This week, the General Assembly crossed off three more legislative days. Next week, Monday, March 25, will serve as a committee workday, with Legislative Days 39 and 40 falling on Tuesday and Thursday. This is a frantic and dangerous time in the session, and city officials are asked to watch for alerts, emails, and texts from GMA on urgent legislative matters as we navigate the coming days. 

Senate Amendment Would Limit Police on Interstates

Late in the day Thursday, March 21, the Senate took up House Bill 516, which started as an innocuous transportation bill being supported by the Georgia DOT and others.  Without any advance notice, Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) proposed an amendment on the Senate floor that would prohibit city police departments from using radar for speed detection on interstates, unless the city limits include at least five miles of contiguous interstate highway for each highway.  After spirited debate, the amendment passed the Senate by a vote of 25 to 24 and the underlying bill has now moved back to the House.

This amendment will make Georgia’s interstate highways less safe for motorists.  City police departments need the ability to respond to speeding in their communities and to reduce traffic accidents, often caused by speeding vehicles.  This bill will be eligible for consideration by the House on Tuesday, March 26.

GMA asks all members, especially those cities located along interstate corridors, to reach out to their HOUSE members immediately and ask them to amend the bill by deleting Section 8 that restricts the use of radar by city police on interstates. 
Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Atlanta) states in argument against HB 301, that this is "a bill that breaks local government."

Sanctions for “Sanctuary Policies” Could Affect All Cities

Although House Bill 301 is being marketed as a targeted response to only those cities and counties that have adopted “sanctuary policies,” the reach of the bill is much broader and much more dangerous to all Georgia cities.  The definition of a “sanctuary policy” includes “any rule, policy, or practice” adopted by a local governing body that prohibits or restricts local officials or employees from communicating or cooperating with federal officials or law enforcement officers with regard to reporting immigration status information. The sanctions include the loss of state funding as well as the waiver of sovereign immunity for the city and its officials and employees.  The bill also provides a mechanism for the removal of city elected officials by the Governor.  

The potential for abusive litigation and removal petitions based on a broad definition of “practice” is a real danger that could catch cities unaware. These sanctions are unprecedented. This legislation would encourage every potential litigant with a claim against your city to argue that something your city does, whether correct or not, constitutes a sanctuary policy because a victory for them would mean the city loses immunity and a loss for the litigant only means the city would have to spend more taxpayer money defending the accusation. Even if your city has never even thought about adopting a sanctuary policy, you could be adversely affected by this bill due to the costs of litigation, discovery, record requests, and harassing petitions.  

Please reach out to your HOUSE members immediately to share your concerns about the scope of HB 301 and the potential negative effects on all Georgia cities, including yours, regardless of “sanctuary” status.

Short-Term Rental Preemption Being Considered 

Next week, we anticipate the Senate will vote on a measure to preempt local governments from regulating short-term rental properties (ex., Airbnb, VRBO). This will likely be an amendment to a Senate bill, but the exact bill has yet to be identified.  The language will likely contain a grandfather clause for properties operating as short-term rentals (STRs) currently and make enforcement of STR ordinances impossible over time as local governments seek to amend their existing policies. Also, given the nature of the grandfather clause, if a jurisdiction is currently without an STR ordinance, any regulation put into effect later by the local government would be meaningless because of the grandfather clause.

We ask that you contact your SENATOR this weekend and inform them of your opposition to any preemptive short-term rental measures.

Additionally, please pay attention to communications from GMA this final week of the legislative session. Once we know the bill number for the short-term rental language we will communicate that to the membership and we may also communicate to the membership other pressing communication needs as we get to the finish line. 
HB 581 by Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) was voted unanimously out of Senate Finance on Monday, March 18.

Significant Property Tax Bills Are Still Moving and Evolving


As we approach the final days of the legislative session, numerous property tax proposals have consolidated into two major property tax bills. Senate Bill 349 and House Bill 581 contain sweeping property tax revisions.

Notably, both bills provide for a statewide floating homestead exemption but both allow for local governments to opt out of the homestead exemption. Senate Bill 349 bases the floating homestead exemption on the rate of inflation, while House Bill 581 caps each year’s growth at 3 percent.  In addition to the floating homestead exemption,  House Bill 581 includes a revision to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights requirements which would not require a local government to advertise a tax increase when the millage rate does not exceed last year’s millage rate. While Senate Bill 349 does not include changes to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, it includes a new sales tax which local governments would have the option to levy. This sales tax would be available when the county and cities have a floating homestead exemption (including not opting out of the proposed statewide exemption) and the revenue could be used to roll back millage rates, similar to a LOST. 

In addition to the two bills highlighted above, House Bill 1019 passed out of the Senate Finance Committee this week and is currently pending action by the Senate Rules Committee. In its current form, House Bill 1019 would increase the amount of the statewide homestead exemption, which is applicable to city taxes. This bill would raise the exemption amount from $2,000 to $10,000, essentially reducing the assessed value of every home in a jurisdiction by $8,000. 

