Transportation Funding (19)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0134 InactiveSingle County T-SPLOST Reforms James Epps
5/1/2017 Effective Date Ways & Means Finance -
2017/02/17-Report 2017/02/24 - Report 2017/03/06 - Report 2017/03/17 - Report 2017/03/24 - Report
Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding

This legislation adds flexibility, clarifications and enhancements to the existing Single County T-SPLOST law. This bill allows Single County T-SPLOST to fund state transportation projects and removes dates that are no longer relevant so now all counties, with the exception of Fulton County who has their own code section, would follow the same Single County T-SPLOST law. It also permits more than one Single County T-SPLOST to be levied at the same time as long as the amount does not exceed 1 percent and allows cities to bond their T-SPLOST projects. Lastly, the bill clarifies that after January 1, 2018, Regional T-SPLOST and a Single County T-SPLOST cannot be on the ballot at the same time.

A more detailed description of HB 134 can be found here.

HB 0201 NeutralMotor Fuel Tax - Reestablish Exemptions for School Buses and Mass Transit Buses Ron Stephens
2/2/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding
This bill converts three temporary exemptions from motor fuel tax into permanent exemptions. The exemptions, which had expired on June 30, 2015, are for public mass transit, public campus transportation systems, and school buses. As drafted, it affects only the state motor fuel tax.
HB 0215 NeutralT-SPLOST - Cities and Counties May Issue Bonds upon Voter Approval Meagan Hanson
2/7/2017 House Second Readers Ways & Means --
2017/02/03-Report Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding
This bill amends the single county TSPLOST and clarifies that a qualified municipality can issue general obligation bonds in conjunction with the levy of single county TSPLOST, in the same manner as the county. The language of this bill tracks the general SPLOST law on this issue. The text of this bill was incorporated into HB 134 that passed during the 2017 General Assembly session.
HB 0316 EvaluatingAnnual License Fees for Alterative Fuel Vehicles - Low Speed Vehicles Todd Jones
2/14/2017 House Second Readers Transportation --
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Transportation Funding
This bill adds low-speed electric vehicles (those with maximum speeds between 20 and 25 mph, such as certain golf carts) to the list of vehicles that are not subject to the annual $200.00 fee (noncommercial) or $300.00 fee (commercial) assessed on alternative fueled vehicles.
HB 0317 EvaluatingAnnual License Fees for Alterative Fuel Vehicles - Reduce Todd Jones
2/14/2017 House Second Readers Transportation --
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Transportation Funding
This bill lowers the annual fee for noncommercial alternative fueled vehicles from $200.00 to $100.00.
HB 0352 NeutralAlternative Fueled Vehicles - Exempt Low-speed vehicies from fees Charles Martin
2/8/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Ways & Means --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Transportation Funding
This bill exempts low-speed vehicles and electric powered personal transportation vehicles from the annual $200.00 fee levied on alternative fueled vehicles. This change is primarily intended to exempt golf carts from the fee.
HB 0379 NeutralGeorgia Public Road Authority Act Kevin Tanner
2/17/2017 House Second Readers Transportation --
2017/02/17-Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation Financing General County Government Government Immunity
Kathleen Bowen Procurement Revenue & Finance Roads Transportation
Transportation Funding
This legislation creates the Georgia Public Road Authority, which would have the ability to issue revenue bonds on behalf of counties and municipalities for the construction of local public roads. This Authority would also have the power to issue bonds for “public-private initiatives”.
HB 0386 NeutralMARTA tax - DeKalb County Billy Mitchell
2/17/2017 House Second Readers Transportation --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Larry Ramsey Local Legislation Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
Transportation Funding
This bill allows DeKalb County to impose an additional MARTA tax of .5 percent. The MARTA local constitutional amendment permits implemetation by local or general law. If this tax is imposed, any single county TSPLOST imposed in DeKalb would automatically have its effective rate reduced by .5 percent. The bill also excludes equalized HOST from the 2 percent ceiling on local sales and use taxes.
HB 0604 EvaluatingMass Transit Sales Tax Ron Stephens
3/22/2017 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding
This bill creates another single county TSPLOST at a rate of up to 1% for up to 40 years. It can only be levied by a county that: 1) does not levy regional TSPLOST; 2) is not a metropolitan county special district; 3) is levying either SPLOST, MARTA, or the 2% LOST for certain consolidated governments. The proceeds can only be expended for mass transportation.
HB 0694 NeutralElectronic Filing of Motor Fuel Tax Reports Brett Harrell
3/21/2018 Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Ways and Means Finance -
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Roads Transportation Funding
This bill requires motor fuel distributors to file electronically their monthly reports with the state revenue commissioner.
HB 0930 SupportTransit Governance and Funding Kevin Tanner
5/3/2018 Effective Date Transportation Transportation -
2018/02/16 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/16 Report 2018/03/2 Report 2018/03/23 Report
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation
Transportation Funding

This bill provides for transit governance and funding options for the Metro Atlanta region (a designated nonattainment area currently consisting of Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale counties) and the rest of the state. 

The Atlanta-region Transit Link (ATL) Authority is a new regional governing board that will lead the planning and coordination of transit in the Metro Atlanta region and will control state and federal transit funding.

