This week, OHI (formerly National ARVC) leadership, alongside campground owners, is actively advocating on Capitol Hill, focusing on key legislative measures that aim to benefit RV parks and campgrounds across the United States.
Their efforts include meetings with over 30 members of Congress to push for laws that could significantly reduce the financial burdens on these small businesses.
Central to their advocacy is the Credit Card Competition Act, which targets the reduction of excessive credit card swipe fees that RV parks and campgrounds incur. Currently, these fees cost thousands of dollars monthly for each facility.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce more competition into the market, potentially lowering these fees and providing financial relief to the hospitality sector, according to a press release.
Additionally, OHI is championing the Main Street Tax Certainty Act. This act aims to make permanent a 20 percent tax deduction for qualified business income, a crucial benefit that is set to expire on December 31, 2025.
This deduction has been instrumental in the financial success of many RV parks and campgrounds, enabling them to reinvest in their operations and improve services for guests.
The Death Tax Repeal Act is also high on OHI’s agenda. This legislation proposes the elimination of estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, which can be particularly burdensome for family-owned businesses.
Many small RV parks and campgrounds are “asset rich and cash poor,” meaning that inheriting family members often have to sell off parts of the business to pay these taxes. Repealing these taxes would provide stability and security for these family-owned enterprises.
David Basler, OHI’s chief strategy officer, emphasized the importance of these legislative efforts. “OHI has been in Washington a lot this summer because these are important issues for RV parks and campgrounds, and we have a solid chance of getting things closer to or across the finish line in this upcoming Congress following the November election,” he said.
OHI’s advocacy is further strengthened by its recent alliance with the Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC), which unites over 20 associations from the retail, restaurant, and hotel industries. This coalition supports the passage of the Credit Card Competition Act, highlighting the widespread impact of swipe fees across various sectors.
Representing the voice of campground owners, Ali Rasmussen, co-owner of Spacious Skies Campgrounds, shared her perspective: “As a campground owner, like with any small business, our overall success is greatly impacted by the taxes and fees we have to pay each year. These are important issues to me and to other OHI members I’ve talked with across the country.”
In addition to tax-related legislation, OHI is collaborating with North Carolina Senator Ted Budd’s office to draft a bill that would provide a 90-day cure period for small businesses to address website-based Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance issues before facing lawsuits.
Jeff Sims, OHI’s senior director of state relations and program advocacy, highlighted the impact of current regulations: “RV parks and campgrounds across the country are being hit with frivolous lawsuits every day because of website compliance issues they were unaware of. Instead of being able to focus on fixing the issue, they are immediately forced into expensive legal proceedings.”
The average RV park and campground in the United States faces numerous financial challenges, including high credit card swipe fees, which accumulate with every transaction made by campers.
By addressing these issues through targeted legislation, OHI aims to alleviate some of the financial pressures on these small businesses.
This week’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., include key figures from OHI and the outdoor hospitality industry: David Basler, OHI Chief Strategy Officer; Mike Gurevich, owner of Cherry Hill Park in College Park, Maryland; Ali Rasmussen, OHI Board of Directors member and CEO of Spacious Skies Campgrounds; and Matt Rose, executive director of the Indiana Campground Owners Association.
