HB 0004 |
Support | Conservation Use Valuation Assessments (CUVA) - Effect of Delinquent Taxes |
Jason Spencer |
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1/25/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Ways and Means |
- | - |
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| This bill amends OCGA 48-5-7.4 and provides for 2 new requirements for Conservation Use Valuation Assessment (CUVA) of property: 1) property owners cannot apply for or renew a CUVA covenant if delinquent on any taxes owed in the county where the property lies, until those taxes are paid; and 2) if an owner becomes delinquent on county taxes while a CUVA covenant is in effect, that delinquency constitutes a breach of the covenant. |
HB 0061 |
Support | Sales Tax on Internet and Out of State Retailers |
Jay Powell |
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1/1/2019 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
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| This bill relates to the recurring issue of collecting sales tax on internet sales and other sales by out of state retailers. This bill creates a new vendor classification, 'delivery retailer', defined as a retailer that either collects more than $250,000.00 from retail sales to be delivered in Georgia or that conducts more than 200 such sales. A delivery retailer must 1) either collect and remit sales tax to the state or 2) notify the purchaser that the purchaser is required to file a sales and use tax return. In the second situation, the delivery retailer is also required to send to each purchaser (and copy the Department of Revenue) a tax statement listing purchase price, date of purchase, and other information. These changes would become effective in January of 2019. |
HB 0076 |
Inactive | Clerks of Court - Revisions to Recording Maps, Plats and Plans |
Rick Jasperse |
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|
5/8/2017 |
Effective Date |
Judiciary |
Judiciary |
- |
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| This is clean up legislation for HB 1004 from the 2016 legislative session. All maps, plats, plans and condominium plans must now be submitted electronically to the clerk of superior court. The remainder of the bill was worked out over the interim between counties, cities, surveyors, engineers, architects and the clerks, specifying the format for the submittal of plats and plans, required data for plats, which plats must be certified by land surveyors, and other certification required for plats. Attempts to add language stating that maps not creating new roads or utilities do not need local approval prior to submittal to the clerk were unsuccessful. For the guidance document, click here. |
HB 0146 |
Neutral | Requirement for Local Governments to Provide Cancer Benefit to All Firefighters |
Micah Gravley |
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1/1/2018 |
Effective Date |
Insurance |
State and Local Governmental Operations |
- |
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| This legislation requires fire departments to purchase insurance coverage on each firefighter to pay claims for cancer diagnosed after serving at least 12 consecutive months as a firefighter in the department if the cancer or treatment makes them unable to perform their firefighter duties. |
HB 0160 |
Support | Georgia Commission on Transit Governance and Funding |
Kevin Tanner |
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|
1/8/2018 |
Senate Recommitted |
Transportation |
Transportation |
- |
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| This legislation creates the Georgia Commission on Transit Governance and Funding. The commission will study and assess the needs and funding methods for mass transportation for any one or more metropolitan areas in Georgia.
|
HB 0177 |
Oppose | Mandate - Counties Must Provide Multi-Lingual Services |
Pedro Marin |
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2/1/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation requires counties and cities to provide equal access to public services to individuals with limited English proficiency, including providing in house staff interpreters, bilingual staff or interpreter programs if contact with individuals with limited English proficiency regularly occurs. Documents must be translated into any language spoken by at least three percent of the population of the area served by the county. ACCG has no position on whether counties do this, but opposes having the state mandate it upon us. |
HB 0183 |
Support | Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council |
Robert Dickey |
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7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
State Planning & Community Affairs |
Natural Resources and the Environment |
- |
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| This legislation transfers the Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Community Affairs and removes the council's sunset. The Council makes recommendations on utilizing Georgia's geospatial capabilities to meet federal notification requirements, achieving governmental data interoperability and advancing geospatial technology among Georgia's state and local governments. |
HB 0204 |
Oppose | Property Tax Bills - Not to Include Other Fees on Tax Bill |
Brett Harrell |
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1/8/2018 |
Senate Recommitted |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
