Advocacy Update 2023 - Days 17-20

Session Hits Midway Point
​The Capitol was abuzz this week as the House and Senate assembled for Legislative Day 20 on Thursday, marking the midpoint of the forty-day session.  Now entering the third quarter, lawmakers will shift their attention away from introducing bills and towards the vetting process both at the committee level and on the Chamber floors.  The pace of action dramatically increases as session races towards Crossover Day on March 6. 
 
This weekend, lawmakers enjoy their first four-day period back in their districts in over a month.  Session resumes on Tuesday.

​New Legislation of Interest
Lis Pendens (HB 444)                                                                                  Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth
Assigned to the House Judiciary Cmte on Feb-16
*See also HB 554 from 21/22*  Revises when an action may operate as a lis pendens.
 
Premises Liability (SB 186)                                                                         Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Alpharetta
Assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Cmte on Feb-16
Limits land owners liability regarding invitees, licensees, and trespassers.  Provides for no landowner liability due to allege constructive notice of prior crimes or violent nature.  Provides for the apportionment of fault.
 
Apex Doctrine (SB 200)                                                                               Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens
Assigned to the Regulated Industries and Utilities Cmte on Feb-16
Relates to general provisions governing discovery under the Civil Practice Act.  Provides for a party or current former high ranking government or corporate officer of whom a deposition is sought to seek a protective order.  Requires a court to prohibit such deposition subject to exceptions.

​Other Active Measures
C-PACER Program (HB 206)                                                                       Rep. Steven Sainz, R-Woodbine
Passed out of House Governmental Affairs Cmte on Feb-15
Commercial Property Assessed Conservation, Energy, and Resiliency (C-PACER) is a public-private partnership that is intended to enable commercial building owners to invest in their property.  Under these programs, a private lender finances energy-saving building upgrades.  The property owner uses generated savings to repay the lender via a special assessment added to their property tax bill.
 
Ad Valorem Taxation of Property (HB 36)                                                Rep. Chuck Martin, R-Alpharetta
Passed out of House Ways & Means Cmte on Feb-16
Revises the language required to be included in the notices of current assessments and adds hearing officer review for tax assessments of certain business personal property.
 
Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act (HB 80)                                             Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton
On the agenda for the House Floor on Feb-21
Provides that unsworn declarations have the same effect as sworn declarations in certain circumstances, including related to the offense of perjury.
 
Notices to Beneficiaries (HB 91)                                                                  Rep. Will Wade, R-Dawsonville
Passed out of the House with a vote of 171-0 on Feb-15
**See also HB 1350 from 21/22**
Requires personal representatives to send notices to beneficiaries regarding the issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration.  Revises a definition regarding Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration.
 
Internal Revenue Code Conforming Changes (HB 95)                            Rep. David Knight, R-Griffin
Passed out of House Ways & Means Cmte on Feb-16
Incorporates certain provisions of the federal law into Georgia law.
 
Expand TANF to Pregnant Women (HB 129)                                             Rep. Soo Hong, R-Lawrenceville
Passed out of the House with a vote of 173-1 on Feb-13
Expands temporary assistance for needy families eligibility criteria to pregnant women.
 
Property Tax Exemption Population Brackets (HB 138)                            Rep. Clint Crowe, R-Jackson
Passed out of the Ways & Means Cmte on Feb-16
Provides that unsworn declarations have the same effect as sworn declarations in certain circumstances, including related to the offense of perjury.
 
One-Time Tax Credit (HB 162)                                                                       Rep. Lauren McDonald, R-Cumming
Passed out of the Ways & Means Cmte on Feb-16
Governor’s Bill.  Provides for a one-time tax credit for individual taxpayers who filed income tax returns for both the 2021 and 2022 taxable years.
 
Property Owners’ Associations (HB 220)                                                    Rep. Rob Leverett, R-Elberton
Passed out of the House Judiciary Cmte on Feb-14
Provides that unsworn declarations have the same effect as sworn declarations in certain circumstances, including related to the offense of perjury.
 
Sales Made on Foreclosure under Power of Sale (SB 13)                          Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell
On the agenda for the Senate Floor on Feb-21
Authorizes online public sales under tax levies and executions and provides for a time frame for sales of real estate under foreclosure powers.
 
Homelessness (SB 62)                                                                                       Sen. Carden Summers, R-Cordele
Passed out of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations on Feb-13
Prohibits certain local ordinances or policies related to public camping or sleeping.  Provides for a performance audit by the state auditor on public spending on homeless programs.
 
Spam Telephone Solicitations (SB 73)                                                           Sen. Blake Tillery, R-Vidalia
Passed out of the Senate with a floor amendment with a vote of 56-0 on Feb-15
Provides for class action suits and for damages against certain persons for violating provisions related to telephone solicitations; provides for and prohibits certain defenses in such actions.