Legislative Days 39-40
March 29th, 2021, to March 31st, 2021

​The Capitol is buzzing with energy as we race towards the finish with Sine Die and the end of this year’s legislative session on Wednesday. There is no match to the feeling as the final hours tick away and the last bills being considered are passed. The final gavel strike adjourning both the Senate and House was cause for celebration at just a quarter past midnight this morning. These 40 legislative days I will never forget as my first session experience, and I could not be happier that I accomplished this with Lori and representing all of you, my community banking family.
 
We were both down at the Capitol this week, and we had the chance to watch some of the big-ticket items of legislation get worked on to the late hours before Sine Die. The 2022 Fiscal Year Budget (H.B. 81) was adopted by both chambers, which got a cheer by many when it passed. It interesting to see feat with all its struggles in getting the budget through the process. The Tax Credit Return on Investment Act of 2021 (S.B. 6) was a compact bill that went even later in the night than the 2022 budget. This bill wraps together quite a lot of tax credits and incentives for Georgians and Georgia businesses. Seeing both get through, especially during this year with the Pandemic, was quite the accomplishment and should offer the assistance many will need.
 
Before Sine Die, the House took a moment to recognize the Banks and Banking Chairman Rep. Greg Morris for a Special Order. This session will be Rep. Morris’s last one as he will resign from the General Assembly and take up his Appointment to the Dept. of Transportation board.

This week, CBA spent the week at the Capitol defending our position on the Remote Online Notary (RON) bill.  Last weekend, a rumor started that CBA opposed RON.  This rumor was in direct contradiction to our testimony in the Senate Judiciary Committee last week.  See our testimony below.  CBA has always supported the RON bill though we have expressed concerns with certain language in the bill.  In our testimony, we stated that our concerns and many of the concerns of others can be better addressed in future legislative sessions with the benefit of hindsight following the implementation of the legislation.  We testified that the Committee should move “do pass” on the legislation as presented by Rep. Joseph Gullett, and we opposed the deletion of real estate as presented in the substitute bill offered by Sen. Blake Tillery (R), Vidalia. 

​For your reference, we have a tracking document that can be accessed at any time on our website that will show the bills we are tracking/monitoring. They are highlighted in different colors of importance for your convenience and are sorted from the top of the sheet by bill/resolution number. We are keeping everything up to date as much as possible, given the circumstances surrounding the Pandemic.
 
New Bills that CBA is Tracking
H.B. 828 was introduced in the House by Rep. Boddie Williams (D), East Point. The bill relates to wages generally by providing for payment of compensation to transitory employees upon separation within a certain time frame. The bill was assigned to the Industry & Labor committee.
 
H.B. 837 was introduced in the House by Rep. Marvin Lim (D), Norcross. The bill relates to ad valorem taxation of property by providing a homestead exemption based on federal adjusted gross income. The bill was assigned to the Ways & Means committee.
 
H.B. 844 was introduced in the House by Rep. Jason Ridley (R), Chatsworth. The bill prohibits certain restrictions on long-term rentals of single-family detached dwellings. The bill was assigned to the Judiciary committee.
 
Other Items:
Here is a bill we are tracking that did NOT cross over this session.  However, it was presented in committee after Crossover Day:
 
H.B. 618 Elder Abuse Protection for Wills sponsored by Rep. Bert Reeves (R), Marietta.
The bill was presented to the House Judiciary committee for a hearing only. There was a discussion over the protections elders need when it comes to Trusts, Wills, and Estates. There was agreeance on the recognition of the problems and issues that we are experiencing in the state. The committee is looking forward to working on this issue throughout the next year towards passage.

All updates are current as of the writing of the blog.
 
