HB 0022 |
Neutral | Elections - Authorize Voters to Cast Ballot in any Local Precinct |
Roger Bruce |
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1/25/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation allows the election superintendent to authorize voters to vote in any precinct in the county. The election superintendent must ensure that there are safeguards to protect against voters voting in more than once, there are enough ballots of each style available at each precinct to accommodate voters using a different precinct, there is sufficient DRE voting equipment at each precinct, and there are sufficient poll workers available at each precinct. |
HB 0033 |
Neutral | No Illegal Immigants or non-Georgians on certain Local Boards or Authorities |
Brad Raffensperger |
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1/12/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Judiciary |
- | - |
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| This preemption legislation establishes additional requirements on individuals (other than ex officio or nonvoting members) appointed to county or city boards, commissions or authorities that establish policy, spend public funds, levy taxes or impose or collect fees or charges. In order to be eligible for such an appointment, the individual must be a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident or an alien having lawful status in the U.S. The individual must also be a legal resident of Georgia, unless he or she resides in another state but owns an interest in business in Georgia or is employed in Georgia. These qualifications do not apply to active duty members of the armed forces or an immediate family member of an active duty member of the armed forces. The body making the appointment (i.e., the board of commissioners) is responsible for determining whether an individual meets these qualifications. |
HB 0042 |
Inactive | Elections - Superintendent Authorized to Correct Minor Ballot Mistake |
Eddie Lumsden |
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2/23/2017 |
Effective Date |
Governmental Affairs |
Ethics |
- |
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| This legislation allows the election superintendent to correct mistakes or omissions in the printing of official ballots or the programming of the display of the official ballot on the DRE voting equipment for local government candidates. Currently, said correction must be required by the superior court following an application by an elector. |
HB 0060 |
Support | Liquor - Distiller May Sell Directly to Public |
Ron Stephens |
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1/24/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Regulated Industries |
- | - |
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| This legislation authorizes licensed distillers to obtain a retail package liquor store license and sale up to 10 percent of the total liquor it produces each year, or 1,000 barrels, whichever is greater, directly to the public from the distillery. Excise taxes will be collected and paid by the distiller. It also authorizes distilleries to have a food service establishment on the premises. |
HB 0076 |
Inactive | Clerks of Court - Revisions to Recording Maps, Plats and Plans |
Rick Jasperse |
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5/8/2017 |
Effective Date |
Judiciary |
Judiciary |
- |
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| This is clean up legislation for HB 1004 from the 2016 legislative session. All maps, plats, plans and condominium plans must now be submitted electronically to the clerk of superior court. The remainder of the bill was worked out over the interim between counties, cities, surveyors, engineers, architects and the clerks, specifying the format for the submittal of plats and plans, required data for plats, which plats must be certified by land surveyors, and other certification required for plats. Attempts to add language stating that maps not creating new roads or utilities do not need local approval prior to submittal to the clerk were unsuccessful. For the guidance document, click here. |
HB 0082 |
Neutral | Personal Information - Notification of Unauthorized Release |
Sheri Gilligan |
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1/25/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Judiciary |
- | - |
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| This legislation expands the notification requirements when personal information (i.e., name plus social security number, driver's license number, state identification card number, account number, credit card number, debit card number, account password, personal identification number, or access code) is released to unauthorized persons. Under current law, counties must notify individuals if the security of the system containing the information is breached. Now they must also do so if the information is released to an unauthorized person intentionally, inadvertently or accidentally. |
HB 0090 |
Negotiating | Land Purchase - Illegal for Board Member to Discuss if Conflict of Interest |
Robert Gasaway |
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3/30/2017 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Judiciary Non-Civil |
- | - |
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| This legislation makes it a misdemeanor for members of the board of commissioners, city council, school board or local board or authority to knowingly and intentionally vote, attempt to influence a vote, or be present in executive or closed session when their respective body is considering or discussion the acquisition of property if the member has direct or indirect ownership interest in the property, or any business in which the member serves in a fiduciary capacity has an ownership interest in the property. |
HB 0133 |
Neutral | Write-in Candidates - Change Petition Requirements |
John Pezold |