Counties in the Metro Atlanta area would be able to call for a referendum to levy a Transit SPLOST up to 1% (and may be in .05% increments) for up to 30 years.  The county and all qualified municipalities may select transit projects for the county from the regional transit plan. The ATL Authority shall approve or deny any or all projects within a submitted transit project list and the proposed operator of any transit projects.

Lastly, counties outside of Metro Atlanta who partner with a neighboring county have the option to levy up to 1% (and may be in .05% increments) for up to 30 years. Each county planning to participate in the selected transit project or projects shall enter into intergovernmental agreements.  The referendum must pass both counties for the tax to be imposed.

A more detailed analysis of the bill can be found here.  


HR 0848 SupportHouse Commission on Transit Governance and Funding Kevin Tanner
3/30/2017 House Read and Adopted Rules --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Transit Transportation Funding

This legislation creates the House Commission on Transit Governance and FundingThe commission will study and assess the needs, funding methods and governance structures for mass transportation for any one or more metropolitan areas in Georgia. Appointments to the commission, made by the Speaker of the House, could include representation from counties that provide mass transportation. 

HR 1076 NeutralUrging Federal Government to Fund Georgia Ports Bill Hitchens
2/20/2018 House Passed/Adopted Economic Development and Tourism --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Kathleen Bowen Ports Transportation Funding
This resolution urges the federal government to provide funding for Georgia's ports.
HR 1540 NeutralUrging Congress to Invest in Infrastructure Vernon Jones
3/27/2018 House Passed/Adopted Special Rules --
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development General County Government Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
Procurement Public Works Transit Transportation Transportation Funding
Water Quality Water Quantity
This resolution states support for the infrastructure plan presented by the President of the United States and urges Congress to take action on said plan. 
SB 0058 WatchHotel-Motel Tax - Repeal $5 Per Room Charge for Transportation Purposes Joshua McKoon
1/25/2017 Senate Read and Referred -Finance -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Hotel Motel Tax Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Transportation Funding
This bill repeals the $5.00 per night hotel motel fee added in 2015, the proceeds of which are intended to be used for transportation purposes.
SB 0183 NeutralState Road and Tollway Authority Brandon Beach
7/1/2017 Effective Date Transportation Transportation -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Transportation Transportation Funding
This legislation amends the laws relating to the State Road and Tollway Authority.
SB 0386 NegotiatingTransit Governance & Funding for Metro Atlanta Brandon Beach
3/7/2018 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Transportation Transportation -
2018/02/09 Report 2018/02/23 Report 2018/03/09 Report 2018/03/2 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation
Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding

During the House Transportation Committee meeting that took place on 3.6.18, the language from SB 386 was stripped and in its place, the language from HB 930 was inserted. HB 930 is the transit bill authored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Kevin Tanner that addresses transit governance and funding options for the Metro Atlanta region (Cherokee, Clayton, Coweta, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale Counties). 

On 3.23.18, the Senate and the House insisted on their position to HB 930; therefore, a conference committee has been appointed where the differences from the House and Senate transit bills will be discussed with the goal of an agreed upon version will pass both chambers.  

HB 930 Conference Commitee composition: Rep. Kevin Tanner, Rep. Jan Jones, Rep. Calvin Smyre, Sen. Brandon Beach, Sen. Steve Gooch and Sen. David Lucas.  

Original Senate Transit Bill Language: 

This bill provides a new transit governance structure for the Metro Atlanta region and allows for an optional local funding mechanism to fund transit projects (Transit SPLOST). 

The newly created Atlanta-region Transit Link "ATL" Commission is a new division that would be placed under the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority. The purpose of this commission is to plan and coordinate transit services, transit facilities, and the funding of those purposes throughout its jurisdiction. This jurisdiction consists of any county which has approved a MARTA tax or any county which has approved a Transit SPLOST.

The ATL Commission is initially composed of 14 members including the Governor, GDOT Commissioner, CEO of MARTA, Executive Director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, and appointments made by the Mayor of the City of Atlanta, President of the Atlanta City Council, Chair of the Clayton County Board of Commissioners, Chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners, CEO of DeKalb County, Chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Chair of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners as well as an appointee selected by a majority vote of a caucus of the mayors from the municipalities in each county (Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton). If an additional Metro Atlanta county approves a Transit SPLOST, they shall have an appointee to the commission.

The legislation provides for a 1% Transit SPLOST for a period of 30 years. An IGA between the county and qualified municipalities must be agreed upon that includes the list of proposed transit projects, an agreement with MARTA for all rail based projects and/or an agreement with the ATL Commission approved bus operator.  The ATL Commission will have final approval of the transit project list.  

SR 0222 SupportTax Exemption Study Committee John Albers
3/28/2017 Senate Passed/Adopted -Finance -
Business and Occupation Tax Hotel Motel Tax Insurance Premium Tax Larry Ramsey Property Tax
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local Transportation Funding
This resolution creates the Senate Special Tax Exemption Study Committee. It directs the interim study committee to examine "tax exemptions" without specifying which exemptions are to be studied.
SR 0882 NeutralHartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Study Committee Burt Jones
3/27/2018 Senate Passed/Adopted -Transportation -
Airports Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Local Legislation Transportation
Transportation Funding
This resolution creates a study committee to study Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's operations and possibility of transferring the airport to an authority. 
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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