2019/02/22 Report (53)
Use the drop down to the left to select the next 25 bills to display.

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0030 SupportAmended State Fiscal Year 2019 Budget David Ralston
3/12/2019 Effective Date Appropriations Appropriations -
2019/01/25 Report 2019/02/08 Report 2019/02/22 Report Debra Nesbit
 The Amended Fiscal Year 2019 budget recognizes $435.7 million in additional revenue for a 1.6% increase over the FY 2019 budget passed during the 2018 Special Session. This brings the total appropriation for Amended FY 2019 to $26.9 billion. Please click here for the overview of the Amended 2019 Budget.
HB 0035 NeutralSales Tax Exemption on Poultry Diagnostic and Disease Monitoring Services Sam Watson
7/1/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/15 Report Larry Ramsey
This legislation exempts state and local sales tax on poultry diagnostic and disease monitoring services provided by a nonprofit 501(c)(5) organization.
HB 0076 NeutralLocals May Reduce State Distance Restrictions on Alcohol Sales Ron Stephens
4/2/2019 Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute Regulated Industries Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report Alcohol/Tobacco
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards
Currently, state law prohibits the sale of distilled spirits within 100 yards of churches and within 200 yards of schools and college campuses.  Under this bill, local governments may authorize the sale of packaged alcohol (for consumption off premise) within 200 yards of a college via a less restrictive ordinance; however they cannot enact any greater distances - a more restrictive ordinance.  The term "College" shall include, but not be limited to, all buildings, campuses and grounds of a college.       
HB 0101 NeutralExpand Sales Tax Exemption on All-terrain Vehicles Jason Ridley
7/1/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This legislation would expand the sales tax exemption on 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles to also include certain 3-wheel ATVs.
HB 0182 SupportSales Tax on Out of State Vendors Brett Harrell
4/28/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/08 Report 2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report
2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
Under present law, out-of-state vendors that sell $250,000 or more of goods (or 200 or more transactions) into Georgia must either collect all sales taxes or send the purchaser and the Department of Revenue (DOR) annual notice of those purchases. This bill would lower that threshold to $100,000 or more and would eliminate the notice option, with the result that all such vendors will be required and remit to DOR all sales taxes.
HB 0183 NeutralAd Valorem Taxation - Right to Appeal when no Property Tax Return filed Brett Harrell
7/1/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/08 Report 2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill provides that a taxpayer is not required to file an annual "return" for property before having the right to appeal the property's assessment.
HB 0213 NeutralGeorgia Hemp Farming Act John Corbett
5/10/2019 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Agriculture Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation allows for the farming of industrial hemp. The bill authorizes the Georgia Department of Agriculture to issue hemp growers licenses and hemp processors permits as well as requires the Department to create a plan to regulate hemp production. Colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia would be allowed to conduct research on the cultivation and uses of hemp. 

Hemp growers and producers would have to get a criminal background check conducted by local law enforcement. In addition, they would be required to give the GBI, Dept of Agriculture and state and local law enforcement access to where hemp is being processed, handled, cultivated or harvested to conduct inspections.   

This legislation is in response to a 2018 House Study Committee on Industrial Hemp Production. The study committee meeting details and the final committee report can be found here.
HB 0220 SupportReauthorize Hazardous and Solid Waste Trust Funds Terry Rogers
6/30/2019 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Finance -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste
This legislation renews the fees that make up the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund (HWTF) and the Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) for three years, from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2022. 

Effective from July 1, 2020, until June 30, 2022, the  75¢ per ton of solid waste disposal fee would be reduced to 51¢ per ton. Effective from July 1, 2020, until June 30, 2022, the $1 fee imposed upon the retail sale of all new replacement tires would be reduced to 38¢ per tire sold. In effect, the fees are reduced by the percentages that were not appropriated for their intended purposes in the last completed fiscal year, 2018.

The HWTF and SWTF support efforts including clean-up of abandoned contaminated sites, leaking landfills, scrap tires and illegal dumps; in addition, funds go towards waste reduction and recycling programs. 

