Below is a list of all bills tracked by GMA during the 2024 legislative session that have both passed the General Assembly and been signed into law by Governor Kemp.  Many of these bills will require action by cities to come into compliance.  Please pay special attention to the effective dates for each bill, as they vary.

If city officials have specific questions about the bills or the action items, please contact the GMA Governmental Relations team, the General Counsel’s office, or your Member Services Consultant. 

House Bill 206 by Rep. Steven Sainz (R-St. Marys), authorizes the creation of C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Conservation, Energy, and Resiliency Cooperation) financing mechanisms through local development authorities to finance energy efficiency improvements on privately owned commercial properties.  (Effective date is April 25, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED:  Establishing a C-PACE program is optional. However, any local government that wishes to take advantage of this development financing tool must enact ordinances or resolutions and enter into an agreement with the development authority.  More information can be found through the C-PACE Alliance.  

House Bill 451 by Rep. Devan Seabaugh (R-Marietta) establishes an insurance program to cover post-traumatic stress disorder claims for first responders and requires city participation in the program.  (Effective date is January 1, 2025) 

ACTION NEEDED:  HB 451’s requirements for PTSD coverage take effect on January 1, 2025.  As of that date, cities are required to carry insurance meeting the specifications of the bill. Additional guidance will be provided by GMA’s insurance department to assist in obtaining this insurance ahead of the deadline.  

House Bill 456 by Rep. Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville) establishes a two-year term for all municipal court judges and provides a removal mechanism in the event of a breach of contract.  (Effective date is July 1, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED:  City attorneys should review local ordinances to determine if municipal court judge terms are specified and if they comply. In order to take advantage of the “breach of contract” provision in the statute, GMA strongly encourages all cities to have a written contract with their judges.  For sample contracts, see GMA’s Municipal Courts Guide. 

House Bill 461 by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs) eliminates the ability to calculate fees for renovation and other construction projects based on the cost of the project, but expands the ability to use square footage in the fee calculation for extensive renovation projects (those totaling over $75,000). (Effective date is July 1, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED:  Cities must review their permit fee schedule to ensure their fees comply with the revised methods prescribed by HB 461. Specifically, fees based on the cost of the project for renovations must be converted so that they are based on another allowable method under law (flat fee, hourly rate, or square footage). 

House Bill 581 by Rep. Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire), carried in the Senate by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome), provides for a statewide floating homestead exemption, tied to the rate of inflation, but allows an opt-out provision for local governments. The bill further clarifies the notice requirements for tax assessments and millage rate adjustments to be more transparent. Finally, the bill also creates a new local option sales tax which could be used for property tax relief, similar to LOST or OLOST, for those jurisdictions that have a floating homestead exemption.  (Effective Date is January 1, 2025 contingent upon approval of the ballot question provided by HR 1022). 

ACTION NEEDED:  HB 581 will not be effective unless the statewide floating homestead is approved by the voters in the November statewide referendum provided by HR 1022.  Cities need to be preparing now because if this bill is approved, the local “opt out” provision is time sensitive. Cities should be aware of the homestead exemptions they have in place to fully understand the impact of this additional homestead exemption. Cities also may want to preemptively negotiate with their county and other cities in the county about potentially accessing the additional local option sales tax.  These are important decisions and negotiations that cities need to be prepared for.  All cities are encouraged to attend the Concurrent Sessions on FLOST and SDS on Monday, June 24, at the GMA Annual Convention.  Additional training will be provided in the future as cities prepare for HB 581 negotiations. 

House Bill 946 by Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) would allow a single-county T-SPLOST to be levied at the full 1 percent with approval of an agreement by the county and cities representing a majority of the municipal population. Jurisdictions that are not party to the agreement are provided protection and guaranteed a minimum distribution of funds. The bill also extends the time for a T-SPLOST from five to six years if the county and all cities sign the agreement.  (Effective date is May 6, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED:  No action is needed if your city is already in a TIA (Regional TSPLOST) region or has a single-county TSPLOST in place.  If your city seeks to negotiate a future single-county TSPLOST or to renew a current one, HB 946 will allow such negotiation to proceed without the unanimous consent of all cities. However, achieving unanimous consent allows for an additional year of TSPLOST funding, so GMA encourages cities to strive for unanimous consent to benefit from this extended funding period.

