The Georgia General Assembly will convene next Monday (day 17) for five consecutive days. Follow this link for the Georgia General Assembly schedule. 
One Step Closer to a Local Government Infrastructure Finance Authority 
 
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee unanimously passed SB 309. This bill would authorize the creation of two authorities to issue tax-exempt bonds for pooled financing of local governments.

Benefits of Pooled Financing for Local Governments:
  • Reduced cost of issuance
  • Reduced underwriting costs
  • Access to the municipal bond insurance market
  • More favorable interest rates
  • Critical mass for institutional purchasers
  • Greater access to the market, especially for smaller issuers
  • Diversification of credit risk
  • Rapid access to capital
Since 2000, GMA has closed over $980 million in Direct Lease and Bricks & Mortar transactions combined. Using the authority created by SB 309, lower interest rates could have saved local governments over $45 million in reduced costs.

GMA thanks Sen. Jesse Stone for sponsoring this important legislation.

 
GMA supports this bill and encourages city officials to ask for support of SB 309 from their Senator and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.
IN THIS UPDATE
Scroll down for detailed information on these legislative priorities and visit GMA's 2020 Legislative Session web page for bills tracked during session.

A New 'HB 302' - Residential Building Materials and Design Standards Preemption – House Bill 937: Local governments could lose the power to determine building standards and a sense of place for communities. Pending in the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee.

Short-Term Rental Preemption – House Bill 523: This legislation would allow the unregulated business of short-term rental properties to operate in your communities. Pending in the House Rules Committee. 

TAVT Distribution Adjustment – House Bill 779: This legislation would recoup some of cities’ lost revenue from the July 1, 2019 allocation distribution change. Passed out of the House Ways & Means Committee. 
 
Revenue Bonds for Broadband – House Bill 834: This legislation would add an additional tool for local governments to address broadband needs. Pending in the House Governmental Affairs Committee.

Municipal Gas System Regulation – House Resolution 1037: This bill would grant authority to the state to regulate municipal gas rates outside of incorporated areas. Pending in the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee.

Additional Active Legislation
ISSUES AT A GLANCE
A New 'HB 302' - Legislation Would Prohibit
Local Governments from Regulating Design Standards

HB 937 would prohibit cities and counties from regulating any building material, product or construction practice for single-family homes if approved in the state minimum standard codes. Click the Georgia CEO video below to hear from Tom Gehl, GMA Director of Governmental Relations, on why this new legislation would be detrimental to the unique sense of place created by individual communities across Georgia. GMA opposes this bill. Citizens, not special interests, should retain the authority to make these decisions locally.

HB 937 will be heard in the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee this coming Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 8:00 a.m. GMA needs you to reach out to your House members and ask them to vote “NO” on this design standard preemption legislation.
Short Term Rental Preemption Legislation Limits Citizens’ Say
Imagine if a motel with no management staff, security or rules was operating directly across the street from your home. Many short-term rental operations are like unregulated motel rooms for rent, lacking oversight and resulting in a decline in safety and the ability to enforce code violations. This is just one of the several consequences to short-term rentals, and HB 523 would preempt cities from regulating these properties. GMA is working to affirm the powers of local governments to regulate these businesses and ensure that they are subject to all taxes and fees due from similar businesses, such as hotels and motels. 

GMA opposes this bill and encourages city officials to contact House Members and ask that they vote “NO” on HB 523. Click here for valuable talking points to use with your Representatives


TAVT Legislation Would Increase City Share of Distribution
HB 779 would change the distribution of the TAVT fee between local governments to allow cities to recoup some of this lost revenue by changing their distribution from 23% to 28% in a city with a county school district. The legislation would change the allocation for cities from 23% to 34% in cities with a city school district.
 
GMA supports this bill and encourages city officials to contact their Representative(s) and ask that they support HB 779. 


Another Financing Tool: Revenue Bonds for Broadband Projects
As a recommendation of the House Rural Development Council, HB 834 would recognize broadband projects, with the ability to transmit data at a rate not less than 200 kilobits per second, as a qualified undertaking for the usage of revenue bonds by local governments. GMA supports this bill.  


Statewide Transit Division Proposed 
HB 511 would create a new Division of Transit and Mobility Innovations (DTMI) within the Department of Transportation. The bill would create mobility zones for the coordination and comprehensive planning of transit within the state and create mobility zone advisory councils to prepare regional transit plans. Each mobility advisory council will have representation from both city and county government officials. GMA supports this bill.  
 

Proposed State Regulation of City Utility Rates
Constitutional amendment House Resolution 1037 would grant the General Assembly power to regulate and fix charges for municipal gas services provided to customers who live outside municipal boundaries. Currently, municipal gas system rates are not regulated by the state. GMA opposes this bill.
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, subscribe to GMA's Local Legislation Update and receive an email when any local legislation has been introduced and assigned to a committee. 

Visit the Capitol, GMA Staff Can Guide You: Let GMA help you navigate the Gold Dome and provide you a personalized legislative briefing. Contact Kenyetta Williams at (678) 686-6206 to schedule your visit.
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