HB 0005 |
Support | Change in Grants to Counties Formula for Juvenile Judge Salaries |
Johnnie Caldwell |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Juvenile Justice |
Judiciary |
- |
|
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| This legislation changes the current amount for juvenile court judgeship grants-to-counties funding. The grant increases from $85,000 to $100,000 per circuit, with an additional funding for circuits with four or more superior court judgeships, the grant will include $25,000 per superior court judgeship over four. For example a circuit with nine superior court judgeships would receive $225,000 per year for that circuit. |
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 |
- |
|
|
| 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 0093 |
Neutral | Sale and Use Tax Refunds - No Interest Payable |
John Corbett |
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|
3/29/2018 |
Senate Conference Committee Appointed 56th, 52nd, 30th |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| This bill changes refund procedures for purchasers with a certificate or exemption letter from the state revenue commissioner. If the certificate has been obtained but not used prior to a purchase, any refund of sales tax is made without interest. Under present law, no interest is due on refunds only if a certificate had not been obtained and used prior to a purchase. As amended, this bill adds requirements for certain large purchasers who may directly pay sales tax rather than pay sales tax to their vendors. The Senate added the text of SB 378 (Measuring Success Act) and SB 432 (repeal of certain tax exemptions). |
HB 0125 |
Oppose | Sales and Use Taxes - Exemption for Equipment for Boat Repairs/Maintenance Exceeding $500,000 |
Ron Stephens |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| As amended in the Senate Finance Committee, this bill caps the maximum sales tax on equipment, etc. for boat repairs at $35,000. Annual reporting would be required on the economic impacts of businesses qualifying for sales tax exemptions over this amount. This legislation would sunset in 2020. |
HB 0134 |
Inactive | Single County T-SPLOST Reforms |
James Epps |
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|
5/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| 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.
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HB 0181 |
Support | Sales and Use Taxes - Availability of Information to Local Governments |
Jodi Lott |
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|
1/25/2018 |
Senate Committee Favorably Reported |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| 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 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 |
- |
|
|
| 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 0205 |
Support | Fracking Regulations |
John Meadows |
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|
5/8/2018 |
Effective Date |
Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications |
Regulated Industries and Utilities |
- |
|
|
| 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 0225 |
Oppose | Sales and Use Taxes - Ride Share Networks |
Jay Powell |
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|
1/8/2018 |
Senate Recommitted |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| As originally introduced, this bill would have applied sales and use taxes to ride share networks (such as Uber) as well as limousine and taxi services. As amended in a Senate committee, however, HB 225 would exempt all such ride services from sales and use taxes. |
HB 0238 |
Inactive | Solar Farms - Removal from Conservation Use Easements |
James Hatchett |
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|
4/17/2017 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| This bill amends both CUVA (Conservation Use Valuation Act) and FLPA (Forest Land Protection Act) and allows a property owner to use covenant property for solar generation of electricity without triggering a breach of the covenant. The portion of the property to be used for solar generation 1) must be removed from the covenant at the time the solar energy equipment is installed via boundary survey and 2) will be subject to ad valorem taxation at fair market value. |
HB 0253 |
Support | Dog and Cat License Plates |
Wendell Willard |
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|
3/27/2018 |
Senate Tabled |
Motor Vehicles |
Public Safety |
- |
|
|
| This legislation amends the special license plates to help fund dog and cat reproductive sterilization support. |
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 |
- |
|
|
| 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 0340 |
Support | Title Ad Valorem Tax on Vehicles - Change Distribution Formula |
Shaw Blackmon |
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|
1/1/2018 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| As introduced, this bill provides for the comprehensive revision of the distribution of state and local TAVT proceeds. First, during a four-year phase in period, counties (and other local governments) first receive proceeds based upon the 2012 tax year ad valorem collections minus the amount of ad valorem tax collected in the current month. During that phase-in period, the remaining amount is split between the state and local governments on a graduated scale that shifts more money to the local governments. Following the phase in period, all vehicle ad valorem taxes and TAVT proceeds are split 30 percent to the state and 70 percent to local government. During the phase in period, the distribution of local TAVT proceeds among counties, schools, and cities remains the same as at present. Under a proposed substitute to the original bill, beginning in 2022 the county/schools/cities split would be at the average percentages those entities received from 2018 through 2021. More information is available here. As passed by the Senate Finance Committee, the above changes to the state/local distribution of TAVT was removed from the bill. As ultimately approved by both the Senate and House, HB 340 only changes the formula for calculation of TAVT on leased vehicles. |
HB 0375 |
Neutral | Tax Executions - New Owners |
Brad Raffensperger |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Ways & Means |
Finance |
- |
|
|
| This legislation changes the definition of new owner for purposes of tax executions. Under existing law, new owners (those who purchase after January 1st and after taxes are due) are entitled to a new notice of taxes and at least 60 days before penalties and interest can be applied. This bill would change "new owner" to mean persons who purchase real property after January 1st but on or before taxes are due. This bill would also repeal the provision of law allowing tax commissioners to receive 50 cents for issuance of a tax execution. |
HB 0419 |
Support | Fireworks - Counties May Limit Hours of Use |
Deborah Silcox |
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|
7/1/2018 |
Effective Date |
Regulated Industries |
Public Safety |
- |
|
|
| 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 0434 |
Support | Eminent Domain - Condemnation of Blighted Property |
