Columbus, Georgia
Georgia's First Consolidated Government
Post Office Box 1340
Columbus, Georgia, 31902-1340
(706) 653-4013
fax (706) 653-4016
Council Members
"Humberstone, Sheila G."
02/10/2006 05:41 PM
To
"Roger Segrest" , "Isaiah Hugley"
, "Jeffrey Williams" , "Liz
Turner"
cc
"Robinson, Pete" , "Stafford, Connell"
, "Carter, Stephanie D."
Subject
CCG Week 4 Legislative Report
2006 Georgia General Assembly
February 10, 2006
Week 4 Session Report, Days 14-16
Highlights
? Funerals command attention and dictate changes
? Governor introduces eminent domain bill
? House passes minor redistricting bill
? Senate introduces omnibus immigration bill
?
Overview
This week, the General Assembly worked ?in session? on Monday, Wednesday, and
Thursday, session days 14-16 respectively.
Last weekend, the state lost two of its public servants unexpectedly. Frank
S. Eldridge Jr., Secretary of the Senate (the administrator and unofficial
parliamentarian of the Georgia State Senate), passed away early Saturday
morning from a heart attack. As a result, the Senate met only briefly on
Monday in order to provide an opportunity for all members to attend the funeral
Monday afternoon. The Senate unanimously elected Bob Ewing, assistant
Secretary of the Senate, to succeed Mr. Eldridge. Ewing was sworn in on
Thursday.
Former Senator Renee Kemp died in his home on Saturday after battling cancer.
After the last round of redistricting, Senator Kemp found himself in the same
district at President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson. Senator Kemp had served for
12 years in the Senate and served as the Chair of the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
Coretta Scott King became the first woman and African American to lie in state
at the Georgia Capitol last Saturday. Mrs. King?s funeral was held Tuesday in
Atlanta, resulting in the cancellation of the session and all committee
meetings.
Eminent Domain
There have been more than two dozen bills introduced this session to limit or
abolish eminent domain, with the measures prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court
ruling last year that allowed condemnations for economic redevelopment
projects. This week, the Governor announced that he would be introducing his
own eminent domain package.
In addition to introducing a Constitutional Amendment, Governor Perdue
introduced the Private Property Protection Act. This bill represents a
comprehensive reform of eminent domain. It will prohibit using eminent domain
for economic development or to increase tax revenue. The bill puts the burden
of proof on the government to show that a proposed use of eminent domain is
legal.
It will also provide private property owners with stronger due process rights
in eminent domain proceedings.? These include:
? Increased notice requirements;
? Award of attorney's fees to property owners who prevail on appeal;
? Additional damages for property owners for relocation expenses and lost
business revenues; and ? The right of owners to repurchase condemned land
if it is not used for the public purpose for which it was taken within five
years.
Immigration
Senator Chip Rogers introduced SB 529, which consolidates many of existing
bills as well as adding some new provisions. SB 529 affects four aspects of
the immigration issue: (1) law enforcement, (2) government contracts, (3)
private employers who hire immigrants, and (4) government services to
undocumented aliens.
The bill:
? prohibits persons who are not legal US residents from receiving
government services ? prohibits the ?smuggling? of immigrants into
Georgia, ? requires persons arrested by the police to provide proof that
they are legal residents ? prohibits businesses that employ undocumented
aliens from claiming?the salary paid to these workers as a deductible business
expense for tax purposes.
Notables for the week:
This week there was the following action regarding specific bills you may be
interested in:
Bills Introduced:
HB 1230 the Georgia Development Impact Fee Act
HB 1234 related to firearms in public gatherings
HB 1248 related to the provisions of alcoholic beverages
HB 1258 related to county and municipal sales and use tax
HB 1274 related to ad valorem taxation of personal property
HB 1279 related to participation in the State Health Benefit Plan
HB 1286 related to absentee ballots
HR 1235 related to Open meetings and records
HR 1234 related to Ad valorem tax millage rate and value of property
HR 1259 authorizes the granting of nonexclusive easements for operation and
maintenance of facilities, utilities, etc in Muscogee county.
SB 516 related to local government's state funding with respect to s
stream/reservoir buffer standards
SB 524 related to noise ordinances
Bills in Action:
? HB 173 related to tax exemptions for veterans organizations; passed
committee ? HB 560 related to Ad valor tax; county tax assessors; property
valuation appeal; Passed Committee
HB 1044 related to Firearms; carrying and possession; municipal and city court
judges; Passed Committee
HB 1069 related to tracking services for young drivers, Passed Committee
HR 1259 authorizes the granting of nonexclusive easements for operation and
maintenance of facilities, utilities, etc in Muscogee county; Passed Committee
SB 64 related to Law Enforcement Motor Vehicles' blue lights; Passed Committee
SB 450 Revising the pay structure of certain county officers/officials; provide
recalculation of min. salaries; PASSED SENATE
Attached, please find your tracking reflecting the status of all legislation we
are following on your behalf. Please let us know if you have any questions or
concerns.
Thank you,
Sheila
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Client Name: Columbus Consolidated Government
2005-2006 Legislative Session Tracking Sheet
Attachments