The road to recovery is going to be a long one for the restaurant industry, but hopefully with the recent signing of three bills, they will be able to stay afloat as the state struggles to recover from the pandemic.

Assembly Bill 61 by Asm. Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), Senate Bill 314 by State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Senate Bill 389 by State Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa) are three bipartisan measures that unanimously passed the legislature.

AB61 and SB314 extend outdoor dining and alcohol sale permits for a year after the pandemic emergency ends, to give establishments an opportunity to permanently expand outdoors. Most restaurants have already created these spaces, and it will be beneficial to keep them in place, as they add more opportunity for revenue and choices for those who are still hesitant to eat indoors. AB61 paves the way for restaurants to enjoy a less costly and less bureaucratic pathway to serve alcohol in expanded outdoor dining settings, and SB314 helps maximize the value of outdoor dining space and increases the number of times a catering permit may be used at the same location.

Meanwhile, SB389 allows restaurants, along with bars, breweries and wineries that sell food to offer to-go cocktails with food orders through the end of 2026.

Neighborhood restaurants truly are the backbone of communities across California, but too many are barely hanging on by a thread. AB 61 provides important flexibility so that restaurants can safely expand outdoor dining and continue to serve the communities they call home.

"The importance of these measures taken together will remain a critical part of helping restaurants get back on their feet, reemploy massive numbers of Californians, and continue to safely serve the public," said Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association.

We agree that these creative strategies are a lifeline for hard-hit restaurants during the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery, and it is in the best interest for all that the entrepreneurial spirit is kept going, so that businesses can continue to create exciting new opportunities and support vibrant neighborhoods across the state.