2020/01/17 Report (19)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 4/25/2024

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 0724 EvaluatingAllow Counties to Adopt Ordinances Governing Sentences for Possession of Marijuana in Unincorporated Areas of the County Matthew Wilson
1/13/2020 House Second Readers Judiciary - Non-Civil --
2020/01/17 Report Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation allows counties to adopt ordinances governing the punishment of possession of an ounce or less of marijuana in the unincorporated areas of the counties.  Violation of such ordinances may be punished by fines and each ordinance shall specify the maximum punishment.  Under no circumstances should the fine for a violation exceed $1000.  All fines shall be retained by the county and shall be paid into the county treasury.
HB 0726 NeutralRequire Law Enforcement Agencies to Enter Report of Missing Persons into Database Maintained by the Department of Justice Darlene Taylor
1/14/2020 House Second Readers Public Safety and Homeland Security --
2020/01/17 Report Debra Nesbit Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts
This bill requires that law enforcement to report missing persons to designated databases upon the determination the person is indeed missing.
HB 0730 OpposeSales Tax Exemption - Major Sporting Events Ron Stephens
1/14/2020 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2020/01/17 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
 This bill would exempt from sales taxes all purchases made by a host committee in conjunction with sporting events expected to generate $50 million or more in sales in the host community.
HB 0754 WatchChange Date of Incorporation of Local Ordinances for Drug Free Zones Roger Bruce
1/15/2020 House Second Readers Judiciary - Non-Civil --
2020/01/17 Report Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation changes the date of incorporation of local ordinances regarding intent to distribute controlled substances of marijuana within drug free zones to July 1, 2020.
HB 0756 EvaluatingCoal Ash Storage Requirements Robert Trammell
1/15/2020 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2020/01/17 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste
This legislation would require coal combustion residual (coal ash) to be stored in a solid waste facility that had a liner and leachate collection system that meets design standards required for new municipal solid waste landfills. In effect, coal ash residuals would be treated the same as municipal solid waste. This legislation is mainly in response to Georgia Power's plans to close their coal ash ponds - details found here. Similar legislation, SB 297, has been introcued in the Senate. 
HB 0757 OpposeElections - Add Special Election Primaries at County Expense Barry Fleming
2/19/2020 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Governmental Affairs --
2020/01/17 Report 2020/01/31 2020/02/21 Report Elections General County Government
Todd Edwards
This bill statutorily authorizes the Georgia Secretary of State to designate filing dates/periods for those running in special elections to fill a vacated seat for federal and state office and local election superintendents to set the qualifying dates for those running for county office.  It also addresses the dates by which persons may register to vote in special elections.  Among other provisions in this bill, very concerning to ACCG is that it would now require "special primaries" for special elections to fill vacated state legislative seats.  This adds another election round that counties must fund in the special election process.  Additionally, it draws out the election, prolonging the filling of a legislative vacancy and leaving the county unrepresented longer at the General Assembly.  ACCG believes that if the state wants to add another round of elections, particularly for state legislative seats, then the state should pay for it.       
HB 0760 WatchAuthorization for Additional Discretion for First Responders Transporting Mentally to Emergency Receiving Facility Sharon Cooper
1/16/2020 House Second Readers Public Safety and Homeland Security --
2020/01/17 Report Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Law Enforcement
This legislation expands the jurisdiction of law enforcement to transport those believed to be in mental health crisis.
HB 0765 OpposeMagistrate Court Judges and Clerks Increase in Minimum Compensation Mitchell Scoggins
6/25/2020 Senate - Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute Judiciary State and Local Governmental Operations -
2020/01/17 Report 2020/01/31 2020/02/21 Report 2020/02/28 Report Debra Nesbit
Magistrate Court Public Safety and Courts

