Congress churns out thousands of bills, but what’s really in them, and how could they affect you? DBS BILL BRIEF breaks down two bills a day IN PLAIN ENGLISH.

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Imagine discovering that a delivery app is offering food from your restaurant even though you never agreed to do business with the company.

Congress is considering legislation that would require third-party food delivery services to obtain written permission before facilitating orders from covered restaurants.

The PROTECT Small Restaurants Act, H.R. 10885, was introduced October 22 by Rep. Susie Lee, Democrat of Nevada, with bipartisan original cosponsors.

The basic proposition is straightforward: A delivery platform shouldn’t be able to build a business relationship with a restaurant without the restaurant’s agreement.

WHAT’S IN THE BILL?

The proposal would require covered delivery platforms to have written partnership agreements with restaurants before facilitating orders on their behalf.

Restaurants without such agreements would be able to request removal from a platform.

The legislation would require the platform to comply within 10 days of receiving a qualifying removal request.

It would also establish Federal Trade Commission enforcement authority.

That could give restaurant owners a federal mechanism for challenging unauthorized listings and ordering relationships.

HERE’S THE CATCH

The bill does not apply to every business selling food.

Its definition of a restaurant excludes grocery stores and convenience stores.

The proposal would also take effect for covered orders beginning 180 days after enactment.

It would not require delivery companies to stop operating or prevent restaurants from working with multiple platforms.

Instead, it would establish a consent requirement governing covered partnerships.

WHAT ABOUT CUSTOMERS?

For consumers, the consequences could be mixed.

Authorized restaurant relationships may help reduce confusion about listings, menus, and whether an establishment actually participates in a delivery service.

On the other hand, platforms might have to remove restaurants that haven’t entered written agreements, potentially reducing some available ordering choices.

The legislation does not guarantee lower delivery fees or restaurant prices.

Its central focus is authorization and control over how restaurants are represented on third-party platforms.

HAVEN’T WE HEARD THIS BEFORE?

Congress has previously considered proposals addressing unauthorized third-party restaurant listings and reservations.

Those efforts involve related questions of business consent, but the precise requirements can differ between restaurant-delivery and reservation services.

WHERE DOES IT STAND?

H.R. 10885 was introduced October 22, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

At the latest source check used for this article, it had not passed the House.

Bottom line: Congress is considering a requirement that delivery platforms get covered restaurants’ written permission before handling orders. For restaurant owners, that could mean more control. For customers, it could mean fewer confusing listings — but not necessarily cheaper takeout.

DBS BILL BRIEF SOURCES

• Official introduced text — H.R. 10885
• Congress.gov — Legislative record
• Related restaurant-reservations legislation
• Official legislative-status record

Behind the Brief: We use modern research tools to help unpack Washington’s fine print, relying on official legislative records for the facts.