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1/30/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation amends the requirements for nominating a candidate by petition. Current law requires the petition to be signed by 1 percent of total registered voters eligible to vote in the last election. This bill requires the petition to be signed by at least 2 percent of the total number of votes cast in the last election. |
HB 0144 |
Negotiating | Retail Pet Stores - Preempt Local Ordinances |
Earl Ehrhart |
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3/30/2017 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Agriculture & Consumer Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation preempts counties and cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances that directly or indirectly prohibit the sale, delivery or transfer of a dog or cat from a properly licensed retail pet store or from imposing restrictions in addition to the requirements of state law. Many attempts were made to add this preemptive language to other bills late in the session. All attempts failed. |
HB 0156 |
Neutral | Guns - No License Required |
Matt Gurtler |
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1/31/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Public Safety and Homeland Security |
- | - |
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| This legislation enacts the Georgia Constitutional Carry Act of 2017. It does away with Georgia's weapons license and allows anyone to carry a firearm unless they are prohibited by law from possessing a weapon or long gun. |
HB 0158 |
Neutral | Gambling - Georgia Destination Resort Act |
Ron Stephens |
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1/31/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Regulated Industries |
- | - |
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| This legislation, mirroring SB 79, legalizes gambling in Georgia. Two casino licenses will be granted. One license will be granted within a county having a population of at least 900,000, will be at least a $2 billion investment, located in a convention district and have a hotel with at least 1,000 rooms. The other license will be granted within a county with at least 450,000 people, be at least a $450 million investment, and located near a convention district. These casinos can be open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and will pay a 20-percent tax on gross receipts (70 percent of proceeds go to the HOPE Scholarship and 30 percent will go to a needs-based college scholarship. |
HB 0164 |
Neutral | Elections - Only Those Elected to Office Listed as "Incumbents" |
Betty Price |
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1/31/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation seeks to specify that only current officers who were elected to their offices may be designated as "incumbents" on the ballot. Current officers who were appointed to fill a vacancy would not be considered an "incumbent" on the ballot. |
HB 0167 |
Evaluating | Elections - Georgia Timely Process Act |
Patty Bentley |
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1/31/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation requires county voter registration officials to process all applications for voter registration within 45 days of the initial receipt. |
HB 0175 |
Support | Alcohol - Locals May Reduce Distance Between Restaurant Sales and Schools/Housing Authorities |
Clay Cox |
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2/1/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Regulated Industries |
- | - |
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| This legislation allows counties and cities, via a resolution or ordinance, to reduce the state-mandated distance between a restaurant that serves wine and beer and a school or housing authority property. |
HB 0177 |
Oppose | Mandate - Counties Must Provide Multi-Lingual Services |
Pedro Marin |
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2/1/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation requires counties and cities to provide equal access to public services to individuals with limited English proficiency, including providing in house staff interpreters, bilingual staff or interpreter programs if contact with individuals with limited English proficiency regularly occurs. Documents must be translated into any language spoken by at least three percent of the population of the area served by the county. ACCG has no position on whether counties do this, but opposes having the state mandate it upon us. |
HB 0180 |
Evaluating | Elections - Counties Must Beef Up Polling Locations for Convenience |
David Dreyer |
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2/1/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation requires counties to have at least one advance voting location for each 150,000 electors in the county. It requires that no elector have to go more than 25 miles to a polling place using the most direct rout of travel from the elector's residence. Any precincts with polling places requiring more than 25 miles of travel would be required to divide or have the polling place relocated. HB 180 prohibits changing a polling place within 90 days of an election or primary except in the case of emergency or unavoidable event. It also allows voters to change their addresses and vote on election or primary days. |
HB 0182 |
Evaluating | Employment - Cannot Run Credit Checks |
Winfred Dukes |
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2/1/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Industry and Labor |
- | - |
