Legislation Assigned to the Senate JUDY Committee (22)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 3/29/2024

HB 0051 SupportRedemption Costs for Property Sold at a Tax Sale Benton, Tommy 31st
7/1/2016 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Clint Mueller Property Tax Revenue & Finance Tax Commissioner

This legislation makes several changes regarding the redemption of property on or after July 1, 2016, which has been sold under a tax execution. In the event that a tax sale purchaser has paid any sums to property owners', condominium, or owners' associations, then any person who subsequently redeems the property must repay such amounts to the tax sale purchaser in addition to the current statutory redemption amounts. This change would help the tax commissioner sell these properties at a tax sale.

HB 0059 NeutralProvide Waiver of Sovereign Immunity for Declatory Judgment Willard, Wendell 51st
5/3/2016 House Date Signed by Governor Judy JUDY -
Debra Nesbit General County Government Government Immunity

This legislation allows injunctions and declaratory judgment actions to be brought against the county (i.e., it waives sovereign immunity) when the county causes injury to a person by acting in violation of the Georgia Constitution or state law.  This waiver of sovereign immunity does not allow the person bringing the lawsuit to obtain monetary damages, attorney's fees or litigation costs.  HB 59 does not allow inmates or institutionalized individuals to bring injunctions or declaratory judgment actions against counties.  

HB 0087 WatchRetirement and Pensions Code Revision Willard, Wendell 51st
3/8/2016 Senate Read Second Time Judy JUDY -
Debra Nesbit Fire Services General County Government Public Safety and Courts Retirement
This legislation changes references to "full time" and "part time" to "full-time" and "part-time" in the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund.
HB 0098 NeutralMilitary Code of Justice Re-write Coomer, Christian 14th
7/1/2015 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Correctional Institutions/Jail Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts

This legislation rewrites the Georgia Code of Military Justice to be more in line with the Federal Code of Military Justice. 

HB 0298 NeutralRepeals the Sunset on the Certification Requirements for Process Servers Jacobs, Mike 80th
2/23/2015 Senate Read and Referred Judy JUDY -
Civil Procedure Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts Sheriff
This legislation allows the current method of sheriffs certifying process servers to continue. It currently has a sunset date of July 1, 2015.
HB 0322 SupportForeclosure - Late Filing of Deed will Incur $500 Penalty Strickland, Brian 111th
7/1/2015 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Clerk of Court Code Enforcement Emergency Management/Preparedness EMS/Ambulance Fire Services
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Law Enforcement Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

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.

HB 0418 NeutralGrand Juror Qualifications Reeves, Bert 34th
1/11/2016 Senate Recommitted Judy JUDY -
Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts

This legislation changes the qualifications for grand jurors. This bill excludes individuals in pre-trial release or diversion programs, serving a sentence under the first offender act, or participating in an accountability court program from serving on the grand jury. This legislation provides that no indictment can be quashed as a result of a grand juror's ineligibility to serve.

HB 0524 NeutralCreation of Trade Name Registry Housed with the Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority Fleming, Barry 121st
5/12/2015 House Date Signed by Governor Judy JUDY -
Business and Occupation Tax Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance

This legislation requires the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority to create and maintain a trade name registry. This bill provides that $5.00 of the $15.00 registration fee be retained by the Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority to create and maintain the statewide database until the year 2020. However, that is offset by the new $15.00 renewal fee.

HB 0547 SupportYear's Support Fleming, Barry 121st
7/1/2016 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Clint Mueller Property Tax Revenue & Finance
The latest substitute to this bill (LC 29 7096ERS) changes the way that unpaid property taxes of a surviving spouse are collected as a part of year's support. When there is a homestead property, no other properties can be set aside.  If there is no homestead property, then other types of properties can be set aside.
HB 0792 NeutralStun Guns on Campus Brockway, Buzz 102nd
7/1/2016 Effective Date PS&HS JUDY -
Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation changes the criminal law to allow students and employees to carry electroshock weapons on college, vocational schools and university campuses.
HB 0859 NeutralGuns - Campus Carry Permitted Jasperse, Rick 11th
5/3/2016 House Date Signed by Governor PS&HS JUDY -
Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation allows licensed individuals to carry guns on college property, except at sporting events and in student housing.
HB 1025 SupportService of Citation for Violations of Ordinance Violations Taylor, Tom 79th
7/1/2016 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Animal Control Business and Occupation Tax Civil Procedure Clerk of Court Code Enforcement
Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons General County Government Health and Human Services
Land Use/Zoning Local Legislation Magistrate Court Nat. Res. & the Environment Property Tax
Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Sewer/Septage Tax Commissioner Water Quality
This legislation allows local legislation permitting county ordinance violations that deal with the condition of real property to be served by leaving a copy of the citation at the property, mailing a copy to the property owner shown in the records of the tax commissioner or tax assessor, and filing a copy with the magistrate court clerk.  If the owner of the property fails to attend the trial, a fine against the property (i.e., "in rem") is the only penalty permitted.
HB 1060 NeutralGuns - Omnibus 2016 Legislation Jasperse, Rick 11th
5/3/2016 House Date Signed by Governor PS&HS JUDY -
Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Law Enforcement Nat. Res. & the Environment Probate Court
Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards

This is the General Assembly's 2016 omnibus gun carry legislation, making many revisions to current statute. Among its provisions, the bill addresses fairness in financial transactions with firearms dealers; honors out-of-state gun licenses in Georgia for 90 days for those that move here; allows hunters and fishermen to carry knives; revises school safety zone carry; allows probate courts to distribute gun safety information; addresses the suspension of a carry application; renewing licenses; exempting certain law enforcement officers from license requirements and allowing carry in a courthouse; carrying weapons at a commercial service airport; and appealing the denial of a license to those declared mentally incompetent.       

