Weekly Update

​This week, the legislature completed days 22 through 25 of the 40 day session.  Next week, we will have crossover day, or Day 28 of the session.  Crossover day is the last day for legislation to pass the chamber in which it was introduced and transfer to the other chamber for consideration.  Senate bills must pass the Senate and House bills must pass the House.  Any bill that does not receive a vote in its initial chamber by Day 28 cannot move on in the legislative process until the next legislative session. 
 
HB 488 was on the House Rules Calendar for Day 25; however, a motion was made to recommit the bill to the Rules Committee. 
 
HB 781 was presented to the Senate Banking & Financial Institutions Committee on Tuesday by Rep. Bruce Williamson (R), Monroe.  The bill was passed by the Committee. 
 
HB 847 was passed by the House with a vote of 159-7 on Thursday. 
 
HB 865 was presented to the House Judiciary Kelly Subcommittee on Monday by Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (R), Cartersville.  A substitute bill was presented that included changes to the language as it impacts financial institutions at the request of CBA.  The bill was passed by the Committee. 
 
HB 968 was passed by the House with a vote of 165-0 on Monday.
 
HB 969 was passed by the House with a vote of 168-0 on Wednesday.
 
HB 987 was introduced in the Senate on Monday and assigned to the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
 
HB 1008 was presented to the House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on Tuesday.  The bill was passed by the Committee. 
 
HB 1073 was introduced in the House by Rep. Sam Watson (R), Moultrie.  The bill was assigned to the Governmental Affairs Committee.  This bill relates to development authorities and creates regional development authorities. 
 
HB 1097 was introduced in the House by Rep. Calvin Smyre (D), Columbus.  The bill was assigned to the Human Relations & Aging Committee.  The bill creates an Elder Financial Exploitation Task Force and provides for members of the Task Force.  While Georgia Bankers Association and Georgia Credit Union Affiliates along with the Commissioner of the Department of Banking & Finance are names as members, CBA was not listed as a member.  CBA has been in discussions with the author of the bill and anticipates being added as a member of the task force in a substitute bill.
 
SB 315 was introduced in the House and assigned to the House Regulated Industries Committee.
 
SB 329 was presented to the Senate Finance Committee on Monday by Sen. Randy Robertson (R), Cataula.  This bill relates to Motor Vehicle Title Loans and authorizes the Department of Banking & Finance to license and regulate motor vehicle title lending.  The vote on the bill by the Committee was four to four with Chairman Chuck Hufstetler (R), Rome, issuing the tie break vote to pass the bill. 
 
SB 390 was presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday by Sen. Steve Gooch (R), Dahlonega.  Language included in SB 390 that was also included in SB 415 was stripped out in a committee substitute.  What remains was mostly civil procedure reforms.  The substitute bill was passed by the Committee.
 
SB 429 was passed by the Senate with a vote of 54-0 on Wednesday. 
 
SB 442 was presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday by Sen. William T. Ligon, Jr. (R), Brunswick.  The bill was passed by the Committee.  The bill was placed on the Senate Rules Calendar for Day 26. 
 
SB 443 was presented to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday by Sen. Jesse Stone (R), Waynesboro.  The bill was passed by the Committee.    
 
SB 444 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Harold Jones II (D), Augusta.  The bill was assigned to the Government Oversight Committee.  The bill provides for an alternative process for county, municipality, or consolidated government to condemn certain blighted properties.  CBA has concerns with provisions of this bill relating to occupancy status.  Language indicates that if the property has not been legally occupied, has not had a tenant, or has been empty for ten consecutive years or has been less than 30% occupied for at least 20 years then it is considered condemned.  CBA will continue to monitor the progress of this bill.
 
SB 462 was introduced in the Senate on Monday.  The bill was presented to the Senate Banking & Financial Institutions Committee on Tuesday by Sen. John Kennedy (R), Macon.  The bill was passed by the Committee.  The bill was placed on the Senate Rules Calendar for Day 26.
 
SB 493 was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Bruce Thompson (R), White.  The bill was assigned to the Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Committee.  The bill provides standards for cybersecurity programs to protect businesses from liability.  The bill was passed by the Committee.

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