2018/02/02 Report (31)
Use the drop down to the left to select the next 25 bills to display.

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0061 SupportSales Tax on Internet and Out of State Retailers Jay Powell
1/1/2019 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/02/17-Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report 2018/02/02 Report
Larry Ramsey Sales Tax-Local

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 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 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 0493 NeutralOpen Records - Counties Must Also Record Public Comment Valencia Stovall
3/23/2018 Senate Read Second Time Governmental Affairs Government Oversight -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/03/2 Report General County Government Mandate Open Records/Meetings Act
Todd Edwards
This legislation requires that cities, counties and school boards that post videos of their meetings online to include the public comment section, if any, of their meetings on said posted video, except when a technical difficulty results in less than the entire meeting be recorded or available for public viewing.  That video must be maintained on the web site according to the records retention policy of the local governing authority.       
HB 0683 SupportFY 2018 Amended Budget David Ralston
3/9/2018 Effective Date Appropriations Appropriations -
2018/01/19 Report 2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/03/2 Report Appropriations
Debra Nesbit Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government Health and Human Services Nat. Res. & the Environment
Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance
Please click here for a summary of the amended budget.
HB 0697 NeutralExtension of Sales Tax Exemption for Non-Profit Health Centers Darlene Taylor
7/1/2018 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/02 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill extends the sunset for two existing sales and use tax exemptions, both of which apply to both state and local sales tax, for sales to nonprofit health centers and sales to nonprofit volunteer health clinics. Each exemption is currently set to expire on June 30, 2018. If the bill passes, the new expiration date for each exemption will be June 30, 2023.
HB 0723 NeutralSales Tax Exemption - Non-Profit Organizations Providing Poultry Diagnostic Services Sam Watson
3/27/2018 Senate Tabled Ways and Means Finance -
2018/02/02 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill adds an exemption from state and local sales and use tax for sales by or to certain nonprofit organizations which have the primary purpose of providing poultry diagnostic and disease monitoring services.
HB 0741 SupportAd Valorem Taxation - Consideration of Income Data John Corbett
1/29/2018 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/02 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
This bill amends the definition of 'fair market value' for ad valorem tax purposes. Currently, the income approach is required to be used if data is available and the bill will change this standard to merely being 'considered' rather than required. Also, under current law, if the owner voluntarily supplies actual income and expense data, it is required to be considered. The bill will change this standard to the data merely being one component of the fair market value determination.
HB 0742 NeutralRabies Inoculation - Pets Exempt if Shot Compromises their Health Matt Gurtler
1/29/2018 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2018/02/02 Report Animal Control General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This bill exempts pets from required rabies inoculation if a licensed veterinarian determines in writing that it would compromise an animal's health.  Said exemption remains in place until a licensed veterinarian determines the inoculation would not compromise the animal's health.   
HB 0748 EvaluatingCommunity Association Transparency and Protection Act William Boddie
2/5/2018 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Judiciary --
2018/02/02 Report Code Enforcement General County Government Nat. Res. & the Environment Todd Edwards
This legislation, mirroring SB 374, significantly revises state law on residential property associations (condominium, cooperative and homeowners') and the responsibilities of both developers and residents.  Among provisions, the bill stipulates turnover and transition requirements; requires developers to establish a two-year operating budget prior to turnover/transition which includes reserve accounts for capital expenditures and deferred maintenance; requires developers to post performance and maintenance bonds; and spells out civil penalties for violations of the Act.  For the proponents' summary of the bill, please click here.        
HB 0752 EvaluatingInvestigative and Arrest Powers Granted to GEMA for Homeland Security Purposes Alan Powell
1/30/2018 House Second Readers Public Safety and Homeland Security --
2018/02/02 Report Debra Nesbit Econ. Dev. & Transportation Emergency Management/Preparedness General County Government
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Government Immunity Health and Human Services Law Enforcement Nat. Res. & the Environment
Public Safety and Courts
This legislation expands the scope of GEMA and grants them arrest and investigative powers and statewide jurisdiction in homeland security matters.
HB 0756 SupportSPLOST - Annual Reporting Deadline Scott Hilton
3/12/2018 Senate Read Second Time Ways and Means Finance -
2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/03/09 Report Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill makes several changes to the requirements for annual reporting and publication of SPLOST proceeds and the expenditure thereof. Currently, reports are due within 180 days of the end of each calendar year. The bill changes "calendar year" to "fiscal year." For those counties with non-calendar year fiscal years, this would allow for SPLOST reports to be on the same schedule as annual audits, which are also due within 180 days of the end of the fiscal year.
HB 0769 SupportRecommendations on Healthcare from House Rural Development Council Rick Jasperse
7/1/2018 Effective Date Health and Human Services Health and Human Services -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/23 Report Debra Nesbit
Health and Human Services
This legislation requires that all plans administered by the State of Georgia to streamline and expedite the credentialing and billing processes for providers and establishes the Rural Center for Health Care Innovation and Sustainability within the State Office of Rural Health.  The bill also provides for the creation of micro-hospitals which have two to seven beds in a rural community which provide services seven days a week and 24 hours per day to stabilize patients.  Finally the legislation provides for a grant program to offset the costs of insurance for physicians who maintain a practice in medically underserved areas of the state.
HB 0770 EvaluatingLaw Library Funding - Delete Provision for Largest Counties Samuel Park
1/31/2018 House Second Readers Judiciary --
2018/02/02 Report Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Local Legislation Population Acts
Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards
This legislation eliminates a provision in state code stipulating how law library funds are received and distributed in counties having a population of 950,000 or more (Fulton County).  The targeted provision currently requires said funds be paid into the county's general fund to be used for the courts, including maintenance of the law library fund, but there would be no law library fund.     
HB 0779 NeutralCreation of the Homeland Security Division of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency Alan Powell
7/1/2018 Effective Date Public Safety and Homeland Security Public Safety -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/03/16 Report Debra Nesbit Emergency Management/Preparedness Firearms/Carry Laws
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Government Immunity Health and Human Services Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts
This legislation creates the Board of Homeland Security to be administratively attached to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of the Board is to coordinate all homeland security activities.
HB 0791 NegotiatingSovereign Immunity - Waiver for Certain Claims against the State Chuck Efstration
3/27/2018 Senate Tabled Judiciary Judiciary -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/2 Report
2018/03/23 Report General County Government Government Immunity Larry Ramsey Public Safety and Courts