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| This legislation, with certain exceptions, prohibits all employers, including counties, from requesting, requiring or obtaining a credit check from a current or potential employee. Credit checks may be used if the employee or potential employee is being evaluated because the position is a managerial position involving setting the direction or control of the "business," involves access to customers', employees' or the county's financial information (other than the information routinely provided in a retail transaction), or involves fiduciary responsibility (including the authority to issue payments, transfer money or enter into contracts). Violation of this law is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine between $500 to $2,500. |
HB 0183 |
Support | Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council |
Robert Dickey |
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7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
State Planning & Community Affairs |
Natural Resources and the Environment |
- |
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| This legislation transfers the Georgia Geospatial Advisory Council from the Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Community Affairs and removes the council's sunset. The Council makes recommendations on utilizing Georgia's geospatial capabilities to meet federal notification requirements, achieving governmental data interoperability and advancing geospatial technology among Georgia's state and local governments. |
HB 0189 |
Neutral | Contract Cancellation Act |
Sheila Nelson |
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3/29/2018 |
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute |
Governmental Affairs |
State and Local Governmental Operations |
- |
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| This legislation requires service contracts with counties that are entered into or renewed on or after July 1, 2017, to include: (1) specific performance and cost parameters; (2) a provision that allows the county to terminate the contract if the other party does not meet the performance criteria or if projected annual costs exceed the cost established in the contract; (3) a provision that the county may cancel the contract at any time of the other party fails to comply with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. The other party to the contract must submit quarterly reports to the board of commissioners showing compliance with the performance criteria and the actual costs that the county is required to pay. |
HB 0194 |
Neutral | Counties Must Consider Schools when Rezoning |
Todd Jones |
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3/30/2017 |
House Withdrawn, Recommitted |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation requires counties and cities to consider the impact that a proposed zoning action has on local school systems and their potential overcrowding - if the local school system provides the county with information and data on such impact after the county request it. ACCG worked to further amend the bill to require school boards to consider the impact on city or county infrastructure, particularly roads and traffic, when siting new schoolhouses. |
HB 0216 |
Evaluating | Purchasing - Counties Mandated to Give Georgia Companies Preference |
Debbie Buckner |
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2/7/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Governmental Affairs |
- | - |
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| This legislation enacts the Georgia Jobs Matter Act, which requires counties and cities to give preference to Georgia businesses. All bids submitted to counties and cities will be required to include an employment impact statement addressing the number of jobs expected to be created or retained in the state by the bidder if the bid is awarded to the bidder; the number of jobs expected to be created or retained in the state by any subcontractors used by the bidder if the contract is awarded to the bidder; and a guarantee that the bidder will not move any jobs created or retained in Georgia to another state during the duration of the contract. |
HB 0243 |
Neutral | Locals Can't Mandate Extra Pay for Schedule Changes |
William Werkheiser |
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7/1/2017 |
Effective Date |
Industry and Labor |
Insurance and Labor |
- |
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| This legislation preempts local governments from requiring contractors to provide additional pay to employees based upon schedule changes. |
HB 0253 |
Support | Dog and Cat License Plates |
Wendell Willard |
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3/27/2018 |
Senate Tabled |
Motor Vehicles |
Public Safety |
- |
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| This legislation amends the special license plates to help fund dog and cat reproductive sterilization support. |
HB 0257 |
Support | Local Government Authority Finance Reports |
Jan Tankersley |
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7/1/2018 |
Effective Date |
Governmental Affairs |
State and Local Governmental Operations |
- |
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| This legislation combines the two annual reports (registry and financial reports) that local government authorities and local independent authorities must file annually with the Department of Community Affairs. Local authorities may not incur debt or credit obligations until they submit the report, though failure to do so will not impact any outstanding debt. |
HB 0267 |
Oppose | Mandated County Sick Leave Policy |
Kimberly Alexander |
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2/9/2017 |
House Second Readers |
Industry and Labor |
- | - |
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| This legislation mandates that all counties implement a sick-time policy and provide at least 56 hours of paid sick leave per year to their employees. Paid sick leave shall accrue at the rate of one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The bill places several other requirements on these sick leave policies. While ACCG has no issue with whatever sick leave the state may elect to provide its employees, we believe that counties are best apt to make their own personnel decisions. |