Legislative Update 2020 - Week #3

February 3, 2020
GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association) & Prepared by: Cornerstone Government Affairs

The General Assembly met for Legislative Days 5-9 last week.

On Tuesday, January 28, we celebrated GEDA Day at the Capitol. Many GEDA members joined us for the day, which started with biscuits and coffee at 7:30 am. Our GEDA members had the opportunity to interact with many legislators at the Capitol that morning as they came by, shook a hand, and grabbed some breakfast.
The group heard from Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier, and DCA Commissioner Christopher Nunn.
The group also was able to take a photo with Governor Kemp, where they presented him with a “big check” for $6,791,491,528 representing the 2019 announced investments for 371 projects and 23,952 jobs created.
Both the House and the Senate recognized GEDA with special invite resolutions which acknowledged the work of all GEDA members in making Georgia the # state for business. A small group was able to visit the chambers of the House and the Senate to receive this acknowledgement.
Finally, members of the GEDA Board were able to join a group of legislators for dinner that evening and spent time discussing GEDA’s legislative priorities for the session.

The House continued working on the budget, with subcommittee meetings on the amended fiscal year 2020 (AFY20) budget.

We saw legislation start to move this week:

Governor Kemp even signed the first bill of the session: HB276, the Marketplace Facilitators Act. This bill sets forth clear guidelines for how sales tax from internet retailers should be collected and remitted to the state. The law will become effective on April 1, and the expectation is that it will have a positive impact on state revenues.
The Senate passed HB444 by substitute. This bill adjusts the number of credit hours allowed under Dual Enrollment to a maximum of 30 and also limits the grade levels allowed to participate. It also restricts the credit hours students take to primarily core courses. The impetus for the bill was that some guard rails needed to be put in place in order to ensure the program can be sustained and not outpace the state’s ability to fund it.
HB837 was introduced by Rep. Chuck Martin and referred to the House Ways & Means Committee. Representatives Jan Jones, Todd, Jones, Deobrah Silcox, and Ron Stepehens have signed onto the bill. This bill would provide that development authorities in counties where at least 95% of the land area is incorporated into one more municipalities, may not acquire title to property, undertake projects, or grant tax abatements without the approval of the county board of education and the municipality where the property, project, or abatement is located.

As always please let us know if you become aware of legislation you would like us to monitor

Bill Tracker:

Because many bills GEDA monitored last session are still active, the bill tracker has carried over from the last legislative session. Please let us know if you become aware of legislation you would like us to follow.

HB 23 – Statutory Authority for Broadband: EMCs
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Penny Houston
Bill Status: Senate Recommitted 1/13/20
Summary: To specifically authorize Electric Membership Corporations (EMCs) & their affiliates to provide broadband services (aka “statutory authority”)

HB 184 – Small Cell Wireless
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Brett Harrell
Bill Status: Senate Recommitted 1/13/20
Summary: To encourage small cell wireless deployment through the colocation of new equipment on already-existing infrastructure.

HB 730 – Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Major Sporting Event Properties
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Ron Stephens
Bill Status: Introduced 1/13/20. Referred to Ways & Means.
Summary: To exempt all tangible personal property from taxation when sold to or used by a local host committee for major sporting events.

HB 740 – Creation of a Sports Marketing Fund
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Ron Stephens
Bill Status: Introduced 1/13/20. Referred to Economic Development and Tourism.
Summary: To create a Sports Marketing Fund and Sports Marketing Board to provide funding to sports commissions.

HB 782 – Revise the Number of State Holidays Observed
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Donna McLeod
Bill Status: Introduced 1/15/20. Referred to Governmental Affairs.
Summary: To designate the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each year as a state holiday.

HB 788 – Extend the Sunset for a Manufacturer's Exemption
Bill Sponsor: Rep. John Corbett
Bill Status: Introduced 1/16/20. Referred to Ways & Means.
Summary: To extend the sunset on a manufacturer’s exemption from 2020 to 2025 for maintenance and replacement parts for machinery or equipment used for concrete.

HB 793 – FY 2021 Budget
Bill Sponsor: Speaker Ralston
Bill Status: Introduced 1/27/20. Referred to Appropriations.
Summary: The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

HB 794 – AFY 2020 Budget
Bill Sponsor: Speaker Ralston
Bill Status: Introduced 1/27/20. Referred to Appropriations.
Summary: The amended budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020

HB 795 – AFY 2020 Budget
Bill Sponsor: Speaker Ralston
Bill Status: Introduced 1/27/20. Referred to Appropriations.
Summary: The amended budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020

HB 796 – FY 2021 Budget
Bill Sponsor: Speaker Ralston
Bill Status: Introduced 1/27/20. Referred to Appropriations.
Summary: The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

HB 797 – FY 2021 Budget
Bill Sponsor: Speaker Ralston
Bill Status: Introduced 1/27/20. Referred to Appropriations.
Summary: The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

HB 827 – Creation of Georgia Major Sporting Event Reimbursement Fund and Board
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Stephens
Bill Status: Introduced 1/29/20. Referred to Ways & Means.
Summary: To create a fund for non recurring sports events to allot money not exceeding one-third of the cost of hosting the event towards the preparation, presentation, and execution of each event.