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| As amended by the author before the Senate Finance Committee, this bill would prohibit the placement on property tax bills of nontax-related fees and assessments, unless that fee or assessment is established via the creation of a special tax district. Regardless of method of establishment of such fees, however, this bill would prohibit the filing of liens against property for nonpayment of fees or assessments -- only unpaid property taxes could result in a lien. As a result, this bill would indirectly repeal existing law authorizing the filing of liens for unpaid sanitation and water fees/bills. While the bill’s author maintains that placing such fees on property tax bills exposes the property owner to potential liens and losing of their homes due to unpaid fees, examples of that happening have not been provided. In contrast, placing fees on property tax bills provides convenience to citizens, lowers counties’ administrative costs, and results in higher collection rates. Because experience has shown that billing fees separately can significantly impact collections, counties could be faced with either raising fees for those who do pay in order to continue providing vital services, or shift those fees to property taxes. In addition, for those counties that currently do include fees on property tax bills, separating those billings will likely result in substantial administrative costs. More importantly, the loss of the ability to file liens would mean that counties would have to sue citizens for unpaid fees or raise fees on those citizens who do pay their bills. ACCG believes that the decision on whether to bill
separately or collectively for taxes and fees is best left to local officials,
who are better positioned to respond to the specific desires of their citizens. As amended in the Senate Finance Committee, the above subject was removed and replaced with unrelated language exempting non-profit organizations from the $5 transporation surcharge for hotel/motel stays. |
HB 0243 |
Neutral | Locals Can't Mandate Extra Pay for Schedule Changes |
William Werkheiser |
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7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Industry and Labor |
Insurance and Labor |
- |
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| This legislation preempts local governments from requiring contractors to provide additional pay to employees based upon schedule changes. |
HB 0244 |
Support | New Cities - Taxation for Unfunded County Pension Liabilities |
Mary Oliver |
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2/8/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This bill establishes a process by which a county within which a new city is formed may levy a tax within the newly incorporated city to cover that area's pro-rata share of the county's unfunded pension liability. |
HB 0248 |
Neutral | Automated Driving System Rules |
Trey Kelley |
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2/8/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Transportation |
- | - |
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| This legislaton creates rules and regulations to provide for the operation of motor vehicles with automated driving systems on public roads. |
HB 0256 |
Support | Direct Appeals of Immunity Rulings |
Barry Fleming |
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2/9/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Judiciary |
- | - |
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| This bill allows counties to immediately appeal the denial of sovereign immunity and other immunities. This bill would reverse a recent court decision holding that trial-court permission is necessary for such appeals, which in turn could mean that counties would have to spend taxpayer funds to cover the cost of an entire trial, only to find out in a subsequent appeal that the lawsuit was barred by sovereign or other immunities. Thte language of this bill has been added to HB 791. |
HB 0257 |
Support | Local Government Authority Finance Reports |
Jan Tankersley |
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7/1/2018 |
Effective Date |
Governmental Affairs |
State and Local Governmental Operations |
- |
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| This legislation combines the two annual reports (registry and financial reports) that local government authorities and local independent authorities must file annually with the Department of Community Affairs. Local authorities may not incur debt or credit obligations until they submit the report, though failure to do so will not impact any outstanding debt. |
HB 0259 |
Evaluating | Additional Offenses Committed by Children Ages 13 to 17 Will be Heard in Superior Court |
Alan Powell |
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2/9/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Juvenile Justice |
- | - |
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| This legislation expands the exclusive jurisdiction of the superior court for children ages 13-17 years charged with aggravated assault or aggavated battery. |
HB 0265 |
Inactive | Job Creation Tax Credits - Expansion of Program |
Chuck Efstration |
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|
4/25/2017 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
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| This bill expands the criteria for the 'establishing or relocating quality jobs' income tax credit, to include projects that create at least 50 jobs and invest at least $2.5 million in property acquisition. Additionally, the bill provides for state and local sales and use tax exemptions for: 1) admission tickets to arts facilities; and 2) property used in the renovation or expansion of a theater that contains an art museum, symphonic hall, and theater that charges for admission and is owned by a Section 501(c)(3) entity. This sales tax exemption is aimed at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. |
HB 0267 |
Oppose | Mandated County Sick Leave Policy |
Kimberly Alexander |
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2/9/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Industry and Labor |
- | - |
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| This legislation mandates that all counties implement a sick-time policy and provide at least 56 hours of paid sick leave per year to their employees. Paid sick leave shall accrue at the rate of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The bill places several other requirements on these sick leave policies. While ACCG has no issue with whatever sick leave the state may elect to provide its employees, we believe that counties are best apt to make their own personnel decisions. |
HB 0268 |
Neutral | Elections - Numerous Changes |
Barry Fleming |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Governmental Affairs |
