D.C.'s big restaurant relief bill passes Council

Driving the news: Two high-profile amendments related to service fees and Initiative 82.

• The council narrowly voted to create a "safe harbor" for restaurants that clearly disclose service fees from lawsuits filed by private groups like Travelers United, which just launched a new suit against the group behind Proper 21 sports bar as the bill passed.
• The council voted against a proposal to accelerate I-82's timeline and eliminate the tipped minimum wage next year versus in 2027, as planned. That means the tipped wages will next bump up from $8 to $10 in July.

Inside the room: The hot topic of service charges "took on a life of its own," per Council member Kenyan McDuffie, with a big chunk of time spent debating pros and cons — though the bill doesn't regulate them, it only protects restaurants from litigation.

The big picture: A bunch of less controversial regulations regarding fair food service delivery practices and lowering liquor insurance premiums are bundled in the bill to help restaurants bounce back.