2017/02/24 - Report (37)
Use the drop down to the left to select the next 25 bills to display.

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0085 NeutralForest Land Conservation Valuation - Appraisal Methodology Jay Powell
1/1/2019 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/01/27-Report 2017/02/03-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2018/02/23 Report
2018/03/23 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
The substitute version of this bill changes the method of valuation of forest land conservation property by uncoupling that valuation from 2008 values as existing law provides. Instead, the valuation would first change to 2016 values and then reset every 3 years thereafter. In addition, this bill creates a new appraisal methodology for valuation of non-covenant timberland property (defined as property with the primary purpose of commercial timber production).The Department of Revenue (DOR) will develop a methodology each year for valuing such property via actual income data for such properties. However, the resulting values could not be less than 175% of the corresponding FLPA value for that property. DOR is allowed to withhold 3 percent administrative fee from FLPA assistance grants to counties, cities, or school districts. The bill is contingent upon ratification of an enabling constitutional amendment, HR 51. Local assessors and taxpayers would have the right to appeal DOR's appraisal methodology.
HB 0134 InactiveSingle County T-SPLOST Reforms James Epps
5/1/2017 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report
Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding

This legislation adds flexibility, clarifications and enhancements to the existing Single County T-SPLOST law. This bill allows Single County T-SPLOST to fund state transportation projects and removes dates that are no longer relevant so now all counties, with the exception of Fulton County who has their own code section, would follow the same Single County T-SPLOST law. It also permits more than one Single County T-SPLOST to be levied at the same time as long as the amount does not exceed 1 percent and allows cities to bond their T-SPLOST projects. Lastly, the bill clarifies that after January 1, 2018, Regional T-SPLOST and a Single County T-SPLOST cannot be on the ballot at the same time.

A more detailed description of HB 134 can be found here.

HB 0181 SupportSales and Use Taxes - Availability of Information to Local Governments Jodi Lott
1/25/2018 Senate Committee Favorably Reported Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/03-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/10 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report
2018/01/26 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local

This bill provides a mechanism by which the governing authority of a county or municipality can access sales and use tax information from the Department of Revenue (DOR). Present law prohibits DOR from disclosing tax information even to other governments. Under the substitute version of this bill, the governing authority appoints a designated officer or official  who can request a report from DOR regarding identifying information on those vendors within that local jurisdiction who are currently remitting sales tax reports (actual sales tax numbers would not be obtainable). The designated officer could additionally request DOR to verify that sales tax receipts from particular vendors are accurately being remitted to the appropriate jurisdiction. The information retains its confidential status and is not subject to the Open Records Act. The information may be discussed by the governing authority in executive session. Disclosure of such confidential information by a local official is punishable as a misdemeanor.

The text of this bill was also added to SB 216. 

HB 0194 NeutralCounties Must Consider Schools when Rezoning Todd Jones
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Governmental Affairs --
2017/02/03-Report 2017/02/24 - Report General County Government Land Use/Zoning Mandate
Todd Edwards
This legislation requires counties and cities to consider the impact that a proposed zoning action has on local school systems and their potential overcrowding - if the local school system provides the county with information and data on such impact after the county request it.  ACCG worked to further amend the bill to require school boards to consider the impact on city or county infrastructure, particularly roads and traffic, when siting new schoolhouses.    
HB 0205 SupportFracking Regulations John Meadows
5/8/2018 Effective Date Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2017/02/03-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report
2018/02/02 Report 2018/03/09 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Revenue & Finance
Sales Tax-Local Water Quality Water Quantity

This legislation amends the Oil and Gas Deep Drilling Act of 1975. It requires the creation of regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. Counties and cities have the ability to adopt local zoning or land use ordinances limiting the location or timing of fracking activities to protect natural resources, human life and human welfare. A three percent severance tax will be required from the sale price of the gas and oil obtained. Counties, where the fracking occurs, can enact local ordinances or resolutions to levy its own severance tax, which can't exceed nine cents per barrel of oil or two cents per thousand cubic feet of gas.  