HB 834 – Revision of the Term “undertaking” Regarding Revenue Bonds
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Jasperse
Bill Status: Introduced 1/29/20. Referred to Governmental Affairs.
Summary: To authorize local governments to issue revenue bonds for broadband services that will transmit data at a rate not less than 200 kilobits per second to and from end users and to provide internet access. revise the term “undertaking” to include the provision of access to the internet in regards to revenue bonds.

HB 837 – Alteration of the Approval Process of County Development Authorities under Certain Conditions
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Martin
Bill Status: Introduced 1/29/20. Referred to Ways & Means.
Summary: To require counties where 95% of the land area is incorporated into one or more municipalities to gain approval from the board of education or municipality before undertaking projects, acquiring titles to property, or granting tax abatements.

HR 306 – Reduction of Personal and Corporate Income Tax Rate
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Efstration
Bill Status: Introduced 2/22/19. Referred to House Ways and Means Committee.
Bill Summary: To provide for a reduction in the highest personal and corporate income tax rates by 0.25 percent

HR 876 – Urge Congress to Remove Cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act
Bill Sponsor: Rep. Kendrick
Bill Status: Introduced 1/29/20. Referred to Special Rules.
Summary: To urge Congress to enact legislation that would remove cannabis from the federal Controlled Substance.

SB 20 – Banking Improvement Zones
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Rhett
Bill Status: Introduced 1/16/19. Senate passed unanimously 2/17/19. House Adopted by Substitute 4/2/19.
Summary: A bill to establish “banking improvement zones” to encourage opening of banks in areas underserved by banks.

SB 110 – Statewide Business Court
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Stone
Bill Status: Introduced 2/14/19. Passed Senate 3/7/19. Passed House by Substitute 3/25/19, Conference Committee Appointed 3/29/19. House Conference Committee Report Adopted 4/2/19.
Summary: Legislation to create a statewide business court.

SB 119 – Georgia Measuring Success Act
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Albers
Bill Status: Introduced 2/15/19. Passed Senate 3/4/1., Passed House by Substitute 3/28/19.
Summary: A bill relating to fiscal bills generally, so as to require an economic analysis prior to the introduction or amendment of legislation containing tax incentives or modifying or extending existing tax incentives.

SB 131 – Georgia Major Airport Authority Act
Bill Sponsor: Sen. B. Jones
Bill Status: Introduced 2/19/19. Passed Senate 3/7/19. House Passed by Substitute 3/28/19.
Summary: A bill relating to aviation, so as to create the Georgia Major Airport Authority. The bill amends Article 1 of Chapter 15 of Title 45 of the O.C.G.A., to general provisions relative to the Attorney General, so as to provide for representation of the Georgia Major Airport Authority by the Attorney General.

SB 162 – Disaster Mitigation Improvements and Broadband Services Infrastructure
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Brass
Bill Status: Introduced 1/22/19. Passed Senate 3/7/19. House Withdrawn, Recommitted 4/2/19.
Summary: A bill relating to local government, so as to provide for disaster mitigation improvements and broadband services infrastructure in projects of downtown development authorities and development authorities.

SB 309 – Georgia Municipal and Local Government Infrastructure Finance Authority Act
Bill Sponsor: Sen. Stone
Bill Status: Introduced 1/28/20. Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations.
Summary: To create the Georgia Municipal and Local Government Infrastructure Finance Authority to provide a mechanism through which local governments may finance infrastructure at lower than prevailing costs to be available to the largest number of local governments feasible.

SR237 – Congressional Term Limits
Bill Sponsor: Senator Cowsert
Bill Status: Introduced 2/22/19; passed Senate 3/8/19. House Referred to Rules 3/11/19.
Summary: A resolution urging Congress to call a convention to address term limits so as to limit the number of terms Members of Congress may serve. It would only be effective if 2/3 of the states passed

Legislative Update 2020 - Week #3

February 3, 2020 GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association) & Prepared by: Cornerstone Government Affairs

February 3, 2020
GEDA (Georgia Economic Developers Association) & Prepared by: Cornerstone Government Affairs