Government Affairs

Advocacy, Intervention and Political Action are at the foundation of the Georgia Retail Associations mission. The key to our success is understanding what is most important to our members. We believe that ensuring that government, big and small, recognize the contributions our members make in Georgia. GRA works tirelessly to make sure that your interests and concerns are known to the law makers and regulators in Georgia's Capital.

If you are interested in retail politics and would like find out more about how government impacts your business and how you can participate in the process, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

The following is a list of our current legislative issues.

E-Fairness

GRA will work to pass an E-Fairness bill that will help level the playing field for brick and mortar retailers. Remote sellers continue to have a substantial price advantage over main street merchants due to an obsolete law allowing them not to collect sales/use tax.

UPDATES
2/3/2012
GRA met with senior officials in the governor’s office, House leadership and Senate leadership to push forward on language that would be acceptable to all parts of Capitol leadership. The governor’s office continues to play a key role in facilitating legislation that will be acceptable to all leadership at the Capitol. We expect final legislation to be introduced in a few days.

2/10/2012
Support for E-Fairness continued to grow during this week’s legislative session. It now appears the governor, the House and the Senate all support moving E-Fairness forward during this session, and they are deciding how best to move it forward.

Back to School Sales Tax Holiday

To insure the return of one of Georgia's most popular tax relief events, GRA has sponsored research to prove the stimulus event of a time limited sales tax holiday leading up to the opening of schools. GRA will work to pass this important legislation for all Georgia retailers.

An analysis by the Washington Economics Group suggests that establishing a Back to School Sales Tax Holiday in Georgia would generate a significant $475.8 million in economic activity. Furthermore, this increase in economic activity creates $39.9 million in state and local taxes - providing a major boost to state and local coffers. read the complete report

UPDATE
2/3/2012
GRA held follow-up meetings with executive and legislative leaders on reinstating a sales tax holiday in Georgia. Leaders have shown a higher level of interest in re-instating the sales tax holiday, and GRA has been directed to draft legislation for them to consider.

2/10/2012
The Governor’s office continues to be a strong supporter of the Sales tax Holiday and including it in any tax package that is presented. House & Senate leadership are more mixed. We expect some clarity in the coming two weeks.

Assault on Georgia's Tough on Crime Strategy

Georgia has been successful in reducing the crime rate due to aggressive arrest and sentencing strategies. Now some would open the door to let criminals serve less - or no - jail time. Property theft, bad checks and organized retail crime activity would be on the rise if these actions are not stopped.

GRA will work to defeat any lessening of Georgia's criminal statutes.

UPDATES
2/3/2012
GRA continued engaging with the Pew Research Institute this week. In addition, GRA met with legislative leaders who are writing a draft bill to implement the reforms proposed by Pew. Leaders have shown resistance to keeping the felony threshold levels for theft by taking and shoplifting at their current levels. However, GRA has begun to see signs of movement this past week, and more meetings are scheduling in the coming week.

2/10/2012
GRA along with member company Home Depot met with Rep. Rich Golick this week. Golick is the House chair of the Criminal Justice Reform Commission which is considering raising felony thresholds for theft-by-taking and shoplifting. Rep. Golick committed to working with GRA to possibly leave those thresholds lower than originally proposed.

Sales Tax Bad Debt Recovery

When retailers extend credit it includes sales tax. Sometimes this credit defaults and currently Georgia law does not allow retailers to recoup taxes advanced to the state but unpaid due to the credit default by the customer.

GRA will work to change that inequity.

UPDATE
2/1/2012
Conversations continue between the speaker’s office, GRA, and potential legislative sponsors. We feel confident that with the speaker’s support we will have language introduced shortly.

2/10/2012
Rep. Roger Williams has agreed to carry this legislation. The language was dropped off at legislative council Friday morning and should be completed with by Tuesday. Rep. Williams would then introduce it Wednesday – which is the next opportunity to introduce a bill.

Income Tax Credit

A bill providing tax credits for the purchase of Natural Gas heavy duty trucks. This collaborative effort between House Regulated Industries Committee Chairman, Don Parsons and Senate Natural Resources Committee Chairman, Ross Tolleson is in its beginning stages of conversation at the capitol. We expect a House Committee Hearing soon.