Utilities (7)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0022 SupportAuthorization for Telephone Coops to Provide Broadband Service Penny Houston
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Economic Development and Tourism --
2019/01/31 Report Broadband Econ. Dev. & Transportation Land Use/Zoning Policy Council
Preemption Todd Edwards Utilities
Mirroring SB 17, this legislation authorizes Georgia's Telephone Cooperatives to provide broadband services, either directly or indirectly through a contractual arrangement or through an affiliate.  Coops will also be eligible to apply for federal or state loans and grants to provide this service.  This proposal is part of the House Rural Development Council's recommendations to facilitate broadband deployment to rural areas of the state.
HB 0100 SupportAuthorization for EMCs to Provide Broadband Services Don Parsons
2/6/2019 House Second Readers Economic Development and Tourism --
Telecommunications Todd Edwards Utilities
This legislation, similar to HB 23 and SB 2, authorizes Georgia's EMCs to provide broadband service.   
HR 1280 NeutralJoint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure Katie Dempsey
3/5/2020 House Committee Favorably Reported Health and Human Services --
Health and Human Services Kathleen Bowen Public Safety and Courts Utilities Water Quality
This resolution creates the Joint Study Committee on Childhood Lead Exposure who will be tasked with studying the full effect of lead exposure in children and recommending how Georgia can effectively prevent adverse outcomes.
SB 0411 SupportRural Broadband - Cap Rate which EMCs may Charge for Equipment Collocated on their Poles John Kennedy
3/12/2020 Senate Tabled -Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2020/02/28 Report Broadband General County Government Todd Edwards Utilities
In an effort to facilitate the deployment of rural broadband, this bill caps the rates that EMCs may charge for the collocation of broadband equipment on their poles at the Federal rate (47 U.S.C. Section 224(d)), which currently applies to Georgia Power and all other investor-owned electric utilities.     
SB 0459 EvaluatingBroadband - Authorize Funding Under State Universal Access Fund Steve Gooch
2/28/2020 Senate Read and Referred -Regulated Industries and Utilities -
Broadband General County Government Todd Edwards Utilities
This legislation rewrites the role of the Georgia Public Service Commission in administering the broadband Universal Access Fund by striking out a lot of language in code and adding back a new arrangement that includes the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).  DCA will recommend disbursements for the Rural Broadband Portion of said fund, capped at $10 million annually.  The bill creates a larger pot of money for some projects, possibly at the expense of others.  The "Rural Local Exchange Portion" of the fund is capped at $30 million annually; requires an increase in rates to fund these expenditures.   
SB 0496 EvaluatingPreemption - Locals Cannot Discriminate Against Types or Sources of Energy or Fuel. Matt Brass
3/5/2020 Senate Read and Referred -Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2020/03/06 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government Preemption Roads
Todd Edwards Utilities
This preemption legislation prohibits any Georgia local government from adopting any policy that prohibits, or has the effect of prohibiting, the connection or reconnection of any utility service based on the type or source of energy or fuel to be delivered to any customer.  Local governments may still choose utility services for the properties they own.  ACCG's policy staff is unaware of any counties having discriminated in such a manner, but is aware that Berkeley, California has enacted a policy banning natural gas in new buildings in order to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals.  This appears to be a preemptive preemption, making sure this California measure doesn't spread to Georgia.          
SR 0793 NeutralJoint Private Financing of Infrastructure Study Committee Brandon Beach
6/19/2020 House - House Committee Favorably Reported Governmental Affairs Rules -
2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/13 Report 2020/06/19 Report Econ. Dev. & Transportation General County Government
Kathleen Bowen Revenue & Finance Roads Transportation Funding Utilities
This resolution creates the Joint Private Financing of Infrastructure Study Committee which will be tasked with identifying (and proposing solutions for) any legal or regulatory impediments to the growth of public-private partnerships. ACCG has representation on the study committee composition.  
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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