News & alerts
What changed for your stores
Laws, taxes and deadlines for convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
PAJul 13, 2026Pennsylvania Caffeine Warning Bill Advances, With a Big Change to the Threshold
HB 2377 would require ‘high caffeine’ warnings next to beverages sold at retail food facilities. The House committee raised the trigger from 80 milligrams to 250 milligrams per serving, which changes how much of your cold vault is affected.
NYJul 13, 2026New York’s Bigger Better Bottle Bill Would Double Deposits and Send More Empties Back to Your Store
A6543 and S5684 would raise New York’s bottle deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents and expand it to juice, coffee, tea and cider containers. Here is what the expansion would mean for retailer storage, staff time and the frozen 3.5 cent handling fee.
NJJul 13, 2026New Jersey’s Skip the Stuff Law Hits Store Delis and Coffee Counters on August 1
New Jersey’s Skip the Stuff law takes effect August 1, 2026, and it covers the deli and coffee counter inside convenience and grocery stores. Utensils and condiment packets go out by request only, with penalties reaching $5,000 per day.
PAJul 10, 2026Pennsylvania Senate Votes 49-0 to Make EBT Skimming a Felony
SB 362 would grade SNAP and EBT skimming as a felony and extend the statute of limitations to five years. Because skimmers are installed on store checkout terminals, retailers are on the front line.
NYJul 10, 2026New York’s Cash Acceptance Law Is Now in Force: What Every Store Must Do
Since March 2026, New York retail establishments and food stores must accept cash and cannot charge cash customers more than card customers. Penalties reach $1,500 per violation.
NJJul 10, 2026New Jersey Passes Fair Price Protection Act, Freezing New Electronic Shelf Labels
The Legislature has sent Gov. Sherrill a bill banning surveillance pricing on groceries and pausing new electronic shelf labels for one year. Here is what New Jersey retailers need to know.
PAJul 9, 2026Pennsylvania Bill Would Legalize Third-Party Alcohol Delivery
House Bill 1451 would create a Class D transporters for hire license, letting app-based services deliver beer, wine, and ready-to-drink cocktails from licensed Pennsylvania retailers, with age-verification and driver-training rules.
NYJul 9, 2026New York City Weighs 15-Item Limit and Staffing Rules for Self-Checkout
A City Council bill, Int 0729-2026, would cap self-checkout at 15 items and require one employee for every three kiosks at NYC grocery stores and pharmacies, with a $100 daily fine for non-compliance.
NJJul 9, 2026New Jersey Bill Would Let Grocery and Convenience Stores Sell Alcohol
Senate Bill S1254, the Garden State Grocery Liquor Licensing Act, would create a new restricted retail food store license letting grocery and convenience stores sell New Jersey-made beer, wine, and spirits, with fees tiered by store size.
NJJul 8, 2026New Jersey’s Minimum Wage Rises to $15.92 on January 1, 2026: What Retailers Need to Budget
New Jersey’s statewide minimum wage climbs $0.43 to $15.92 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with separate rates for small/seasonal employers and tipped staff. Here’s what tri-state store owners should plan for.
NYJul 8, 2026New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act: The Written Policy and Training Rules Every Store With 10+ Employees Must Follow
New York’s Retail Worker Safety Act requires a workplace-violence prevention policy and interactive training for any retailer with 10 or more employees statewide, with silent response buttons coming for the largest chains in 2027.
PAJul 8, 2026Pennsylvania Skill Games Ruled Illegal, and a 52% Tax Fight Now Looms Over Every Store That Hosts One
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court says skill games are slot machines. A 120-day stay ends in October, and Harrisburg is racing to write tax-and-regulation rules that will decide whether c-stores can keep the terminals at all.