Legislation Assigned to the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee (9)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

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 0545 NeutralLimitations On Nuisance Claims Against Agriculture Facilities and Operations Tom McCall
6/18/2020 Senate - Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2020/02/07
2020/06/19 Report Agriculture General County Government Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment

This legislation prohibits a property owner, whether residential or commercial, from bringing a nuisance action against any kind of agricultural facility or operation unless they are within 5 miles of the source of the alleged nuisance activity. The lawsuit is allowed to be filed within two years after the nuisance occurs. 

This legislation keeps in place the ability to file a nuisance action when a nuisance results from the negligent, improper, or illegal operation of any agricultural facility or operation.

HB 0777 NeutralState Building Code - Add "Mass Timber" as a Construction Material John Corbett
7/1/2020 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/01/31 2020/02/21 Report 2020/03/06 Report General County Government Todd Edwards
This bill amends the state minimum building standards code to authorize the use of "tall mass timber" as a construction material - provided the Department of Community Affairs approves this addition in their rule making process.    
HB 0897 SupportTimber Harvesting: Changes to County Ordinance & New Notification Website James Burchett
7/22/2020 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/02/07 2020/02/21 Report 2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/06 Report 2020/06/19 Report
Agriculture Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen
This legislation establishes a framework for a statewide timber harvest notification webpage housed by the Georgia Forestry Commission, increases the fine for harvesters who fail to notify the county that they are operating, and increases the bond amount due by harvesters who have previously been found to cause damage to county roads/rights of way. In addition, the legislation narrows the scope of when the bond can be used and creates a timeline for when and how a county can utilize a bond.

For additional details, including background information, click here.  
HB 1093 NeutralAgricultural Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes Steven Meeks
8/3/2020 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
Agriculture Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation creates a Agricultural Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes.
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 0338 SupportAnimal Dealers - Change License Requirements Kay Kirkpatrick
3/13/2020 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/02/07 2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report Animal Control General County Government
Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation reduces, from 30 to 20, the amount of animals that can be sold by a pet dealer each year before they are required to be a licensed pet dealer.  It also doubles, from $400 to $800, the fee for a license; requires dealers to provide a surety bond;  and sets the conditions by which that surety may be called and a dealer may have their license revoked.     
SB 0362 SupportLivestock Running at Large - Change Fees for Impounding John Wilkinson
7/29/2020 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/02/07 2020/02/14 Report 2020/02/21 Report 2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/13 Report
2020/06/19 Report General County Government Todd Edwards
Current law allows counties to charge a maximum $10 fee for impounding livestock running at large.  This bill changes the fee amount to the "actual cost of impounding" each animal.  The actual cost can also be charged for transporting, posting notice of, disposition of and selling the animal.  The cost to feed the animal cannot exceed $25 per day.       
SB 0468 NeutralDisabled Vets May Register Service Dogs with Animal Shelters Renee Unterman
3/13/2020 House Second Readers Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report Animal Control General County Government Public Safety and Courts
Todd Edwards
This legislation authorizes disabled veterans to register their service dog with the local animal shelter.  That registration will help reunite an owner with their service dog should the two be separated.   
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.



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