2019/03/01 Report (91)
Use the drop down to the left to select the next 25 bills to display.

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0031 SupportState Fiscal Year 2020 Budget David Ralston
5/10/2019 Effective Date Appropriations Appropriations -
2019/01/25 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Debra Nesbit
House Bill 31, the Fiscal Year 2020 budget, is set by a revenue estimate of $27.5 billion, an increase of $1 billion or 3.95% over the FY 2019 original budget. All education agencies receive 55% of available funds, followed by 22% budgeted for health and human services agencies, 8% for public safety activities and the remaining 15% for economic development and general government agencies.  Please click here for an overview of the 2020 Budget.
HB 0033 NeutralWeapons Permit - Renewal Extension for Active Military Eddie Lumsden
7/1/2019 Effective Date Public Safety and Homeland Security Veterans, Military and Homeland Security -
2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/29 Report Todd Edwards
This legislation enables active duty military service members to have an extension on renewing their weapons carry license.  If said license expires while the service member is on active duty outside the state, the individual has within six months of their return to renew it, via the presentation of their official military orders, without being required to obtain a new license.     
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 0093 NeutralSolid Waste Management - Notification Requirements for Coal Ash Pond Dewatering Jeff Jones
6/20/2020 Senate - Senate Read Second Time Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2020/02/21 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
Water Quality
The bill requires written notice be required to the local governing authority no later than three days prior to commencing the dewatering of coal combustion residual surface impoundments (coal ash ponds) has begun.

"Dewatering" is a task in the process of closing coal ash ponds.
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 0168 NeutralSales Tax Exemptions - Nonprofit Health Centers Darlene Taylor
7/1/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/08 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill would extend the sales tax exemption for certain nonprofit health centers for an additional five years, through 2024.
HB 0174 SupportRequirement that License Plates on Vehicles Be Fully Displayed Including all Renewal Stickers David Wilkerson
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Motor Vehicles --
2019/02/08 Report 2019/03/01 Report Debra Nesbit Traffic Enforcement
This bill requires that all license plates on vehicles be fully displayed at all times with no obstruction of view by tag holders, etc.
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 0196 NeutralPublic Retirement Systems - Board Member Training Tommy Benton
7/1/2019 Effective Date Retirement Retirement -
2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/22 Report General County Government Larry Ramsey
Retirement
This bill would require specific minimum training for board members of public retirement systems. 
HB 0198 EvaluatingElimination of the Certificate of Need Requirement for all Health Care Facilities Except Long Term Care Facilities James Hatchett
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Special Committee On Access to Quality Health Care --
2019/03/01 Report Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services
This legislation eliminates the certificate of need requirements for hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, etc. with the exception of certain long term care facilities and services.  The bill also provides new reporting requirements for donors and extends the repeal date of the Rural Hospital Tax Credit until December 31, 2024.
HB 0201 SupportRules and Regulations for Live-Aboard Vessels Don Hogan
1/1/2020 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation authorizes the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to create rules and regulations to addresses live-aboard vessels including where they can be anchored and how sewage material can be disposed within estuarine areas of the state. 
HB 0208 NeutralLocals Can Contract for Utilities for up to 20 Years Tom McCall
2/26/2019 Senate Read and Referred Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation authorizes cities, counties and local government to enter into contracts for utility services (electric, natural gas or water services) for terms up to 20 years.  Current law allows local governments/authorities to contract for said services for up to 10 years.   
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 0215 SupportRules of the Road for Electric Assisted Bicycles (E-Bikes) Teri Anulewicz
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Natural Resources and Environment --
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Transportation

This legislation establishes regulations for electric assisted bicycle, "e-bikes" and defines three classes of e-bikes. E-bikes would follow the same rules of the road as human powered bikes and local governments would have the authority to allow or restrict the use of e-bikes on bicycle paths or shared paths where bicycles are permitted.

For more details, click here for an info sheet prepared by People for Bikes who are in support of the bill.    

*Language from this bill is was included in HB 454 that passed during the 2019 Session.

HB 0242 NeutralFramework for the Regulation of Massage Therapy Lee Hawkins
5/6/2019 Effective Date Regulated Industries Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services

HB 242 establishes board certification of massage therapy educational programs, within and outside the state, which meet the standards for training and curriculum set by the rules of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy. The bill allows the board to request on-site inspections of massage therapy businesses and requires these businesses to continuously maintain liability insurance coverage for bodily injuries and property damages. Further, massage therapy businesses must comply with appropriate advertising. The bill increases fines for non-compliance and unlawful acts.  A provision was added that allows local governments to run criminal background checks on owners and employees.  The massage therapists themselves will undergo a criminal background check through the secretary of state.

HB 0276 SupportSales Tax - Marketplace Facilitators Brett Harrell
4/1/2020 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
2020/01/17 Report 2020/01/31 Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local

This bill would expand the definition of "dealers" who are required to collect sales taxes to include "marketplace facilitators", such as online platforms that allow vendors to sell goods or services through those platforms. Annual sales via such a platform of $100,000 or more into Georgia would require the facilitator to collect and remit all state and local sales taxes on all such sales. Franchising operations that have at least $500 million in annual Georgia sales (such as large hotel chains) can decide to have their franchisees collect sales taxes rather than having the franchisor be considered a marketplace facilitator.

 

HB 0313 NeutralAd Valorem Taxation - Exemption for Certain Charitable Institutions Spencer Frye
2/19/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
This bill would exempt from ad valorem taxation real property held by a tax-exempt charity for the purpose of building/repairing single-family homes that will be financed by that charity to individuals using no-interest loans. This bill is specifically designed for Habitat for Humanity. The text of this bill has been added to HB 344.
HB 0314 SupportBoat Titles Ron Stephens
7/1/2020 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill would require the issuance of ownership titles for all watercraft used in state waters. Title applications would be processed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. An amendment in House committee eliminated the proposed sales tax cap in boat sales as was proposed in the original version.
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 0317 SupportRemoval of Collection Receptacles - Jurisdiction Removed from Superior Court and Given to Magistrate and Municipal Courts Dewayne Hill
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Judiciary --
2019/03/01 Report Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation transfers the jurisdiction of removal petition of collection receptacles from the superior court to magistrate or municipal court.
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 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.
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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