Land Use/Zoning (20)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0022 EvaluatingCreating New Cities - Stipulations Oliver, Mary Margaret 82nd
1/16/2013 House - House Second Readers GAff --
Annexation/Municipalization Form of Government General County Government Land Use/Zoning Service Delivery
Todd Edwards
This legislation stipulates methods by which the General Assembly can create new cities. 
 
In counties where more than 25% of the population lives in cities, in order to create a new city, the remainder of the unincorporated area would have to be placed in the new city or annexed into existing cities. 
 
In any type of county, a bill to create the new city would have to be introduced in the first year of a two year legislative session, studied in between sessions and adopted in the second year of the session. In the time between sessions, a study of the proposed city would be conducted to include: the economic viability of the proposed city, the plan for the remaining unincorporated area of the county, the amount of taxes necessary for the proposed city to provide services to its residents, the financial impact of the new city on the county and adjacent cities in the county, a comparison of the estimated police, fire and sanitation services in the new city, the county and the adjacent cities before and after the creation of the city, the financial impact of the plan on the remaining unincorporated area of the county, and the county as a whole and the existing cities.
 
The legislative committees considering the creation of the new city would be required to hear testimony to determine if there are less disruptive or less costly alternatives than creation of a new city.  For instance, they would hear testimony about whether overlay zoning districts, special land use districts, and special tax districts would better meet the needs of the residents of the proposed city. 
 
If a proposed city is within a certain distance of existing cities, the existing cities must adopt a resolution consenting to the creation of the new city. 
HB 0099 NeutralHome Beer Makers Allowed to Brew More Spencer, Jason 180th
7/1/2013 House - Effective Date RegI RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Land Use/Zoning Nat. Res. & the Environment Todd Edwards
Under current law, an individual may produce 50 gallons of malt beverages in a year in their home without having to be licensed or pay excise taxes so long as the malt beverages are not sold or offered for sale.  This legislation allows the home brewer to make as much as 200 gallons per year and up to 25 gallons may be transported out of the home for special events regulated by the State Revenue Commissioner.  Local Governments (in which the sale of malt beverages is lawful) may issue home-brew special event permits, to include contests, tastings and judgings, but cannot charge more than $50 for said permits.    
HB 0176 NeutralCell Towers/Equipment - Conditions on Local Government Approval Process Parsons, Don 44th
7/1/2014 Effective Date EU&T RI&Util -
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Leg Update Draft Telecommunications Todd Edwards
This substitute bill is significantly scaled back from last year's cell tower bill, resulting from a compromise between ACCG, GMA and wireless providers. Addressed among its provisions are a shot clock on new tower permit application and conditions on the forced removal of an existing tower, wireless equipment on public property and local government application fees.  It does not affect a county's current ability to deny an application for a new tower, manage wireless infrastructure on its right of way, or contain an "automatically approved" provision if an application shot clock expires.
 
For a summary of this compromise bill, please click here.
HB 0185 NeutralSelling Distilled Spirits Directly from Distillery Kidd, E. Culver "Rusty" 145th
2/5/2013 House - House Second Readers RegI --
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Land Use/Zoning Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards
This legislation allows the Georgia Department of Revenue to permit distilleries to sell package liquor in limited quantity.
HB 0361 NeutralFederal Labor Laws - Cannot Require Folks to Waive Them Lindsey, Edward 54th
7/1/2013 House - Effective Date I&L I&L -
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Law Enforcement Personnel/Employment Public Safety and Courts
Todd Edwards
This legislation prohibits the state, cities and counties from passing ordinances or requirements in contracts, permits, licenses or zoning, that would require an employer or employee to waive rights provided by the National Labor Relations Act.  For instance, a county could not require a potential contractor or vendor to accept terms to a collective bargaining agreement with its employees in order to enter into a contract with the county.
HB 0367 NeutralReduce Distance for Outdoor Advertising Near Public Park Sharper, Dexter 177th
2/20/2013 House - House Second Readers Trans --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government Land Use/Zoning Shaun Adams
Under current law, billboards may not usually be located within 500 feet of a public park, playground, recreation area, forest, or scenic area of cemetery. This legislation reduces this buffer to 200 feet.
HB 0474 OpposePreemption of County and City Historic Preservation Ordinances Willard, Wendell 51st
2/27/2013 House - House Second Readers Judy --
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards

This legislation allows owners of vacant property within an historic district established by a county to subdivide their property in a way that is contrary to the county’s historic preservation ordinance so long as it is consistent with the county's zoning ordinance. The intent of the bill is to allow a property owner to circumvent county and city historic preservation ordinances. 