Wendell Willard |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Judiciary |
Judiciary |
- |
|
|
| 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 0481 |
Neutral | Drone Ordinances |
Kevin Tanner |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Transportation |
Transportation |
- |
|
|
| This legislation preempts local governments from adopting ordinances regulating the use of drones except for ordinances adopted before April 1, 2017, ordinances that enforce Federal Aviation Administration restrictions or ordinances prohibiting the launch, recovery or intentional landing of drones on county property. |
HB 0510 |
Neutral | Alcohol - Alter Distance between Sales and Churches/Schools
|
Calvin Smyre |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Regulated Industries |
Regulated Industries and Utilities |
- |
|
|
| This legislation removes measuring requirements between establishments that sell alcohol and churches and schools in counties with a population between 175,000 and 195,000 in the 1970 census or any future census. Following the 2010 census, Muscogee, Hall and Forsyth counties fall into this population range. |
SB 0002 |
Neutral | The "FAST" Act - Local Fee, Permit and Licensing Requirements |
Michael Dugan |
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|
3/21/2018 |
House Insisted |
Small Business Development |
Economic Development and Tourism |
- |
|
|
| This legislation had mandated that cities and counties which charge any regulatory fees (license or permit fees) or have any regulatory requirements to establish a schedule of such fees and requirements which must include time lines necessary for processing completed applications and a list of all documentation needed by applicants to meet regulatory requirements. Upon receipt of an application related to any fee, the applicant will pay only 50% of the fee. The local government must then notify the applicant whether an application is complete. Whenever the local government does not meet its deadline for acting on a "complete" application, the associated fees will be reduced by 10 percent for each 10 days said action is delayed. Local governments are required to set up a second, expedited process for processing all applications and permits and must study how to share applicants' information with other local, state and federal agencies so that applicants don't have to duplicate filing efforts with other governments.
For a summary of the above, Senate version of SB 2 please click here.
The above language was removed by the House and replaced with a voluntary "Ready for Partnership Georgia" program whereby local governments can adopt a series of measures to streamline their permitting processes to obtain said designation. While ACCG has no concerns with the now-current House version of the bill, there will most certainly be efforts by the Senate to reinstall the above language that ACCG opposes. Stay tuned, as this one will likely be decided in a conference committee report late on the last day of session.
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SB 0040 |
Support | Expand Scope of Practice To Allow EMS Emergency Authorization to Transport Mental Ill |
Renee Unterman |
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|
3/30/2017 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Health & Human Services |
Health and Human Services |
- |
|
|
| This legislation allows emergency medical service (EMS) personnel to transport a person within the county to a an emergency receiving facility if EMS has been dispatched in response to an emergency if EMS believes that there is probable cause to believe that the person is mentally ill requiring involuntary treatment, and EMS has consulted with the emergency receiving facility physician, who is of the opinion that it is in the best interest that the person be immediately transported to the facility. |
SB 0045 |
Watch | Prohibition of Any Device Used to Film Under or Through a Person's Clothing |
Larry Walker |
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|
3/24/2017 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Judiciary Non-Civil |
Judiciary |
- |
|
|
| This legislation makes it a crime to surreptitiously record a person under or through a person's clothing to view their body or undergarments. There is an exception for law enforcement and prosecutors investigating and prosecuting criminal offenses and retailers that provide surveillance in a customer changing room. |
SB 0099 |
Neutral | Judicial Procedure for Purging Information from NCIC and Change of Definition of Knife in Weapons Carry Statute |
Elena Parent |
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|
3/30/2017 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Judiciary Non-Civil |
Public Safety |
- |
|
|
| This legislation allows individual's who have been involuntarily hospitalized to have the records purged and not included in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. This bill was amended to change the definition of Knife in the possession and carrying of a concealed weapon statute from 5 inches to 12 inches. |
SB 0104 |
Neutral | Counties Must Post Human Trafficking Hotline Notice |
Donzella James |
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|
5/8/2017 |
Effective Date |
Judiciary Non-Civil |
State Institutions and Property |
- |
|
|
| This legislation requires counties to post notices regarding the human trafficking hotline in buildings owned or leased by the county that have public access, as well as provide a link to the GBI hotline notice on the homepage of their Web site. If the government leases the property, then the notice shall be posted in restrooms that are exclusively used by the government entity. It also distinguishes between first- and second-degree carjacking; addresses the unknowing possession of a fake insurance document; outlaws taking photos of person's "intimate parts" without their consent; and outlaws a new variation of synthetic marijuana. |
SB 0121 |
Inactive | State Health Officer May Issue Standing Order For Access to Opioid Antagonists |
Butch Miller |
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|
4/18/2017 |
Effective Date |
Judiciary Non-Civil |
Health and Human Services |
- |
|
|
| This legislation enacts the Jeffrey Dallas Gay, Jr. Act, which will allow certain people or entities to obtain and administer opioid antagonists to those believed to have over dosed on opioids. |
SB 0149 |
Neutral | Mandatory Training for Local Law Enforcement Officers Serving as School Resource Officers and Prohibition of Tobacco or Tobacco Products in Local Jails |
Emanuel Jones |
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|
7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Public Safety and Homeland Security |
Education and Youth |
- |
|
|
| This legislation mandates special training for local law enforcement officers that are assigned duty as school resource officers for five consecutive days. The P.O.S.T. approved course must be completed within six months of appointment as a school resource officer. Language was added to the bill to prohibit the use or possession of tobacco or tobacco products at any correctional facility. Criminal penalities are outlined for those who violate the law. |