2024 Legislative Session Report Week 8
|
Reps. Momtahan, Parsons, Dickey, Tarvin, Pirkle, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of certain types of land or properties, including farms and agricultural land, by Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean governments, citizens, or companies. It would both prohibit direct ownership but also ownership through majority stock or other specified intertest. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Schofield, Drenner, Kennard, Evans and Hutchinson This bill would require the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations to gradually reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from every electric utility in Georgia, regardless of fuel type. It would require that by 2050 all electricity provided by an electric utility in Georgia be generated from energy sources that produce zero greenhouse gasses. Assigned to House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Lewis-Ward, Beverly, Jackson, and Gilliard 该法案将设立农业公平办公室,以支持社会弱势群体的现有成员,并鼓励社会弱势群体进入农业领域. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Thomas, Schofield, and Marin This bill would establish the ability to set up and operate a Microenterprise home kitchen. This would be a noncommercial kitchen facility located in a private home or on a farm where ready-to-eat food is handled, stored, prepared, or offered for sale for consumption off the premises. The kitchen must meet the criteria to be a microenterprise as established by the Department of Economic Development. This bill would exclude food sales establishments, any food production which requires a license by the Dept. of Agriculture, and more. Heard House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/14/2023
Reps. Dickey, Houston, Gilliard, and Carpenter Over the past few years there has been discussion over how to address issues with our state's Farmers Markets, some of which are in need of substantial capital repairs and improvements. Several of the markets have also suffered from profitability issues, leading to the temporary closing of certain markets. This bill seeks to establish the Georgia Farmers Market Authority, allowing the state's markets to be run more like a business by retaining the income it generates and using it to operate and improve the markets. Recommitted to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 3/1/2023
Reps. LaHood, Parrish, Williams, Jackson, Burchett and others. This bill seeks to amend the tax credit limit for rural hospital contributions and redefines a rural hospital organization. 它将提高企业捐助者捐款的税收抵免限额,并提高对农村医院组织捐款的税收抵免总额限额. This bill includes a sunset date of December 31, 2023. Passed House Ways & Means Committee 2/1/2024
Reps. Yearta, Corbett, Cannon, Jasperse, and Franklin This bill would make it unlawful for anyone other than a secondary metal recycler to sell, purchase, possess, or transport a catalytic convertor. The individual would be charged on a separate offense for every individual catalytic convertor. This, along with other similar pieces of proposed legislation, are in response to increasing frequency of catalytic converter theft in recent years. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 2/13/2023
Reps. Williams, Meeks, Rhodes, Dickey, Blackmon, and others This bill seeks to grant a second round of funding to the Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs program. This bill would also increase the application fee and provide an annual maintenance fee. Passed House Ways & Means Committee 3/2/2023
Reps. Anderson, Williamson, Parsons, Frazier, Jones and others This bill says no governmental entity of this state shall adopt any policy that restricts or prohibits, or has the effect of restricting or prohibiting, the type or source of energy or fuel to be delivered to a home or the appliance to be used. Passed House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunication Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Houston, Meeks, Dickey, Pirkle 该法案将建立农贸市场信托基金,允许州农贸市场保留费用,并利用这些费用来维修和维护这些农贸市场,以及营销和推广乔治亚州的农产品. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/16/2023
Reps. Knight, Corbett, Rhodes, Cannon, and Pirkle 该法案将取消保护使用价值评估(CUVA)计划中提供的豁免,该计划允许在CUVA契约范围内的土地上安装太阳能电池板, so long as that portion of the land is removed from the covenant and the specified breach penalty is paid. That penalty in current law is less than what must be paid for a normal breach on a property that is subject to a covenant. Under this proposal, installing solar panels on land enrolled in CUVA would constitute a breach of the covenant, and the full penalty would have to be paid. Passed House Ways & Means Committee 3/3/2023
Reps. Pirkle, Jasperse, Meeks, Rhodes, Knight, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, government, or business from a country considered to be foreign adversary as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, governments, and businesses of any land that is within a 25 mile radius of a military facility. The bill does allow for possession in certain special circumstances such as through an inheritance or for the collection of debts, but the land must be dispersed after a specified period of time. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/28/2023
Reps. Leverett, Petrea, Prince, and Jackson 该法案旨在通过增加通知要求和将执行权下放给某些地方自治团体,解决不良行为者不当使用土壤修正案的问题. GFB is actively monitoring this bill and has been in discussions with the sponsor to work towards an appropriate and balanced solution to the issue. Assigned to House Natural Resources & Environment Committee 2/21/2023
