AG TAX EXEMPTION CHANGES

(GATE CARDS)
The anticipated conversation on changes to the GATE took a big step as HB 911 was introduced Thursday afternoon. We have been expecting legislation and the author, Rep. Geoff Duncan, has this first draft out for review – no doubt it will see changes. We have crafted several questions to be addressed in addition to offering suggested changes as the bill advances. In a nutshell, the bill moves the $2,500 minimum in annual sales up to $10,000; shifts some of the registration and oversight from the Dept. of Agriculture over to the Dept. of Revenue; and requires retailers to put forth a “good faith effort” to separate inventory items that are not GATE qualified. It's a manageable starting point for the conversation, but watch for changes coming down the road.

TRUCK WEIGHT LIMIT INCREASE
HB 411 started a slow roll this week as House committee conversations have officially begun. We appreciate Reps. Sam Watson and Chad Nimmer for taking this issue head on. Action on the bill is expected next week in the House Transportation Committee. The new draft is expected to take the weight limit from the 80,000 pound (with a 5% variance) standard upward to a 84,000 pound (with a 5% variance) limit for all ag crops and forestry. This would reduce trucks on the roads and help with truck driver shortages. The heavier truck weights will impact roads and bridges that will need taxes collected from the sale of motor fuel to help repair and maintain. We may need you to voice your support for the legislation in the coming week. Stay tuned… 

FOOD SAFETY/ INSPECTION
HB 815 by newcomer Rep. Trey Rhodes seeks to fix a gap in Georgia meat inspection laws. The change is targeted at commercial quail production, but would require any avian species grown commercially for slaughter and preparation as human food to be inspected .  It is carefully worded so that birds harvested at hunting plantations would not be included. HB 815 passed the House on Thursday and is now headed to the Senate. We congratulate Rep. Rhodes on passing his first bill – always a point of pride for newly elected officials.

TAX FILING COMPLIANCE FIX
Rep. David Knight’s HB 742 continued the rapid pace to the finish line this week as it easily passed the Senate Finance Committee on Monday and should clear the final hurdles next week. This much needed bill grants us the state law changes needed to take advantage of the Section 179 expense deductions passed by Congress in late December.   Providing for up to $500,000 for those in the agriculture heavy equipment industries and others will be a big advantage as tax season nears.  

VETERINARY SERVICE
HB 800 by Rep. Rick Jasperse cleared the House floor on Thursday with unanimous support. A broad coalition of ag and veterinary interests have voiced their support for the bill and with no outside objections anticipated, we expect the progress to continue in the Senate. As a reminder, this makes it possible for a livestock or poultry producer to call and get medical treatment prescribed for their animals without a vet visit, if the vet has seen an illness progressing through their area affecting the production animal population.  

LIVESTOCK MARKET & DEALER LICENSE
Over the past year, the Georgia Department of Agriculture has been working with GAC and a host of livestock interests to help pave a way to better prevent livestock theft and establish a clear definition of who should be licensed as a livestock dealer along with the necessary exemptions. Much of the language ties in nicely with federal parameters on livestock sales. As is common in several areas of agricultural commerce, this bill puts in place “surety” (bond) requirements to aid in the prevention of nonpayment or contract purchase failure by a licensed livestock market operator or a livestock dealer. It establishes a formula for the annual livestock market dealer license and has a $200 limit. The dealer license would be $25 per year. Another benefit to the bill is the requirement of the Dept. of Ag to publish an annual list of names and locations of licensed livestock dealers and livestock market operators. Freshman legislator Rep. Clay Pirkle of Ashburn, GA, is the author of HB 876 and successfully moved the bill through the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday. (Pictured below, Rep. Clay Pirkle)

  Special thanks to our Star Sponsors listed below. We welcome having GAC member companies be a part of this initiative. Please call our office at 706-336-6830 or  click here for details . Thank you!