This legislation rolls all existing COLA's up and provides for a 5% COLA effective January 1, 2021.  Note:  The amounts listed in bill include all existing COLA's already awarded since 2006 to update the code, the only "new" salary increase is 5% on top of all the COLA's.
HB 0775 OpposeHomestead Exemption - Deployed Military Service Members Billy Mitchell
1/27/2020 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2020/01/17 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
This bill would grant an exemption from county, city, and school property taxes for homestead properties owned by a servicemember who is deployed overseas. This amount of the exemption would be proportional to the amount of time the servicemember was deployed overseas in the previous tax year.
HB 0778 NeutralAd Valorem Taxation - Exemption from State Taxes for Business Property Scot Turner
1/27/2020 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2020/01/17 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
Under current law, inventory held by a business is exempt from state ad valorem taxation. This bill would extend the exemption to all personal property held by a business. As drafted, the bill is limited to state property taxes and would not apply to county taxes.
HB 0779 SupportTitle Ad Valorem Tax - Change Local Distribution Formula Shaw Blackmon
6/29/2020 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2020/01/17 Report 2020/02/21 Report 2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/13 Report Larry Ramsey
Property Tax Revenue & Finance
 For vehicles registered to an address within city limits, this bill would change the distribution of the local share of title ad valorem taxes (TAVT). The county and city shares would reverse from their current percentages: the county would receive 23% (currently 28%) and the city would receive 28% (currently 23%). The school system would continue to get 49%, unless the city has a municipal school system. In that case, the city would get 49%, the school system would get 28%, and the county would get 23%. The distribution of the local share of TAVT for vehicles registered to an unincorporated address would not change (51% county, 49% schools).
HR 0811 NeutralUrging Resolution: Study Impacts of Commercial Spaceport David Knight
1/13/2020 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2020/01/17 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
In response to Spaceport Camden, this resolution urges the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to study the impacts a commercial spaceport may have on the economy and natural resources of Georgia’s coast.
SB 0280 EvaluatingSingle Use Plastic Bag Ban Donzella James
1/15/2020 Senate Read and Referred -Economic Development and Tourism -
2020/01/17 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation bans most single-use plastic shopping bags as of January 1, 2021. There are many exempt bags including those that contain uncooked meat, fish or poultry, package bulk items, food sliced or prepared to order, bags that contain a newspaper, trash bags, bags that store food in refrigeration, garment bags, carry-out delivery bags, and bags to carry prescription drugs.  
SB 0292 EvaluatingState-Wide Application of Minimum Standard Codes; local governments prohibiting the of use of wood in construction; provision; repeal Sally Harrell
1/15/2020 Senate Read and Referred -Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/01/17 Report General County Government Todd Edwards
Two years ago, a law was passed preempting local governments from prohibiting wood as a construction material.  This legislation would again authorize local governments to regulate or prohibit wood as a construction material.    
SB 0295 NeutralConstitutional Officer Pay Raise Clarification John Wilkinson
1/1/2021 Effective Date Governmental Affairs State and Local Governmental Operations -
2020/01/17 Report 2020/01/31 2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report 2020/06/19 Report
General County Government Todd Edwards

Legislation was passed last session to provide Georgia's local constitutional officers a 5% pay raise, effective January 1, 2021.  This legislation clarifies that this 5% pay raise is in addition to the constitutional officers' 2% COLA received on January 1, 2020.    
SB 0297 EvaluatingCoal Ash Storage Requirements Jennifer Jordan
1/15/2020 Senate Read and Referred -Natural Resources and the Environment -
2020/01/17 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation would require coal combustion residual (coal ash) to be stored in a solid waste facility that had a liner and leachate collection system that meets design standards required for new municipal solid waste landfills. In effect, coal ash residuals would be treated the same as municipal solid waste. This legislation is mainly in response to Georgia Power's plans to close their coal ash ponds - details found here. Similar legislation, HB 756 has been introcued in the House.
SB 0298 EvaluatingChanges the Age for Purchase of Tobacco Products and Vaping Products from 18 to 21 Renee Unterman
2/18/2020 Senate Read Second Time -Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2020/01/17 Report 2020/02/07 Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services
This legislation changes the legal age to purchase tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21 years of age.  The bill also sets forth criminal sanctions for establishments and persons selling these products to individuals under the age of 21.
SB 0300 SupportElections - State to Provide Local Grants for Voting Rights Education Emanuel Jones
1/16/2020 Senate Read and Referred -Government Oversight -
2020/01/17 Report Elections General County Government Todd Edwards
This bill authorizes the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to provide grants (subject to state appropriation) to local governments to implement local voting rights awareness and education programs.  The grants and programs cannot be used to support any particular party, candidate or issue on the ballot.  
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.



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