 Following recommendations of the Governor's Court Reform Council and in response to several recent Georgia Supreme Court decisions, this bill would allow for a limited waiver of the state's sovereign immunity so as to allow lawsuits against the state for injunctions and/declaratory judgments where a state law is alleged to be unconstitutional. As amended in House committee, the substance of HB 674 was added to this bill, waiving county and city sovereign immunity for injunctive/declaratory relief for allegations that the local government has violated a constitutional provision, statute, state rule/regulation, or local ordinance. Immunity would still apply to any  related monetary damages. The amended version also permits direct appeals of trial court orders ruling that immunity does not apply to a claim (from HB 256).

A substitute version approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee removes local governments from the scope of this bill but retains the direct-appeal authorization. 

HB 0792 SupportReauthorize Hazardous Waste Trust Fund / Increase in Landfill Host Fee Terry Rogers
6/30/2018 Effective Date Ways and Means Natural Resources and the Environment -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/23 Report
Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Revenue & Finance Solid Waste

This legislation renews the fees that make up the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund (HWTF) for one year, from July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2019. Most of the fees come from the state’s 75-cent per-ton tipping fee on solid waste going into Georgia’s landfills – a fee counties pay if they own/operate landfills. 

This legislation also includes language to increase the state’s minimum local solid waste cost reimbursement (host) fee from $1 to $2.50 per ton on waste going to privately owned landfills. The $1 minimum fee has been in existence since 1992 and for the past ten years, ACCG has included in our policy platform a request for the host fee to increase.  ACCG was supportive of the efforts led by Sen. Burt Jones to increase this fee. 

Details: 
  • Host fee minimum increases from $1 to $2.50 per ton but not effective until July 1, 2019. This increase only applies to a municipal solid waste disposal facility that is owned by a private entity. 
  • Coal ash minimum fee is $1 per ton until 2025 when it will then increase to the $2 per ton minimum fee.
  • Inert waste, construction and demolition waste minimum is $1 per ton.
  • All of these fees are the minimum, not the ceiling. Counties can negotiate host fees, other fees and charges above the minimum. No host fees are to be reduced if they are in existence on July 1, 2019.
  • 50% of the host fee collected shall be used for these purposes:
    • To offset the impact of the facility
    • Public education efforts 
    • Cost of solid waste management
    • Administration of the local/regional solid waste management plan
    • Repair of damage to roads and highways associated with the facility
    • Enhancement of litter control programs
    • Ground-water and air monitoring and protection
    • Remediation and monitoring of closed or abandoned facilities
    • Infrastructure improvements associated with the facility
    • Reserve fund allocation
    • Acquisition of property adjacent or in reasonable proximity to the facility to serve as beautification, environmental, buffering or recreational purposes
    • Fees not used for the above purposes (the remaining 50%) can be used for other governmental expenses.
 
