GRA State of the Session: February 23, 2026
Date postedFebruary 23, 2026
February 23, 2026
NOTEWORTHY.
- Making Sense of Cents. Who knew one cent could cause so much conversation? After the Treasury halted penny production at the end of 2025, some regions have experienced shortages, leaving businesses to wonder how to handle cash transactions without that familiar little coin. HB 1112 steps in to bring some order to the change jar, matching existing federal guidance on how to round cash transactions when pennies aren’t available.
- Tax Talk, Round Two. Following congress’s passage of a federal No Tax on Tips measure last year, the Georgia House is now exploring a similar tax break at the state level. Legislation was introduced last week and already has a hearing scheduled, a clear sign it’s moving quickly through the House. As with all tax policy changes, there are details to work through, and we’ll be involved in the discussion closely as it progresses.
- Revisiting the Fee Debate. Interchange fees are back on the agenda this session. SB 512 would prohibit credit card companies from charging swipe fees on the sales tax portion of transactions – dollars restaurants collect on behalf of the state and never actually keep. The issue has been around before, and it’s resurfacing once again. We’ll be engaged as the debate moves forward.
- A Unifying Win. Nothing political, just a good old-fashioned American victory lap. Seeing our Men’s and Women’s Olympic hockey teams outduel Canada for gold gave us all a reason to cheer a little louder and stand a little taller. That’s the kind of unity we can all get behind.
BILLS WE'RE TRACKING.
HB 117 – “The Shrimp Bill”
Would require restaurants to disclose whether shrimp served is imported.
Why it matters: Adds new menu and disclosure requirements for operators, impacting costs,
sourcing conversations, and compliance.
HB 163
Would require special menu labeling for plant-based alternatives and lab-grown meat.
Why it matters: Creates additional labeling obligations and could complicate menu design and
updates.
Would require restaurants to disclose whether shrimp served is imported.
Why it matters: Adds new menu and disclosure requirements for operators, impacting costs,
sourcing conversations, and compliance.
HB 163
Would require special menu labeling for plant-based alternatives and lab-grown meat.
Why it matters: Creates additional labeling obligations and could complicate menu design and
updates.
HB 201 / SB 415
Would ban the manufacturing and sale of lab-grown meat in Georgia.
Why it matters: Limits future menu innovation and raises broader questions about how emerging
food products are regulated.
HB 986
Would update operating rules for personal delivery devices (such as autonomous delivery robots), including speed limits, right-of-way requirements, and audible warning signals when approaching pedestrians.
Why it matters: Clarifies how delivery devices can operate on sidewalks, bike lanes, and roadways, helping restaurants that use or may consider using automated delivery avoid safety and compliance issues.
Would ban the manufacturing and sale of lab-grown meat in Georgia.
Why it matters: Limits future menu innovation and raises broader questions about how emerging
food products are regulated.
HB 986
Would update operating rules for personal delivery devices (such as autonomous delivery robots), including speed limits, right-of-way requirements, and audible warning signals when approaching pedestrians.
Why it matters: Clarifies how delivery devices can operate on sidewalks, bike lanes, and roadways, helping restaurants that use or may consider using automated delivery avoid safety and compliance issues.
HB 1006
Would require restaurants to maintain three doses of an opioid antagonist on site at all times.
Why it matters: Imposes new health, training, and inventory requirements on restaurants that are
not healthcare providers.
Would require restaurants to maintain three doses of an opioid antagonist on site at all times.
Why it matters: Imposes new health, training, and inventory requirements on restaurants that are
not healthcare providers.
HB 1013
Would designate Lemon Pepper as the official wing flavor of Georgia.
Why it matters: Because some things bring people together — and in Georgia, lemon pepper
wings are one of them.
Would designate Lemon Pepper as the official wing flavor of Georgia.
Why it matters: Because some things bring people together — and in Georgia, lemon pepper
wings are one of them.
HB 1014
Would prohibit restaurants and other businesses from selling foods containing certain food dyes.
Why it matters: Could affect ingredients, suppliers, and recipes across a wide range of menu
items.
HB 1112
Would provide guidance for businesses on rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents.
