Economic Development (90)
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Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0033 NeutralNo Illegal Immigants or non-Georgians on certain Local Boards or Authorities Brad Raffensperger
1/12/2017 House Second Readers Judiciary --
2017/01/12_TEST 2017/01/12_TEST 2 2017/01/13-Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development
General County Government Health and Human Services Hospital Authority Immigration Preemption
Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards

This preemption legislation establishes additional requirements on individuals (other than ex officio or nonvoting members) appointed to county or city boards, commissions or authorities that establish policy, spend public funds, levy taxes or impose or collect fees or charges.  In order to be eligible for such an appointment, the individual must be a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident or an alien having lawful status in the U.S.  The individual must also be a legal resident of Georgia, unless he or she resides in another state but owns an interest in business in Georgia or is employed in Georgia.  These qualifications do not apply to active duty members of the armed forces or an immediate family member of an active duty member of the armed forces.  The body making the appointment (i.e., the board of commissioners) is responsible for determining whether an individual meets these qualifications.

HB 0059 NeutralIncome Tax Credits for Certified Historic Structures Ron Stephens
3/29/2018 House Disagreed Senate Amend or Sub Ways & Means Finance -
2017/01/27-Report 2018/03/16 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government
Land Use/Zoning Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This legislation changes the income tax credit for rehabilitation of historic structures. As amended in the Senate, this bill would increase the maximum the tax credit to $40 million in any year for a certified historic structure. The bill would prohibit the sale or transfer to other parties.
HB 0069 Support"Less Developed Area" Tax Credits - Reporting Requirements Paulette Braddock
1/25/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
2017/01/27-Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill requires the state revenue commissioner to prepare a report regarding the income tax credit for business enterprises in counties designated as less developed areas. That existing program allows higher income tax credits for the least developed counties. The reports called for in this bill are to be made for 2019-2024 and are to specify items such as the number of employers claiming the credit, the number and value of credits, and estimated economic impact.
HB 0070 Support"Less Developed Area" Tax Credits - Classification Change for Counties with High Levels of Commuters Paulette Braddock
1/25/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
2017/01/27-Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill redesignates any county to a lower economic development tier when at least 70 percent of the county's workforce commutes outside the county for work. The effect of this change is that businesses creating jobs within a county meeting this percentage would be entitled to higher income tax credits that would otherwise apply.
HB 0073 SupportRevitalization Zone Income Tax Credits Penny Houston
5/8/2017 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/01/27-Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill provides an income tax credit to businesses that establish new locations within revitalization zones designated by the Commissioners of the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Economic Development.  To be eligible for revitalization zone status, counties and/or cities must have a population of less than 15,000 and must show economic distress based upon poverty rate, downtown area vacancies or blight.  Additionally, the county and/or city must identify a concentration of historic commercial structures, a feasibility study or market analysis identifying business activities to be supported, and a master or strategic plan to assist private and public investment. 
HB 0090 NegotiatingLand Purchase - Illegal for Board Member to Discuss if Conflict of Interest Robert Gasaway
3/30/2017 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Judiciary Non-Civil --
2017/01/27-Report Criminal Procedure Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Eminent Domain/Condemnation
Ethics General County Government Procurement Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation makes it a misdemeanor for members of the board of commissioners, city council, school board or local board or authority to knowingly and intentionally vote, attempt to influence a vote, or be present in executive or closed session when their respective body is considering or discussion the acquisition of property if the member has direct or indirect ownership interest in the property, or any business in which the member serves in a fiduciary capacity has an ownership interest in the property.      
HB 0130 InactiveEmanuel County Development Authority; number of members; change Butch Parrish
5/1/2017 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Local Legislation
HB 0132 InactiveFulton County Industrial District; repeal amendment Roger Bruce
5/9/2017 Veto V2 Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government Local Legislation Property Tax
Revenue & Finance
HB 0155 NeutralMusical Investment Act Amy Carter
1/1/2018 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Intern 1 Revenue & Finance
This legislation provides an income tax credit for production companies that invest in certain musical or theatrical performances in Georgia.
HB 0158 NeutralGambling - Georgia Destination Resort Act Ron Stephens
1/31/2017 House Second Readers Regulated Industries --
2017/02/03-Report Alcohol/Tobacco Business and Occupation Tax District Attorneys Econ. Dev. & Transportation
Economic Development General County Government Georgia Bureau of Investigation Immigration Land Use/Zoning
Public Safety and Courts Retirement Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards Tourism
This legislation, mirroring SB 79, legalizes gambling in Georgia. Two casino licenses will be granted.  One license will be granted within a county having a population of at least 900,000, will be at least a $2 billion investment, located in a convention district and have a hotel with at least 1,000 rooms.  The other license will be granted within a county with at least 450,000 people, be at least a $450 million investment, and located near a convention district.  These casinos can be open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and will pay a 20-percent tax on gross receipts (70 percent of proceeds go to the HOPE Scholarship and 30 percent will go to a needs-based college scholarship.   
