Shaping the future of the restaurant industry.

​The ADVOCATE team focuses on legislative and regulatory issues at a state and local level, and we work with those in power to find common ground, build support and shield restaurant owners throughout New York from burdensome laws and regulations. Our team is comprised of expert lobbyists and communications professionals who understand the challenges that the restaurant industry faces.
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Through effective lobbying, legislative monitoring, grassroots action and stakeholder engagement, we are standing up for your business and working to promote sensible approaches to regulatory issues and compliance. However, the more restaurant owners that get involved, the more effective we can be in our efforts. As a collective force we can shape the future of the restaurant industry.  

Working locally to protect you.

From Manhattan and Montauk to Buffalo and Lake Placid, new regulations that impact restaurants are continuously introduced by local governments. To expand our reach and be first in-the-know on regional advocacy issues we partner with members across the state. 

• NYSRA Regional Advocacy Representative Program​: Our team works side-by-side with local members who volunteer for this role, regional representation helps keep us ahead of the curve on pending regulations and allows us to solicit your input quickly.

Compliance help when you need it.

One of the most important services the ADVOCATE team provides members is compliance and regulatory assistance. Our goal is to help you overcome compliance obstacles and avoid costly fines. 

• Compliance Hotline | 833.682.6411 Call the hotline or email advocate@nysra.org detailing your issue or question and our government affairs specialists will assist you in any way we can. Our commitment to you is that we will get back to you with answers within one business day of receiving your call or email. 

Whether you need help with labor laws, have questions about your liquor license or anything else, our team of experts is here to ensure that you get the answers you need and are compliant. 

Keeping you informed.

A key part of advocacy efforts is sharing information and keeping members up to date on critical issues they need to know about. 

• Q1 2020 Legislative Landscape Here are some of the issues we will be tracking this year. 
• Q2 2019 Legislative Review The Association was able to successfully navigate the new political currents in NYS to win on some key issues, this was a good year overall for restaurants in the state.
• Q1 2019 Legislative Review It's been a busy first quarter for the Government Affairs team, read all about that and get updates on legislative issues that could impact the restaurant industry.
• Political Insider: Published every Thursday, this popular newsletter keeps you up-to-date with the latest legislative news from Albany and throughout New York. We share possible opportunities and potential threats we see coming, and what we are doing to protect the restaurant industry. 
• ADVOCATE Action Alerts: These emails are sent on an as needed basis, when new information about pending legislation or regulatory law changes becomes available we issue an alert that details what is happening, its potential impact, and if any action is required on your part - such as attending a hearing, contacting your local representative or sending a letter.