House Bill 1073 by Rep. Dale Washburn (R-Macon) addresses multiple subjects, firstly removing specific language relating to zoning procedures relating to halfway houses, drug rehabilitation centers, or other facilities for the treatment of drug dependency. In addition, this bill allows for limited areas with at least 200,000 square feet of leasable space, among other qualifications, to be designated as special entertainment districts, allowing for expanded alcohol sales on Sunday. Finally, this bill restricts the ability of cities to require video surveillance at gas stations. (Effective date is May 6, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED (zoning procedures):  Cities should review and modify their ordinances or procedures, as needed, to ensure that halfway houses, drug rehabilitation centers, and facilities for the treatment of drug dependency are no longer subjected to the delayed hearing and approval processes previously outlined in the zoning procedures law. 

ACTION NEEDED (cameras): Cities should review local ordinances to see if they have mandatory video camera requirements at gas stations. If so, please have your city attorney contact GMA’s General Counsel office for guidance.

House Bill 1105 by Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah) requires local law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities in the enforcement of immigration laws. Any law enforcement agency found in violation will be subject to the withholding of state funding or state administered federal funding. (Effective date is May 1, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED: Local law enforcement agencies should reach out to the United States Department of Justice and to the United States Department of Homeland Security to seek memorandums of understanding annually for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws, including 287(g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. All actions taken by the local law enforcement agency in pursuit of such an MOU should be documented to show compliance with this new law. If law enforcement agencies receive an immigration detainer notice, they should comply with such notice. Any municipal detention facility will also be required to post quarterly specific statistics related to the detainees in the facility during that quarter. Additionally, the local law enforcement agency will be required to file an annual report to the Department of Audits and Accounts. GMA will be updating reference materials related to this law in the coming weeks. 

House Bill 1149 by Rep. Mesha Mainor (R-Atlanta) requires local constitutional officers to disclose to the county auditors the amount of any additional discretionary income that they receive relating to their official duties. (Effective date is July 1, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED:  No action is needed for non-consolidated governments. Consolidated city-county governments must now report discretionary funds (those which are not appropriated in the budget) in annual audits but are not liable if a constitutional officer fails to provide this information. 

House Bill 1407 by Rep. John LaHood (R-Valdosta), carried in the Senate by Sen. Frank Ginn (R-Danielsville), revises the process for negotiation of service delivery strategies. The bill revises the timeframe for negotiations and requires written exchange of information by the parties. It grants DCA the ability to create mapping standards, but mapping would be optional. The bill clarifies the revenues available to fund unincorporated service districts. Finally, the bill revises the process of dispute resolution and provides for sanctions for those parties that remain in dispute after the deadlines provided.  (Effective date is January 1, 2026) 

ACTION NEEDED:  HB 1407 does not take effect until January 1, 2026.  Any cities negotiating SDS agreement before then will follow the current law.  All cities are encouraged to attend the Concurrent Sessions on FLOST and SDS on Monday, June 24, at the GMA Annual Convention.  Additional training will be provided in the future as cities prepare for the changes under HB 1407 beginning in 2026. 

Senate Bill 395 by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford) requires certain government buildings, courthouses, and schools to provide opioid antagonists (such as Narcan) to assist in the event of an opioid overdose.  For cities, the applicable government buildings are those in which the governing authority of the city meets in its official capacity if such buildings contain automated external defibrillators.  (Effective date is July 1, 2024) 

ACTION NEEDED:  Beginning on July 1, 2024, cities that have defibrillators in their City Hall or other buildings in which the governing authority meets in an official capacity must also maintain three doses of opioid antagonists and ensure such are available during regular business hours and during local government events. 

House Bill 404  by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton), also known as the “Safe at Home Act,” has a number of provisions that seek to reform portions of Tenant-Landlord law. Under this bill: Landlords would be required to provide rentals that are “fit for human habitation”, tenants would have a guaranteed three-day grace period after missing a rent payment before an eviction proceeding can be filed, landlords would be banned from cutting off air-conditioning prior to completion of an eviction action, security deposits would be capped at no more than three times the monthly rent, the eviction process would be expedited for tenants who have recently been charged or convicted with certain crimes, including a violent felony or a sexual offense, or have committed a crime threatening the health, safety, or welfare of others. (Effective date is July 1, 2024)  

House Bill 808 by Rep. Mike Cheokas (R-Americus) would increase the statewide ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property from $7,500 to $20,000. This act must be approved by the voters in November.  

