2017 Legislative Report 5

Budget

HB 44, the FY-2018 Budget as amended was passed by the House and transmitted to the Senate for passage. The FY-2018 proposed budget includes $49,318,514,965 in total funds and $24,997,351,235 in state funds. The Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Division will utilize $600,000 in existing funds for marketing the Year of Film in Georgia. Global Commerce’s budget includes $400,000 for an economic outreach initiative in China, and $180,000 for one trade representative position and 1 project manager position. The Department of Community Affairs budget includes $20,000,000 for the OneGeorgia Authority.

Bills of interest to GEDA members that were introduced during the week of February 14; Day 17 through Friday, February 17; Day 20 are included in this report. The General Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday, February 21; Day 21 of the legislative calendar and will recess on Friday, February 24; Day 24.

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House Bills

HB 336 Representatives Parsons of the 44th, Shaw of the 176th, Tankersley of the 160th, Morris of the 156th, and Dunahoo of the 30th

Amends Titles 36, 48, and 50 of the OCGA, relating to local government, revenue and taxation, and state government, respectively so as to provide for broadband deployment incentives; to provide for definitions; to establish certification of certain counties and municipal corporations as broadband ready communities; to provide for duties and responsibilities of the Department of Economic Development; to provide methodology for local governments to apply to the department for certification as a broadband ready community; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations and a model ordinance by the department; to create an exemption for certain equipment used in the deployment of broadband technology; to provide for the commissioner of community affairs to make certain annual designations; to provide for the publication of certain information on the website of the Department of Community Affairs; to provide for the Georgia Technology Authority to develop an annual “Broadband Strategy for All of Georgia” report providing guidance for achieving enhanced broadband deployment throughout this state; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Read 2d time 2/15/17

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HB 342 Representatives Efstration of the 104th, Powell of the 171st, Rhodes of the 120th, and Rogers of the 10th

Amends Chapter 88 of Title 36 of the OCGA, relating to enterprise zones, so as to provide that certain urban redevelopment zones may be designated as enterprise zones; to provide for a sales tax exemption in such enterprise zones; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
Read 2d time 2/15/17

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HB 354 Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Petrea of the 166th, and Gilliard of the 162nd

Amends Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center, so as to reconstitute the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for its membership, manner of appointment, terms of office, and powers and duties; to provide for exemption from taxation; to provide for venue; to provide for disposition of property; to exempt its property from levy and sale; to transfer certain assets and liabilities; to authorize the Department of Economic Development to contract with the authority for certain projects; to repeal certain laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
Read 2d time 2/16/17

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HB 364 Representatives Gurtler of the 8th, Pezold of the 133rd, Cooke of the 18th, Caldwell of the 20th, and Ridley of the 6th

Amends Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the OCGA, relating to the excise tax on rooms, lodgings, and accommodations, so as to repeal a certain tax on innkeepers; to provide for related matters; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Transportation
Read 2d time 2/16/17

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HB 372 Representatives Parsons of the 44th, Shaw of the 176th, Battles of the 15th, Werkheiser of the 157th, and Burns of the 159th

Amends Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the OCGA, relating to the state sales and use tax, so as to create an exemption for certain equipment used in the deployment of broadband technology; to provide for definitions; to provide for the commissioner of community affairs to make certain annual designations; to provide for the publication of certain information on the website of the Department of Community Affairs; to provide for related matters; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
Read 2d time 2/17/17

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House Resolutions

HR 239 Representatives Nix of the 69th, Greene of the 151st, Smyre of the 135th, Deffenbaugh of the 1st, and Pezold of the 133rd

Creates the Joint Georgia-Alabama Study Committee; and for other purposes. To provide a formal means for members of the Georgia House of Representatives, members of the Georgia Senate, and their counterparts from the State of Alabama to discuss and review issues that are common to both states and to seek common solutions to common problems.

Referred to the Committee on Special Rules
Read 2d time 2/15/17

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HR 284 Representatives LaRiccia of the 169th, Nimmer of the 178th, England of the 116th, Burns of the 159th, and Powell of the 171st

Creating the House Study Committee on State and Local Construction Management; and for other purposes. To determine the strengths and weaknesses of the construction management at risk model versus the design, bid, and build model, so that they may be shared with our state and local governments to promote quality construction management in this state.

Referred to the Committee on Special Rules
Read 2d time 2/17

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Senate Bills

SB 183 Senators Beach of the 21st, Walker III of the 20th, Martin of the 9th, and Miller of the 49th

Amends Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 32 of the OCGA, relating to general provisions relative to the State Road and Tollway Authority, so as to provide for a definition; to provide for powers of the authority; to allow for the indefinite collection of tolls in certain instances; to provide for letting of contracts by competitive bids; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Transportation
Read 1st time 2/16/17

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SB 191 Senators Jeffares of the 17th, Hill of the 4th, Stone of the 23rd, Watson of the 1st, and Ligon, Jr. of the 3rd

Amends Titles 12, 22, and 50 of the OCGA, relating to conservation and natural resources, eminent domain, and state government, respectively, so as to provide for the regulation and permitting of petroleum pipelines in this state; to provide for definitions; to provide for the issuance of certain permits by the director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for appeals of the decision of the director; to require certain notices; to provide for the Board of Natural Resources to promulgate certain rules and regulations; to place conditions on the use of eminent domain for construction, expansion, and extension of petroleum pipelines, to provide for the issuance of certificates of need by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; to provide for appeals of the decision of the executive director; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
Read 1st time 2/17/17

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SB 195 Senators Albers of the 56th, Williams of the 27th, Tillery of the 19th, Heath of the 31st, and Millar of the 40th

Amends Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to provide for notice from employers that receive benefits from the state and move facilities or operations from the state; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; and for other purposes.

Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
Read 1st time 2/17/17