Legislation Sponsored by Ron Stephens (21)

Date of Last Recorded Action: 5/7/2024

HB 0076 NeutralLocals May Reduce State Distance Restrictions on Alcohol Sales Ron Stephens
4/2/2019 Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute Regulated Industries Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2019/01/31 Report 2019/02/22 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report Alcohol/Tobacco
General County Government Land Use/Zoning Todd Edwards
Currently, state law prohibits the sale of distilled spirits within 100 yards of churches and within 200 yards of schools and college campuses.  Under this bill, local governments may authorize the sale of packaged alcohol (for consumption off premise) within 200 yards of a college via a less restrictive ordinance; however they cannot enact any greater distances - a more restrictive ordinance.  The term "College" shall include, but not be limited to, all buildings, campuses and grounds of a college.       
HB 0244 SupportEMCs - Public Service Commission to Determine Pole Attachment Fees Ron Stephens
1/1/2021 Effective Date Economic Development and Tourism Regulated Industries and Utilities -
2019/02/15 Report 2020/02/07 2020/03/13 Report 2020/06/19 Report General County Government
Telecommunications Todd Edwards

This legislation alters the process by which Georgia’s Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) determine the fees charged to communications service providers which place telecommunications equipment on EMC utility poles.  The fee/rate will be determined by the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) after the PSC considers what is just, reasonable, nondiscriminatory and commercially reasonable.  The PSC will promulgate, by January 1, 2021, the rules explaining how the above factors will be determined.  Current PSC charges will remain in effect until the date of their natural or lawful determination.           
HB 0314 SupportBoat Titles Ron Stephens
7/1/2020 Effective Date Ways and Means Finance -
2019/02/15 Report 2019/03/01 Report 2019/03/08 Report 2019/03/15 Report 2019/03/22 Report
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance
This bill would require the issuance of ownership titles for all watercraft used in state waters. Title applications would be processed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. An amendment in House committee eliminated the proposed sales tax cap in boat sales as was proposed in the original version.
HB 0420 SupportHeavy Equipment Rental Tax Ron Stephens
2/25/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2019/02/22 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
This bill creates a new "property tax recovery fee" for short-term heavy-equipment leases. The fee is 1.5% of the total rental charges and is payable to the tax commissioner against personal property ad valorem taxes due from the equipment owner.
HB 0449 NeutralSales Taxes - Exemption for Construction of Multi-Use Arena Ron Stephens
2/25/2019 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
This bill would exempt from sales taxes all materials used in the construction and furnishing of a multi-use arena owned (in whole or in part) by a city or county. The exemption would expires in 2021.
HB 0477 OpposeExempt Apartment/Condo's from Public Health Rules Ron Stephens
2/27/2019 House Second Readers State Planning and Community Affairs --
2019/03/01 Report Debra Nesbit Health and Human Services
This legislation exempts all apartment complex and condominium complex swimming pools from regulation by the Department of Public Health.
HB 0559 NeutralBryan County Public Facilities Authority Act; enact Ron Stephens
4/2/2019 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Intern 2 Local Legislation
HB 0561 NeutralRichmond Hill, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum Ron Stephens
3/7/2019 House Second Readers Intragovernmental Coordination --
Intern 1 Local Legislation
HB 0570 EvaluatingState government; sports betting in this state; provide Ron Stephens
3/12/2020 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Regulated Industries --
General County Government Todd Edwards
HB 0607 NeutralChatham County; State Court judges; provide for an accountability court supplement Ron Stephens
7/1/2019 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Intern 2 Local Legislation
HB 0657 NeutralRichmond Hill, City of; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum Ron Stephens
5/6/2019 Effective Date Intragovernmental Coordination State and Local Governmental Operations -
Local Legislation
HB 0658 NeutralSavannah, City of; change corporate limits Ron Stephens
3/25/2019 House Second Readers Intragovernmental Coordination --
Local Legislation
HB 0730 OpposeSales Tax Exemption - Major Sporting Events Ron Stephens
1/14/2020 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
2020/01/17 Report Larry Ramsey Revenue & Finance Sales Tax-Local
 This bill would exempt from sales taxes all purchases made by a host committee in conjunction with sporting events expected to generate $50 million or more in sales in the host community.
HB 0829 NeutralAd Valorem School Taxes - Assessment at 20% of Value Ron Stephens
3/4/2020 Senate Read and Referred Ways and Means Finance -
2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/06 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax Revenue & Finance
 This bill would authorize local referenda on assessing properties owned by persons 65 or older at 20% of fair market value (as opposed to the usual 40%) for purposes of school taxes only. This bill would be contingent on passage of a constitutional amendment (see HR 962) to authorize this non-uniform method of property assessment.
HB 0833 NeutralAnchoring In Estuarine Areas Ron Stephens
7/1/2020 Effective Date Natural Resources and Environment Natural Resources and the Environment -
Kathleen Bowen Nat. Res. & the Environment
This legislation authorizes the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to create rules and regulations to addresses vessels anchoring within estuarine areas of the state. 
HB 1004 NeutralIncome tax; credits for higher education for the Fort Gordon Cyber Security and Information Technology Innovation Corridor and the Savannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor; provide Ron Stephens
2/26/2020 House Second Readers Ways and Means --
Local Legislation
HR 0238 OpposeAd Valorem Taxes - Limit on Assessment Increases in the City of Savannah Ron Stephens
2/20/2019 House Second Readers Judiciary --
2019/02/22 Report Intern 2 Larry Ramsey Local Legislation
This proposed constitutional amendment would provide that the assessed value for tax purposes of commercial property located in the City of Savannah can not increase more than 8% per year.
HR 0327 EvaluatingGeneral Assembly; provide by law for local authorization of a limited number of licensed destination resort facilities casino resorts within the state; authorize - CA Ron Stephens
4/2/2019 House Withdrawn, Recommitted Economic Development and Tourism --
General County Government Todd Edwards
HR 0378 NeutralGambling - Legalize Sports Betting, Horse Racing and Casino Gambling Ron Stephens
3/12/2020 House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute Regulated Industries --
2019/03/01 Report General County Government Todd Edwards
Under this proposed constitutional amendment, and if approved by voters in a statewide referendum, Georgia would legalize sports betting, horse racing and parimutuel betting, and casino gambling.  
HR 0962 NeutralProperty Taxes - Assessment for School Tax Purposes Ron Stephens
3/4/2020 Senate Read and Referred Ways and Means Finance -
2020/01/31 2020/02/28 Report 2020/03/06 Report Larry Ramsey Property Tax
Revenue & Finance
This constitutional amendment would authorize the General Assembly to create general law providing for a lower assessment value (20% of fair market value rather than the usual 40%) for persons of "certain ages" for purposes of school property taxes only. HB 829 is the companion proposed general law implementing this constitutional amendment.
HR 1247 NeutralSavannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor; official technology innovation corridor in Georgia; designate Ron Stephens
2/26/2020 House Second Readers Economic Development and Tourism --
Local Legislation
Green background on status indicates a bill has been acted on the last recorded legislative day.



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