Bills Monitoring
Access to Criminal Records
HB 588 by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) authorizes restriction to access certain minor offenses such as shoplifting and allows individuals to petition the court to block access to other offenses such as those for which the offender was not arrested, pled nolle, or the charges were reduced to violations of a local ordinance, among others.
Administrative Hearing Officers
HB 563 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) amends the Fair Employment Practices Act making a number of changes with the process of appointing administrative hearing officers who appear before the administrative law judges.
Ad Valorem Tax
SB 56* by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) requires the state revenue commissioner to contract with the board of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia to offer certain county tax commissioners the option to participate in a state administered deferred compensation plan. Language was added from HB 170 related to sales tax on digitally downloaded software/products, and HB 454 related to force majeure clauses
HB 311* by Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) provides for optional temporary tax relief to certain properties located in nationally declared federal disaster areas.
HB 449 by Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin) repeals an exception to the breach of a covenant for bona fide conservation use related to the solar generation of energy.
HB 322 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) provides that property tax bills shall not include any nontax related fees or assessments.
Age Discrimination
HB 256 by Rep. Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) change the age of individuals protected by age discrimination in employment statute from between the ages of 40 and 70 to 40 years of age or older.
Agriculture – Soil Amendments
HB 477 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) require notices for the application of soil amendments to land with requirements as to form, included information, and delivery method and provide for related rules and regulations and for construction of a state-wide notification website for persons or firms applying soil amendments.
Arrest Records
HB 171 by Rep. Greg Kennard (D-Lawrenceville) restricts access to arrest-only criminal history record information prior to an indictment or other charging instrument.
Automatic Service Renewals
HB 528* by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) is intended to stop the practice of the charging of consumer credit or debit cards or third-party payment accounts for ongoing shipments of a product or ongoing deliveries of service without the consumer's consent and without providing clear and conspicuous methods of cancellation by businesses that operate all or a portion of their business online. The text of SB 34 has been incorporated into the bill.
Bankruptcy Exemptions
HB 628 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) relates to exemptions for purposes of bankruptcy and intestate insolvent estates to raise the exemptions for a debtor's aggregate interest in real property or personal property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence, in a cooperative that owns property that the debtor or a dependent of the debtor uses as a residence, or in a burial plot. The exemptions would be raised from $21,500 to $50,000 for individuals and $43,000 to $100,000 for property held by two spouses.
Buckhead City
SB 113 by Sen. Randy Roberts (R-Cataula) provides for the transition of services and facilities from an existing municipality to a newly incorporated municipality.
SB 114 by Sen. Randy Roberts (R-Cataula) provides a charter, boundaries and powers of the City of Buckhead City.
Business and Occupation Tax – Regulatory Fees
HB 461 by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs) relates to general provisions regarding specific, business, and occupation taxes to require that the proceeds of local government regulatory fees be used to pay for regulatory activity and not general operations and removes certain provisions authorizing calculation of regulatory fees for renovation and other construction projects and provide for refunds in certain circumstances.
Civil Rights
HB 679 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) creates a comprehensive state civil rights law protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.
SB 319 by Sen. Sally Harrell (D-Atlanta) provides for a state civil rights law protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.
HB 830 by Rep. Deborah Silcox (R-Sandy Springs) provides for a comprehensive state civil rights law protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.
Commerce and Trade, Courts, and Torts
SB 74* by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) requires the disclosure of the nature and practices of businesses that provide legal services. The bill was amended in the House Judiciary Committee to add a version of language from HB 530 by Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross) which seeks, among other things, to prohibit high ranking officers of corporations from having to give depositions in lawsuits when that officer has no direct knowledge of the issues in a lawsuit.
Commercial Financial Transactions
HB 84 by Rep. Trey Rhodes (R-Greensboro) relates to selling and other trade practices similar to factoring to provide for financing disclosures.
SB 90* by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford) relates to selling and other trade practices similar to factoring to provide for financing disclosures. The text of HB 471 has been added to the bill.
Computer Software - Sales Tax Exemption
HB 170 by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton) provides a sales tax exemption for certain digital products and pre-written software. Text from this bill was added to SB 56 which passed.
Condominiums – Unit Insurance Deductibles
HB 389 by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas) revises the maximum amount of insurance deductibles payable by unit owners to the be not more than the association’s master policy deductible per casualty loss.
