Kathleen Bowen (117)
Use the drop down to the left to select the next 25 bills to display.

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0048 NegotiatingExempt Public Mass Transit Vehicles and School Buses from State Motor Fuel Tax Carl Gilliard
1/30/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/01/31 Report Kathleen Bowen Transit Transportation
This legislation exempts public mass transit vehicles, public school systems (school buses) and public campus transportation systems from the state motor fuel excise tax.
HB 0049 NeutralStudy of Interbasin Transfer from TN River Marc Morris
1/30/2019 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
Kathleen Bowen Water Quantity
This legislation allows the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District to study and include in plans the use of interbasin transfer from a river with an annual average flow of at least 15 billion gallons per day (Tennessee River). 
HB 0093 NeutralSolid Waste Management - Notification Requirements for Coal Ash Pond Dewatering Jeff Jones
6/20/2020 Senate - Senate Read Second Time Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2020/02/21 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
Water Quality
The bill requires written notice be required to the local governing authority no later than three days prior to commencing the dewatering of coal combustion residual surface impoundments (coal ash ponds) has begun.

"Dewatering" is a task in the process of closing coal ash ponds.
HB 0094 NeutralSolid Waste Management - Landfill Requirements for Accepting Coal Ash Jeff Jones
2/5/2019 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2019/01/31 Report Kathleen Bowen Solid Waste Water Quality
This legislation requires municipal solid waste landfill owners/operators who are seeking a minor modification of an existing permit to allow for the receipt of coal combustion residuals (CCR) to notify the public of the intent to receive CCR. The bill also includes new requirements for construction and ground-water detection monitoring for landfills who are accepting CCR.
HB 0167 SupportCOVID-19 Liability Protections Darlene Taylor
6/23/2020 Senate - Senate Transmitted House Insurance Insurance and Labor -
2020/06/19 Report Kathleen Bowen
This legislation, titled the "Georgia Pandemic Business Protection Act", seeks to provide liability protection from COVID-19 related lawsuits. County government employees and county government facilities are included in the definition as being afforded liability protection. 

No cause of action (lawsuit) shall exist for the transmission or contraction of COVID-19 unless an entity or person performed willful and wanton misconduct or intentional infliction of harm.
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 0200 NeutralInnkeeper Fee ($5 Per Night) Sales Tax Exemption for Non-Profits Don Hogan
2/11/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/08 Report Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance
The intent of this legislation is to exempt individuals who are employed or representing a Section 501(c)(3) organization from the $5 per night fee on rooms, lodging, and accommodations that are owned/operated by a Section 501(c)(3) organization. 
HB 0201 SupportRules and Regulations for Live-Aboard Vessels Don Hogan
1/1/2020 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation authorizes the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to create rules and regulations to addresses live-aboard vessels including where they can be anchored and how sewage material can be disposed within estuarine areas of the state. 
HB 0213 NeutralGeorgia Hemp Farming Act John Corbett
5/10/2019 Effective Date Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Agriculture and Consumer Affairs -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/22 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Agriculture Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation allows for the farming of industrial hemp. The bill authorizes the Georgia Department of Agriculture to issue hemp growers licenses and hemp processors permits as well as requires the Department to create a plan to regulate hemp production. Colleges and universities within the University System of Georgia would be allowed to conduct research on the cultivation and uses of hemp. 

Hemp growers and producers would have to get a criminal background check conducted by local law enforcement. In addition, they would be required to give the GBI, Dept of Agriculture and state and local law enforcement access to where hemp is being processed, handled, cultivated or harvested to conduct inspections.   

This legislation is in response to a 2018 House Study Committee on Industrial Hemp Production. The study committee meeting details and the final committee report can be found here.
HB 0215 SupportRules of the Road for Electric Assisted Bicycles (E-Bikes) Teri Anulewicz
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Natural Resources and Environment --
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Transportation

This legislation establishes regulations for electric assisted bicycle, "e-bikes" and defines three classes of e-bikes. E-bikes would follow the same rules of the road as human powered bikes and local governments would have the authority to allow or restrict the use of e-bikes on bicycle paths or shared paths where bicycles are permitted.