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 0265 InactiveJob Creation Tax Credits - Expansion of Program Chuck Efstration
4/25/2017 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/10 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill expands the criteria for the 'establishing or relocating quality jobs' income tax credit, to include projects that create at least 50 jobs and invest at least $2.5 million in property acquisition. Additionally, the bill provides for state and local sales and use tax exemptions for: 1) admission tickets to arts facilities; and 2) property used in the renovation or expansion of a theater that contains an art museum, symphonic hall, and theater that charges for admission and is owned by a Section 501(c)(3) entity. This sales tax exemption is aimed at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.
HB 0277 NeutralIncome Tax Credits for Sound Recording Facilities in Less Developed Areas Spencer Frye
2/9/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill expands the income tax credit for business enterprises located in less developed areas by including sound recording and film services.
HB 0296 InactiveDouglas, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for referendum Dominic Lariccia
5/2/2017 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Financing General County Government Local Legislation
Revenue & Finance
HB 0314 NeutralAgribusiness and Rural Jobs Act James Shaw
3/23/2018 Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute Ways & Means Finance -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Insurance Insurance Larry Ramsey
This legislation enacts the Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act. The Act would provide credits against state tax liabilities for certain investments in rural areas (defined as counties of less than 75,000 people).
HB 0336 NeutralBroadband Ready Communities Don Parsons
2/22/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications --
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government
Preemption Sales Tax-Local Todd Edwards
This legislation enacts the Broadband Strategy for All of Georgia Act. It establishes a lengthy set of requirements and preemptions that local governments must adopt in order to be designated a broadband ready community.  Said designation is voluntary, and the program will be administered by the state Department of Economic Development.  Click here for a full summary of the bill.
HB 0342 NeutralEnterprise Zones - Sales Tax Exemptions Chuck Efstration
7/1/2017 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/17-Report 2017/03/17 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This legislation provides a sales tax exemption in certain enterprise zones: those involving investment of $400M or more in a "chronically underdeveloped area." The exemption for state sales tax would be automatic; exemption from local sales tax would require approval of the local governments. School taxes are not impacted by this bill. A proposed substitute to this bill would make the local sales tax exemption automatic in the same manner as state sales taxes; however, consistent with existing law, local government approval is still necessary for creation of such enterprise zones.
HB 0354 NeutralGeorgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority Ron Stephens
5/8/2018 Veto V1 Economic Development & Tourism Economic Development and Tourism -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey Local Legislation Tourism
This legislation changes the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center.
HB 0372 OpposeSales and Use Tax - Exemption for Broadband Equipment Don Parsons
2/16/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
2017/02/17-Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
Sales Tax-Local
This legislation creates a sales tax exemption for broadband equipment in Tier One and Tier Two counties, as well as any county where at least 10 percent of the population does not have access to fixed broadband service.
HB 0427 SupportPhysician and Health Care Practitioners for Rural Areas Assistance Act Mark Newton
7/1/2017 Effective Date Health & Human Services Health and Human Services -
2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report Debra Nesbit Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development
Health and Human Services
This expands the Physicians for Rural Areas Assistance Act to include dentist, physician assistants, and advanced practice registered nurses, who have completed their health care education access to the loan repayment program operated by the Georgia Board of Phyisican Work Force.
HB 0428 NeutralDowntown Development Authorities - Levying of Assessments Charles Martin
7/1/2017 Effective Date Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Regulated Industries and Utilities -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey
This legislation amends the downtown development authorities law. Such authorities would be authorized to levy an assessment on property located within a project special district only if agreed to by the property owner and taxing authority.
HB 0434 SupportEminent Domain - Condemnation of Blighted Property Wendell Willard
7/1/2017 Effective Date Judiciary Judiciary -
2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development
Eminent Domain/Condemnation Financing General County Government Larry Ramsey
This bill establishes a process whereunder a local government can seek initial court determination of whether a property is blighted, and remedy of blight is deemed to be a "public use." If property is determined to be blighted, it can be the subject of condemnation proceedings. Additionally, such blighted property would not be subject to the normal limitations that a government must 1) hold condemned property for at least 20 years and 2) offer the property back to the prior owner if not put to public use within five years.
HB 0449 InactiveDeKalb County; taxes, fees, and assessments; change certain provisions Tom Taylor
3/16/2017 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Local Legislation Property Tax
Revenue & Finance
HB 0470 NeutralState Grant Program for Military Communities Shaw Blackmon
7/1/2017 Effective Date Economic Development & Tourism Economic Development and Tourism -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Larry Ramsey
This legislation establishes a grant program supporting military communities.
HB 0480 InactiveChatham County Urban Development Authority Act; enact Craig Gordon
5/1/2017 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Financing Local Legislation
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