ACCG supports the reauthorization of both trust funds but is advocating for the successful passage of HR 164, a constitutional amendment that authorizes the Georgia General Assembly to establish, by statute, true and dedicated trust funds.
HB 0264 OpposeEMSC Transparency Bill William Werkheiser
6/25/2020 House - House Conference Committee Appointed #2 116th, 157th, 16th Health and Human Services Ethics -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Debra Nesbit EMS/Ambulance Health and Human Services Public Safety and Courts
This legislation sets forth requirements for lobbying disclosures when promoting or opposing any matter before one or more local coordinating entities.  The bill also requires that all meetings be conducted in accordance with the open meetings statute and requires that each member of the local coordinating entity to comply with conflict of interest policies.  The legislation also prohibits any employee, operator, contractor, or owner of an ambulance provider currently providing service for a territorial zone or of an ambulance provider that has submitted a proposal for a new ambulance service in such territorial zone from serving on any committee, subcommittee, or ad hoc committee that is involved in the seletion of ambulance provider for the zone or from voting on any proposals from ambulance providers for new service within the zone.  The bill also sets forth procedures for appealing decisions and provides the final decision under the Georgia Administrative Procedure Act. Finally the legislation requires the Department of Public Health to make recommendations to each local coordinating entity on benchmarks for accountability standards for each territorial zone.  On and after October 1, 2020 each ambulance provider shall submit quarterly reports outlining the number of 911 calls received; the number of 911 call answered; the response times; and a copy of quarterly reports submitted to the local entity.
HB 0302 OpposeLocal Design Standards Preempted Vance Smith
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards

Similar to SB 172, this mammoth preemption legislation prohibits cities and counties from regulating "building design elements" in single or double family dwellings.  Local governments could no longer enact standards on:

-      exterior building color,

-      type or style of exterior cladding material, 

-      style or materials of roof structures or porches,

-      exterior nonstructural architectural ornamentation,

-      location or architectural styling of windows and doors, including garage doors,

-      the number and types of rooms, 

-      the interior layout of rooms, and

-      types of foundation structures approved under state minimum standard codes.  

In short, if a house meets state minimum standard building codes, it can be built.  The legislation would not apply to state or federal historic districts, mobile homes and homes governed by a neighborhood association or covenant.  

If applicable, please share examples of how this would impact any local design standards that your county has adopted with Todd Edwards (tedwards@accg.org).    

    

       

HB 0315 NeutralLocal Bids - Consultants Who Help Draft Must Disclose any Conflict of Interest Mark Newton
7/1/2019 Effective Date Governmental Affairs Government Oversight -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report
2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report General County Government Procurement Todd Edwards
This legislation requires consultants who help draft local governments' bid, proposal, procurement or purchasing specifications to disclose and detail whether they or their family have any possible conflicts of interest or financial interest with a firm who may respond to the bid/proposal.  There are exceptions for confidential economic development activities and economic development authorities, and while attorneys must disclose the existence of a conflict, they do not have to provide details.          
HB 0316 SupportElections - Voting Machine Replacement and Elections Bill of 2019 Barry Fleming
4/2/2019 Effective Date Governmental Affairs Ethics -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report
Elections General County Government Todd Edwards

This omnibus elections legislation provides that the state will provide new, uniform voting machines for every county in Georgia "as soon as possible".  Voting equipment would consist of ballot marking devices (electronic devices, similar to the DRE interface currently used) which produce a paper ballot that is then scanned into a recording device that tabulates votes.  Among other election revisions, the bill provides additional notice before a voter's registration is rejected, before a felon is removed from the rolls, and to those appearing to have moved to another state; changes from 3 to 5 years the period of inactivity before a voter is removed from the rolls, also requiring notification prior to removal; requires counties to provide additional notice of any precinct changes; provides a cure period if a voter's signature on an absentee ballot does not mirror that used in registration; and lifts the 10-voter limit on persons assisting disabled or other individuals complete absentee ballots.  Lastly, the bill enrolls Georgia in a 25-state collaboration - the Electronic Registration Information Center - to share voting information in order to track and cancel voters who move out of state.  For a more thorough summary of HB 316, please click here.

     

HB 0322 SupportGeorgia Procurement Registry - Revisions to Local Government Mandate Tom McCall
4/28/2019 Effective Date Governmental Affairs State and Local Governmental Operations -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
General County Government Procurement Todd Edwards

Following up on last session's HB 489, this bill makes changes to local requirements on posting bids and proposals on the Georgia Procurement Registry (GPR).  Under current law, if a local government extends a bid or proposal for goods or services valued at over $10,000, they must also advertise them on the GPR.  This bill increases that monetary threshold to only goods or services valued at over $100,000.  In return, however, locals must advertise the bid/proposal on the GPR for the same period of time “as set by ordinance or practice” of the local government.       