Conservation Easement
SB 220* by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) enacts the Georgia Farmland Conservation Act allowing the creation of an agricultural conservation easement, a non-possessory interest in real property that runs with the land and is of perpetual duration.
C-PACE
HB 206 by Rep. Steven Sainz (R-St. Marys) provides for the creation of Commercial Property Assessed Conservation, Energy, and Resiliency Development Authorities in counties and municipalities that have adopted implementing ordinances. Language from this bill was added to SB 145 which did not pass.
Credit Repair
HB 187 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) proposes to allow for-profit credit repair services.
Criminal History Records
HB 334 by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) provides for criminal history record information restrictions for certain persons cited with or convicted of certain criminal offenses, mostly related to pardons and first offenders.
Cyber Command
SB 97 by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) creates the Georgia Cyber Command Division
under the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. This
Division will handle all of the duties formerly handled by the
Georgia Technology Authority regarding cyber security for the state and state
agencies. The House replaced the cyber command language with text rom HB 196 related to the cannabis commission.
Cybersecurity
SB 161 by Rep. John Kennedy (R-Macon) ensure that counties, municipalities, and state agencies are protected from cyber-attacks directed at contractors and suppliers by requiring certain provisions in county and municipal contracts and contracts with the Georgia Technology Authority.
Depositions / Legal Advertising
HB 530 by Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross) seeks, among other things, to prohibit high ranking officers of corporations from having to give depositions in lawsuits when that officer has no direct knowledge of the issues in a lawsuit. Text of the bill was added to SB 74 which passed.
Development Authorities - Governance
SB 26 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) authorizes meetings and public hearings of development authorities and community improvement districts to be held by teleconference.
Development Impact Fees
SB 136 by Sen. Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton) relates to calculation of development impact fees to add workforce housing to the list of projects that may be excluded from development impact fees included in municipal or county development impact fee ordinances. Language from this bill was added to SB 514 which did not pass in 2023.
SB 208 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) provides for development impact fees for education to be approved by local boards of education of a high growth school system to pay for a share of the cost of additional educational facilities.
SR 189 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) is a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would allow the General Assembly to authorize local boards of education to impose and collect development impact fees for education.
HB 585 by Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) provides for development impact fees for education.
HR 303 by Rep. Todd Jones (R-South Forsyth) is a proposed constitutional amendment providing that the General Assembly may authorize local boards of education to impose, levy, and collect development impact fees and use the proceeds to pay for a share of the cost of additional educational facilities.
Discrimination
HB 108 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) provides for a comprehensive state civil rights law protecting individuals from discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and employment.
Earned Wage Access
SB 254 by Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan) establishes parameters for earned wage access services, provides such services are non-recourse and not loans, and provides for fees that are not defined as interest.
Elder/Disabled Adult Financial Exploitation
SB 84* by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) amends the Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008 to provide for financial protections for elder and disabled adults who may be victims of financial exploitation.
Employee / Employer Relations
HB 411 by Rep. Debra Bazemore (D-South Fulton) prohibits an employer from seeking salary history information about an applicant during the hiring process and, among other things, require employers to make certain disclosures in job postings such as the hourly or salary compensation or a range of the hourly or salary compensation and a general description of all benefits and other compensation to be offered to the hired applicant; and prior to making a promotion decision, an employer shall make reasonable efforts to announce, post, or otherwise make known to all current employees on the same calendar day any opportunities for promotion.
Equity Impact Statements
HB 433 by Rep. Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) Would enact the Equity Impact Act to provide for equity impact statements regarding policy areas included, but not limited to, racial, socioeconomic, health and other similar factors to be attached to all proposed legislation that would impact such policy areas.
Fair Business Practices Act – Active Service Members
HB 247 by
Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) makes it a violation of the Fair
Business Practices Act to charge over 6% interest on a mortgage, credit card or
other loan made by a bank or industrial loan company to service member incurred
after the service member is on active duty.
Fair Business Practices Act – Brokerage Engagements
HB 471 by Rep. Clint Crowe (R-Jackson) adds an example of an unfair or deceptive practice regarding real estate brokerage engagements and options to enter into brokerage engagements to the "Fair Business Practices Act", and relating to telephone solicitations to residential, mobile, or wireless subscribers, requires the Public Service Commission to establish and maintain list of certain subscribers and develop a schedule of fees. The text of this bill has been added to SB 90*.