The provision which would have made it impossible to prohibit weapons in government buildings leased to third parties (e.g. arenas, football domes, baseball fields, concert halls, etc.) was removed from the bill.  

SB 0110 NeutralRepeal Sunset Provision for Certification of Process Servers Bethel, Charlie 54th
1/11/2016 Senate Recommitted -JUDY -
Civil Procedure Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts Sheriff

 This legislation eliminates the sunset on the current method of certifying process servers by the sheriff. 

SB 0129 NegotiatingGeorgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act McKoon, Joshua 29th
3/11/2015 House Second Readers Judy JUDY -
Animal Control Eminent Domain/Condemnation General County Government Juveniles Land Use/Zoning
Law Enforcement Personnel/Employment Public Safety and Courts Todd Edwards
This legislation prohibits the state and local governments from substantially burdening a person's exercise of religion (even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability) unless said burden is in furtherance of a compelling government interest and is the least restrictive means of achieving that interest. Those burdened may sue. In court, a prevailing party may recoup its attorney fees from the government.
SB 0135 NeutralRestricted Access to Clerk of Superior Court Records Bethel, Charlie 54th
5/6/2015 Senate Date Signed by Governor Judy JUDY -
Clerk of Court Debra Nesbit General County Government Open Records/Meetings Act Public Safety and Courts

This legislation restricts access to records of the superior court clerk, and provides that only the clerk of superior court can authorize release of records. Thereby eliminating the potential for records request to vendors serving the clerk of court or the Clerk's Cooperative Authority. This bill also provides that the clerk can contract with any governmental agency, vendor, etc., to provide for records storage.  This legislation specifically states that it shall have no impact or mandate on local government budgets.

SB 0141 WatchDeclassification of Minor Weapons Violations in School Zones from Class B Felonies Jones, Emanuel 10th
4/2/2015 House Withdrawn, Recommitted PS&HS JUDY -
Firearms/Carry Laws General County Government Juveniles Public Safety and Courts Sentencing
Todd Edwards

 This legislation provides that minor weapons violations in school safety zones are not considered Class B designated felonies. 

SB 0205 NeutralMake Municipal Court a Court of Record Bethel, Charlie 54th
3/5/2015 Senate Read and Referred -JUDY -
Debra Nesbit Public Safety and Courts
This legislation would make municipal courts a court of record.
SB 0206 NeutralWater Liens on Properties - Revise Notification Ligon, Jr., William 3rd
7/1/2016 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
General County Government Nat. Res. & the Environment Revenue & Finance Todd Edwards Utilities

This bill allows property owners, tenants, real estate closing attorneys or potential lenders to request and be provided a statement from the water provider indicating the amount of water charges past due. A response is required from the water supplier within 10 business days of receipt of such request. The failure of a water supplier to provide such statement within 10 business days shall cause any lien for unpaid charges to be extinguished, and, in addition, water suppliers cannot deny water services to the new property owner or tenant.

SB 0207 EvaluatingUniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act McKoon, Joshua 29th
2/4/2016 Senate Read Second Time -JUDY -
Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services Probate Court Public Safety and Courts
 This legislation enacts the Uniform Adult Guardianship and Protective Proceedings Jurisdiction Act.
SB 0255 NeutralReform Garnishment Proceedings Stone, Jesse 23rd
6/3/2016 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Clerk of Court Clint Mueller General County Government Personnel/Employment Public Safety and Courts
Retirement

This legislation is a rewrite of garnishment law necessitated by a recent federal court ruling that struck down a portion of Georgia's garnishment law. Garnishment is a court order used when an individual owes money. It requires an employer (or other third party) to take a portion of salary (or other money held by a third party belonging to the debtor) and pay it to the person who obtained the garnishment order. SB 255 addresses how counties will handle garnishments filed against their employees, as well as how county retirement plans respond to garnishments filed.

SB 0262 NeutralDisqualification of Judges, Judicial Officers, Grand Jurors for being Related to a Party and E-filing Stone, Jesse 23rd
7/1/2016 Effective Date Judy JUDY -
Civil Procedure Criminal Procedure Debra Nesbit Juveniles Magistrate Court
Public Safety and Courts State Court Superior Court

This legislation disqualifies judges, grand jurors and trial jurors from serving on a case where they are related within three degrees of anyone interested in the outcome of the case. This includes relations as a child, parent, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, grandparent, grandchild, great-grandparent or great-grandchild. Current law requires disqualification if there is a relationship of four degrees (which would include up to second cousins, great-aunts and uncles, great-great-aunts and uncles, great-nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews).

This bill was amended to include HB 1027 which provides that by court rule or standing order any state court may accept electronic filings and for the acceptance of payments and remittances by electronic means.

Please contact ACCG's Debra Nesbit at dnesbit@accg.org if this will negatively impact smaller counties.

Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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