Legislation Sponsored by Vance Smith (8)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0189 NeutralState Sales Tax Exemption on Locomotive Fuel Vance Smith
2/11/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/08 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance
This legislation exempts state sales and use taxes for fuel used for locomotives. The bill does not exempt local sales and use taxes. 
HB 0302 OpposeLocal Design Standards Preempted Vance Smith
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards

Similar to SB 172, this mammoth preemption legislation prohibits cities and counties from regulating "building design elements" in single or double family dwellings.  Local governments could no longer enact standards on:

-      exterior building color,

-      type or style of exterior cladding material, 

-      style or materials of roof structures or porches,

-      exterior nonstructural architectural ornamentation,

-      location or architectural styling of windows and doors, including garage doors,

-      the number and types of rooms, 

-      the interior layout of rooms, and

-      types of foundation structures approved under state minimum standard codes.  

In short, if a house meets state minimum standard building codes, it can be built.  The legislation would not apply to state or federal historic districts, mobile homes and homes governed by a neighborhood association or covenant.  

If applicable, please share examples of how this would impact any local design standards that your county has adopted with Todd Edwards (tedwards@accg.org).    

    

       

HB 0790 WatchStructural Engineers - Require Certification Vance Smith
1/28/2020 House Second Readers Regulated Industries --
2020/01/31 General County Government Todd Edwards
This legislation requires structural engineers to be professionally certified by the State of Georgia.  It specifically defines structural engineers and structural engineering, then requires cities and counties to use only structural engineers for services "that could jeopardize the health, safety or welfare of the public."  Local building officials are required to maintain a permanent record of permit information indicating the structural engineer who has sealed the plans of building permits.  There are several exemptions, including local elected officials.      
HB 0929 NeutralCoal Ash Pond Regulations Vance Smith
6/17/2020 Senate - Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2020/02/21 Report 2020/03/06 Report 2020/03/13 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
Solid Waste
This legislation codifies state and federal rules regulating coal combustion residual surface impoundments (coal ash ponds). Post-closure care will take place for a minimum of 30 years that will include ground-water monitoring. In addition, EPD would be required to conduct an inspection of the coal ash pond at least annually during the closure period and at least once every five years following the completion of the closure.
HB 0937 OpposeDesign Standards - Another Shot at State Preemption Vance Smith
2/26/2020 House Committee Favorably Reported Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2020/02/21 Report 2020/02/28 Report General County Government Todd Edwards

This preemption legislation, following on the heels of HB 302 and SB 172, prohibits cities and counties from regulating any building material, product or construction practice for single-family homes if these are approved in the state minimum standard codes - unless permission is granted from an advisory committee at DCA through a lengthy building code amendment process. Residential building design standards for aesthetic purposes would not be allowed (even with the DCA committee's permission) since the only local building code amendments allowed under state law must be based solely on local climatic, geologic, topographic, or public safety factors.  ACCG opposes state preemption of local land use decisions, to include design standards, believing these decisions are best made at the local level by county commissioners elected by, and accountable to, the communities they serve.

To view ACCG and GMA's talking points on HB 937, please click here.    

HB 0967 NeutralColumbus, City of; Municipal Court; provide that the sheriff of Muscogee County shall be the ex officio marshal of said court Vance Smith
2/28/2020 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
HB 1183 NeutralPine Mountain, Town of; levy an excise tax Vance Smith
6/29/2020 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
HR 0591 NeutralPreempt Local Design Standards - House Study Committee on Workforce Housing Vance Smith
3/29/2019 House Passed/Adopted Agriculture and Consumer Affairs --
2019/03/29 Report General County Government Todd Edwards
Following the failure of HB 302 (prohibit local government design standards) Rep. Vance Smith has introduced HR 591.  This resolution creates a House study committee (made up of five House members) on "workforce housing".  Noting that local design mandates infringe on private property rights, consumer choice of building products, increase costs, and prohibit thousands of Georgians from owning new homes, this study committee will make recommendations on legislation to curtail local design standards to be considered next legislative session.       
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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