14 necsema M2M Convenience on Capitol Hill: How the Industry Notched Major Policy Wins in 2025 Despite a turbulent year in Washington, the conve- nience industry delivered meaningful victories on taxes, fuels, SNAP, and payments. In a year marked by political upheaval, razor-thin con- gressional margins, and the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history, the convenience industry proved we can still drive meaningful change in Washington. The return of President Donald Trump to the White House for a nonconsecutive second term, combined with divided and narrowly controlled chambers of Congress, created an unpredictable environment for policymaking in 2025. Yet amid the noise, NACS and industry partners se- cured a series of significant federal policy wins that directly affect retailers’ bottom lines and operational flexibility. From tax reform and biofuels to SNAP access and swipe fees, 2025 underscored the industry’s ability to in- fluence outcomes even under challenging circumstances. Tax Policy: Locking in Long‑Term Certainty The defining legislative effort of early 2025 was pas- sage of a sweeping budget reconciliation package—fre- quently dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” While the legislation spanned numerous policy areas, the tax title delivered some of the most consequential victories for convenience retailers. Among the most important outcomes: • Permanent preservation of the Section 199A deduction, protecting the qualified business income deduction for pass-through entities—a critical priority for independently owned stores. • Restoration of 100% bonus depreciation, made permanent after years of temporary extensions. • Stability in the corporate tax rate, which re- mained at 21%. • Expanded interest deductibility and Section 179 expensing, helping retailers finance and modernize operations. • Improvements to estate tax thresholds, provid- ing long-term planning certainty for family-owned businesses. The bill also addressed energy policy concerns by level- ing the playing field for sustainable aviation fuel and other advanced biofuels, reinforcing technology-neutral ap- proaches that benefit retailers participating in diversified fuels markets. Following the bill’s passage, NACS board member Ray- mond Huff was invited by the House Ways and Means Committee to testify about how the legislation benefits small businesses—building on earlier testimony he pro- vided on Section 199A before the House Small Business Committee. Motor Fuels: Protecting Consumer Choice and Tech Neutrality Tax policy wasn’t the industry’s only success. Congress also acted to limit state-level electric vehicle mandates that threatened to advantage one technology over others. Through legislation passed under the Congressional Review Act, Congress blocked efforts that would have imposed EV mandates at the expense of liquid fuels. The White House invited NACS member Bill Kent, owner of the Kent Companies, to speak at the signing ceremony— an acknowledgment of the retailer perspective in a rapidly evolving transportation landscape. As related litigation continues to unfold, NACS remains actively engaged in defending retailer interests, empha- sizing the importance of consumer choice, technology neutrality, and competitive fuels markets. SNAP Policy: Preserving Access While Demanding Clarity Food access policy was another major front in 2025. While several states pursued SNAP waivers that could restrict eligible purchases, NACS worked to blunt propos- als that would have had sweeping—and unintended— consequences for convenience retailers and program participants alike. Key wins included: • Blocking changes to the SNAP “restaurant threshold” that would have reclassified tens of thousands of convenience stores as restaurants, making them ineligible to participate in the pro- gram. • Preserving appropriations language delaying tougher retailer stocking requirements until the U.S. Department of Agriculture finalizes a clearer definition of “variety”—potentially expanding which products count toward compliance. • Requiring USDA accountability, through report language directing the agency to explain how SNAP waivers or pilots improve participant expe- rience, including implementation and compliance costs. NACS also helped secure delays in four state SNAP waivers originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, providing additional time to evaluate their impacts on consumers and retailers. Food Safety and Traceability: Time to Get It Right Retailers also saw progress on food safety regulations, particularly the FDA’s Food Traceability Rule. While the agency had already pushed the implementation date back by 30 months—from January 2026 to July 2028—NACS