Reps. Barnes, Beverly, Clark, Au, Oliver, and others. This bill seeks to provide free school meals to all public-school students who qualify for the reduced-price meals under federal and state guidelines. It encourages the use of Georgia Grown products in school breakfast and lunch programs to promote Georgia agriculture and healthy eating. Assigned to House Education Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Gilliard, Stephens, Willis, and Thomas This bill, titled the "Georgia Hemp Industry Growth and Business Partnership Tax Credit Act," provides for a tax credit for costs of doing business with Georgia Grown hemp owners and suppliers. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 2/23/2023
Reps. Lewis-Ward, Beverly, Bentley, Jackson, and Schofield 该法案将要求农业部将不少于5%的全部营销和推广预算用于少数民族或妇女拥有的农业企业. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cheokas, Collins, Hitchens, Yearta, and Washburn 该法案将允许一个县建立非法侵入执法计划,为任何参与的财产所有者或合法占有者提供一种方法,指定任何当地执法机构的治安官员作为他或她的授权代表,以执行刑事非法侵入. Assigned to House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cameron, Camp, Campbell, Hagan, and Huddleston This bill is tilted the Healthy Food Development Program Act. It allows for the Department of Human Services to coordinate with the Department of Economic Development to create the Healthy Food Development Program. They could provide grants, loans, state tax credits, equipment, other financial assistance or technical assistance to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, or other retailers. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Taylor, Lumsden, Collins, Hitchens, and Dunahoo This bill would allow any law enforcement to enforce excess vehicle weight limitations using automated vehicle weight detection system. 这将允许使用重量检测技术和能够确定车辆总重量和过往机动车辆的单个轴重的摄像机,并产生位于固定秤设施外的此类车辆的记录图像. The technology could be implemented by third party agents. Assigned to House Motor Vehicles Committee 1/09/2024
Reps. Washburn, Au, Stephens, Anulewicz, Hitchens, and others This bill would exempt Georgia from the advancement of standard time, 在北卡罗来纳州和南卡罗来纳州以及佛罗里达州和田纳西州遵守东部标准时间的部分地区免除夏令时后,被称为夏令时. Assigned to House State Planning & Community Affairs Committee 1/10/2024
Rep. Thomas 该法案将在全州范围内规定,在某些参数下,对用于农业目的的宅基地的全部价值免征从价税. The farmer must be engaged in production agriculture for no more than 5 years and operate on no more than 5 acres. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/10/2024
Reps. Ridley, Ridley, Jasperse, Fleming, Persinger, and others 该法案将要求该州所有提供含有细胞培养肉或植物性肉类替代品的食品的食品服务机构在其菜单上显示, or on placards visible to the public, disclosures stating that such food products contain cell cultured meat or plant based meat alternatives. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/11/2024
Reps. Vance, Tarvin, Lumsden, Collins, and Hitchens This bill would add to what is considered criminal trespass and make entrance upon property of another without consent shall be an offense of criminal trespass. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 1/12/2024
Reps. Burchett, Cannon, Dickey, Meeks, and Rhodes This bill would exempt all qualified producers from paying county or municipal permit fees greater than $500 on agricultural structures. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/23/2024
Reps. Blackmon, Williamson, Wade, Hong, Meeks, and others This bill eliminates the Revenue Shortfall Reserve limit. Currently, the state can only hold 15% of the previous year's net revenue in the reserve. This bill would eliminate that limitation. Assigned to House Appropriations Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Clark, Pirkle, Blackmon, Corbett, Bonner, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, government, or business from a country considered to be foreign adversary as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, governments, and businesses of any land that is within a 10 mile radius of a military installation. Any violator would be convicted of a felony with up to two years in prison or a $15,000 fine. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/15/2024
Reps. Camp, Carson, Powell, Persinger, Gullet, and others This bill is known as The Georgia Homegrown Solar Act of 2024. It gives private solar producers the ability to aggregate demand and sell excess energy to large scale utilities. Assigned to House Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications Committee 2/8/2024
Reps. Townsend, Smith, DeLoach, Vance, Reeves, and others This bill requires the Environmental Protection Division to consider regulatory and criminal history of any applicant, including out-of-state history, seeking a permit from the Division. Assigned to House Natural Resources & Environment Committee 2/8/2024
Reps. Pirkle, Jones, Corbett, and Williams This bill is a tort reform measure that surfaces every year. When determining damages in a civil action lawsuit, whether the plaintiff was wearing seatbelt cannot be factored into damages. This bill would allow for the defendant to argue for lesser damages due to the fact that the plaintiff was not probably restrained by a seatbelt, therefore incurring greater damage. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 2/20/2024
Reps. Williams, Meeks, Corbett, Jones, Campbell, and others This bill would make aerial applicators exclusively used for pesticides exempt from ad valorem taxes. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 2/22/2024
Reps. Bennett, Jenkins, Dempsey, Lewis-Ward, Newton, and others This resolution establishes the House Healthy Food Retail Study Committee to investigate the lack of access to healthy foods in both rural and urban areas. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/15/2023
Reps. Drenner and Thomas This is a resolution creating the House Study Committee on Environmental Justice. This committee will study the impact of pollution and hazardous materials on low-income neighborhoods or neighborhoods consisting primarily of minorities. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Mathiak, Gunter, Hatchett This resolution would create the House Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment. This study would look to raise awareness of the challenges rural hospitals face to recruit personnel and retain surgical support personnel. Recommitted to House Special Rules Committee 3/29/2023