Fair Business Practices Act – Store Credits
HB 149 by Rep. Meisha Mainor (D-Atlanta) requires certain merchants that do not have exact change for overpayments made by cash to provide a store credit for the overage.
Foreclosure
SB 13 by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) authorizes online public sales under tax levies and executions.
HB 418 by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) allows internet enabled technology and digital media for sales under execution and sales made on foreclosure under power of sale and clarifies the date of sheriff’s sales.
Hair Texture and Hairstyles
SB 82 by Sen. Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia) amends fair housing, education, and labor and industrial relations to add hairstyles as a protected class and expands the definition of race to include hair texture and protected hairstyles.
HB 432 by Rep. Kim Schofield (D-Atlanta) adds hairstyles associated with race, color, or national origin as a protected class related to discrimination in fair housing, education, employment.
Hemp
SB 22 by Sen. Kay Kilpatrick (R-Marietta) amends the Hemp Farming Act to, among other things, make it illegal to sell hemp products to anyone under the age of 18.
SB 39 by Sen. Kim Jackson (D-Stone Mountain) amends the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," so as to allow persons convicted of any misdemeanor or certain felonies to grow industrial hemp.
HB 196 by Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell) abolishes the state's cannabis commission, moves its duties to the Department of Agriculture, and restructures the oversight committee.
HB 458 by Rep. Clay Pirkle (R-Ashburn) relates to offenses against public health and morals to prohibit the purchase of, sale of, and the offering of samples of hemp products by or to any individual under the age of 21 years old. Text of the bill was added to HB 196.
Higher Education Savings Plan; ABLE
HB 122 by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) relates to the state’s higher education savings plan and Georgia Achieving A Better Life Experience (ABLE), respectively, to provide for the governance of the Georgia ABLE program by the board of directors of the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan and among other things, removes the maximum amount of contributions currently allowed per beneficiary.
Housing Zoning and Permitting
HB 514 by Rep. Dale Washburn (R-Macon) relates to zoning procedures to provide for the length and renewal of moratoriums related to zoning decisions, procedures for the levy, collection, use, and waiver of fees related to zoning decisions and related permits, and revise notice and hearing requirements for certain zoning decisions. Language from SB 136 was incorporated into the bill.
HB 517 by Rep. Dale Washburn (R-Macon) enacts the "Georgia Homeowner Opportunity Act" to prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances or regulations relating to or regulating building design elements as applied to one- or two-family dwellings.
Human Trafficking Signage
SB 42* by Sen. Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick) increases penalties for businesses that fil to comply with required human trafficking signage requirements.
Income Tax – Partnerships
HB 412* by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) repeals a limitation on the certain types of partnerships such as Subchapter S that may elect to pay income taxes at the entity level.
Income Tax Credit
HB 162* by Rep. Lauren MacDonald (R-Cumming) is Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposed one-time $250 tax credit for individual taxpayers who filed tax returns in 2021 and 2022.
Insurance Discount – Windstorm Events
HB 279 by Rep. Matthew Gambill (R-Cartersville) provides for an insurance premium discount or rate reduction for property owners who build a new residential or commercial property or who retrofit an existing residential or commercial property that better resists tornado, hurricane, or other catastrophic windstorm events. A similar bill is, SB 158 by Sen. Randy Robertson (R-Cataula).
Jobs Tax Credit
HR 324 by Rep. Penny Houston (R-Nashville) proposes to create a committee to study the Jobs Tax Credit Tier System.
Land Ownership
SB 132 by Sen. Brandon Beech (R-Alpharetta) prohibits the acquisition of possessory interest in certain land by nonresident aliens from a country designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” by the U. S. Secretary of State.
HB 452 by Rep. Clay Pirkle (R-Ashburn) prohibits the acquisition of possessory interest in certain land such as that for agricultural use or within 25 miles of a military installation by certain nonresident aliens.
HB 246 by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas) prohibits China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, their citizens and companies from acquiring title to property in Georgia.
HB 494 by Rep. Lydia Glaize (D-Fairburn) provides that ownership of real property in this state by a foreign corporation or foreign limited liability company constitutes doing business in this state and provides for service of process by email.