Community Development 

House Bill 514 by Rep. Dale Washburn (R-Macon) would create a six-month limitation on local zoning moratoriums. 
Status: Conference committee report has been issued, pending chamber action 
GMA Position: Neutral 

Environment and Natural Resources 

House Bill 206 by Rep. Steven Sainz (R-St. Marys), also known as CPACE (Commercial Property Assessed Conservation, Energy, and Resiliency Cooperation), would allow for development authorities to create a financing district that acts as a mechanism for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements on private commercial properties.  
Status: Recommitted to Senate Standing Rules Committee and Passed on Monday, March 18; Pending in Senate Rules Committee 
GMA Position: Support

House Bill 1146 by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) would allow the Georgia EPD to issue consumptive water permits to private companies without the consent of the relevant local government if said local government is unable to provide the water service within 18 months of the permit request. 
Status: Pending in Senate Rules Committee
GMA Position: Oppose 

Municipal Government 

Senate Bill 358 by Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) would require candidates for municipal elections to file required campaign disclosures with the State Ethics Commission beginning in 2026, rather than with the local municipal clerk, and the bill would require disclosures by any candidate who raises more than $100, instead of the current exemption threshold of $2,500.
Status: Pending in House Rules Committee.
GMA Position: Working with Author

House Bill 290 by Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (R-Cartersville) would limit the amount of compensation a county tax commissioner may receive for the collection of municipal taxes.
Status: Pending in Senate Rules Committee  
GMA Position: Support   
 
House Bill 456 by Rep. Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville) establishes a two-year term for all municipal court judges and provides a removal mechanism in the event of a breach of contract. 
Status: Passed Senate on Wednesday, March 20; Pending House Action
GMA Position: Support  
 
House Bill 461 by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs) would revise the calculation of regulatory fees, including building inspection fees.
Status: Passed Senate on Thursday, March 21; Pending House Action
GMA Position: Neutral  
 
House Bill 905 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) would clarify provisions of the Zoning Procedures Law relative to the role of quasi-judicial boards and agencies and the appeal process from their decisions. In an amended form, the bill also adds a new method of deannexation and simultaneous annexation to transfer property from one city to another.  This new method is limited to commercial properties of less than ten acres and would only apply to cities that were created after January 1, 2016.
Status: Pending in Senate Rules Committee
GMA Position: Working with Author
 
House Bill 1033 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) enhances the level of punishment for the crimes of assault and battery when the victims of those crimes are utility workers.    
Status: House agreed to Senate substitute on Thursday, March 21; awaiting Governor's signature
GMA Position: Support  

House Bill 1044 by Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia) raises the dollar amount of the public works bidding exemption from $100,000 to $250,000. 
Status: Pending in Senate Rules Committee  
GMA Position: Support 

Public Safety

House Bill 348 by Rep. J Collins (R-Villa Rica) would revise the regulations for speed cameras in school zones. 
Status: Pending in Senate Rules Committee 
GMA Position: Neutral 

House Bill 451 by Rep. Devan Seabaugh (R-Marietta) establishes an insurance program to cover post-traumatic stress disorder claims for first responders and requires city participation in the program.  
Status: Passed Senate Insurance and Labor Committee on Wednesday, March 20; Pending in Senate Rules Committee
GMA Position: Support 

House Bill 1105 by Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) seeks to require local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities on the enforcement of immigration laws. Any law enforcement agency found in violation will be subject to the withholding of state funding or state administered federal funding. 
Status: Passed Senate on Thursday, March 21; Pending House Action
GMA Position: Evaluating 

Revenue and Finance

Senate Bill 496 by Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) was fully substituted in House Ways & Means Committee and now contains portions of HB 1116, HB 1134, and HB 1197. The revised bill would extend the sunset date for tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic buildings or structures through 2029 and extend the sunset date for the Rural Zone tax credit through 2032. 
Status: Passed House on Thursday, March 21; awaiting Governor’s signature 
GMA Position: Support

Senate Resolution 82 by Sen. Carden Summers (R-Cordele) would allow cities and counties to waive delinquent taxes to the extent the tax exceeds the fair market value of the property.
Status: Pending in House Ways & Means Committee
GMA Position: Support  
 
House Bill 808 by Rep. Mike Cheokas (R-Americus) would increase the statewide ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property from $7,500 to $20,000.  
Status: Pending Vote on Senate Floor 
GMA Position: Oppose  
 
House Bill 946 by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) would allow a single-county T-SPLOST to be levied at the full 1 percent with majority approval of the agreement by all local jurisdictions and provides protection for those jurisdictions that are not party to the agreement.  
Status: Pending in Senate Rules Committee  
GMA Position: Support 
 
House Bill 1019 by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth) would raise the amount of the statewide homestead exemption applicable to city taxes from $2,000 to $10,000. 
Status: Passed Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, March 20; Pending in Senate Rules Committee 
GMA Position: Neutral 
 
House Bill 1149 by Rep. Mesha Mainor (R-Atlanta) would require local constitutional officers to disclose to the county auditors the amount of any additional discretionary income that they receive relating to their official duties. 
Status: Passed Senate on Thursday, March 21; awaiting Governor’s signature
GMA Position: Support 

House Bill 1185 by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord) was fully substituted in Senate Finance Committee and is now the same as the original version of SB 349 as passed the Senate. The substituted bill would improve the notice requirements for tax assessments and millage rate adjustments to be more transparent but would also allow for a statewide floating homestead exemption with a cap of 3 percent. 
Status: Passed Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, March 13; Pending in Senate Rules Committee 
GMA Position: Neutral 

House Resolution 1022 by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord) is a constitutional amendment that would allow for a statewide floating homestead exemption with an opt out provision for local governments. 
Status: Passed Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday March 20; Pending in Senate Rules Committee
GMA Position: Neutral 
Website
X