GRA State of the Session: March 31, 2026
March 31, 2026
NOTEWORTHY.
- Lay of the Land. With just two legislative days left, the picture is starting to come into focus, at least a little. There’s still plenty of uncertainty, but literacy policy is shaping up to be a key factor in negotiations tied to everything from taxes to ethics reform. As always in the final stretch, “horse trading” will drive the action, and how House Speaker Jon Burns and Lt. Governor Burt Jones choose to navigate those tradeoffs will set the tone for the week.
- Tort Reform: 2026 Edition. Another bill to watch is HB 1470, which would allow businesses to recover damages and attorney’s fees when ADA website accessibility lawsuits are unsuccessful, dismissed, or lack standing. The goal is to add a speed bump for frivolous claims and rein in predatory legal tactics that often target small businesses.
- Tips Tax Plan Advances. The Senate advanced legislation last week addressing “No Tax on Tips and Overtime,” aligning it with the federal version of the policy. The House had initially supported a more limited approach, but the two chambers will now reconcile their differences ahead of Thursday night’s deadline. At this stage, it’s likely that federal caps will serve as the baseline for negotiations, with any final agreement expected to scale those limits down rather than expand them.
BILLS WE'RE TRACKING — AFTER CROSSOVER DAY.
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 376
Would revise Georgia’s historic rehabilitation tax credit by increasing eligibility thresholds, adjusting credit percentages, and raising overall credit caps for certain projects.
Why it matters: Expands and reshapes a key economic development incentive, potentially impacting redevelopment projects, investment decisions, and revitalization efforts across the state.
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.
WHAT CROSSED OVER — NOW WITH THE OTHER CHAMBER
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 309
Would revise Georgia law governing building permits and local government review processes by setting stricter timelines, requiring clear approval criteria, mandating written explanations for denials, allowing private inspection approvals, and increasing transparency through real-time permit tracking systems.
Why it matters: Limits delays and ambiguity in local permitting, strengthens developer and applicant protections, and increases transparency—potentially accelerating construction projects and reducing regulatory friction for businesses and property owners.
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 1470
Would allow businesses to recover damages and attorney’s fees when ADA website accessibility lawsuits are unsuccessful, dismissed, or lack standing, including at least $10,000 in damages and potential treble damages in certain cases.
Why it matters: Aims to deter frivolous ADA website lawsuits and reduce litigation costs for businesses.
SB 447
Would require local governments to accept qualified third-party building inspections, set deadlines for permit decisions, and provide written justifications for denials.
Why it matters: Speeds up restaurant construction and remodel timelines while reducing permitting delays and uncertainty.
WHAT DIDN'T CROSS OVER — NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PASSAGE
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.
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 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 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 1110
Would create a state income tax credit for small businesses (fewer than 50 employees) that contribute at least $200 per month to an individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement (ICHRA) for Georgia-based employees.
Why it matters: Provides a new incentive for small employers to offer defined-contribution style health benefits, potentially helping restaurants expand health coverage options while offsetting some of the cost through a capped state tax credit.
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 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.
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.
HB 1400 - Georgia Artist-Promoter Fair Practices Act
Would establish the “Georgia Artist-Promoter Fair Practices Act,” requiring written disclosures of performance classifications and any performance-related fees charged to artists, along with itemized receipts and refund rights.
Why it matters: Sets new transparency standards for promoters and venues hosting live performances, potentially affecting how restaurants structure agreements and fee arrangements with musicians.
HB 1416
Would exclude all employee tips from Georgia state income tax beginning in tax year 2026 and require employers to report total tips received by employees to the Department of Revenue
Why it matters: Removes state income tax on tips while creating new employer reporting requirements and compliance obligations.
HB 1493 - Georgia Worker Empowerment Act
HB 1493 would expand collective bargaining rights for certain workers, limit at-will employment by requiring “just cause” for termination, and create several industry worker standards boards—including one for retail and food service—to recommend minimum standards for wages, hours, and workplace safety. The bill also requires large retail, food service, and hospitality employers to provide employee work schedules at least 14 days in advance and provide additional “predictability pay” when shifts are changed on short notice.
Why it matters: Could significantly change employment rules, scheduling requirements, and labor standards for restaurants and hospitality businesses.
HB 1572
Would require food service establishments to display a food allergy awareness poster in staff areas, with materials created or approved by the Department of Public Health.
Why it matters: Signals a growing focus on allergen safety and staff education, with potential new compliance requirements for restaurant operators starting in 2027.
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.
SB 583
Would require businesses to clearly and conspicuously display the total price of goods or services, including all mandatory fees, surcharges, and automatic gratuities, when advertising or presenting prices to consumers
Why it matters: Impacts how restaurants disclose pricing, service charges, and automatic gratuities, with violations enforced under the Fair Business Practices Act.