Landowner Liability
SB 186 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) limits landowner liability regarding invitees, licensees, and trespassers, provides for no landowner liability due to alleged constructive notice of prior crimes or violent nature; and provide for apportionment of fault.
Landlord Tenant
SB 125 by Sen. Donzella James is a wholesale rewrite of the landlord tenant code.
SB 239 by Sen. Nikki Merritt (D-Grayson) requires landlords to provide carbon monoxide detectors in rental units.
HB 304 by Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro) would enact the Uniform Landlord and Tenant Act, a total rewrite of the existing landlord and tenant statutes.
HB 329 by Rep. Mesha Mainor (D-Atlanta) amends the Fair Business Practices Act and landlord and tenant in general, respectively, to provide that certain landlords shall provide notices to existing and prospective tenants about certain crimes occurring on the premises being leased.
HB 344 by Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) provides for landlord duties regarding rental premises such as agreements regarding repairs, maintenance tasks, alterations, or remodeling and provides for tenant remedies.
HB 404 by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton) provides for a duty of habitability for certain rental agreements, notice, maximum security deposit amounts, and expedited evictions for certain criminal activity.
HB 420 by Rep. Shea Roberts (D-Atlanta) provides that conditioned air is a utility and a landlord cannot suspend supplying the service until after the final disposition of any dispossessory proceeding by the landlord against the tenant.
HB 534 by Rep. Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) requires a landlord to provide a 60-day notice prior to terminating a lease for non-payment of rent.
HB 627 by Rep. Rhonda Taylor (D-Conyers) repeals Code Section 44-7-19 relating to restrictions on rent regulation by local governments.
HB 719 by Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro) repeals the current code section in Georgia statutes relating to restrictions on rent regulation by local governments.
Legal Organ
HB 254* by Rep. David Jenkins (R-Grantville) relates to the requirements for the local official legal organ and provides as an alternative to newspaper posting in certain counties with limited newspaper cover that legal notices may be posted on county- or municipal-managed websites. The bill also raises the cost to publish legal advertisements.
Lis Pendens
HB 444* by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) revises when an action may operate as a lis pendens.
Loans to Political Candidate / Committee
HB 572* by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) removes a provision related to maximum contributions to a political candidate or committee to remove a provision regarding the repayment of a loan exceeding $250,000.
Local Government Investment Policies
HB 531 by Rep. Carter Barrett (R-Cumming) requires local governments that are investing excess funds adopt an investment policy which outlines authorized investments and other operational requirements.
Manufactured Housing
SB 213* by Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) prohibits local governments from preventing the continuance of lawful nonconforming use of property when a preexisting manufactured home or mobile home is replaced with another.
Military Housing
HB 323 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) among other things, adds veteran or military status as protected classes in fair housing for real estate sales and rentals and lending for housing purchase.
Minimum Wage
HB 241 by Rep. Dewey McClain (D-Lawrenceville) provides for an increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour; provides a credit toward the minimum wage for employers of tipped workers; and eliminates various eligibility exemptions from the minimum wage such as domestic and farm worker employers.
SB 25 by Sen. Gloria Butler (D-Atlanta) requires certain employers to pay a $15 minimum wage with a cost-of-living adjustment.
Motor Vehicle License Plates
SB 217 by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) relates to registration and licensing of motor vehicles, to provide for the offense of operation of a motor vehicle with a fraudulent license plate. The House Rules Committee amended the bill to remove language in existing statutes related to liens on vehicles from speeders ticketed in school zones to remove a cloud on the vehicle title. Similar language was included in HB 183.
Municipal Deannexation
HB 374* by Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs) relating to municipal annexation of territory, to provide for municipal deannexation of property by application of 100 percent of property owners. The bill was amended to limit local governments’ ability to regulate gas-powered leaf blowers and fuels used for household purposes. Language from SB 145 related to gas-powered leaf blowers and fuels used for household purposes was added.
Notaries Public
SB 265 by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) provides for electronic notarization of certain notarial acts using real time audio-video communication technology for some notarial acts. Exempted from electronic notarization are conveyances of real estate, wills, codicils and testamentary trusts. A notary public, a mortgage lender or its affiliates, employees, agents, and attorneys or the attorney's employee or agent violating provisions of the Act are subject to criminal penalties and civil liability, including compensatory and punitive damages and for class action lawsuits.
