This legislation allows cities and counties to regulate the hours of firework usage within their communities on all but seven days of the year via the adoption of a noise ordinance, so long as said ordinance is general and applicable to all manner of sounds and noises.  Before adopting the ordinance, counties must post notice in the legal organ or on their Web site stating the date, time and place of the meeting and informing the public that the ordinance will affect the use of fireworks.  Statewide use remains allowed from 10:00 a.m to 11:59 p.m. on January 1, December 31, July 3 and July 4, the Saturday and Sunday preceding Memorial Day, Labor Day, and from 12:00 midnight to 1:00 a.m. on January 1 annually. On the downside, for counties not adopting an ordinance, fireworks usage extends from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. every day of the year.  Previously, usage was allowed from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.      

This legislation clarifyies that if a city of county has a medallion system or “certificate of public necessity and convenience” in place, it is against the law for anyone to operate a taxicab without a medallion. Additonally, taxicab drivers would be required to display within full view of passengers an idientification card that included the name and photo of the operator and the name of company for whom the operator is driving.

This bill also includes the prohibition of the governing authority of any county or city airport from imposing any age limit on vehicles for hire doing business at such airport that is less than eight years measured from the vehicle's year of manufacture, for any vehicle used as a ride share, taxicab, or limousine. Lastly, the bill defines "soft taximeters" and states that that no local government shall have the authority to reject or prohibit the use of soft taximeters.

This bill authorizes cities and counties, in which the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on premises is already lawful on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight, to allow said sale from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight if the county adopts an ordinance or resolution and the voters so approve via a referendum. 

Counties wishing to have this approved by the November 6, 2018 election should pass their ordinances by July 31st in order to provide their elections superintendents to prepare the proper materials ready and distributed to notify the public by August 4, 2018.     

This legislation authorizes brew pubs and breweries to sell up to 3,000 barrels of their malt beverage annually directly to the public either through consumption on the premises or allowing a patron to purchase and carry off up to 288 ounces (a case) of the beverage a day. The current requirement that tours be offered prior to malt beverage purchase is eliminated. The bill also authorizes a licensed distiller to sell up to 500 barrels of distilled spirits annually directly to the public for consumption on the premises or up to 2,250 milliliters, per person, per day, to be consumed off premises.  The brewer or distiller will remit all state and local sales, use, and excise taxes to the proper tax collecting authority and sales are conditioned on and governed by local alcohol law. The Georgia Department of Revenue is to promulgate rules governing these processes.