2015 Legislative Report 6

2015 GEDA Legislative Monitor Report 6

The 2015 session of the Georgia General Assembly reconvened Monday, February 23, 2015 for Day 20 of the session.  The House and Senate completed Day 23 on Thursday, February 26, 2015 and adjourned until Monday, March 2, 2015; Legislative Day 24.

Budget

HB 75 passed the House and Senate with minor amendments on 2/19/15, and was transmitted to the Governor for signature.

Bills

Sixty-nine bills were introduced in the House during the four days of week six of the session for a total of five hundred sixty-nine House bills.  The Senate introduced an additional forty-two bills for a total of one hundred eighty-one Senate bills.  GEDA will focus on tracking bills that directly affect the membership’s ability to create jobs and investment.  Please contact Kevin Shea, GEDA President, if you identify a bill(s) that you feel GEDA should track.

HB 433 – Representatives Cooke of the 18^th, Hightower of the 68^th, Smith of the 70^th, and Nix of the 69^th

Amends Chapter 8 of Title 50 0f the OCGA, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to provide for the formation of a metropolitan planning process for the Atlanta Urbanized Area and Atlanta Air Quality region; and for other purposes.

The bill proposes that contiguous local governments which lie within designated portions of the Atlanta Urbanized Area as defined in federal law, or air quality nonattainment areas, as identified under the Clean Air Act will participate in a metropolitan transportation planning process through a metropolitan planning organization established by one or more units of government; or through a metropolitan planning process established through a Regional Commission.

Assigned to the Committee on Governmental Affairs

The bill was read for the second time on 2/24/15.

HB 445 – Representative Carson 0f the 46^th

Amends certain titles of the OCGA, so as to provide for comprehensive changes to the nature of taxation in this state; to amend Titles 48, 36, and 46 of the OCGA, relating respectively to revenue and taxation, local government, and public utilities; and for other purposes.

The bill proposes to provide for a comprehensive revision of the tax code.

Assigned to the Committee on Ways and Means

The bill was read for the second time on 2/24/15.

 

HB 444 – Representatives McCall of the 33^rd, Taylor of the 79^th, Stephens of the 164^th, England of the 116^th, Douglas of the 78^th, and others

Amends Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the OCGA, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide that any regulation regarding the use, disposition, or sale or any imposition of any prohibition, restriction, fee, imposition, or taxation of auxiliary containers shall be done only by general law; and for other purposes.

The bill defines ‘auxiliary container’ as reusable bags, disposable bags, boxes, cups, and bottles which are made of cloth, paper, plastic, extruded polystyrene, or similar materials which are designed as one-time use or for transporting merchandise or food and retail facilities.  The bill proposes that any regulation of auxiliary containers shall be done only by general law.

Assigned to the Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs

Read for the second time on 2/25/15.

HB 462 – Representatives Powell of the 32^nd, Williams of the 168^th, Greene of the 151^st, and Williamson of the 115^th

Amends Part 1 of Article 2A of Title 11 of the OCGA, relating to general provisions relative to leases; and for other purposes.

The bill proposes to add a new code section that states a consumer lease, including a sale-leaseback transaction, shall not be considered a loan, extension of credit, sale, or security interest, so long as: (1) the consumer lessee has the contractual right to terminate the lease at any time without penalty by returning the leased property in the same condition received, reasonable wear and tear considered; (2) sales tax is paid on each lease payment of the leased property; and (3) the consumer lessee is given the right to cancel the transaction within three calendar days.

Assigned to the Committee on Banks and Banking

The bill was read for the second time on 2/25/15, and recommitted on 2/26/15.

HB 476 – Representatives Fludd of the 64^th, Bruce of the 61^st, Bell of the 58^th, Mabra of the 63^rd, and Kaiser of the 59^th

Repeals an amendment to the Constitution of Georgia creating within Fulton County the Fulton County Industrial District and prohibiting the governing authority of Fulton County form levying any tax for educational purposes within such district; to provide for referendum; and for other purposes.

The bill proposes to repeal the amendment to the Constitution of Georgia creating within Fulton County the Fulton County Industrial District and prohibiting the governing authority of Fulton County from levying any tax for educational purposes within the district.

Assigned to the Committee on Governmental Affairs

The bill was read for the second time on 2/26/15.