The Advocacy Report June 2026: Latest Policy & Industry Updates
June 22, 2026
NOTEWORTHY.
The Shrimp Clock Is Ticking. We'll continue to keep members updated throughout the fall and winter, but we've received confirmation that the shrimp menu labeling law passed during the 2026 legislative session will take effect on January 1, 2027.
The delayed implementation date will give operators time to come into compliance and allow the Georgia Department of Public Health and its inspectors time to prepare for enforcement. We will share additional guidance and compliance resources as they become available. In the meantime, if your local health inspector contacts you regarding the new requirements, please let us know.
Redistricting: Maybe Later. The General Assembly kicked off its Special Session last week, but with a much lighter agenda than expected. While redistricting was widely anticipated to be part of the conversation, legislative leaders announced just before the session began that the issue would be postponed for another day.
Instead, lawmakers are focusing on election-related legislation and a handful of local bills. As with many things under the Gold Dome, "later" could mean next month, next session, or whenever the political stars align. We'll keep watching.
The Field Is Finally Set. Primary season finally came to a close last week, giving voters a clearer picture of the races that will dominate Georgia politics this fall.
In the governor's race, healthcare executive Rick Jackson delivered the biggest surprise of the cycle, defeating Lt. Governor Burt Jones in the Republican primary. Meanwhile, Congressman Mike Collins fended off former football coach Derek Dooley to earn the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate and a matchup against Senator Jon Ossoff in November.
The race for lieutenant governor is now set as well. State Senator Greg Dolezal emerged victorious from the Republican runoff, while State Senator Josh McLaurin secured the Democratic nomination, setting up a contest between two legislators who are already familiar faces under the Gold Dome.
Jackson will now face former Atlanta Mayor and Biden advisor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the race to succeed Governor Brian Kemp. With control of the Governor's Mansion, a U.S. Senate seat, and numerous down-ballot offices all in play, Georgia is once again shaping up to be one of the most closely watched states in the country. Stay tuned—we'll continue to break down the candidates, campaigns, and issues that matter to restaurant operators as Election Day approaches.
NFL SUNDAY TICKET.
Beginning with the 2026 NFL season, commercial access to NFL Sunday Ticket will move from DIRECTV's satellite platform to EverPass, a streaming-based service. For operators who rely on football season to fill seats and drive beverage sales, the change could mean more than just learning a new login and password.
Many restaurants and bars may need to upgrade internet service, install new streaming hardware, or make changes to their existing AV systems to continue showing games throughout their establishments. Industry estimates suggest some operators could face costs reaching tens of thousands of dollars per location before subscription fees are even considered.
And it's not just about the money. Operators across the country have raised concerns about streaming reliability, game delays, and whether internet infrastructure—especially in rural areas—can handle a packed restaurant with dozens of TVs showing live sports. Nobody wants to explain to guests why the table next to them is celebrating a touchdown 30 seconds before it appears on the screen.
The Georgia Restaurant Association is working with the National Restaurant Association and other industry partners to raise awareness of the potential impact these changes could have on restaurants and bars. We believe operators deserve affordable, reliable options for delivering the game-day experience their guests expect.
If your business shows NFL games, now is the time to start evaluating how this transition could affect your operation. And if you're looking at significant costs or challenges, we'd like to hear from you. Your feedback helps us tell the industry's story and advocate for practical solutions that work for restaurant operators.
You can also let your congressmen know about your experience and ask them to address them HERE.
SCOTT'S THOUGHTS
We have finally made it through primary season, and at last we know what the matchups will look like in the fall. While there are plenty of important races on the ballot, the headliner is clearly the governors race between Rick Jackson and Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Most folks in our industry are already familiar with Bottoms from her time as Mayor of Atlanta, but Jackson is still a bit of an unknown to many Georgians. Over the next few months, We will be spending time with both campaigns to learn more about where the candidates stand on the issues that matter to restaurant operators and sharing what we learn along the way.
In the meantime, we can all enjoy a brief break from the seemingly endless barrage of campaign ads, text messages, fundraising emails, and political mailers. Don't get too comfortable though, November will be here before we know it.