Bills of interest to GEDA members that were introduced during the week of Tuesday, February 21 (Day 21 of the legislative calendar) through Friday, February 24 (Day 24) are included in this report. The House and Senate will be in recess on Thursday, March 2, 2017. The General Assembly is fast approaching Thursday, March 9 which is crossover day on the legislative calendar. Most bills have to pass in one chamber or the other by the 9th to be eligible for consideration and passage by the other chamber and the signature of the Governor.
Budget
HB 44, the FY-2018 budget as amended by the House is continuing to be reviewed by various Appropriations subcommittees in the Senate.
House Bills
HB 470 Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Belton of the 112th, Smyre of the 135th, Coomer of the 14th, and Williams of the 168th
Amends Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to create a program for making grants to certain organizations supporting military communities; to provide for legislative findings; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
Favorable Report 2/24
Favorable Report 2/24
House Resolutions
HR 389 Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Ralston of the 7th, England of the 116th, Hatchett of the 150th, and Powell of the 171st
Creates the House Rural Development Council; and for other purposes. The Council will, through intensive and systematic study of existing issues in Georgia’s rural areas, identify policies and ideas to enhance economic opportunity across the entire state, particularly in rural areas.
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
Read 1st time 2/24
Read 1st time 2/24
Senate Bills
SB 207 Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Jones of the 10th, Anderson of the 43rd, Fort of the 39th, and Henson of the 41st
Amends Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to define certain terms; to create the Division of Minority and Women’s Business Development, to provide for appointment of a director; to provide for powers and duties of the director; to create the position of minority and women owned business enterprise state-wide advocate, to provide for appointment, to provide for duties; to provide for provisions for state contracts; to provide a for state-wide disparity study; to provide for contents; to provide for the structure of procurement contracts; to provide for rules and regulations; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Government Operations
Read 1st time 2/21
Read 1st time 2/21
SB 210 Senators Thompson of the 14th, Shafer of the 48th, Heath of the 31st, Ligon, Jr. of the 3rd and Cowsert of the 46th
Amends Chapter of Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to the organization of the executive branch generally, so as to establish the “Georgia Government Accountability Act”; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative intent; to create the Legislative Sunset Advisory Committee; to authorize the committee to review and evaluate state agencies’ productivity, efficiency, and responsiveness; to provide for the automatic abolition of certain state agencies contingent upon adoption of a resolution by the General Assembly declaring that the state laws applicable to such agency have been repealed, revised, or reassigned; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Government Operations
Read 1st time 2/21
Read 1st time 2/21
SB 224 Senators Butler of the 55th, Beach of the 21st, Henson of the 41st, Davenport of the 44th, and Jones of the 10th
Amends an Act known at the “Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Act of 1965,” approved March 10, 1965, as amended, so as to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations for the imposition of an additional retail sales and use tax in DeKalb County; to provide for the selection and submission of rapid transit projects to be funded by the revenue of such tax; to provide for a limitation on the collection of a tax for transportation purposes in certain instances and the imposition of an additional retail sales and use tax in certain instances, to provide for a referendum; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Senate Local Government Operations
Read 1st time 2/22
Read 1st time 2/22
SB 232 Senators Gooch of the 51st, Wilkinson of the 50th, Harper of the 7th, Lucas of the 26th, and Burke of the 11th
Enacts the “Facilitating Internet Broadband Rural Expansion (FIBRE) Act; to amend Titles 36, 46, 48, and 50 of the OCGA, relating to local government, public utilities and public transportation, revenue and taxation, and state government, respectively; so as to provide for broadband service planning, deployment, and incentives; to limit the ability of local governing authorities to prohibit, regulate, or charge for the collocation of small wireless facilities in public rights of way under certain circumstances; to require a local governing authority to receive and process applications for and issue permits subject to specified requirements; to provide requirements for rates, fees, and other terms related to utility poles of the local governing authority; to prohibit certain regulation by governments, including imposition of charges on certain facilities and services; to provide the Public Service Commission with the jurisdiction to determine disputes; to establish certification of certain counties and municipal corporations as gigabit ready communities; to provide for duties and responsibilities of the Department of Community Affairs; to provide a methodology for local governments to apply to the department for certification as a gigabit ready community; to provide for the promulgation of certain rules and regulations; to require that the development of any service delivery strategy by a local government include the promotion of the availability and delivery of broadband services; to provide that the Universal Access Fund may be used for the provision of broadband services and that all telecommunications companies within this state shall contribute to the fund; specifically authorize electric membership corporations and their affiliates and subsidiaries to provide emerging communications technologies; to create a tax exemption for certain equipment used in the deployment of broadband technology in certain counties; to provide for the annual designation of certain eligible counties and for a list of all eligible counties to be published on the website of the Department of Community Affairs; to authorize funds collected by a county special purpose local option sales tax to be expended on broadband infrastructure; to provide for the creation and administration of the Georgia Gigabit Ready Community Site designation program by the Department of Economic Development; to change the definitions relative to the “OneGeorgia Authority Act” to include broadband services in the terms ‘cost of project” and “project, and for related purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Regulated Industries and Utilities
Read 1st time 2/22
Read 1st time 2/22
SB 233 Senators Harbin of the 16th, Stone of the 23rd, Payne of the 54th, Ligon, Jr. of the 3rd, and Gooch of the 51st
Amends Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to state government, so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Rules
Read 1st time 2/22
Read 1st time 2/22
SB 240 Senators Watson of the 1st, Miller of the 49th, Shafer of the 48th, Albers of the 56th, and Burke of the 11th
Amends Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the OCGA, relating to the Georgia International and Maritime Trade Center Authority. This bill is identical to HB 354.
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism
Read 1st time 2/23
Read 1st time 2/23
Senate Resolutions
SR 249 Senator Beach of the 21st
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by law for the local authorization of a limited number of licensed destination resort facilities casino resorts within the state; to authorize the operation and regulation of limited casino gaming within the state; to provide for related matters; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on Industry and Labor
Read 1st time 2/23
Read 1st time 2/23
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