House Bill 1017 by Rep. Devan Seabaugh (R-Marietta) creates the offense of unlawful squatting when someone enters and resides upon the land or premises of the owner without the owner or rightful occupant's knowledge or consent. A person who violates this provision will receive a citation advising them to present documentation within three business days authorizing their presence on the land or premises. If the person is unable to provide documentation, the person will be subject to arrest for criminal trespass and will be guilty of a misdemeanor. If a person does provide documentation, a hearing will be set within seven days of submitting the documentation to determine its validity. (Effective date is April 24, 2024)  

House Bill 1033 by Rep. Rob Leverett (R-Elberton) enhances the level of punishment for the crimes of assault and battery when the victims of those crimes are utility workers. (Effective date is May 6, 2024)  

House Bill 1100 by Kimberly New (R-Villa Rica) changes how the Department of Revenue (DOR) issues vehicle registrations and license plates for government-owned vehicles. For municipalities, the bill sets requirements for who can be titled as the vehicle owner. It specifies that vehicle license plates must include labels such as COUNTY, MUNICIPALITY, AUTHORITY, etc. Municipal vehicles that are being used for covert or secret investigatory police functions, will be able to receive regular license plates upon submitting a properly completed application and payment of the applicable fee. The DOR Commissioner can waive the aforementioned labeling requirements and issue regular license plates for any municipal vehicles if it is in the best interest of public safety, public welfare, or efficient administration.
(Effective date is April 22, 2024)  

House Bill 1146 by Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) allows the Georgia EPD to issue consumptive water permits to private companies within the coastal aquifers of the state without the consent of the relevant city or county if the local government is unable to provide the water service within 18 months of the permit request. This bill has a sunset date in 2029. (Effective date is May 6, 2024)  

House Resolution 1022 by Rep. Beth Camp (R-Concord) is a constitutional amendment that would allow for a statewide floating homestead exemption tied to inflation with an opt out provision for local governments.  HB 581 is the enabling statute. This constitutional amendment must be approved by the voters in November for HB 581 to go into effect. See House Bill 581. 

Senate Bill 26 by Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) authorizes specified local workforce development boards, development authorities, community improvement districts, and the governing bodies of any large retirement systems to hold meetings via teleconference. (Effective date is February 13, 2024)   

Senate Bill 171 by Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) stipulates that if a Development Authority director's term ends without a successor being elected, the director shall continue in office for up to six months. If no successor is elected within this six-month period, the remaining directors will elect a successor. Additionally, Development Authority directors are now required to complete at least two hours of continuing training on development and redevelopment programs each year. Directors who fail to complete this training for two consecutive years risk having their voting rights on the authority suspended. (Effective date is July 1, 2024)  

Senate Bill 333 by Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford) creates the City of Mulberry in Gwinnett County. The required local referendum passed during the May 2024 elections.  Voters will now go to the polls in November 2024 to elect local officials, with an effective incorporation date of January 1, 2025.  This new city will require a new SDS agreement for Gwinnett County and the cities therein.  

Senate Bill 334 by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) the “Helping Firefighters Beat Cancer Act” revises the coverage eligibility for the Georgia Firefighters’ Cancer Benefit Program so that firefighters who have served 12 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state shall be covered. Previous firefighters were required to have served 12 consecutive months with a specific fire department to receive coverage. (Effective date is July 1, 2024) 

Senate Bill 443 by Sen. Ben Watson (R-Savannah) would allow a city to recover the costs and resources associated with events not properly permitted that create a public nuisance that impedes travel by public safety officials or employees. Local governing authorities could file a complaint on behalf of the public and be reimbursed by the event's promoter or organizer. (Effective date is April 8, 2024)  

Senate Bill 496 by Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) extends the sunset date for tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic buildings or structures through 2029 and extends the sunset date for the Rural Zone tax credit through 2032. (Effective date is April 18, 2024)