HB 0814 SupportCoroners - Counties Allowed to Set Salary Ricky Williams
3/12/2018 Senate Read Second Time Governmental Affairs State and Local Governmental Operations -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/09 Report Compensation
Coroners/Medical Examiners General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

This legislation authorizes counties to establish the compensation of coroners and deputy coroners, unless said salaries are already covered by local legislation.  Counties with a population of less than 34,999 must continue to offer the state's minimum salaries.  Counties are able to offer COLAs and longevity increases (which are currently required), but there can be no double dipping on state, then local COLAs.  Counties can elect not to set these salaries, but maintain the status quo spelled out in state law.          

HB 0817 NeutralGuns - Security Guards and Private Detectives Need Not Abide by Carry Laws While on Duty Heath Clark
2/15/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Public Safety and Homeland Security --
2018/02/02 Report Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation exempts licensed private detectives and security guards from having to abide by Georgia's weapons carry permitting laws (or prohibitions where weapons can be lawfully carried) so long as the individual is in the performance of their duties.         
HB 0820 NeutralTax Digests and Temporary Collection Orders Beth Beskin
5/3/2018 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
Originally, this bill establishes a new procedure that will apply to any county for which the state revenue commissioner did not approve a 2017 county tax digest and the county was granted by a court a temporary tax collection order in 2017.  In that limited circumstance, the temporary collection order shall apply to the next two years. During the collection period, the board of assessors is required to take corrective measures. Numerous criteria are set forth, but they are not required to be followed and need only be considered during the correction perio. The bill was completely changed in committee and is now a homestead exemption bill for the city of Atlanta.
HB 0821 OpposeTax Revisions - Aviation Fuel Taxes and TAVT Chuck Efstration
2/8/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Ways and Means --
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report Airports Larry Ramsey Property Tax
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill is DOR's annual income tax conformity bill. However, it also contains many provisions which affect counties. First, it revises TAVT and provides that no TAVT is collected on replacement titles for vehicles which are not less than 15 years years old. Second, it completely exempts jet fuel from SPLOST, ESPLOST, and single county TSPLOST (and presumably MOSt although it is silent on this point). Third, it partially exempts jet fuel from LOST and MARTA levies and rates in effect on December 30, 1987. Fourth, it redirects local sales and use tax revenue derived from jet fuel to state aviation programs and purposes and allows any excess to be appropriated for other purposes.  ACCG opposes the sales tax exemption for jet fuel, which is estimated to cost local governments up to $21M per year (the vast majority in Clayton County).
SB 0017 SupportSunday Brunch Alcohol Sales Renee Unterman
5/8/2018 Act 461 Regulated Industries Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/09 Report 2018/03/16 Report
Alcohol/Tobacco Business and Occupation Tax General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

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.     

SB 0257 NeutralFood Animal Cruelty? Must Consult Dept. of Agriculture before Filing Charges Bill Heath
3/21/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2018/01/26 Report 2018/02/02 Report 2018/03/23 Report Agriculture Animal Control
Criminal Procedure General County Government Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation requires local law enforcement officers to consult with a Department of Agriculture Category II veterinarian before filing criminal charges related to animal cruelty/husbandry of "food animals" - to confirm whether or not such conduct is in accordance with customary and standard practice.  A food animal is one raised for the production of an edible product intended for consumption by humans.   
SB 0357 NeutralCreation of the Health Coordination and Innovation Council Dean Burke
5/8/2018 Veto V21 Health and Human Services Health and Human Services -
2018/02/02 Report 2018/02/16 Report 2018/03/16 Report Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services
This legislation creates the Health Coordination and Innovation Council of the State of Georgia whose members will be the heads of all state agencies that maintain, report or receive health related data.  The purpose of the Council will be collect all pertinent data in one location and coordination state activities as they relate to health.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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