HB 0487 NeutralCoin Operated Amusement Machines - Regulating Ramsey, Matt 72nd
4/10/2013 House - Effective Date RegI RI&Util -
Business and Occupation Tax General County Government Land Use/Zoning Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance
Todd Edwards
This legislation moves the regulation of coin operated machines from the Department of Revenue to the Georgia Lottery Corporation. It allows the county to prohibit more than six Class B coin operated amusement machines that reward the player exclusively with non-cash merchandise, prizes, toys, gift certificates, etc.  Under the old law, counties could only prohibit more than nine Class B machines.  This legislation also allows the county to require an annual audit of the verified monthly reports that location owners and operators must prepare showing the gross receipts from the Class B machines, gross retail receipts for the business location and the net receipts of the Class B machines.
HB 0741 SupportSeptage Land Application Sites - Consistent with Local Zoning Kevin Tanner
4/23/2014 House Date Signed by Governor NR&E NR&E -
Agriculture General County Government Land Use/Zoning Leg Update Draft Nat. Res. & the Environment
Sewer/Septage Todd Edwards

This legislation requires those applying for septage land application permits to provide the EPD with a letter verifying that the proposed site complies with a jurisdiction's local zoning and land use ordinances. If a public hearing is held in the application process, it must occur in the same jurisdiction where the proposed site is to be located.

HB 0782 NeutralOut of State Unlicensed Businesses Allowed to Operate During State Declared Disasters Bruce Williamson
4/15/2014 House Date Signed by Governor W&M FIN -
Business and Occupation Tax Debra Nesbit Emergency Management/Preparedness General County Government Land Use/Zoning
Leg Update Draft Property Tax Public Safety and Courts
This legislation allows out of state utility contractors to come to Georgia from 10 days before until 60 days after a state of emergency to provide clean up, restoration and rebuilding of infrastructure and property without paying any taxes (other than sales tax), without being licensed.
HB 0787 NeutralSelling Liquor at the Distillery Kevin Tanner
1/23/2014 House Second Readers RegI --
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards

This legislation would allow craft distillers to make retail sales of alcohol up to 1.75 liters per day to any single customer.

HB 0825 NeutralAlcoholic beverages; fruit growers licensed as farm wineries obtain license authorizing production of distilled spirits and fortified wines pursuant to certain conditions; permit Penny Houston
4/15/2014 House Date Signed by Governor RegI AG&CA -
Alcohol/Tobacco Farm General County Government Land Use/Zoning Nat. Res. & the Environment
Todd Edwards

This legislation allows the Revenue Commissioner to license farm wineries to make distilled spirits and fortified wines, as well as to have a tasting room located on the property of the farm or the property adjacent to the farm.  

HB 0855 OpposeService Delivery Strategy Revisions/New Penalties Andrew Welch
3/3/2014 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute GAff --
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Service Delivery
Todd Edwards
This legislation revises current Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) law by providing that each SDS agreement be reviewed and updated by January 1st of the third year after the census, along with other, new renegotiation triggers. It also allows any city to trigger renegotiations unilaterally. In addition to losing state grants, loans and permits, local governments failing to submit or implement a service delivery strategy within 180 days of being required to do so will have 10 percent of all SPLOST, LOST, HOST or other local tax proceeds held until an SDS agreement is reached. 
 
