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Legislative Alert - February 29, 2008
February 29, 2008
Tax Reform Update: Keep the Pressure On
GMA would like to thank all the city officials that came to Atlanta this week
to lobby against the tax reform and franchise fee legislation currently before
members of the House. GMA would also like to thank all of the city officials
across the state that have called, emailed and faxed their House members asking
them to vote no if and when these bills reach the House floor.
As you know, the Democratic Caucus of both the House and Senate held a press
conference yesterday and?announced their opposition to the Speaker's tax plan.
While we are glad to have their support against these efforts, city officials
need to keep the pressure on every House member. Please express your opposition
to all three of the bills in the Speaker's tax reform package (HR 1246, HB 979
and SR 796), as well as the franchise fee legislation, HB 938.
LOST for Special Districts
House Bill 1276, Rep. Sean Jerguson (R-Woodstock)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: Pending in the House Ways & Means Committee.
HB 1276 would allow a county to use its portion of LOST revenues to reduce
property taxes special tax districts in the unincorporated area only.
Open Meetings/Open Records
House Bill 1342, Rep. Jill Chambers (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Susan Moore, smoore@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6211
Status: Pending in the House Judiciary Committee.
HB 1342 would make violations of Georgia's open meetings and open records law a
felony for local governments while continuing to exempt the General Assembly
from complying with open government laws. This bill would make numerous changes
to expand current law, such as:
making public the social security numbers of local elected officials;
expanding access to police investigation files; and?
eroding the attorney-client privilege for local governments.
HB 1342 would also make the estimated fee for production of records subject to
approval by the requestor.
TADs: Allow Use of Education Funds
House Resolution 1364, Rep. Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) & Senate Resolution
996, Sen. Dan Weber (R-Dunwoody)
GMA Position: Support
Contact: Gwin Hall, ghall@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6212
Status: HR 1364 is pending in the House Rules Committee and SR 996 is scheduled
to be heard on the Senate floor on Tuesday, March 4.
Both these proposed Constitutional Amendments would overturn the Georgia
Supreme Court's recent decision prohibiting the use of education funds for tax
increment financing of TADs.
Water Supply and Reservoir Development
House Bill 1226, Rep. Mike Coan (R-Lawrenceville)
GMA Position: Neutral
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 4.
This bill would create a new Water Supply Division within the Department of
Natural Resources and a new Water Resources Division of the Georgia
Environmental Facilities Authority. The broad purpose of these new government
entities would be to facilitate permitting, financing and managing reservoirs.
Language from the state water plan that would codify restrictions on interbasin
and intrabasin transfers of water is also included in this bill.
Outdoor Water Use: EPD Approval of Local Restrictions or Exemptions
House Bill 1281, Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Scheduled to be heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 4.
HB 1281 would require EPD approval if a local government wants to impose
greater restrictions than those imposed by the state on outdoor water use or if
it wants to be exempt from state restrictions. This bill also states that,
barring conditions of excessive drought or other emergency periods of water
shortage, the EPD director may not restrict the use of surface water for
public, private, or community swimming pools solely due to drought or water
shortage.
Outdoor Advertising Sign Relocation & Reconstruction
House Bill 1318, Rep. Matt Dollar (R-Marietta)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Scheduled to be heard by the House Transportation Committee Tuesday,
March 4 at 2:00 pm.
HB 1318 would require cities to compensate sign owners for the cost of removal
of, or alterations to, signs along city streets. The bill states that the
requirement by a municipality or county that a lawfully erected sign be removed
or altered as a condition to the issuance or continuation of a development
permit constitutes a "compelled removal" that is prohibited without prior
payment of just compensation.
Other Legislation
Municipal Elections: Immediate Transmittal of Results
House Bill 1098, Rep. Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill)
GMA Position: Neutral
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee on February 28 and is
now pending in the House Rules Committee.
Solid Waste Franchise Agreements
House Bill 1284, Rep. Jeff Lewis (R-White)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Tentatively scheduled to be heard in the House Governmental Affairs
Committee on Monday, March 3 at 2:00 pm.
Applicability of Franchise Agreements for Roll-off Dumpsters
House Bill 1034, Rep, James Mills (R-Gainesville)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Tom Gehl, tgehl@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6247
Status: Tentatively scheduled to be heard in the House Governmental Affairs
Committee on Monday, March 3 at 2:00 pm.
Regional Development Centers
House Bill 1216, Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Passed the House State Planning & Community Affairs Committee on
February 28 and is now pending in the House Rules Committee.
Meeting Notices: Post on Internet
Senate Bill 391, Sen. Cecil Stanton (R-Macon)
GMA Position: Oppose
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Pending in the Senate Rules Committee.
Townships
House Bill 925, Rep. Mike Jacobs (R-Atlanta)
GMA Position: Evaluating
Contact: Lamar Norton, lnorton@gmanet.com, (678) 686-6273
Status: Scheduled to be heard by the House Governmental Affairs Committee on
Monday, March 3.
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