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Final Legislative Week Update
Final Legislative Week
Some Bills Passed, Some Will Have to Wait until 2014, But Very Few Were Defeated
The 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly ended Thursday, March 28 at midnight. While not all legislation that was introduced was passed, very few died. Only bills that received a negative vote are ineligible for further consideration. A consider number of bills that did not pass this year and were being followed by metro Atlanta Chambers of Commerce will be eligible for consideration in the 2014 legislative session.
Governor Deal has 40 Days to Sign, Veto or Allow Legislation to Become Law Without his Signature
Under Georgia law, the governor has 40 days to either (1) sign legislation into law, (2) veto the legislation or (3) let the legislation become law without his signature. The governor has until May 7 to accomplish these tasks.
Time Runs Out on Water Regulation Legislation
Senate legislation to assist in managing water resources in the Lower Flint River basin failed to come for a vote in the House on the final legislative day. The legislation will remain in the House Agriculture committee until next year.
Water Utility Management Funding Legislation Tabled in Senate
Legislation that would have allowed funds from the Georgia Reservoir Fund to be invested in water utility management systems passed the House unanimously but did not receive a vote in the Senate. The legislation remains in the Senate Natural Resources and Environment committee.
Time Runs Out on Fractional Penny SPLOST Legislation
Two bills to allow local governments to levy a fractional penny special purpose local option sales tax did not receive a vote this year. Both bills will remain in the House Ways and Means committee until next year.
House and Senate Agree on States Fiscal Year 2014 Annual Budget
The legislature passed a $19.9 billion state budget for the July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014 fiscal year on the final day of the legislative session. This is an increase of 3% over last year’s state budget.
Economic Development Incentive Legislation Heads to the Governor
The legislature, working with the governors’ office, reached an agreement of economic development legislation for the 2013 legislative session. The legislation heads to the governor for his signature and decisions on how to fund the development incentives outlined in the legislation.
Ethics Legislation Passes
The new law will set limits on lobbyists spending on legislators to $75 per event, per lobbyist. Individuals lobbying legislators who are not compensated will not be required to register as a lobbyist. However, anyone who receives at least $250 annually in compensation or expense reimbursements to promote state legislative action will be considered a lobbyist. Annual lobbyist registration fees are set at $0.00. Lobbyists, under the new definition, will still be required to file bi-monthly expense reports, even if no expenses are incurred.
Regional Transportation Sales Tax Legislation Remains in Committees
Neither the House nor Senate versions of an amended Regional TSPLOST legislation passed out of committee. Both bills remain in their respective chambers Transportation committees and await possible action in 2014.
Legislation to Change Congressional Balancing Passes
Legislation to remove the cost of improvements to interstate highways, federal earmarked programs and freight corridors from “Congressional Balancing” passed during the final days of the legislative session. This change will have significant impacts throughout the state, but especially in metro Atlanta.
Under the old law, each congressional district in the state received roughly 1/14 of all federal and state transportation funds for highway improvements. That distribution made it difficult to fund high cost interstate projects (like the GA400/I-285 intersection and interstate resurfacing) with each districts 1/14th portion of total transportation funds. Now those interstate projects will be removed from the “balancing” formula which makes funding for them easier to accomplish. However, now all congressional districts will be equally impacted by the cost of interstate improvements statewide, no matter in which congressional district the improvements are made.
RBC Introduces Rainwater Harvesting Sales Tax Exemption Legislation
On the next to last legislative day, Rep. Tom Rice (R-Peachtree Corners) introduced legislation for the RBC to provide an exemption for rainwater harvesting equipment from the state 4% sales tax. Metro Atlanta receives some of the largest amounts of rainwater of any major US city but doesn’t have any financial incentives for residents or businesses to capture rainwater for non-potable use.
Just two months ago, over 80% of Georgia was in a severe drought, or even worse. Conservation and management of our existing water resources is vital to the continued economic growth and quality of life in metro Atlanta and all of Georgia. The RBC will be working with residential, agricultural, industrial, and environmental groups over the interim to build statewide support for exempting rainwater harvesting equipment from the state sales tax.
Final Legislation Count for 2013
House Bills 682
House Resolutions 939
Senate Bills 271
Senate Resolutions 668
Total 2,560
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