HB 0257 SupportLocal Government Authority Finance Reports Jan Tankersley
7/1/2018 Effective Date Governmental Affairs State and Local Governmental Operations -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report 2018/02/02 Report
Auditing/Budget Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Financing General County Government
Hospital Authority Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards Tourism
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 0268 NeutralElections - Numerous Changes Barry Fleming
7/1/2017 Effective Date Governmental Affairs Ethics -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report
Elections General County Government Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
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 0285 OpposeAd Valorem Tax Assessments - Effect of Income Tax Credits David Knight
1/8/2018 Senate Recommitted Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report
Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance

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 0302 SupportProperty Tax Millage Rate - Notice Requirements Randy Nix
2/15/2018 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Ways & Means --
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/02 Report
2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
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 0336 NeutralBroadband Ready Communities Don Parsons
2/22/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications --
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government
Preemption Sales Tax-Local Todd Edwards
This legislation enacts the Broadband Strategy for All of Georgia Act. It establishes a lengthy set of requirements and preemptions that local governments must adopt in order to be designated a broadband ready community.  Said designation is voluntary, and the program will be administered by the state Department of Economic Development.  Click here for a full summary of the bill.
HB 0347 OpposeProperty Tax Assessment - Challenges to Tax Digest David Knight
2/16/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
This bill changes the definition of fair market value by requiring consideration of the income approach if actual income and expense data is supplied by the taxpayer. The state revenue commissioner is also allowed to prepare such data. The bill also provides new procedures for a taxpayer to allege that the county board of tax assessors has failed to comply with state law or regulations regarding the valuation of property of a strata of property with the result that a county tax digest, or a portion thereof, would not be approved. Further, the bill also changes the method of ad valorem tax appeals and requires the board of equalization, appeal administrator, or hearing officer to provide a copy of the DOR Appraisal Procedures Manual to the taxpayer upon request of the taxpayer. Failure to provide the manual results in the taxpayer's asserted value becoming the fair market value.
HB 0362 OpposeLame Duck - Change Commissioners' Term in Office Andrew Welch
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Governmental Affairs --
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report Elections General County Government Todd Edwards
Training

All county commissioners elected on or after January 1, 2017, must take office on the Monday following their election so long as it is at least five days following the certification of election results.  If a petition to contest the election is filed, then the newly-elected commissioner takes office on the Monday following a judgment rendered, or the withdrawal or dismissal of the petition.  The officeholder shall be sworn in at the next county commission meeting - which shall be held no later than two weeks following their term of office.  For a full summary of this legislation, please click here.    

HB 0374 NeutralTax Assessment - Change Procedures David Knight
7/1/2018 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/09 Report 2018/03/2 Report
2018/03/23 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance Tax Commissioner
This legislation allows for electronic return of property to the tax commissioner if he or she has adopted a written policy accepting electronic service.  It also makes changes to the annual notice of current assessment from the board of tax assessors and makes changes to the property assessment appeals process, including lowering the value threshold for appeals to a hearing officer from $750,000 to $500,000.
HB 0399 NegotiatingEthics - No Longer Filing Campaign Disclosure Reports at Local Level Wendell Willard
2/21/2017 House Second Readers Judiciary --
2017/02/24 - Report Elections Ethics General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation amends the Ethics in Government Act in many areas, particularly to charges, hearings and evidence before the ethics commission, and penalties for violations.  Of possible concern to county commissioners is that campaign contribution disclosure reports can only be filed on paper (for a $40 fee) or directly on the ethics commission's Web site.  Candidates may no longer file with their local election superintendent.  ACCG would like to have all the aforementioned methods available to candidates.        
HB 0419 SupportFireworks - Counties May Limit Hours of Use Deborah Silcox
7/1/2018 Effective Date Regulated Industries Public Safety -
2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report 2018/03/23 Report Fireworks
General County Government Local Legislation Population Acts Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

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.      

