Legislative Alert
GMA Legislative Alert
No. 8 / February 27, 2009
Homeowner Tax Relief Grants
The House passed the amended FY 2009 budget this week. It included funding for
the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants (HTRG). Please contact your House members and
thank them for living up to their commitment to keep the grants in this year?s
budget. We expect the Senate to take the amended budget up next week.
Transforming Transportation Investment Act
Senate Bill 200, Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) and House Bill 605, Rep. David
Ralston (R-Blue Ridge)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: SB 20 passed the Senate Transportation Committee and is now pending in
the Senate Rules Committee. HB 605 is pending in the House Transportation
Committee.
SB 200 and HB 605 would create a new State Transportation Authority (STA) to
manage motor fuel tax expenditures pursuant to appropriations by the General
Assembly. The eleven-member STA board would have five members appointed by the
Governor and three appointments each by the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of
the House. The STA would have a Secretary of Transportation appointed by the
Governor.
GMA has a number of concerns with the proposal:
These bills would create a new legislative earmark process for transportation
projects. It is estimated that $200 million in discretionary projects would be
authorized each fiscal year by the General Assembly.
These bills would cede decision-making to a less accountable body whose members
are appointed by only three people.
Although these bills stipulate the creation of a fund for local government
projects, there is no guarantee that local governments would receive this
funding.
These bills would eliminate the Local Assistance Road Program (LARP) and the
State-Aid Program and replace it with a new local maintenance and improvement
program which would use a yet unknown distribution formula.
Action Needed: Senate Bill 200 could be on the Senate floor as early as
Wednesday. GMA requests that city officials read both proposals and communicate
their concerns to their Senate and House members.
Georgia 2020 Transportation Trust Fund
House Resolution 206 & House Bill 277, Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: House Resolution 206 and House Bill 277 are both scheduled for a vote
on Tuesday, March 3rd.
GMA continues to have concerns that there is no guarantee that projects and
programs contained in the legislation will actually receive funding should
these measures become law. GMA asks that you please communicate your city's
comments on this proposal to your House member prior to Tuesday's vote.
Increase in Homestead Exemption
Senate Bill 83, Sen. Chip Rogers
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Passed the House Ways and Means Committee and is now pending in the
House Rules Committee.
SB 83 would create a new $2000 homestead exemption for city, county and school
property taxes that would be adjusted annually for inflation.
Temporary Freeze on Assessment Increases
House Bill 233, Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Passed the Senate and will now be sent back to the House. The House may
agree or disagree to the Senate changes to the bill.
House Bill 233 would prohibit increases in property assessments through January
9, 2011.
Property Assessment Caps
House Resolution 1, Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: This resolution is now back in the House Rules Committee and could be
considered again by the House at any time.
Deannexation
House Bill 558, Rep. Mark Hamilton (R-Cumming)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Pending in the House Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee.
HB 558 would amend Georgia?s current deannexation laws by requiring petitioners
to follow the same procedures and requirements used when a property is annexed
into a city.
Exempting State Facilities from Stormwater Utility Fees
House Bill 316. Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: GMA expects HB 316 to be heard by the House Governmental Affairs
Committee next week.
HB 316 would exempt state government facilities from the obligation to pay
storm water utility fees imposed by any local government or local government
authority. GMA urges city officials to contact the members of the House
Governmental Affairs Committee and ask that they oppose this bill.
TADs and PILOTs
House Bill 63, Representative Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Susan Moore, smoore@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6211
Status: Pending in the House Governmental Affairs Committee.
Prompt Deed Recording
Senate Bill 141, Senator Bill Hamrick (R-Carrollton)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Marcia Rubensohn, mrubensohn@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6248
Status: Passed the Senate Banking & Financial Institutions Committee and is now
pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
Stream Buffer Requirements: Remove from Ephemeral Streams
Senate Bill 155, Sen. Chip Pearson (R-Dawsonville)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Pending in the Senate Natural Resources Committee
Failure to Use Seat Belt
House Bill 200, Representative Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Ted Baggett, tbaggett@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6210
Status: Scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 3.
Enterprise Zones: Poverty Criteria
House Bill 427, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Marcia Rubensohn, mrubensohn@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6248
Status: Scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 3.
Seat Belts: Used as Evidence of Contributory Negligence
Senate Bill 23, Sen. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Ted Baggett, tbaggett@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6210
Status: Pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
Georgia 2020 Transportation Trust Fund
House Resolution 206 & House Bill 277, Rep. Vance Smith (R-Pine Mountain)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Passed the House Transportation Committee yesterday and is now pending
in the House Rules Committee.
