Introducing the GRA Public Affairs Team:

The Vaquer Firm: Jean McRae and Mike Vaquer are the lobbyists for the GRA. They are at the state capitol everyday during the legislative session to represent your interests. They are well known by the elected officials and are looked to for professional advice on issues that affect our operations.

Keisha Carter: Keisha is the Public Affairs Director and is working to strengthen the GRA-PAC and member relationships with elected officials in all levels of government

The following legislative victories have been signed by the Governor:

HB 1303: Menu Labeling Pre-Emption- No county board of health or political subdivision of this state shall enact any ordinance or issue any rules and regulations pertaining to the provision of food nutrition information at food service establishments.

Meaning: No local government agency can enact any menu labeling or nutritional disclosure requirements.

SB 55: Merlot to Go: Authorizes restaurant patrons to remove for off premises consumption, a resealed partially consumed bottle of wine that was purchased with a food item

Meaning: This bill allows restaurants patrons to take their unfinished bottles of wine home, as long as it is partially resealed and kept in a closed compartment of their vehicle while driving.

The following Bills were opposed and defeated by the GRA:

SB 533: Country of Origin Menu Labeling: Required restaurants to post country of origin labeling on menus for all seafood served. NO seafood would be offered for direct retail sale for human consumption by a restaurant or other eating establishment unless the seafood is identified on the menu.

GRA Action: The GRA presented our industry's position before the Senate committee; we assured the committee that Georgia's restaurants were as committed as they were to ensuring that the seafood our patrons ordered was the seafood they would receive. Our position is that the primary responsibility for accurate labeling must lie with the processors and distributors.

The following Bills were opposed by the GRA but signed by the Governor:

HB 89: Extending Concealed Weapons Laws: Any person having been issued a license to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to Code Section 16-11-129 shall be permitted to carry such weapon, subject to the limitations of this part, in all parks, historic sites, or recreational areas as defined by Georgia Code and in all wildlife management areas.

Meaning: Anyone that holds a Georgia Concealed Weapons permit is allowed to carry a firearm into any establishment, as long as they do not consume alcohol.

GRA Action: The GRA-PAC will be providing information and signage for any restaurant owner that does not wish to allow concealed weapons in their establishment. By posting these signs, no one will be permitted to carry inside of that establishment.

Georgia Restaurant Association Political Action Committee (GRA-PAC) "If your not at the table, your on the menu"- Get Involved Today!