HB 0426 SupportExpands Number of RN's Allowed to Practice Under a Physician in EMS Operations Sharon Cooper
2/22/2017 House Second Readers Health & Human Services --
2017/02/24 - Report Debra Nesbit EMS/Ambulance Health and Human Services Public Safety and Courts
This legislation would expand the number of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who are allowed to work under a physician in an EMS operations conducted by or on behalf of any county or municipality which employs a full time medical director.  Identical bill dropped in the Senate, S.B. 242.
HB 0427 SupportPhysician and Health Care Practitioners for Rural Areas Assistance Act Mark Newton
7/1/2017 Effective Date Health & Human Services Health and Human Services -
2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report Debra Nesbit Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development
Health and Human Services
This expands the Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Act to include dentist, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses, who have completed their health care education access to the loan repayment program operated by the Georgia Board of Phyisican Work Force.
HB 0434 SupportEminent Domain - Condemnation of Blighted Property Wendell Willard
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development
Eminent Domain/Condemnation Financing General County Government Larry Ramsey
This bill establishes a process whereunder a local government can seek initial court determination of whether a property is blighted, and remedy of blight is deemed to be a "public use." If property is determined to be blighted, it can be the subject of condemnation proceedings. Additionally, such blighted property would not be subject to the normal limitations that a government must 1) hold condemned property for at least 20 years and 2) offer the property back to the prior owner if not put to public use within five years.
HB 0436 EvaluatingCounty Boundary Disputes - Placement of Revenues in Escrow Robert Dickey
2/23/2017 House Second Readers Judiciary --
2017/02/24 - Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
Tax Commissioner
This bill provides that during a boundary dispute between counties, all ad valorem property tax and all sales and use taxes levied on and collected withing the disputed area are to be placed in an escrow account pending the resolution of the dispute.
HB 0438 NeutralOff-Road Vehicle Restrictions in Public Spaces Patricia Gardner
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Motor Vehicles --
2017/02/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government Kathleen Bowen Law Enforcement
Public Safety and Courts Roads Traffic Enforcement
This legislation limits the ability to drive off-road vehicles on a highway or in a public space in a manner which poses a direct threat of harm to persons or property. 
HB 0446 Support9-1-1 Local Government Authority and Increased Revenue for 9-1-1 Centers Alan Powell
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications --
2017/02/24 - Report 911 Debra Nesbit Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government
Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Sheriff
This legislation creates the Local Government 9-1-1 Authority which will provide coordination, planning, enforcement of statutory requirements for the payment of 9-1-1 fees, auditing, and development of best practices and standards for the operation of 9-1-1 Centers.  For a section by section summary click here.  For talking points click here.  Identical legislation dropped in Senate S.B. 222.
HB 0451 NegotiatingExceptions to County Road Restrictions James Epps
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Governmental Affairs --
2017/02/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government Kathleen Bowen Law Enforcement
Preemption Public Safety and Courts Roads Traffic Enforcement
This legislation requires counties and cities to allow vehicles weighing over 36,000 pounds or longer than 30 feet to use any county and city roads if the vehicle is making a delivery on the road, using the road as the route to make a delivery or pick up, providing service on the road, or if avoiding the road would cause the driver to go more than ten miles out of the most direct route. This legislation allows counties and cities to adopt a local ordinance that would make the driver justify the presence of their vehicle on a restricted road.  
HB 0473 NeutralService Animal Accommodations Tom Kirby
2/14/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Health and Human Services --
2017/02/24 - Report 2018/02/16 Report Animal Control Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government
Health and Human Services Kathleen Bowen Transit
This legislation provides that physically and mentally impaired individuals must be provided full access to trains, buses, streetcars and other modes of public transportation, as well as to areas where the general public is invited. Individuals may be accompanied by service animals when the animal provides assistance with a major life functions, such as ambulating, seeing, hearing, learning, working and interacting with others.  Service animals that provide only emotional support, comfort or companionship are not required to be allowed.
HR 0051 NeutralForest Land Conservation Valuation - Constitutional Amendment Jay Powell
5/2/2018 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/01/27-Report 2017/02/03-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2018/03/23 Report
Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
 This enabling constitutional amendment removes from the constitution the existing method of valuation of forest land conservation use (also known as FLPA property), which is tied to 2008 fair market valuation. Instead, such valuations would be updated every three years. Additional FLPA grants over a four-year period would be available to offset local government funding losses as a result of this valuation change. Additionally, this constitutional amendment also would create commercial timberland property as a separate class of property, which in turn would allow for different assessment of such property. It also allows DOR to withhold an administrative fee from FLPA grants for purposes of administering this new assessment process.The constitutional amendment, if ratified by the voters, will be implemented by HB 85.
HR 0058 NeutralIndependent School Systems - Allow More Tom Taylor
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Governmental Affairs --
2017/02/24 - Report Annexation/Municipalization General County Government Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards
This legislation asks the voters to approve an amendment to the Georgia Constitution allowing any city to establish an independent school system.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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