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BIA joins effort to delay FTC’s Noncompete Rule

BIA joins effort to delay FTC’s Noncompete Rule

Re: Request to Stay and Delay Implementation of the Noncompete Rule

Dear Commissioners: On behalf of the undersigned organizations, we request that the Commission stay the effective date of the Non-Compete Clause Final Rule (89 Fed. Reg. 38,342-38,506, “Noncompete Rule”) to allow for judicial review.

Under Section 705 of the Administrative Procedure Act, agencies “may postpone the effective date of action taken by it, pending judicial review” when “justice so requires.” We strongly encourage you to exercise this power on the Noncompete Rule as FTC and other agencies recently have on other rulemakings. The Commission already elected to stay its CARS Rule pending litigation. Similarly, the Securities and Exchange Commission acted to stay its Climate Disclosure Rule, and the National Labor Relations Board delayed the effective date of the Joint Employer Rule.

A stay would be a prudent step. The impending effective date of the Noncompete Rule and lack of Commission guidance on key pieces of it – such as what it means to be in a policymaking position or how the Commission will apply its “functional” test – is creating substantial uncertainty for businesses and employees around the country. In delaying the CARS Rule, the Commission cited “misunderstandings of the Rule” and the “uncertainty” that resulted as a reason for delay. A brief, voluntary delay would provide invaluable certainty as to the Rule’s potential effective date and conserve significant resources.

Although the Noncompete Rule’s legal fate remains in question, it is already imposing significant costs and uncertainty on the U.S. economy. Businesses are identifying existing noncompetes and notifying employees and former employees that their noncompetes may no longer be enforceable. Companies are incurring substantial legal costs as they explore other tools to attempt to protect their investments, and workers are losing training opportunities and bargaining power to negotiate compensation.

Noncompete agreements have been enforceable since before the country’s founding. A short implementation delay of a few months should impose no meaningful costs, and certainly no unexpected costs, on anyone. If the Commission ultimately succeeds in court, only a small number of noncompetes for policy-making senior employees entered into between September 4, 2024, and the final effective date would be impacted given the rule’s retroactivity requirements.

Finally, a brief delay would comport with the Commission’s mission of enforcing federal law in a cost-effective manner. As set forth in the Commission’s current strategic plan, the Commission “strives to efficiently address the competitive concerns raised by a merger or business practice and works toward a solution that maintains competition in the marketplace without unduly burdening legitimate business activity.” In keeping with this goal, a brief delay would provide invaluable certainty to the business community and, if the Rule ultimately is enjoined, potentially conserve significant resources around the country.

We thank you for your consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

National

ACA International

Advanced Medical Technology Association

Alternative Investment Management Association

American Bankers Association

American Coatings Association

American Council of Engineering Companies

American Foundry Society

American Hospital Association

American Hotel & Lodging Association

American Property Casualty Insurance Association

American Staffing Association

American Trucking Association

Associated Builders and Contractors

Associated Equipment Distributors

Associated General Contractors of America

Business Roundtable

Consumer Technology Association

Direct Selling Association

Federation of American Hospitals

FIA Principal Traders Group

FMI - The Food Industry Association

Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association

Futures Industry Association

HR Policy Association

Independent Electrical Contractors

Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America

Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association

International Agribusiness Council

International Franchise Association

Investment Adviser Association

Meat Institute

MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association

Metals Service Center Institute

MFA, Managed Funds Association

National Association of Business and Insurance Professionals

National Association of Convenience Stores

National Association of Manufacturers

National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors

National Automobile Dealers Association

National Federation of Independent Business

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association

National Mining Association

National Newspaper Association

National Pest Management Association

National Propane Gas Association

National Restaurant Association

National Tooling and Machining Association

National Waste & Recycling Association

NCTA - The Internet & Television Association

Precision Machined Products Association

Precision Metalforming Association

Reinsurance Association of America

Retail Industry Leaders Association

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association

The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Council for International Business

US Telecom - The Broadband Association

Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association

Alabama

Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce

Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce

Alaska

Alaska Chamber

Arizona

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce

Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce

Chandler Chamber of Commerce

Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Chamber

Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce

Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce

Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Nogales Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center

