This legislation requires local governments to appoint only U.S. citizens or 'lawful permanent residents'. Either must also be a resident of the State of Georgia or reside in a county of another state that abuts Georgia or own a business in Georgia.  Active members of the U.S. Armed Forces are exempted, as are their immediate family members. Non-U.S. individuals may serve, but only in an ex-officio, nonvoting capacity. 

This legislation allows counties, when abandoning a road in a subdivision with a homeowners' association, to provide notice to the homeowners' association on the proposed abandonment, rather than the adjoining property owners. The homeowners' association could then exercise the option to buy the abandoned road back from the county. This bill is similar to HB 477.

This enabling legislation starts the process of legalizing up to three horse racing tracks and parimutuel betting in Georgia. The Division of Horse Racing would be set up under the Georgia Lottery Corporation to prescribe regulations; issue, deny and revoke licenses;  and oversee all other aspects of this activity. Voters statewide would first have to approve a referendum (SR 135, which must be approved by 2/3rds of each legislative chamber) to legalize horse racing.  The city or county in which the racetrack would be located must then approve via a referendum - once it is either called for by a vote of the governing authority or a petition signed by 1 percent or 1,000, whichever is less, of qualified electors in the jurisdiction.  Three percent of racing proceeds (estimated to be about $15 million annually) go the HOPE Scholarship Program and 1 percent would go to the host community. Stripped from the bill was a provision that would have allowed up to 15 "satellite" betting locations across the state.

This legislation allows counties and cities that have entered into rapid transit contracts with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and already have a 1 percent sales tax to levy an additional 1/2 percent sales tax for use on MARTA projects. A county or city that does not want to enact the additional 1/2 percent sales tax must adopt a resolution or ordinance by June 30, 2016. For a more detailed summary of the legislation, click here.

This legislation (now a Senate Transportation Committee substitute,  LC 39 1328S) amends the local MARTA Act in numerous ways, including:

1) Atlanta and the three counties (DeKalb, Fulton, and Clayton) that have entered into rapid transit contracts with Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and already have a 1% sales tax to levy an additional 1/2% sales tax for use on MARTA projects. The referendum will be held during the 2016 general election, unless the county or city adopts a resolution or ordinance stating that it will not levy the additional 1/2% sales tax or stating that the referendum will be held in 2017.  

2) By May 31, 2016 (and again in 2017, if the 2016 referendum fails), MARTA must submit a preliminary list of rapid transit projects within or serving the county or city that could be funded by the proceeds of the 1/2% additional sales tax. By July 31, 2016 (and again in 2017, if the 2016 referendum fails), MARTA must submit a final list of rapid transit projects to the city or county that must be incorporated into the rapid transit contract.  

3) Atlanta can hold a referendum in the city limits and a county referendum is countywide other than in Atlanta city limits. 

4) The additional MARTA tax must first be spent on the cost of the rapid transit projects included in the contract between the county or city and MARTA.

5) Once the additional MARTA tax is imposed, the effective rate of the multi county TSPLOST or the single county TSPLOST is reduced such that the combined rate of the new additional MARTA tax and any TSPLOSTs does not exceed 1%.

6) The additional MARTA tax is excluded form the 2% cap on local sales and use taxes under 48-8-6. 

7) If the referendum fails in one of the counties of the city in 2016, the process may be repeated for the 2017 municipal general election.

8) Upon completion of projects and full payment of bonds, interest and obligations, a levying government can by resolution or ordinance abolish the tax or provide for a phase out with excess proceeds going to rapid transit M & O.  

Under this bill, a state or local government road or airport project that does not exceed $100 million does not have to go through the stringent requirements of the Environmental Policy Act.  However, an environmental evaluation will be considered in the decision-making process when it is probable to expect significant adverse impact on historical sites or buildings and cultural resources.  

This legislation creates the Senate Data Security and Privacy Study Committee to examine the protection provided by existing resources and policies of the state and local governments to protect data and personal information of citizens stored on government networks.