H.B. 241 Service Contract Insurance sponsored by Rep. Matthew Gambill (R), Cartersville. The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Randy Robertson (R), Cataula. The bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 51 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 244 Flood Risk Reduction bill sponsored by Rep. Don Hogan (R), St. Simon’s Island. The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Shelia McNeil (R), Brunswick. The bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 51 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 292 Board of Equalization Training Requirement bill sponsored by Rep. Noel Williams, Jr. (R), Cordele. The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Chuck Payne (R), Dalton. The bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 52 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 306 Remote Communication and Meeting bill sponsored by Rep. Stan Gunter (R), Blairsville. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R), Cornelia. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 52 – 0. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED with a vote of 163 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 317 Innkeeper Taxation bill sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens (R), Savannah. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Ben Watson (R), Savannah. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 31 – 5. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 142 – 22. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 327 Organized Crime Act bill sponsored by Rep. Martin Momtahan (R), Dallas. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. John Albers (R), Roswell. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 43 – 3. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 102 – 63. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 336 Hemp Farming bill sponsored by Rep. John Corbett (R), Lake Park. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 159 – 5. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 363 Protection of the Elderly bill sponsored by Rep. John LaHood (R), Valdosta. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 154 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 451 Finished Good Inventory Tax Exemption bill sponsored by Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R), Armuchee. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 167 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 465 Alarm Contractor False Alarm bill sponsored by Rep. Joseph Gullett (R), Dallas. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 100 – 65. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 470 Sub-Condominium Plat Recording bill sponsored by Rep. Dale Washburn (R), Macon. The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Matt Brass (R), Newnan. The bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 52 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 477 Qualified Donation of Real Property bill sponsored by Rep. Sam Watson (R), Moultrie. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Steve Gooch (R), Dahlonega. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 47 – 0. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 97 – 73. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 480 Registered Interior Designer Lien bill sponsored by Rep. Dale Washburn (R), Macon. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Lee Anderson (R), Grovetown. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 48 – 2.  The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 167 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 498 Combined Family Farm and Dairy Farm Equipment Tax Exemption bill sponsored by Rep. Sam Watson (R), Moultrie. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Larry Walker III (R), Perry. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 48 – 0. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 163 – 1. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 532 Dept of Labor Employment Security bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R), Glennville. The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. Marty Harbin (R), Tyrone. The bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 50 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 611 Small Businesses Definition bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Cheokas (R), Americus. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 167 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 681 Financial Literacy for Students bill sponsored by Rep. Bill Yearta (R), Sylvester. The substitute bill was attached to S.B. 220 The Georgia Civics Renewal Act sponsored by Sen. Chuck Payne (R), Dalston as a Rules committee substitute. The Rules committee substitute bill was carried in the House by Rep. Matthew Gambill (R), Cartersville. The Rules committee substitute was voted on by the House and PASSED with a vote of 159 – 7. The substitute bill went back to the Senate for a motion to agree to the House substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 51 – 1. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
H.B. 714 was introduced in the House by Rep. Trey Kelley (R), Cedartown. The substitute bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. John Kennedy (R), Macon. The substitute bill was voted on by the Senate and PASSED with a vote of 52 – 1. The substitute bill went back to the House for a motion to agree to the Senate substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 116 – 46. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
S.B. 6 Tax Credit Return on Investment Act of 2021 sponsored by Sen. John Albers (R), Roswell. The House INSISTED on their substitute, which included H.B. 586, H.B. 587 & S.B. 148 that we have been monitoring. Both chambers appointed a Conference Committee to discuss and work out the differences. The Conference Committee reached a resolution, and both the House and Senate PASSED and ADOPTED the Conference Committee Report, 146 – 25 & 52 – 0, respectively. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
S.B. 49 Building Review Exemptions sponsored by Sen. Clint Dixon (R), Buford. The bill was carried in the House by Rep. Josh Bonner (R), Fayetteville. The bill was voted on by the House and PASSED with a vote of 148 – 15. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
S.B. 95 Public Hearing Teleconferencing bill sponsored by Rep. Frank Ginn (R), Danielsville. The Rule committee substitute was carried in the House by Rep. Eddie Lumsden (R), Armuchee. The Rules substitute was voted on by the House and FAILED with a vote of 76-89. There was a motion to reconsider the bill, and it PASSED with a vote of 100-62. The Rules committee substitute was voted on later in the day and PASSED with a vote of 100-67. The Senate took no further action to agree to the House Rules committee substitute before Sine Die. The bill will be recommitted to the committee from which it came for next year.
 
S.B. 156 Chief Labor Officer bill sponsored by Sen. Marty Harbin (R), Tyrone.  The substitute bill was carried in the House by Rep. Tom Kirby (R), Loganville. The substitute bill was voted on by the House and FAILED with a vote of 85 – 84. There was a motion to reconsider the bill, and it PASSED with a vote of 92 – 76. Following this motion, the bill was recommitted back to the Rules committee. A new substitute bill was presented in the Rules committee, and it received a DO PASS. The new Rules committee substitute bill was voted on by the House and PASSED with a vote of 142 – 22.  The substitute bill went back to the Senate for a motion to agree to the House substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 29 – 20. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
S.B. 195 Department of Agriculture Hemp Farming Housekeeping bill sponsored by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R), Chickamauga. The Senate moved to DISAGREE to the House’s substitute bill. The House INSISTED on their substitute, and both chambers appointed a Conference Committee to discuss and work out the differences. The Conference Committee reached a resolution, and both the House and Senate PASSED and ADOPTED the Conference Committee Report, 164 - 2 & 43 – 9, respectively. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
S.B. 201 Dept. of Revenues, Financial Institution Data Match bill sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R), Rome. The substitute bill was carried in the House by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R), Monroe. The substitute bill was recommitted back to the Rules committee. A new substitute bill was presented in the Rules committee, and it received a DO PASS. The new Rules committee substitute bill was voted on by the House and PASSED with a vote of 112 – 55. The substitute bill went back to the Senate for a motion to agree to the House substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 47 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
S.B. 238 Georgia Code Revision bill sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland (R), McDonough. The substitute bill went back to the Senate for a motion to agree to the House substitute, and it was AGREED to with a vote of 51 – 0. The bill now goes to the Governor for signature.
 
Other Items:
Bills that did not get introduced to the chamber floor for a vote for passage:
 
H.B. 333 Georgia Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission bill sponsored by Rep. Chuck Efstration (R), Dacula. The bill was tabled by Senate, and no further action was taken before Sine Die. The bill will be recommitted to the committee from which it came for next year.