HB 117: Food service establishments; require notification of the country of origin of seafood items

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Discussed in meetings (5)

The House and Senate meetings that took this bill up, from their machine transcripts. Each account was written by Georgia Commons with AI and is not part of the record; the video is what was said.

1. Senate Rules Committee, January 27, 2026

   From 0:03:59 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor said the substitute would require food service establishments serving imported shrimp to disclose that on menus or prominent signs, while exempting state-operated establishments at a state agency’s request. The sponsor described it as consumer transparency and support for domestic shrimpers, citing contamination concerns, misleading restaurant marketing and low-priced imports. The sponsor said 94% of shrimp consumed nationally is imported, federal inspectors test 0.7% of imports, and five radioactive-shrimp incidents had occurred since the previous session. Asked about inspections, the sponsor said rejected shipments are returned, but could not explain radiation-testing details. A second member asked why the bill covers only shrimp, whether prices would rise and how compliance would be enforced. The sponsor said restaurant-industry concerns led to narrowing an earlier all-seafood, country-specific proposal; predicted no inflationary effect; and said inspectors would compare disclosures with product labels. Asked about tariffs and Georgia harvests, the sponsor said tariff treatment varies and attributed reduced fishing activity to depressed prices rather than scarce shrimp. The chair identified the working substitute as LC600252S. The committee approved it unanimously.

2. Senate Rules Committee, January 29, 2026

   From 0:05:05 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The chair described HB 117 as the shrimp bill the committee had heard previously and invited questions for the vice chair. No questions were raised, and no further explanation of the bill’s provisions was given. The president pro tempore selected it as a gesture of goodwill toward the House. The committee unanimously approved placing it on Monday’s floor calendar together with two other measures.

3. Senate floor session, February 2, 2026 (legislative day 10)

   From 1:57:35 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (Senate Third Read)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The clerk described the Rules Committee substitute to HB 117 as requiring notice of foreign imported shrimp, rather than country-of-origin notices for seafood generally. The senator presenting the bill said restaurants could place the notice beside the shrimp listing or on a placard visible to customers. The presenter described the measure as truth in advertising and support for Georgia's shrimp industry. The presenter said 77% of shrimp tested in Savannah was imported, raised concerns about overseas farming practices, and said Georgia-caught shrimp did not receive antibiotics or growth hormones. The presenter also said the Georgia Restaurant Association had stopped opposing the bill and suggested increased awareness of shrimp origins had helped the local industry. No senators asked questions or spoke against the measure. The Senate adopted the substitute without objection and passed the bill, 43 to 8.

4. House floor session, February 11, 2026 (legislative day 17)

   From 1:57:23 · Watch on the General Assembly's Vimeo channel · Confirmed by the bill's status history (House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub)

   Summary by Georgia Commons: The sponsor asked the House to agree to the Senate substitute to HB 117, describing a requirement for restaurant menus to identify imported shrimp. The sponsor said the purpose was consumer transparency and support for Georgia fishermen. The sponsor explained that the Senate change excludes state hospitals at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities' request because patients do not select food from menus. One member questioned that exemption given the sponsor's health concerns. Another member supported the bill but said a cited radioactive-shrimp finding involved one sample below allowable limits that was stopped before entering the country. The sponsor acknowledged the correction while suggesting there had been several incidents, and said the FDA inspects 0.7% of imported shrimp. Other members voiced support for identifying seafood origins and buying Georgia shrimp. The sponsor said demand for domestic shrimp had increased following the previous year's discussion. The House agreed to the Senate substitute, 159 to 8.

• Read aloud: Senate floor session, January 28, 2026 (legislative day 8), 0:29:07

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