SB 271 by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) authorizes notaries public to electronically execute notarial certificates in person in conformance with technical standards to be issued by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority.
Pay Stubs
HB 261 by Rep. Regina Lewis-Ward (D-McDonough) requires employers to contemporaneously provide a pay stub or other documentation communicating certain information such as rate of pay, number of hours works, deductions and other information when compensating employees.
Probate
HB 346 by Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee) provide that certain cases concerning the probate of wills may be removed from a probate court to a superior court upon the petition of the court and agreement of all parties.
Property Owners' Associations
SB 29 by Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) provides for certificates of good standing for payment of annual assessments; requires associations to offer to participate in alternative dispute resolution prior to the effectuation of a lien on a lot for unpaid assessments and that such a lien shall be inferior to liens for unpaid medical bills; and among other things, provides for alternative dispute resolution policies.
SR 37 by Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) creates a committee to study Property Owners' Associations, Homeowners' Associations and Condominium Associations.
HB 145 by Rep. Regina Lewis-Ward (D-McDonough) relates to property owners’ associations to provide for certificates of good standing for payment of annual assessments; requires associations to offer to participate in alternative dispute resolution prior to the effectuation of a lien on a lot for unpaid assessments; provided that such a lien shall be inferior to liens for unpaid medical bills; and provides for alternative dispute resolution policies and requirements therefor.
HB 220 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) provides for means of enforcement of condominium and property owners' association instruments, rules, and regulations and for compliance with, and means of enforcement of, covenants and instruments for certain planned subdivisions.
HB 303 by Rep. Viola Davis (D-Stone Mountain) is a significant rewrite of the statutes governing condominium home owner and property owner associations, among many other things, creates an ombudsman to register all community associations under the Secretary of State.
HB 355 by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton) prohibits property owners' associations from creating or enforcing covenants which infringe upon a lot owner's right to use natural gas or to install or use a solar energy device.
HB 522 by Rep. Spencer
Frye (D-Athens) prohibits property owners' associations from creating or
enforcing covenants which infringe upon a lot owner's right to install a solar
energy device or to display the United States flag.
Property Seizure/Forfeiture
HB 106 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) amends the "Uniform 2 Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act," so as to provide for hearings upon the seizure of certain property, provides that certain properties shall not be subject to forfeiture, and the circumstances under which seized may not be returned to the security interest holder.
HB 109 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) provides that real property subject to a homestead exemption, currency totaling $541.00 or less, and motor vehicle of less than $5,000.00 in market value are exempt from seizure or forfeiture under the Uniform Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act.
HB 110 by Rep. Sandra Scott (D-Rex) requires the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to create a tracking system for property seized subject to forfeiture.
Property Taxes, Delinquent – Waive for Returning Property to Effective Utilization Status
SR 82 by Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele) proposes an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the tax commissioner, subject to local governing authority approval, to waive certain delinquent ad valorem property taxes, penalty, and interest for the purpose of placing non-revenue generating and tax delinquent property back to effective utilization status. HR 118 by Rep. Bill Yearta (R-Sylvester) is an identical bill.
Real Property Reporting
HB 628 by Rep. Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) among other things, requires each state chartered bank to report to the Department of Banking and Finance every 24 months regarding loans made for the creation, acquisition, or rehabilitation of housing units, adds a requirement to list all real property owned and addresses on any corporate registration with the Secretary of State and prohibits bundling of real properties in foreclosure sales.
Regulatory Impact Analysis
HB 697 by Rep. James Beverly (D-Macon) requires the preparation and distribution of a regulatory impact analysis by state agencies prior to such agency adopting, amending, or repealing any regulatory rule.
Residential Building Restrictions
SB 188 by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) prohibits local governments from enacting or enforcing any restrictions on land or dwellings that are or are anticipated to be subject to a residential rental agreement of more than 30 days or that would prevent a person from occupying a dwelling for more than 30 days based solely on whether that person owns the dwelling.
Residential Rental Property
HB 490 by Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) eliminates a deduction related to depreciation for single-family residential rental property.
Rural Economic Development
HB 413 by Rep. Noel Williams (R-Cordele) provides for a second round of funding "Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act."
