The Georgia General Assembly has adjourned for budget discussions until legislative day 13 on Tuesday, Feb. 18. Follow this link for the Georgia General Assembly schedule.
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.

Issues at a Glance

Local Government Infrastructure Finance Authority – Senate Bill 309: Your community will benefit from lower costs to taxpayers by providing a less expensive alternative to finance projects. Pending in the Senate State & Local Governmental Operations 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.
 
Creation of the Division of Transit and Mobility Innovations – House Bill 511: The bill would create mobility zones for the coordination and comprehensive planning of transit. Pending in the Senate Transportation 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 subcommittee and is pending in the House Ways & Means Committee. 
 
Preemption of Local Design Standards – House Bill 302 and Senate Bill 172: Do you want residents or special interests determining the character of your local community? Pending in House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee and Senate Government Oversight Committee, respectively.  
 
Short-term Rental Legislation – House Bill 523: This legislation seeks to preempt cities from regulating short-term rental properties. Pending in the House Rules Committee. 

Additional Active Legislation
ISSUES AT A GLANCE
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.  


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.  


Design Standards Legislation Won't Work for Cities
HB 302
and SB 172 would prohibit cities and counties from establishing residential "building design elements" for single and double-family dwellings. GMA opposes these bills.

If this legislation were to become law, local governments could no longer enact design standards on: 
  • Exterior building color
  • Type or style of exterior cladding material
  • Style or materials of roof structures or porches
  • Exterior non-structural architectural ornamentation
  • Location or architectural styling of windows and doors, including garage doors
  • The number and types of rooms
  • The interior layout of rooms
  • Types of foundation structures approved under state minimum standard codes 
Citizens, not special interests, should retain the authority to make these decisions locally. 


Cities Could Benefit from Local Government Infrastructure Authority 
SB 309 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 municipal bond insurance market
  • More favorable interest rates
  • Critical mass for institutional purchasers
  • Greater access to market especially for smaller issuers
  • Diversification of credit risk
  • Rapid access to capital
GMA supports this bill and encourages city officials to ask for support of SB 309 from their Senator and Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan.


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 a city 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. 
 
 
Short Term Rental Preemption Legislation Still in Play
HB 523 would preempt cities from regulating short-term rental properties. GMA has been 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.
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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