January 26, 2024
Volume 15, Issue 3
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Election Bills and Property Tax Reform Dominate Third Week of Legislative Session |
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As the legislative session progresses, important bills relating to elections and property taxes are emerging. The election bills aim to enhance ballot security and voting methods, while the property tax reform bills propose changes to valuation processes and exemptions. There are many other significant legislative matters outlined in this week's Legislative Update to which counties should pay attention and where input and action are requested.
As the legislative session advances, the engagement of county officials will remain a critical component of ACCG's efforts. Please monitor information from ACCG, maintain communication with your legislators about pending bills, and continue to share county concerns with them.
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Click on "This Week's Bills" to review the bills included in this week's Legislative Update. |
Access the Legislative Tracking Database for a compilation of all bills ACCG is following. |
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Elections Bills
With 2024 being an election year, several measures impacting county costs and administrative feasibility for running elections have been introduced and are progressing. Among the measures:
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House Bill 976 – requires ballots to have visible watermarks – progressing
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Senate Bill 189 – makes the text portion of ballots constitute the official vote – progressing
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Senate Bill 355 – prohibits rank-choice voting in most circumstances – progressing
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Senate Bill 367 – prohibits counties from utilizing ballot drop boxes – introduced
ACCG urges counties to talk to their election offices and share any costs or other concerns directly with their legislative delegation. Also, please ask that the state assume any additional expenses.
Staff Contact: Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards; tedwards@accg.org
ACCG Requests AFY 2024 Budget Appropriations for EMS and State Prisoner Per Diems
On Monday, January 22, the House Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee allowed for public comment on appropriations requests. During this time, ACCG requested that the General Assembly appropriate funds to increase the per diem given to counties for housing state prisoners at county jails and county correctional institutions (CIs). ACCG is asking for an $8 increase for county correctional institutions and a $10 increase for county jails. Last year, the General Assembly appropriated funds for a $2 per diem increase for county correctional institutions. However, it was included in the Governor’s Budget Disregard Statement and therefore was not implemented.
On Wednesday, January 24, ACCG testified before the House Appropriations Health Subcommittee and requested that the General Assembly reappropriate the $1.1 million that was part of the Governor’s Disregard Statement toward increasing the current EMS Medicaid rate by 5%. As a reminder, for the FY 2025 budget, ACCG is requesting $6.6 million to increase the EMS Medicaid reimbursement rate to the Rural and Urban Medicare rate. This item is a 2024 ACCG Legislative Priority.
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Bill to Increase the Public Works Bid Threshold Reemerges
House Bill 1044, by Rep. Victor Anderson and a 2024 ACCG Policy Agenda item, increases the dollar amount - from $100,000 to $250,000 - above which counties and cities must bid out public works projects. This will save counties, taxpayers, and vendors time and effort by not having to bid out small projects. Similar legislation was passed last year but was vetoed due to the Governor’s concerns. ACCG continues working to address any concerns during this session.
Staff Contact: Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards; tedwards@accg.org
Bill Introduced to Expand Local Sales Tax Flexibility
House Bill 1000, introduced by Rep. Victor Anderson, would exempt Education Local Option Sales Tax (ELOST) from the 2% cap on local sales and use taxes. This would provide additional flexibility to counties with an ELOST by freeing up an additional sales tax penny for other sales tax types.
Annual Homelessness Spending Report
Senate Bill 62, passed during the 2022 Georgia legislative session, required the Department of Audits and Accounts to produce an annual report on homelessness spending. This report details available federal, state, and local funds to assist homeless populations; how government funds were spent on homelessness; and the efficacy of the funds spent. To read the full report, click here.
House Moves Bill for PTSD Insurance for First Responders
House Bill 451, which provides PTSD insurance to first responders, was heard in the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, January 24. This bill would mandate that cities, counties, and the state provide this insurance program. Based on a fiscal note from the General Assembly, this program has an estimated annual cost of $155 per first responder, which would collectively cost counties $5.7 million. ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate Gabriel Carter testified during the committee meeting and shared that while counties are supportive of providing PTSD insurance to first responders, ACCG believes that if the state is going to mandate this program, the state should fund it or require this insurance program to be subject to local appropriations. The bill passed out of the Public Safety Committee and is now headed to the House Rules Committee.
