This legislation authorizes residential and commercial electric customers, including local governments, to install solar technology on their property and utilize such financing mechanisms as leases, private solar energy procurement agreements (whereby payments are based on the output of the system), and authorization for electric companies to finance projects for their customers. Providing solar financing services does not make an entity an electric service provider and the power must be used on site or fed back to the electric utility. The bill does not limit or usurp current local regulatory or land use authority.

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This legislation extends the date for adoption of drug free commercial zones by local ordinance to July of 2015.

This legislation amends the Urban Redevelopment Law to change "slum" to "pockets of blight."

County Impact: Will make it easier for local governments and development authorities to draw on federal grants for redevelopment in blighted areas.  

This legislation requires all deeds under power to be recorded within 90 days of a foreclosure sale or the holder is required to pay a late filing penalty of $500 to the superior court clerk. The clerk remits these fees to counties for properties in the unincorporated areas and to cities for properties therein. All monies collected must be used for code enforcement, public safety, and community development purposes. Cities must pay the county a 5 percent administrative fee for the clerk collecting and remitting this money.

This legislation authorizes up to four casino gaming establishments in Georgia: two in Metro Atlanta and two in other parts of the state.  The state would levy a 20 percent tax on casino revenues; require substantial investment and licensing fees in order for a casino to operate; set aside at least 90 percent of state revenues for the HOPE scholarship program; designate 1-2 percent of revenues for problem gambling organizations; and distribute 1-3 percent of revenues to the local government hosting the casino for infrastructure and public safety purposes.       

HR 807 is a Constitutional amendment that must be passed by Georgia voters in order for HB 677 to take effect.      

This legislation, similar to SB 272, would allow for the creation of townships via local legislation with land use, zoning, subdivision, building permit and code enforcement powers, if the voters first approve a statewide referendum approving a constitutional amendment. Companion resolutions, HR 1051 and SR 724, if passed, will call for the statewide referendum to amend the constitution allowing townships to have zoning powers. Townships could levy up to a .5 mill property tax, annex and transition to cityhood. Though counties would have no say in the above decisions, counties must continue to provide all services and infrastructure to the area as they would any unincorporated area. Counties would have an opportunity to comment on township decisions, but nothing is binding or mediated.

This legislation changes the requirements for the filing of maps and plats with the superior court clerk.  Under current law, all maps and plats are filed and recorded in the superior court clerk's office. HB 1004 no longer requires that physical maps and plats be maintained in the superior court clerk's office. Instead, digital images will be maintained by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA). The superior court clerk is required to keep a public computer terminal to provide access to the maps and plats.

This legislation allows a $100 fine per day to be levied against the owner of property (other than a property owner who has filed for homestead exemption) who fails to correct a code violation within 48 days of a notice to correct being sent. In the case of foreclosed properties, the code violation must be sent to the address contained on the postforeclosure registry maintained by the superior court clerk's office. The fine constitutes a lien that can be created and foreclosed in the same manner as a tax lien.  

This bill also requires the superior court clerk to establish and maintain a postforeclosure registry to maintain information about the purchases of real property at a foreclosure sale.  Within ten business days after a property is purchased at a foreclosure sale, the buyer must provide the superior court clerk with his or her contact information.  The new owner must notify the superior court clerk's office of any change in address within five business days of a change in contact information. Purchasers of foreclosed property that do not comply with this legislation or with ordinances related to the property may be required to pay treble damages plus attorneys' fees if they are sued and lose. 

This legislation, similar to HB 785, would allow for the creation of townships via local legislation with land use, zoning, subdivision, building permit and code enforcement powers, if Georgia voters first approve a statewide referendum approving a constitutional amendment. Companion resolutions, SR 724 and HR 1051, if passed, will call for the statewide referendum to amend the constitution allowing townships to have zoning powers. Townships could levy up to a .5 mill property tax, annex and transition to cityhood. Though counties would have no say in the above decisions, counties must continue to provide all services and infrastructure to the area as they would any unincorporated area. Counties would have an opportunity to comment on township decisions, but nothing is binding or mediated.

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.