Ethics |
- |
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| This legislation makes several changes to the elections laws, including the deadlines for election superintendents to complete their certification course; repeal of the nomination petition requirement; dates for filing the notice of candidacy; revisions to third-party filings for candidacy; removing references to municipal election registrars; the evidence of citizenship for voting purposes; requirements for personal identification on voter registration forms; provisions for changing a voter's address; polling places outside a voter's precinct; correcting printed and electronic ballots; application for an absentee ballot; oath of application absentee ballot; and the conduct of campaign activities in the vicinity to polling places. For the Senate's summary of the bill, please click here. |
HB 0270 |
Neutral | Equalized Homestead Option Sales Tax - Repeal |
Tom Taylor |
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2/9/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Ways & Means |
- | - |
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| This bill repeals the Equalized Homestead Option Sales and Use Tax. |
HB 0280 |
Neutral | Guns - Campus Carry |
Mandi Ballinger |
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7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Public Safety and Homeland Security |
Judiciary |
- |
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| This legislation allows for the licensed, concealed carrying of handguns on the property of a public technical school, vocational school, college or university, or other public institution of postsecondary education - applying to all license holders. Firearms will continue to be prohibited from athletic events, student housing (including fraternity and sorority houses), preschool or childcare space, college career academy or other specialized school, any room used for classes in which high school students are enrolled, rooms where disciplinary proceedings are conducted, |
HB 0285 |
Oppose | Ad Valorem Tax Assessments - Effect of Income Tax Credits |
David Knight |
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|
1/8/2018 |
Senate Recommitted |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
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| This bill changes the criteria that a tax assessor is required to apply in determining fair market value of property receiving certain income tax credits for ad valorem tax purposes. It is an effort to circumvent a recent court decision and limit the consideration of low income housing tax credits. The text of this bill was added to HB 196. |
HB 0286 |
Neutral | Guns - No License Needed |
Heath Clark |
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2/10/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Public Safety and Homeland Security |
- | - |
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| This legislation allows those eligible for a Georgia weapons carry license to legally carry a weapon without said license. All other provisions and restrictions in current law remain the same and local governments may still prohibit weapons carry in government buildings provided there is screening in place by security personnel. Note that folks can still apply for and receive carry licenses if they desire "administrative confirmation of their right" to carry a weapon. |
HB 0292 |
Inactive | Guns - 2017 Omnibus Bill I |
Rick Jasperse |
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|
5/8/2017 |
Effective Date |
Public Safety and Homeland Security |
Judiciary |
- |
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| HB 292 is this year's omnibus gun bull. Georgia will recognize carry licenses for those moving here from other states (which have reciprocity laws with Georgia) for 90 days, so long as the person abides by Georgia's laws; probate judges are authorized to provide information on gun safety; DNR must post a link on its Web site for hunting gun safety course information; folks who legally change their name can get a free replacement license (if within 90 days of their license registration); retired law enforcement officers from other states do not need a license. Any sheriff or retired sheriff, deputy or retired deputy sheriff, member or retired member of the Georgia State Patrol, member of retired member of GBI and retired law enforcement officer can carry a gun into a courthouse, unless the Sheriff providing security for the courthouse provides a lock box and screens out all other weapons by security personnel. |
HB 0297 |
Evaluating | Child Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act |
Debra Bazemore |
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|
2/10/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Education |
- | - |
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| This legislation enacts the Child Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act which requires community leaders and public safety officials to assist in development of Emergency Plans for all licensed early care and education centers. |
HB 0302 |
Support | Property Tax Millage Rate - Notice Requirements |
Randy Nix |
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|
2/15/2018 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Ways & Means |
- | - |
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| This bill changes the requirements regarding the advertising, notice, and adoption of millage rates. Specifically, it rewords the contents of the ad such that the focus is on the proposed millage rate rather than a tax increase. The ad can be combined with the required five year tax history. |
HB 0319 |
Support | Increase Reimbursement to Counties for Habeas Corpus Proceedings |
William Werkheiser |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Judiciary |
Judiciary |
- |
|
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| This legislation increases the maximum amount that may be reimbursed by the state to the counties for court costs for habeas corpus proceedings at both the trial and appellate levels from $10,000 to $30,000 annually. |