Why it matters: Offers clarity for operators as cash usage declines and coin circulation remains
inconsistent.
HB 1157
Would repeal Georgia’s current preemption law that prevents local governments from setting their own wage, employment benefit, or employee scheduling mandates, allowing cities and counties to adopt local requirements beyond state or federal law.
Why it matters: Could create a patchwork of local wage, benefit, and scheduling rules across Georgia, increasing compliance complexity and operational challenges for restaurant operators operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Would prohibit restaurants and other businesses from selling foods containing certain food dyes.
Why it matters: Could affect ingredients, suppliers, and recipes across a wide range of menu
items.
HB 1112
Would provide guidance for businesses on rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents.
Why it matters: Offers clarity for operators as cash usage declines and coin circulation remains
inconsistent.
HB 1157
Would repeal Georgia’s current preemption law that prevents local governments from setting their own wage, employment benefit, or employee scheduling mandates, allowing cities and counties to adopt local requirements beyond state or federal law.
Why it matters: Could create a patchwork of local wage, benefit, and scheduling rules across Georgia, increasing compliance complexity and operational challenges for restaurant operators operating in multiple jurisdictions.
HB 1237
Would enact the “Pollution Prevention and Producer Responsibility Act of 2026,” creating a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging, paper products, and beverage containers, including a 10¢ beverage container deposit system and new producer-funded recycling and reuse requirements
Would enact the “Pollution Prevention and Producer Responsibility Act of 2026,” creating a statewide extended producer responsibility (EPR) program for packaging, paper products, and beverage containers, including a 10¢ beverage container deposit system and new producer-funded recycling and reuse requirements
Why it matters: Represents a major shift in Georgia’s waste policy—moving costs onto producers, establishing a bottle deposit system, and creating new fees and operational requirements that will ripple through manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and ultimately consumers.
HB 1331
Would amend Georgia’s Minimum Wage Law by repealing the tip credit.
Why it matters: Removes Georgia’s recognition of the tip credit, a long-standing policy that allows restaurants to count tips toward meeting minimum wage requirements.
HB 1370
Would exclude up to $2,500 in annual overtime pay and up to $5,000 in cash tips from Georgia state income tax beginning in tax year 2027.Why it matters: Creates new employer reporting requirements for overtime and cash tips (monthly or quarterly) and reduces state taxable income for eligible employees.
SB 376 – Georgia Restaurant Franchise Relations Act
Addresses franchise-related protections and requirements.
Why it matters: Could significantly affect franchised restaurant operations, contracts, and long-
term business planning.
SB 456
Would create limited exceptions to Georgia’s three-tier system, allowing small brewers to expand direct-to-consumer sales and self-distribute a capped amount of product to retail establishments within the same county.
Why it matters: Adjusts long-standing alcohol distribution rules by expanding certain privileges for small brewers.
SB 512 – Consumer Inflation Reduction and Tax Fairness Act
Would prohibit payment card networks from charging interchange fees on the sales tax portion of a credit card transaction.
Why it matters: Reduces the interchange fees restaurants pay when collecting sales tax, keeping more dollars in your business instead of paying fees on money you never keep.
HB 1370
Would exclude up to $2,500 in annual overtime pay and up to $5,000 in cash tips from Georgia state income tax beginning in tax year 2027.Why it matters: Creates new employer reporting requirements for overtime and cash tips (monthly or quarterly) and reduces state taxable income for eligible employees.
SB 376 – Georgia Restaurant Franchise Relations Act
Addresses franchise-related protections and requirements.
Why it matters: Could significantly affect franchised restaurant operations, contracts, and long-
term business planning.
SB 456
Would create limited exceptions to Georgia’s three-tier system, allowing small brewers to expand direct-to-consumer sales and self-distribute a capped amount of product to retail establishments within the same county.
Why it matters: Adjusts long-standing alcohol distribution rules by expanding certain privileges for small brewers.
SB 512 – Consumer Inflation Reduction and Tax Fairness Act
Would prohibit payment card networks from charging interchange fees on the sales tax portion of a credit card transaction.
Why it matters: Reduces the interchange fees restaurants pay when collecting sales tax, keeping more dollars in your business instead of paying fees on money you never keep.