HR 488* by Rep. Steven Meeks (R-Screven) reauthorizes the rural development council. Speaker Burns appointed bi-partisan co-chairs to lead the Council, Rep. Gerald Greene, (R-Cuthbert), and Rep. Mack Jackson, D-Sandersville. GBA supports the work of the Council and has testified in the past about the role of banks and bankers supporting rural Georgia. Details about the Council may be found at this link.
Sales and Use Tax
HB 408* by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) extends the sales tax exemption for major economic development projects of regional significance to extend the sunset to 2026.
Sales and Use Tax – Mobile Homes; Tax Credit – First Time Homebuyers
HB 283 by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord) changes the computation of sales and use tax on the purchase of a new manufactured home from 50% to 60% of the sales price and creates a new tax credit for first time homebuyers.
Sick Leave
HB 78 by Rep.
Kimberly Alexander (D-Hiram) requires all employers with over 25 employees to have paid sick leave for its employees; contains numerous highly prescriptive requirements for an employer’s sick leave policy, including a requirement that an employee be paid for unused sick leave.
Solicitation
SB 149* by Sen.
John Albers (R-Roswell) relates to commercial sales to enact the "Georgia Door-to-Door Sales Act." The Act will require sellers to furnish to buyers receipts and copies of any contracts require sellers to provide notice of how to cancel a sale. Some common door-to-door sales calls such as in-home or in-office brokerage calls, are potentially captured by the Act. GBA-requested language exempting banks and bank holding companies was added addressing our concerns.
State Retirement Fund Investing - Social Political Ideological
HB 481 by Rep.
John Carson (R-Marietta) would require those who invest state retirement assets to take into account only fund historic, current and potential future returns and not subordinate the interests of the participants and their beneficiaries or sacrifice investment returns or accept increased investment risks in the promotion of any nonpecuniary interests. Such nonpecuniary interests shall include, but shall not be limited to, the furtherance of any social, political, or ideological interests.
SB 266 by Sen.
Marty Harbin (R-Tyrone) would require those who invest state retirement assets to take into account only fund historic, current and potential future returns and not subordinate the interests of the participants and their beneficiaries or sacrifice investment returns or accept increased investment risks in the promotion of any nonpecuniary interests. Such nonpecuniary interests shall include, but shall not be limited to, the furtherance of any social, political, or ideological interests. Text from this legislation was incorporated into
SB 240.
Statute of Frauds
SB 242 by Sen.
Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) provides that agreements with a value in excess of $10,000.00 shall be in writing.
Tax Code
HB 95 by Rep.
David Knight is the annual bill incorporating various new provisions in the federal tax code into the Georgia tax code.
HB 454 by Rep.
Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) incorporates changes to the state tax code from federal tax code changes passed in prior years becoming effective in the current year and adds a pandemic definition to the current force majeure clauses affecting construction of large scale projects. Text from this bill was included in
SB 56*.
Tax Credit – Analysis
HB 581 by Rep.
Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) requires the Department of Audits and Accounts to annually analyze a prioritized list of various tax credits.
Tax Credit – Hemp
HB 533 Rep.
Carl Gilliard (D-Savannah) provides for a tax credit for costs of doing business with Georgia Grown hemp owners and suppliers.
Tax Credit - Jobs
HB 512 by Rep.
Dar'shun Kendrick (D-Lithonia) provides for a tax credit for small businesses that employ certified work force ready graduates in high-tech full-time jobs.
Tax Credit – Low Income
HB 476 by Rep.
James Beverly (D-Macon) relates to tax credits for qualified low-income buildings to allow an additional amount of the tax credit for certain new single-family homesteads in less developed census tracts sold to low-income individuals or families.
Tax Credit – Mortgage Originators
HB 488 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) provides for tax credits for contributions made by taxpayers to defined mortgage loan originators promoting affordable housing.
Tax Credit – New Home Construction
HB 483 by Rep.
Jasmin Neal (D-Jonesboro) provides for a tax credit for up to 20% of construction expenses incurred by taxpayers that sell new construction homes to an individual or related individuals with a sales price of up to $200,000.
Tax Credit – Quality Jobs
HB 482 by Rep.
Steven Sainz (R-St. Marys) amends the current income tax credit for establishing or relocating quality jobs such that eligibility for the credit shall be based only on the projects and investments, which are related primarily to such trade or business, and the jobs that qualify solely based on such trade or business.
