Legislation Sponsored by Brandon Beach (5)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

SB 0079 NeutralGambling - Georgia Destination Resort Act Brandon Beach
1/30/2017 Senate Read and Referred -Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2017/02/03-Report Alcohol/Tobacco Business and Occupation Tax District Attorneys Econ. Dev. & Transportation
Economic Development Forfeitures, Fees, and Fine Add Ons Georgia Bureau of Investigation Land Use/Zoning Public Safety and Courts
Todd Edwards Tourism
This legislation, mirroring HB 158, 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 1000 guest rooms.  The other license will be granted within a county with at least 250,000 people, be at least a $450 million investment, and located near a convention district. 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.  .  .          
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.  

SB 0435 NeutralEnforcement of and Use of Cameras in School Zones and on School Buses Brandon Beach
2/23/2018 Senate Read Second Time -Public Safety -
Econ. Dev. & Transportation Kathleen Bowen Law Enforcement Open Records/Meetings Act Probate Court
Public Safety and Courts Revenue & Finance Roads Solicitors State Court
Traffic Enforcement
This legislation allows cameras to be placed in school zones but prior to the placement of such devices, a permit should be otbained from the Georgia Department of Transportation. A civil penalty for speeding in such zone is $75 for a first violation and $125 for any subsequent violation with an additional processing fee of $25 assessed. Additionally, should a local government chose to use cameras in school zones, signs must be placed within the approaching school zone warning drivers of the use of speed detection cameras. 
 
The bill also reduces the civil penalty for passing a school bus that has its stop sign activated. 
SR 0227 SupportAviation Fuel Tax - Urge Federal Action Brandon Beach
3/28/2017 Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute -Transportation -
Airports Econ. Dev. & Transportation Larry Ramsey Local Legislation Revenue & Finance
Sales Tax-Local
This legislation encourages each member of the Georgia congressional delegation to intercede with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation to prevent loss of aviation fuel tax revenue. A 2015 FAA ruling provides that taxes derived from the sale of aviation fuel must be spent for aviation purposes, even in the tax in question is a generally applicable tax. This FAA ruling will impact all counties (and cities) that have within their boundaries an airport that sells aviation fuel.
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