For a more detailed summary, please click here.  
HB 0952 EvaluatingSale of Consumer Fireworks - Annual Licensing Fee Paid to State Fire Marshal Jay Roberts
2/11/2014 House Second Readers RegI --
Code Enforcement Debra Nesbit Fire Services Fireworks General County Government
Health and Human Services Land Use/Zoning Public Safety and Courts
This legislation changes the law regarding the sale of consumer fireworks by providing for an annual $250.00 licensing fee for all consumer fireworks retailers to be paid to the State Fire Marshal.
SB 0104 SupportComprehensive Planning Revisions - Streamlining Requirements Ginn, Frank 47th
7/1/2013 Senate - Effective Date GAff SLGO -
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards
This legislation results from a two-year stakeholder process whereby ACCG, GMA and others partnered on the Department of Community Affairs' Planning Rules Task force to revise Georgia's comprehensive planning requirements on local governments. While, to the credit of DCA, most of the task force's recommendations have been achieved via its rulemaking process, three changes in statute were necessary. This legislation covers these necessary changes by:
 
- making housing, human services, natural resources, vital areas, historic and cultural resources, infrastructure, recreation and other components of a comprehensive plan optional to the local government;
 
- not requiring Regional Commissions (RC) to issue a public finding on whether a development of regional impact is in the best interest of the region or state; and
 
-changing deadlines on when a local government must adopt a comprehensive plan and submit it to their RC. 
 
For a detailed summary of all the Comprehensive Planning changes promulgated by DCA, click here.
 
For a PowerPoint presentation of the changes, click here.          
SB 0229 NegotiatingAuthorize County to Adopt Ordinance Allowing Sale of Consumer Fireworks Mullis, Jeff 53rd
1/13/2014 Senate Recommitted -I&L -
Constables/Marshals Debra Nesbit EMS/Ambulance Fire Services Fireworks
Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Health and Human Services Land Use/Zoning Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance
Trauma Care System
This legislation allows the county to adopt a local ordinance authorizing the sale of consumer fireworks. Also provides for a 10 percent excise tax on all fireworks sales. All revenues collectioed shall be paid to the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission and the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council in equal amounts.
SB 0317 OpposeCoin Operated Amusement Machines - Increase Numbers Substantially Lester Jackson
1/24/2014 Senate Read and Referred -GvtO -
Code Enforcement General County Government Land Use/Zoning Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards
This legislation severely restricts the ability of counties to regulate coin operated machines. Under current law, counties could restrict businesses from having more than six machines. This legislation allows businesses to have up to 500 coin operated machines. Additionally, current law restricts the payout of such machines to $5.00. This bill allows payouts up to $50 per play.
SB 0335 NeutralAlcohol - Locals May Authorize Retail Dealers to Conduct Tastings Burt Jones
2/21/2014 Senate Read Second Time -RI&Util -
Alcohol/Tobacco General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards

This legislation allows counties to authorize alcoholic beverage tasting events.

SR 0217 NeutralPari-Mutuel Wagering in Horse Racing; Constitutional Amendment Thompson, Curt 5th
2/12/2013 Senate - Senate Read and Referred -RI&Util -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government Land Use/Zoning Shaun Adams
This legislation, if approved by the voters, amends the constitution to allow pari-mutuel wagering in horse racing.
SR 0820 EvaluatingSenate Entrepreneur in Residence Study Committee Judson Hill
3/18/2014 Senate Passed/Adopted -ECD -
Business and Occupation Tax Code Enforcement Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government
Immigration Land Use/Zoning Nat. Res. & the Environment Property Tax Revenue & Finance
Sales Tax-Local Sewer/Septage Shaun Adams Transportation Water Quantity

 This legislation creates the Senate Entrepreneur in Residence Study Committee to examine impediments to entrepreneurs. The program would have two objectives:  (1) to identify within government inefficient and overlapping programs that negatively impact entrepreneurs trying to start or expand a business, and to recommend solutions; and, (2) to serve as a visible advocate and mentor for entrepreneurs within the government, a point of contact who knows and understands their needs, concerns, and frustrations with regard to dealing with government.

The entrepreneur in residence would:

1. Assist in providing outreach to entrepreneurs and small businesses;

2. Provide recommendations on ways to streamline and improve government procedures impacting entrepreneurs;

3. Recommend ways to improve programs available to entrepreneurs;

4. Facilitate meetings and forums to educate entrepreneurs on programs and requirements;

5. Provide technical assistance or guidance to entreprenuers in navigating government programs and requirements;

6. Participate in informal working groups of entrepreneurs in residence from various agencies established to discuss best practices, experiences, obstacles, opportunities, and recommendations. 

Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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