark legislation and policies to protect the independence of franchise owners, support business growth, and strengthen the franchise model for years to come.

Several months ago, the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee passed the American Franchise Act (H.R. 5267), which now heads to the House floor for consideration. To protect this commonsense joint employer standard for the long term, the International Franchise Association is asking Congress to pass the legislation. The bill would codify that direct control of narrowly defined essential terms and conditions of employment for joint employer status is necessary for a joint employment finding between franchisors and franchisees.

The American Franchise Act has 142 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House, and companion legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bill is supported by all major franchisor and franchisee groups, as well as more than 100 state and local business, diversity, and industry groups.

Register now for the 2026 IFA Advocacy Summit and make your voice heard to support the future of franchising:

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