This bill limits the increase of assessed value of property to a total of 9% over a three year period where the property was owned by one person. It also limits increases from one year to the next to 3% or the percent change in the rate of economic inflation on individual taxpayers determined by the Revenue Commissioner, whichever is less.

If the property is sold, then it may be assessed greater than the applicable percentage of fair market value. Any substantial improvement or addition may be assessed at fair market value.

In addition to other issues, HB 200 requires that law enforcement training centers monitored by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and funded by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center are required to include training on methods of identifying, combating and reporting incidents where a person has been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude. Training and materials will also be required to provide proper detention facilities or alternatives to detention facilities for those who have been trafficked for labor or sexual servitude.

HB 232 addresses unintended consequences from the ethics reform law which took effect January 10, 2011. First, local officials may now file Campaign Contribution Disclosure Reports and Personal Financial Disclosure Reports with the state either electronically or via paper. It removes the requirement that local officials submit a current email address to the state. The Campaign Finance Commission (formerly the State Ethics Commission) must notify local officials via mail rather than electronically about "the filing of a complaint; a technical defect in a filing; a failure to make a timely filing; or a late fee or other penalty." HB 232 removes the requirement that every county staff person that speaks with a legislator must register as a lobbyist. Now, county staff must register as lobbyists only if they spend more than 10% of their time lobbying or spend more than $1,000 to influence a public officer.

This bill places a moratorium on any increase to the assessed value of all classes of property for tax years 2012, 2013, and 2014. The moratorium does not apply to corrections to manifest, factual errors or omissions in the valuation of a property. It also allows assessed property values to decrease. Any additions or improvements to the property may be valued at fair market value. Additionally if a property is rezoned, subdivided or combined with another property at the request of the owner, the property may be valued at fair market value. Counties will not be subject to the 1/4 mill penalty or $5.00 per parcel penalty for digest deficiencies.

This bill would provide a privilege to communications between victims who receive services from certain family violence and rape crisis centers and the employees or volunteers who provide services.

HB 822 establishes a procedure in equity that could be used whenever someone makes a false or fraudulent claim for payment from the state or a county or fails to deliver all or any property owed to the state or a county to the state or county. It allows the Attorney General to initiate an investigation or to delegate the investigation to the district attorney "or other appropriate official of a local government."  If the Attorney General finds that a violation occurred, he may either initiate a civil action or give the local government the authority to initiate a civil action.  Private citizens may also initiate a proceeding on the county's behalf. A private person winning such a case may be awarded between 25% and 35% of the proceeds of the action.  The civil penalty is between $5,000 and $11,000 plus three times the amount of damages that the county sustains because of the fraud. This bill is similar to existing state Medicaid fraud law and brings the state law into compliance with federal Medicaid fraud law. Effective July 1, 2012 pending signature by the Governor. 

HR 10, if approved in a statewide referendum, would allow the voters of each county to approve a new limit ad valorem tax assessment.  If approved, assessments would be limited to the lesser of 3% per year or the rate of economic inflation as determined by the Revenue Commissioner so long as the property is not sold.  Substantial additions or improvements to the property may be assessed at fair market value.  When a property is sold, it may be assessed at fair market value.

HB 881 affects counties, other than consolidated governments, where more than 90% of the population resides within municipalities. If passed and ratified, counties that are substantially municipalized would be limited to providing, within the municipal areas of the county, only those services counties are required to provide by general law. Other services could be provided but they would be limited to unincorporated special districts. Presently, the requirements of the bill apply exclusively to Fulton County.