Northwest Valley Chamber of Commerce

Peoria Chamber of Commerce

Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce

Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce

Southwest Valley Chamber

Tucson Metro Chamber

West Valley Chamber of Commerce Alliance

Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce

Arkansas

AR State Chamber/AIA

Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce

California

Brea Chamber of Commerce

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

Chino Valley Chamber of Commerce

Colusa County Chamber of Commerce

Dana Point Chamber of Commerce

Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce

Greater Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce

Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce

Laguna Niguel Chamber of Commerce

Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Modesto Chamber of Commerce

Murrieta/Wildomar Chamber of Commerce

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce

North San Diego Business Chamber

Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce

San Juan Capistrano Chamber of Commerce

Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce

Santee Chamber of Commerce

Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce

Tracy Chamber of Commerce

West Ventura County Business Alliance

Western States Trucking Association

Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce

Colorado

Greater Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce

Vail Valley Partnership

Florida

Florida Chamber Litigation & Regulatory Reform Center

Lakeland Chamber of Commerce

Venice Area Chamber of Commerce

Georgia

Barrow County Chamber of Commerce

Fayette Chamber of Commerce

Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce

Newton Chamber of Commerce

Idaho

Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce

Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce

Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Twin Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Illinois

Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce

GLMV Chamber of Commerce

Grundy County Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Illinois Chamber of Commerce

Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce

Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce

Indiana

Fulton County Chamber of Commerce

Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce

Greater Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce

South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce

Tipton County Chamber of Commerce

Iowa

Iowa Association of Business and Industry

Kansas

Greater Topeka Chamber

Kentucky

Commerce Lexington

Greater Louisville, Inc.

Kentucky Chamber

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Union County Chamber of Commerce

Louisiana

One Acadiana

Maine

Maine State Chamber of Commerce

Maryland

Maryland Chamber of Commerce

Massachusetts

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

South Shore Chamber of Commerce

Michigan

Battle Creek Area Chamber of Commerce

Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce

Detroit Regional Chamber

Grand Rapids Chamber

Hartland Area Chamber of Commerce

Michigan Chamber of Commerce

Midland Business Alliance

Minnesota

Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce

Greater Mankato Growth

I-94 West Chamber of Commerce

Lonsdale Area Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

SouthWest Metro Chamber of Commerce

Mississippi

Mississippi Economic Council

Missouri

Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Montana

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

Montana Chamber of Commerce

Nebraska

Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce

Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce

Nebraska Chamber of Commerce

Seward County Chamber & Development Partnership

Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Nevada

Carson City Chamber of Commerce

Henderson Chamber of Commerce

Vegas Chamber

White Pine Chamber of Commerce

New Hampshire

Business and Industry Association New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce

New York

Capital Region Chamber of Commerce

The Business Council of New York State

North Carolina

Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce

Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands NC

Ohio

Brookville Area Chamber of Commerce

Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce

Huber Heights Chamber of Commerce

Lima Allen County Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Shawnee Hills Area Chamber of Commerce

Oklahoma

State Chamber of Oklahoma

Oregon

Bend Chamber of Commerce

Canby Area Chamber of Commerce

Oregon Business & Industry

Salem Area Chamber of Commerce

Pennsylvania

Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County

Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce

Harrisburg Regional Chamber

Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Mechanicsburg Chamber of Commerce

Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry

Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association

Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce

Somerset County Chamber of Commerce

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce

Venango Area Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina

Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

Texas

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce

Longview Chamber of Commerce

Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce

Utah

ChamberWest Chamber of Commerce

Salt Lake Chamber

St. George Area Chamber of Commerce

Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce

Virginia

Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce

ChamberRVA

Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce

Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance

Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce

Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Washington

Association of Washington Business

Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce

Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce

Washington Retail Association

Wisconsin

Beaver Dam Area Chamber of Commerce

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

Mosinee Area Chamber of Commerce

Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce

Rice Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

Wyoming

Campbell County Chamber of Commerce

Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce

Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce


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Media Contact : Rick Fabrizio, rfabrizio@biaofnh.com

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