HB 0328 NeutralSets Forth Permitting Requirements for Body Artists and Body Art Studios (Tattoo Studios) Karen Mathiak
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Regulated Industries --
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services
This legislation requires that all body artists and body art studios be permitted and regulated by the local health departments.
HB 0335 OpposeTitle Ad Valorem Taxes - Exemption for Head Start Vehicles Al Williams
2/20/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/22 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
This bill would exempt from paying title ad valorem tax any vehicles purchased by a nonprofit organization that provides Head Start programs pursuant to the state Head Start program.
HB 0344 NeutralAd Valorem Tax Exemption - Habitat for Humanity Matthew Gambill
5/2/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill would exempt from property tax properties held by a 501(c)(3) corporation for building/repairing single-family homes that are then financed by that corporation to individuals via no-interest loans. In the event any property is not ultimately financed in that manner, all back taxes will be due. This bill is tailored specifically for Habitat for Humanity. It is subject to referendum approval in November 2020.
HB 0349 SupportTax Allocation Districts - Amend County Powers Charles Martin
7/1/2019 Effective Date Governmental Affairs State and Local Governmental Operations -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/08 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill would permit counties to create tax allocation districts anywhere within the county, as opposed to only in unincorporated areas. Creation of a TAD within city limits would require approval by the city via resolution.
HB 0352 NeutralSales Tax Exemption - Projects of Regional Significance Albert Reeves
7/1/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/29 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill would extend through 2024 the existing sales tax exemption for projects of regional significance.
HB 0365 NegotiatingTaxation of Ride-Sharing Shaw Blackmon
6/26/2020 Senate - Senate Disagreed House Amend or Sub Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report
2019/03/29 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill originally addressed several changes to the title ad valorem tax (TAVT), including the TAVT rate and valuation of used cars sold by dealers. The Senate version of this bill completely replaced the above topic, and instead would exempt ride-shares (Uber, Lyft, etc.) from sales taxes and instead impose a 50-cent per ride fee on such rides.
HB 0372 NeutralAd Valorem Taxes - Homestead Exemption for Surviving Spouses of EMTs Karla Drenner
2/21/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/22 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
Subject to approval in a statewide referendum, this bill would grant an exemption from ad valorem taxes in the full value of a homestead to a surviving spouse of an emergency medical technicial or highway emergency response operator killed in the line of duty.
HB 0375 EvaluatingOperation of Trains at Crossings Joseph Gullett
2/21/2019 House - House Second Readers Transportation --
2019/02/22 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen
This bill prohibits the operation of a train in a manner that occupies or blocks a street, road, or highway grade crossing longer than 15 minutes unless its necessary to comply with safety signals, to avoid striking an object or person on the track, due to circumstances beyond control of the train or in order to comply with federal safety regulation or federal law.
HB 0378 SupportRental Car Excise Taxes - Collection by Marketplace Facilitators Hugh Williamson
3/10/2020 Senate Read and Referred Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2020/02/21 Report 2020/03/13 Report Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance
This bill would require collection of the local-option 3% rental car excise tax by any entity/online platform (a "marketplace facilitator") that facilitates the rental/leaseof 5 or more vehicles.
HB 0379 SupportSpecial Purpose Local Option Sales Tax - Revise Reporting Requirement Beth Moore
5/7/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Government Oversight -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
Under current law, local governments receiving SPLOST funds must publish each year by December 31st a report on SPLOST collections/expenditures. This bill would allow that annual report to be published no later than six months following the end of the local government's fiscal year.
HB 0382 SupportGA Outdoor Stewardship Act - Clean Up Bill Jon Burns
7/1/2019 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation is a clean-up bill to last year's Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (HB 332). Language is included that expands the definition of who is eligible to receive grant and loan funds from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to now include "constituted recreation authorities". Local governments were already included as an eligible recipient. 
HB 0387 NeutralAllows Private, Nonprofit and Volunteer Fire Departments to Levy a Property Lien for Unpaid Services Requested by the Property Owner Eddie Lumsden
7/1/2019 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/22 Report Debra Nesbit Fire Services
Public Safety and Courts
House Bill 387 establishes a new category of allowable liens to include those in favor of private, non-profit, volunteer fire departments for debts which stem from the performance of their services that are requested by property owners.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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