HR 206 is a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would create the State
Transportation Trust Fund and Oversight Committee. The trust fund would be
funded by a one percent sales tax imposed statewide for a 10-year period. The
Committee would be comprised of 11 members, 9 of whom would be legislators. The
Speaker of the House and Lt. Governor would each appoint four legislative
members, with two being from the Atlanta Regional Commission area, two from
outside the ARC area and one of those four being a member of the minority party
of the House and Senate. The Governor would appoint three members, including
one legislator, with one being from the ARC area and one from outside the ARC
area.
Although HB 277 stipulates how monies would be distributed among specific
projects and programs listed in the legislation if voters approve the
Constitutional Amendment, GMA continues to have concerns over the assurance
that certain programs in the enabling legislation will be adequately funded.
The author has worked with GMA to improve the bill in a number of areas,
including making changes to accommodate the use of transit funds over a 20 year
period. This change enables transit projects to compete for federal "New
Starts" capital funds. Please review the substitute bill and substitute
resolution and communicate your comments on this proposal to GMA and your House
members.
State Transportation Authority
Legislation to create an eleven member State Transportation Authority (STA) is
expected to be introduced on Tuesday, February 24. Five members of the
authority would be appointed by the Governor, three would be appointed by the
Lt. Governor and three by the Speaker of the House. The Governor will appoint
the Secretary of Transportation. GMA will report on the legislation when it is
formally introduced.
State Leaders Introduce Transforming Transportation Investment Act
Governor Takes the Road to Streamlining Transportation Agencies
Ethics: Late Filing Fees
Senate Bill 17, Sen. Seth Harp (R-Midland)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Marcia Rubensohn, mrubensohn@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6248
Status: Passed the Senate Ethics Committee and is now pending in the Senate
Rules Committee.
SB 17 would increase the penalty from $50 to $250 for late filing of a campaign
contribution or a personal financial disclosure report. All elected officials
and candidates would be required to file reports, even officials who did not
raise or spend any money.
Increase in Homestead Exemption
Senate Bill 83, Sen. Chip Rogers
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Passed The House Ways and Means Ad Valorem Subcommittee and is expected
to be voted on by the full committee next week.
House Bill 83 would double the existing homestead exemption for county, school
and state property taxes, raising it from $2,000 to $4,000. It would also
create a $4000 homestead exemption for city and city school property taxes.
These exemptions would increase by the cost-of-living index starting in 2010.
Implementation of this bill would require approval by Georgia?s voters in a
statewide ballot referendum.
Temporary Freeze on Assessment Increases
House Bill 233, Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Received a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee this week. GMA
expects this bill to be voted on in committee next week.
House Bill 233 would prohibit increases in property assessments through January
9, 2011. Specifically, HB 233 would do the following:
1) assessed values could not go up for local tax purposes, meaning that the
assessed value of a piece of property may decrease or stay the same as in 2008.
2) when property is sold it would not be reassessed;
3) substantial additions or improvements would be assessed at fair market
value and added to the assessed value;
rezoning at the request of the property owner would trigger a reassessment at
fair market value if the use of the property is changed to conform with the new
zoning.
Metal Theft: Tools for Law Enforcement
Senate Bill 82, Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Ted Baggett, tbaggett@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6210
Status: This bill was discussed by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities
Committee this week; no vote was taken. GMA expects this bill to be considered
by the committee next week.
SB 82 contains several provisions that impose modest and reasonable regulations
on secondary metal recyclers. These provisions are designed to assist law
enforcement in the prosecution of metal theft offenses. GMA continues to work
with the author and other interested parties on this bill.
Failure to Use Seat Belt
House Bill 200, Rep. Harry Geisinger (R-Roswell)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Ted Baggett, tbaggett@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6210
Status: Passed the House Judiciary Committee this week and is now pending in
the House Rules Committee.
HB 200 would allow the fact that someone wasn't wearing their seatbelt to be
used as evidence under certain conditions. This might result in reducing jury
verdicts against cities in some cases.
Homeowner's Tax Relief Grant
House Bill 143, Rep. Larry O?Neal (R-Bonaire)
GMA Position: Neutral
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Signed by the Governor.
HB 143 requires the General Assembly to fund the HTRG for FY 2009. It also
sets-up revenue benchmarks that must be met in order for the state to fund the
grants in future years.
Property Assessment Caps
House Resolution 1, Rep. Ed Lindsey (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: A motion to reconsider HR 1 passed the House this week. This resolution
is now back in the House Rules Committee and could be considered again by the
House at any time.
LOST Distribution Dispute Resolution
House Bill 56, Rep. Wendell Willard (R-Sandy Springs)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Passed the House Ways & Means Committee and is now pending in the House
Rules Committee.
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