Legislation Sponsored by Penny Houston (9)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 4/25/2024

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4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Economic Development and Tourism --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 0023 SupportAuthorization for EMCs to Provide Broadband Service Penny Houston
1/13/2020 Senate Recommitted Economic Development and Tourism Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2019/01/31 Report Broadband Econ. Dev. & Transportation Economic Development Land Use/Zoning
Todd Edwards

Mirroring SB 2, this legislation authorizes Georgia's Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) to provide broadband services, either directly or indirectly through a contractual arrangement or through an affiliate.  EMCs are prohibited from cross-subsidizing broadband services through funds from their electric or gas accounts, and an annual audit will be conducted to ensure this prohibition.  Furthermore, EMC members in good standing can sue (in the superior court of the county where the EMC is headquartered) to also ensure no cross-subsidization. EMCs will not be able to disconnect, or threaten to disconnect, a customer from their electric or gas services for failure to pay their broadband bill.  EMCs will be eligible to apply for federal or state loans and grants to provide broadband service.  This proposal is part of the House Rural Development Council's recommendations to facilitate broadband deployment to rural areas of the state.  

HB 0085 SupportOrgan Procurement Organizations Sales Tax Exemption Penny Houston
4/2/2019 House Disagreed Senate Amend or Sub Ways and Means Finance -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/29 Report Larry Ramsey
Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill would grant a sales tax exemption to nonprofit organ procurement organizations, similar to the existing to the sales tax exemption for blood banks. The text of this bill was added to SB 104.
HB 0597 NeutralSparks, City of; provide new charter Penny Houston
4/2/2019 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Intern 1 Local Legislation
HB 0831 NeutralCook County; Probate Court; charge technology fee Penny Houston
6/29/2020 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
HB 0882 SupportSales Tax Exemptions - Food Banks and Food for Hunger/Disaster Relief Penny Houston
6/22/2020 Senate - Senate Read Second Time Ways and Means Finance -
2020/02/07 2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/06 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
Sales Tax-Local
This bill would remove the current sunset date (2021) for the sales tax exemption for food purchases by food banks and non-profit organizations that provide hunger-relief services. The latter exemption would be extended to also include non-profit organizations providing disaster relief. The bill is estimated to reduce local (county, city, and schools) sales taxes by approximately $1.6 million per year on a statewide basis. The substance of this bill has also been added to HB 1035.
HB 0884 NeutralTifton, City of; levy an excise tax Penny Houston
6/30/2020 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
HB 1148 NeutralBerrien County; Magistrate Court; provide for election of future chief magistrates Penny Houston
7/1/2020 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
HB 1195 NeutralBerrien County; office of probate judge; provide nonpartisan elections Penny Houston
7/29/2020 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.








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