For more details, click here for an info sheet prepared by People for Bikes who are in support of the bill.    

*Language from this bill is was included in HB 454 that passed during the 2019 Session.
HB 0216 SupportCOVID-19 Liability Protections Teri Anulewicz
6/17/2020 Senate - Senate Read Second Time Motor Vehicles Public Safety -
2020/06/19 Report General County Government Kathleen Bowen
This legislation, titled the "Georgia Pandemic Business Immunity Act", seeks to provide liability protection from COVID-19 related lawsuits. County government employees and county government facilities are included as being afforded liability protection as long as those parties are acting in good faith to comply with guidelines issued by the Governor, the Georgia Department of Public Health, or the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunity would not apply where the government has acted recklessly or intentionally to cause harm.
 
Immunity protection is only in effect upon the Governor issuing an executive order declaring that a state of emergency or disaster exists due to COVID-19. Such immunity shall apply to causes of action that occur between the date of the declaration of a state of emergency or disaster and two years after the date of the last executive order issued by the Governor.
HB 0220 SupportReauthorize Hazardous and Solid Waste Trust Funds Terry Rogers
6/30/2019 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Finance -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Solid Waste
This legislation renews the fees that make up the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund (HWTF) and the Solid Waste Trust Fund (SWTF) for three years, from July 1, 2019 to July 1, 2022. 

Effective from July 1, 2020, until June 30, 2022, the  75¢ per ton of solid waste disposal fee would be reduced to 51¢ per ton. Effective from July 1, 2020, until June 30, 2022, the $1 fee imposed upon the retail sale of all new replacement tires would be reduced to 38¢ per tire sold. In effect, the fees are reduced by the percentages that were not appropriated for their intended purposes in the last completed fiscal year, 2018.

The HWTF and SWTF support efforts including clean-up of abandoned contaminated sites, leaking landfills, scrap tires and illegal dumps; in addition, funds go towards waste reduction and recycling programs. 

ACCG supports the reauthorization of both trust funds but is advocating for the successful passage of HR 164, a constitutional amendment that authorizes the Georgia General Assembly to establish, by statute, true and dedicated trust funds.
HB 0223 NeutralNotification Exemptions for Farms re: Pesticides and Air Emissions Robert Dickey
7/1/2019 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/02/15 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation (similar to existing federal law) grants exemptions to farms relating to emergency notifications to GA EPD in regards to the application of pesticides as well as a notification exemption for air emissions from animal waste. 
HB 0224 SupportTax Credits for Job Creation in Rural Counties Hugh Williamson
6/1/2019 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/03/29 Report Kathleen Bowen
This legislation would allow certain rural and economically distressed counties to utilize the investment tax credit against payroll withholding. In addition, for certain rural and economically distressed counties, the number of jobs necessary to qualify for the quality jobs tax credit is lowered - creation of 10 new jobs in Tier 1 counties, creation of 25 new jobs in Tier 2 counties and at least 50 jobs created for all other counties.

This legislation defines "rural county" as a county that has a population of less than 50,000 with 10 percent or more of such population living in poverty based upon the most recent, reliable and applicable data published by the US Bureau of Census.  For a list of county tier rankings see here.
HB 0241 EvaluatingIndoor Air Quality Assessments Required of All Public Buildings Kim Schofield
2/13/2019 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2019/02/15 Report Air Quality Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation requires (prior to January 1, 2021) an indoor air quality assessment to be conducted of all public buildings. 
HB 0265 NeutralLower Annual Fee for Alternative Fueled Vehicle Spencer Frye
2/14/2019 House Second Readers Motor Vehicles --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance
This legislation lowers the fee from $200 to $100 for alternative fueled vehicles that are not operated for commercial purposes.