HR1166: This resolution creates the House Study Committee on the Exchange, Storage, and Bond Coverage of Agricultural Products, Grain, and Livestock. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/22/2024
Sens. Jackson, Goodman, Summers and Butler This bill, called the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," would change the limitations for individuals seeking a license or permit to grow hemp. It would change current law to allow individuals who are convicted of a misdemeanor involving the sale of a controlled substance, to apply for and be given a license or permit to grow industrial hemp. It would also allow someone convicted of a felony to apply for and receive a license or permit after 10 years has passed from said felony. Recommitted to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/28/2023
Sens. Anderson, Brass, Burns, Anavitarte, Robertson and others This bill changes the definition of what is considered a dangerous or vicious dog. This bill revises the definition to include the following: a dog who is unprovoked barking, growling, or snarling, aggressively running along fence lines, or escaping confinement when people are present. It requires the owner of a dangerous dog as defined by the bill to maintain a $500,000 insurance policy covering any damage or bodily harm caused by the dog. Passed Senate Insurance and Labor Committee 2/26/2024
Sens. Still, Dolezal, Robertson, Anavitarte, Payne, and others This bill which at one time would have only prohibited local regulations that create differing standards for gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment, now includes an additional 33 pages of language that addresses numerous other issues. Senate Disagreed to House Amendment 3/29/2023 & House Insisted 3/29/2023
Sens. Goodman, Sims, Walker, Brass, Mallow, and others This bill is a companion bill to HB 189. The current state law sets the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of any 5-axle truck at 80,000lbs. Agriculture and forestry receives a 5% variance exemption to allow them to haul 84,000lbs. The bill would allow for these industries and a few additional ones to haul using a 12.5% variance, setting allowable weights at 90,000lbs. This bill only pertains to state roads. Due to federal regulations, trucks traveling on interstates are only allowed to haul at 80,000lbs with no variances. Heard by Senate Transportation Committee 2/27/2023
Sens. Dolezal, Still, Gooch, Kennedy, Watson and others This legislation deals with premises liability action and seeks to make changes to tort law provisions that are significant to landowners. It states no landowner shall be liable in a premises liability action to anyone who is injured on the landowner's property as the result of the willful, wanton, or intentionally tortious conduct of any third party who is not a director, officer, employee, or agent of the landowner unless the invitee can prove specific items as laid out by the legislation. Senate Tabled 3/6/2023
Sens. Jones, Harbison, Rahman, Merrit, Butler and others This bill is entitled the Right to Repair Act. It seeks to require manufactures of digital and electronic products to provide diagnostic and repair information, parts, and tools to independent repair providers. Assigned to Senate Science and Technology Committee 2/27/2023
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Hufstetler, Payne, Echols, Dugan, and others. This bill is known as the Outdoor Dog Protection Act. It would make it unlawful to leave a dog outdoors or unattended for more than 24 hours under the defined circumstances within the bill. It provides an exemption for livestock herding dogs, dogs sued within production agriculture, and hunting or field training dogs. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee 3/27/2023
Sens. Goodman, Watson, Strickland, Walker, Parent, and others This bill requires disclosures and notices for real estate offers that are lower than the fair market or county assessed value for the property. It is a consumer protection bill geared toward landowners facing predatory real estate offers. Passed Senate Judiciary Committee 2/26/2024
Sens. Summers, Kennedy, Goodman, Walker, Anderson, and others This bill would grant a state-wide exemption for aircraft used for aerial applications of fertilizers and pesticides. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 2/13/2024
Sens. Goodman, Watson, Summers, Hodges, Anderson, and others This bill would designate blueberries as the official state berry of Georgia. Assigned to Senate Economic Development & Tourism Committee 2/13/2024
Sens. Anavitarte, Gooch, Anderson, Summers, Cowsert and others. This resolution will form the Senate Study Committee on the Benefits of Solar Energy in Georgia. It will report on the pros and cons of solar generated energy in the state of Georgia. Passed Senate Rules Committee on 3/23/2023
Sens. Hickman, Goodman, Watson, Anderson, and Gooch This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia's Farmlands. Passed Senate 2/15/2024
Sens. Goodman, Watson, Anderson, Walker, Echols, and others This resolution reconginzes March 2024 as Georgia Peanut Month. Senate Read and Adopted 2/27/2024
Sens. Goodman, Watson, Anderson, Walker, Echols, and others This resolution commends the Georgia Department of Agriculture for their 150th anniversary. Senate Read and Adopted 2/27/2024
Sen. Watson This resolution is a constitutional amendment to increase the CUVA acreage cap from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres per individual. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 2/26/2024 |
|
Save the Date March 5 - PB&J Day at the Capitol March 13-15 - GA Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention March 15 - FFA 17th Annual Blue & Gold Gala |