This legislation would authorize each county to ask the voters for approval to levy an additional fractional local sales tax up to one percent for the purposes of funding local government operations, capitol and economic development activities, including local cultural assets important for tourism, education and job creation.

HB 235 allows for the establishment of a convention area up to four square miles. The state may levy a sales tax in the convention area, in lieu of the regular state sale tax, to be used to improve the infrastructure of the convention area. Any tourist attraction located in or adjacent to a convention area, would be exempt from all state and local sales tax during construction of the attraction. The sales tax exemption would apply until the attraction was open to the public or 2017, whichever occurs first.

This bill provides an incremental sales tax exemption to certain companies approved by the Department of Community Affairs and the local governing authority for the development of new tourism attractions that are supported by at least 25 percent from out of state visitors.

This bill updates the job tax and investment tax credit system in Georgia. The bill creates a standard base job tax credit for job creation, changes current thresholds in the Quality Job Tax Credit, and establishes a sliding scale of investment credits for direct investment. While it does reduce significantly the impact of a county's "tier status," it still recognizes Tier 1 counties and "less developed areas" with additional credits. To learn more, click here.

This bill establishes the Georgia Racing Commission and allows horseracing and pari-mutuel wagering in Georgia.

This bill renders the decision of development authority boards as final and not subject to review regarding what qualifies as a project and allows development authorities to finance public-private mass commuting facilities.

This bill extends the sales tax exemption used to renovate or expand a zoological institution until 2013.

Under current law, any citizen of Georgia may intervene in a bond validation proceeding.  This bill requires that a person be a "qualified intervenor." Citizens of Georgia who have been sanctioned or found to have engaged in unethical conduct by a court in a previous bond validation action may not intervene in bond validation proceedings.

HB 747 provides county tier 1 status for a census tract (or contiguous census tracts) that has a poverty rate of 45% of more. This status results in enhanced job tax credits for income tax purposes for those smaller areas to the same extent that would be applicable to an entire county.                           

This legislation is part of the Governor's Competitive Initiative to make Georgia's tax incentives for new job creation more competitive with other states.  The bill expands eligibility and increases benefits for job creation.

This constitutional amendment asks voters to create an Economic Development Trust Fund to provide tax credits for job creation and capital investment by qualifying businesses. The fund will be administered by the Department of Economic Development.

This resolution encourages the City of Savannah to issue bonds to support the development of a cruise ship terminal in Savannah.

This bill allows the state to temporarily protect confidential records from release during on-going negotiations with economic development prospects - potential future employers of Georgians. It removes a current obstacle to job-creation by putting Georgia on equal footing with most other states that already protect their prospect information. All information that is currently open to the public will become open following the completion of negotiations. Counties and cities were deleted from the exemption during the committee process.

This bill gives sovereign immunity to authorities (i.e., development, water and sewer authorities). The state and counties have sovereign immunity through the constitution.  cities have it through statute.  Authorities currently do not have it since they are separate legal entities.      

This bill authorizes development authorities to engage in redevelopment of existing businesses, as well as changes training requirements for board members.

Under current law, development authorities must publish any transaction with a member of the board of directors that is in excess of $200 per quarter in the legal organ.  This bill provides that such transactions do not have to be published if the development authority determines that the interest or involvement would not reasonably be expected to influence the member of the board of directors.  The decision of the development authority would be final and not subject to review.

This resolution establishes a joint Senate/House study committee to analyze the current status of Georgia's reservoir system and strategic needs for additional water supply.  The study is to include the identification of creative financing options for reservoirs and water supply enhancement.   

SR 163 supports the creation of a cruise ship terminal facility in Savannah Harbor.

This resolution expresses the Senate's support of efforts to deepen the port in Savannah and Charleston.