Gold Dome Update: March 5, 2021

IN THIS UPDATE

This week, the General Assembly was in session for three days, including today, March 5. The legislature will reconvene on Monday, March 8 for Crossover Day 2021. The General Assembly has set the calendar to adjourn sine day on Wednesday, March 31.

Before visiting the state capitol, be aware of the COVID-19 protocols for the building.

SENATE FLOOR TODAY:
LOCAL CONTROL OF ALCOHOL SALES

GMA asks city officials to contact their senators and request they vote "YES" on these two bills before the Senate today, March 5.

Senate Bill 145 - Local Package Sales
by Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan)
This legislation would allow cities and counties to call for a ballot question on liquor package sales by resolution or ordinance. GMA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 236 - Mixed Drinks To-Go
by Sen. Matt Brass (R-Newnan)
This legislation would allow mix drinks up to 4.5 ounces to be sold for off-premise consumption in sealed containers that identify the licensed food service establishment that sold the beverage. GMA supports this bill.

BILLS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR TODAY

House Bill 302 - Regulatory Fee Restrictions
by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas)
This legislation would make several changes concerning local government collection of regulatory fees. It would remove the ability of a local government to set a regulatory fee based on the number of square feet of a new construction project or the cost of all other construction projects. Also, this bill would require that the proceeds of the regulatory fee be used to fund the regulatory activity but would not require the local government to establish a separate account for the funds.
GMA opposes this bill.

House Bill 328 - Reduction of Municipal Rights-of-Way Fees (ROW)
by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas)
This legislation would reduce the rates owed to municipalities for the usage of the public rights-of-way for laying linear miles of fiber. GMA opposes this bill.

MUNICIPAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

House Bill 248 - Speed Enforcement in School Zones
by Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell), Passed the House, Pending Senate Committee Assignment
This legislation would allow a municipal government, instead of a school, to apply to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) for a permit to use a speed detection camera within a school zone where local law enforcement enforces the speed limit. GMA supports this bill.

House Bill 273 - Alcohol: Local Package Sales Referenda
by Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton), Pending in Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities
This legislation would allow cities and counties to call for a ballot question on liquor package sales by resolution or ordinance. GMA supports this bill.

House Bill 317 - Lodging Facilitator
by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah), Pending in House Rules
This legislation would require marketplace innkeepers to collect and remit the local hotel-motel taxes if the total charges across their platform in Georgia are at least $100,000 in the previous or current year. GMA supports this bill.

House Bill 479 - Repeal of Citizens Arrest Law
by Rep. Bert Reeves (R-Marietta), Pending in House Rules
This legislation would repeal the citizens arrest law, removing the provision in current law that allows for a private citizen to detain another private citizen on the basis of reasonable suspicion a criminal activity occurred. GMA supports this bill.

House Bill 534 - Prohibition on Drag Racing
by Rep. Josh Bonner (R-Fayetteville), Pending in House Rules
This legislation aims to prohibit the organization and participation in street racing, drag laying, or other related activities. It also expands what could be considered reckless and dangerous driving. This legislation would call for the suspension of a driver's license for any person convicted of reckless stunt driving. GMA supports this bill.

GMA thanks these legislators for sponsoring municipal policy initiatives.

LEGISLATIVE WATCHLIST

House Bill 286 - Prohibition on Police Department Budget Cuts
by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens), Passed House, Pending in Senate Government Oversight
This legislation would restrict a city or consolidated government with a police department from reducing annual appropriations for the police force by more than 5% of the previous fiscal year's appropriations. GMA opposes this bill.

House Bill 352 - State Limit on Property Tax Revenues
by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R-Dallas), Pending in House Ways & Means
This legislation would establish a floating homestead exemption on every homesteaded property in the state in the amount that the assessed value of the property exceeds an established base year value, adjusted annually by half of the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). GMA opposes this bill.

House Bill 465 - False Alarm Calls
by Rep. Joseph Gullett (R-Dallas), Pending in House Rules
This legislation would preempt any city with an ordinance that fines alarm system monitoring companies when false alarms occur and public safety is notified but there is not an emergency situation. GMA opposes this bill.

House Bill 496 - Timber Truck Weight Limit Increase
by Rep. James Burchett (R-Waycross ) Pending in House Transportation
This legislation would allow timber trucks to get $1,000 annual state permits to operate log trucks up to and including 95,000 pounds on city streets, county roads and state routes. GMA opposes this bill.

Senate Bill 118 - Timber Truck Weight Limit Increase
by Sen. Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla), Pending in Senate Transportation
This legislation would allow timber trucks to get $200 annual state permits to operate log trucks up to and including 100,000 pounds on city streets, county roads and state routes. GMA opposes this bill.

OPEN MEETINGS / OPEN RECORDS

House Bill 98 - Virtual Public Hearings
by Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R-Armuchee), Passed the House, Pending in Senate Science and Technology
This legislation would explicitly grant local governments the authority to hold virtual public hearings, such as budget or zoning proceedings, in emergency situations. GMA supports this bill.

House Bill 134 - Cybersecurity Discussions
by Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia), Passed the House, Pending in Senate Rules
This legislation would create an exemption under the Open Meetings/Open Records Act for cybersecurity discussions and for cybersecurity documents or plans in executive sessions, where no decision made in the executive session would be binding until voted on in an open meeting, and where the details of the contract would not be subject to open records. GMA supports this bill.

Senate Bill 95 - Virtual Public Hearings
by Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville), Passed the Senate, Pending House Committee Assignment
This legislation would explicitly grant local governments the authority to hold virtual public hearings, such as budget or zoning proceedings, in emergency situations. GMA supports this bill.

STUDY COMMITTEES

House Resolution 172 - Georgia Utility Facilities Protection Act (GUFPA) Study Committee
by Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain), Pending in House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications
This resolution would create a study committee entitled the House Study Committee on Georgia Utility Facility Safety Improvements to review current exemptions for traffic control devices and traffic management systems under the Georgia Utility Facilities Protection Act (GUFPA).

House Resolution 185 - House Rural Development Council Reauthorization (RDC)
by Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), Passed House
This resolution would reauthorize the Rural Development Council to study issues of importance for 2021 and 2022.

House Resolution 222 - House Study Committee on Annexations
by Rep. Victor Anderson (R-Cornelia), Pending in House Governmental Affairs
This resolution would create a House study committee to examine the current laws for annexation, with a focus on the annexation dispute resolution process.

Senate Resolution 84 - Joint Airport Infrastructure and Improvements
by Sen. Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla), Pending Senate Floor Vote Today 3/5
This resolution would create a Joint Study Committee on Airport Infrastructure and Improvements to develop a state-wide business plan for airport infrastructure and examine airport policies and funding sources.

STAY CONNECTED

Local Legislation Update: If you are interested in seeing if local legislation has been introduced that impacts your city, or surrounding local governments, and subscribe to GMA's Local Legislation Alert to receive an email when any local legislation has been introduced and assigned to a committee.

Visit GMA's Legislative Tracking Site for more information on the bills GMA's Advocacy Team is following.