Tax Credit – Remote Work
HB 263 by Rep. Mandisha Thomas (D-South Fulton) provides for a tax credit for certain remote work expenses incurred by employers that enter into remote work agreements with their employees.
Tax Credit – Rural Hospitals, Student Scholarship Organizations, Home Ownership
HB 101 by Rep. Clint Crowe (R-Jackson) adds free-standing emergency departments to organizations eligible for the Rural Hospital Tax Credit, requires the primary campus of the organization to be in a rural county, and raises the total appropriation for the credit to $80 million; increases the appropriation for the Student Scholarship Organization Tax Credit to $120 million in 2023 and $130 million for subsequent years; and creates a new tax credit for contributions made to a not-for-profit organization that makes mortgage loans to individuals to promote home ownership or improvements for the disadvantaged.
Tax Credit – Rural Physician
HB 82 by Rep. Mack Jackson (D-Sandersville) limits eligibility for the existing rural physician tax credit to persons qualifying as a rural physician on or before December 31, 2023. The bill creates a new tax credit for rural physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Tax Credit - Solar
HB 536 by Rep. Mandisha Thomas (D-South Fulton) provides a tax credit for certain expenses incurred by taxpayers for installing solar energy systems at warehouses or residential dwellings.
Telephone Solicitations
SB 73 by Sen. Blake Tillery (R-Vidalia) provides for class action suits and for damages against certain persons for violating provisions relating to telephone solicitations. The text of HB 92 has been added to the bill.
Timber – Ad Valorem Tax Reduction
HR 96 by Rep. Noel Williams (R-Cordele) proposes an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a reduction in the rate of the ad valorem tax assessment of timber at sale or harvest.
Time-shares
HB 292 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) revises procedures regarding judicial and nonjudicial foreclosure of time-share estates and relates to notice, interests of mortgagees, trustees, recording of time-share interests, sales of encumbered time-share estates and proceeds, and transfer of title. The text of the bill has been amended into HB 182.
Title Pawn
HB 342 by Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville) creates a regulatory structure for the title pawn industry.
Tort - COVID-19
SB 2 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Alpharetta) would permanently extend immunities from certain liability claims related to Covid-19.
Tort – Hospitals & Nursing Homes/Chiropractic Practice
SB 168* by Sen. Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) relates to liens of hospitals and nursing homes, to allow a chiropractic practice to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person for the costs of care and treatment of injuries arising out of the cause of action.
Tort – Weapons
HB 568 by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord) relates to liability of owners and occupiers of land to provide that a person, business, or other entity that owns or legally controls a property and prohibits a lawful weapons carrier from possessing a weapon on such property shall assume absolute custodial responsibility for the safety of such lawful weapons carrier from certain threats.
Unclaimed Property
SB 103* by Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdel) related to unclaimed property, sets requirements for wills found in safety deposit boxes. Among other things requires the development of a searchable data base of unclaimed property and sets certain requirements for individuals serving as another party’s representative in claiming unclaimed property.
Ungraded Lumber
HB 132* by Rep.
David Jenkins (R-Grantville) amends the Georgia state minimum standard codes to include provisions authorizing the use of ungraded lumber in the construction or repair of any accessory structure not containing habitable space on property zoned or primarily used for residential or agricultural purposes.
Unsworn Declarations
HB 80* by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) creates the Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act and provides that unsworn declarations shall have the same effect as sworn declarations in certain circumstances.
Utilities
HB 438 by Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) prohibits governmental entities from adopting any policy that prohibits the connection or reconnection of any utility service or sales of certain fuels based upon the appliance to be used by a customer.
Venue - Money Laundering/Theft of Money
HB 219* by Rep. Scott Hilton (R-Johns Creek) relates to records and reports of currency transactions to provide for venue for the offense of money laundering. The legislation also relates to theft to provide for venue for the offense of theft of money held in a financial institution. The venue would be the county or counties of the victim.
Wage and Employment Benefit Mandates
HB. 245 by Rep. Stacey Evans (D-Atlanta) removes the state preemptions of wage and benefit mandates, requirements for contractors to provide certain wage and benefits to employees and other requirements of local governments.
Wage Withholding
HB 267 by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith (R-Bremen) authorizes private causes of action for equitable relief regarding the failure of employers to comply with revenue provisions regarding employees, such as failure to properly withhold.