GEORGIA GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION GOVERNMENT RELATIONS/STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE 2020 GEORGIA LEGISLATIVE REPORT AUGUST 28, 2020 2019 – 2020 LEGISLATIVE SESSION Prepared by: Peter K. Floyd, Esq. Partner (Development Incentives, Energy, Infrastructure & Public Finance) Alston & Bird LLP One Atlantic Center 1201 W. Peachtree Street Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 881-4510 [email protected] Carlos A. Encinas, Esq. Senior Associate (Development Incentives, Infrastructure & Public Finance) Alston & Bird LLP One Atlantic Center 1201 W. Peachtree Street Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 881-7634 [email protected] LEGAL02/39685956v1 SPECIAL NOTICES The 2020 legislative session concluded on June 26, 2020. HOUSE BILLS HB 34 – Local government; taxpaying business owners to be appointed to development authorities; provide Representatives: Rhonda Burnough (D), 77th District Valencia Stovall (D), 74th District Debra Bazemore (D,) 63rd District Mike Glanton (D), 75th District Kim Schofield (D), 60th District House Committee: Governmental Affairs Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-62-5 of the Official Code Summary: of Georgia Annotated, relating to development authorities directors, officers, compensation, adoption of bylaws, delegation of powers and duties, conflicts of interest, and audits, so as to provide for taxpaying business owners to be appointed to development authorities; to provide for removal of directors from development authorities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: April 02, 2019 – House Withdrawn, Recommitted HB 65 – County special purpose local option sales tax; add that certain payments to cloud based software services may be funded Representatives: Eddie Lumsden (R), 12th District Brett Harrell (R), 106th District Trey Kelley (R), 16th District Barry Fleming (R), 121st District Robert Trammell (D), 132nd District House Committee: Ways & Means Senate Committee: First Reader BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 Summary: of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county special purpose local option sales tax, so as to add that certain payments to cloud based software services may be funded; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: January 30, 2019 – House Second Readers LEGAL02/39685956v1 HB 243 – Public utilities and public transportation; limitations on fees that may be charged for installation of telephone facilities; provide Representatives: Lee Hawkins (R), 27th District Don Parsons (R), 44th District Ron Stephens (R), 164th District Emory Dunahoo (R), 30th District Jimmy Pruett (R), 149th District House Committee: Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Summary: relating to public utilities and public transportation, so as to provide limitations on fees that may be charged for installation of telephone facilities; to provide for the due compensation to be paid to municipal authorities by telephone companies that do not have certain end user customers; to revise terminology for purposes of conformity; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: February 13, 2019 - House Second Readers HB 334 – Courts; compensation of various local government officials; modify Representatives: David Knight (R), 130th District J. Collins (R), 68th District Gerald Greene (R), 151st District Noel Williams, Jr. (R), 148th District Don Hogan (R), 179th District House Committee: Governmental Affairs Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15, Chapter 2 of Title 21, and Chapter 5 of Summary: Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, primaries and elections generally, and ad valorem taxation of property, respectively, so as to modify the compensation of various local government officials; to provide a salary increase for various local government officials; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: February 20, 2019 - House Second Readers 2 LEGAL02/39685956v1 HB 411 – Ad valorem tax; property tax bills shall not include any nontax related fees or assessments; provide Representatives: Brett Harrell (R), 106th District Jay Powell (R), 171st District Terry England (R), 116th District House Committee: Ways & Means Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Summary: Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide that property tax bills shall not include any nontax related fees or assessments; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: February 25, 2019 - House Second Readers HB 428 – Georgia Communications Services Tax Act; enact Representatives: Bill Werkheiser (R), 157th District Jay Powell (R), 171st District Terry England (R), 116th District Sam Watson (R), 172nd District Mack Jackson (D), 128th District Patty Bentley (D), 139th District House Committee: Ways & Means Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 36 and 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Summary: Annotated, relating to local government and revenue and taxation, respectively, so as to provide for state and local excise taxes on communications services and to eliminate certain other state or local taxes, charges, or fees related to such services; to provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations; to exempt certain broadband equipment from sales and use tax; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the Department of Revenue and the state revenue commissioner; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: February 25, 2019 - House Seconds Readers 3 LEGAL02/39685956v1 HB 547 – Local government; bill to incorporate a new municipality cannot contain any territory that is a part of an existing municipality; provide Representatives: Michele Henson (R), 86th District Demetrius Douglas (R), 78th District El-Mahdi Holly (D), 111th District Mary Margaret Oliver (R), 82nd District House Committee: Governmental Affairs Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 31 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Summary: Georgia Annotated, relating to incorporation of municipal corporations, so as to provide that a bill to incorporate a new municipality cannot contain any territory that is a part of an existing municipality; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes Current Status: March 4, 2019 - House Second Readers HB 556 – Public utilities and public transportation; limitations on fees that may be charged for installation of telephone facilities; provide Representatives: Lee Hawkins (R), 27th District Don Parsons (R), 44th District Matt Dollar (R), 45th District Bruce Williamson (R), 115th District House Committee: Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Senate Committee: First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Summary: relating to public utilities and public transportation, so as to provide limitations on fees that may be charged for installation of telephone facilities; to provide for the due compensation to be paid to municipal authorities by telephone companies; to revise terminology for purposes of conformity; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Current Status: March 4, 2020 - House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute March 5, 2019 - House Second Readers HB 986 –Local government; members of a county or municipal governing authority appointed as directors of development authorities shall not serve as chairpersons or chief executive officers of such authorities; provide Representatives: Jackson, Derrick 64th Boddie, William 62nd Bazemore, Debra 63rd Dreyer, David 59th Bruce, Roger 61st House Committee: Governmental Affairs Senate Committee: 4 LEGAL02/39685956v1 First Reader A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 62 of Title 36 of the Official Summary: Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to development authorities, so as to provide that members of a county or municipal governing authority appointed as directors of development authorities shall not serve as chairpersons or chief executive officers of such authorities; to provide that county development authorities for certain counties must obtain the consent of certain municipalities and school systems to acquire property or undertake projects within such municipalities; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.. Current Status: Feb/24/2020 - House Second Readers Feb/21/2020 - House First Readers Feb/20/2020 - House Hopper 5 LEGAL02/39685956v1 HOUSE RESOLUTIONS LEGAL02/39685956v1 SENATE BILLS SB 237 – Service Delivery;