The fee was included in HB 170 (2015 Georgia General Assembly Session) which significantly raised funds for transportation purposes.
HB 0269 NeutralExempt Low Speed Vehicles From Annual License Fee Spencer Frye
2/14/2019 House Second Readers Motor Vehicles --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance

This legislation exempts low-speed vehicles from the annual fees for the licensing of the operation of vehicles.

"Low-speed vehicle" means any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed attainable in one mile is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour on a paved level surface and which is manufactured in compliance with those federal motor vehicle safety standards for low-speed vehicles set forth in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 and in effect on January 1, 2001.
HB 0294 NeutralExemption for Building Materials Advertised For Bid Prior to TSPLOST Approval Bonnie Rich
2/15/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/15 Report Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance
This legislation exempts building and construction materials from the Single County Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST) for projects that are advertised for bid prior to voters' approval of a Single County TSPLOST. This exact language/exemption is found in the regular SPLOST and Regional TSPLOST code sections.  
HB 0342 SupportStatewide Regulations for Booting Vehicles Matt Dollar
1/13/2020 Senate Recommitted Motor Vehicles Public Safety -
2019/03/29 Report Kathleen Bowen
This legislation includes similar language from HB 469 as it defines and sets statewide standards for vehicle immobilization devices and services - commonly known as "booting". This bill states that booting would be prohibited in a jurisdiction unless the local government passes an ordinance allowing booting. 
HB 0375 EvaluatingOperation of Trains at Crossings Joseph Gullett
2/21/2019 House - House Second Readers Transportation --
2019/02/22 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen
This bill prohibits the operation of a train in a manner that occupies or blocks a street, road, or highway grade crossing longer than 15 minutes unless its necessary to comply with safety signals, to avoid striking an object or person on the track, due to circumstances beyond control of the train or in order to comply with federal safety regulation or federal law.
HB 0382 SupportGA Outdoor Stewardship Act - Clean Up Bill Jon Burns
7/1/2019 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation is a clean-up bill to last year's Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act (HB 332). Language is included that expands the definition of who is eligible to receive grant and loan funds from the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to now include "constituted recreation authorities". Local governments were already included as an eligible recipient. 
HB 0383 EvaluatingExempt Low Speed Vehicles and Electric Powered Vehicles From Annual License Fee Josh Bonner
2/22/2019 House Second Readers Transportation --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Transportation
This legislation exempts low-speed vehicles and electric powered personal transportation vehicles from the annual fees for the licensing of the operation of vehicles.
HB 0399 NeutralDigital License Plates Allowed Jeff Jones
2/22/2019 House Second Readers Motor Vehicles --
2019/02/22 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Tax Commissioner
This legislation sets standards and procedures for issuing and displaying digital license plates. Individuals would be allowed to submit an application to the county tag office indicating a preference for a digital license plate. A digital license plate provider can collect fees for the license plate hardware and services. Digital license plates would renewed annually and the Department of Revenue would be authorized to develop rules and regulations relating to the digital displays, messaging and personalization of digital license plates.  
HB 0411 OpposeAd Valorem Taxes - No Fees on Tax Bills Brett Harrell
2/25/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/22 Report Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance
This bill prohibits local governments from placing on the property tax bill any other fee or charge, such as solid waste/trash fees and stormwater fees. Instead, billing for such other fees would have to be separate (although they could be included in the same mailing as the property tax bill). Any partial payments by a taxpayer would be required to be first applied to property tax liability, and not pro-rated with other fees or assessments due. Preservation of local control on this issue is an ACCG Priority.

Click here for a list of counties that have reported to ACCG that they collect fees on their property tax bill. More information on the topic is included in ACCG's 2019 Legislative Toolkit, found here.
HB 0422 NegotiatingLand Disturbance Permits Timothy Barr
2/25/2019 House Second Readers Natural Resources and Environment --
2019/02/22 Report Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment Stormwater
This legislation revises the process of reviewing and approving erosion and sediment control plans. ACCG has committeed to working with the author and co-authors of this bill on language to address their concerns. 
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.



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