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Governmental Affairs Associate Gabriel Carter testifying on HB 451 |
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Senate Committee Hears Property Tax Reform Legislation
The Senate Finance Committee met on Monday, January 22, to hear testimony on Senate Bill 349, which packages multiple property tax reform items together. Sponsored by Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, this legislation implements a statewide floating homestead exemption for all local governments with an inflationary allowance for the value to be increased by no more than 3% per year. It removes the confusing tax estimate from the assessment notice; revises the three-year lock statute so the lock only applies if the taxpayer wins their appeal; closes the settlement conference loophole by requiring the taxpayer to participate in good faith; and allows local governments to adopt the millage rate with one advertisement and public hearing if they do not increase the millage rate. ACCG testified in support of this bill.
Legislation to Increase State Homestead Exemption Introduced
House Bill 1019, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves, doubles the current state homestead exemption from $2,000 of assessed value to $4,000 of assessed value. This reduces the taxable value of a taxpayer’s property by an additional $5,000 of fair market value. This legislation requires a two-thirds vote in the legislature and passage in a statewide referendum.
Second Property Tax Reform Package Filed in the Senate
Senate Bill 364, by Sen. John Albers, is the second property tax reform package bill to be filed in the Senate this session. This legislation implements a statewide floating homestead exemption for all local governments with a yearly increase in value of 3% or inflation, whichever is lower. This is the same process previously implemented in Fulton County. Similar to Fulton County it resets the base year value to the lowest value of the 2020, 2021, or 2022 taxable years. This legislation extends the three-year lock to five years if the taxpayer submits a certified appraisal chosen by the Board of Equalization, with a value more than 5% below the assessor's value. It also adds language to the assessment notice that shows the taxes assessed on the property by each local government for the past three taxable years.
Senate Introduces the Single-County TSPLOST Bill
Senate Bill 383, introduced by Sen. Shelly Echols, makes changes to the current single-county TSPLOST law by adding language from the Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) law so that once a city or cities making up more than 50% of the municipal population sign an intergovernmental agreement (IGA), the tax may be levied up to the full 1%. The remaining cities that do not sign will be considered absent municipalities and will receive a share of the city portion of the tax based upon a calculation similar to the Local Maintenance Improvement Grant (LMIG) formula, comparing that city to all cities within the county. In addition, the bill has an incentive that if all cities agree to sign the IGA, the tax may be levied for up to six years instead of five.
Staff Contact: Associate Director of Governmental Affairs Martha Revelo; mrevelo@accg.org
Cityhood Bill Passes House Committee
On Wednesday, January 24, House Bill 813 by Rep. Victor Anderson, passed out of the House Governmental Affairs Committee. This legislation makes several revisions to the process of creating new cities in Georgia, particularly by placing many provisions that are currently only in committee rules into state statute. ACCG supports this bill.
Staff Contact: Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards; tedwards@accg.org
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Utility Worker Protection Act |
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Introduced by Rep. Rob Leverett, House Bill 1033 provides protections to utility workers from individuals who threaten or assault them while performing their official duties. ACCG joined the coalition of organizations in support of the bill.
Staff Contact: Associate Director of Governmental Affairs Martha Revelo; mrevelo@accg.org
House Seeks Bill to Create a “Special Rural District”
House Bill 999, by Rep. Lynn Smith creates a "Special Rural District” under the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to seek state and federal funds for rural communities across the state. This bill recognizes the financial challenges faced by numerous rural counties in meeting the service needs of their residents.
Staff Contact: Associate Director of Governmental Affairs Martha Revelo; mrevelo@accg.org
Arbitrarily Caps County Permit Costs for Ag Producers
Rep. James Burchett introduced House Bill 981, which prohibits local governments from charging more than $500 to issue any type of permit to a “qualified agricultural producer”, no matter the operation’s size or the complexities of the permitting involved. Counties are already prohibited from charging more for permits than it costs to administer their permitting program. More details on the agriculture “producers” covered can be found in the bill. ACCG opposes this legislation.
Staff Contact: Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards; tedwards@accg.org
Bill to Authorize More Teleconference Opportunities for Local Officials
Senate Bill 361, introduced by Sen. Greg Dolezal, authorizes county commissioners and other local officials to participate in their public meetings via teleconference up to six times per year without having a health excuse or a declared state of emergency. Currently, commissioners are only allowed to do so twice per year.
Staff Contact: Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards; tedwards@accg.org
Libraries: Prohibit Public Funds from Going to American Library Association
Senate Bill 390, by Sen. Larry Walker, prohibits the Board of Regents, cities, counties, and regional public library trustees from using any public or privately donated funds on materials, services, or operations offered by the American Library Association.
Staff Contact: Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards; tedwards@accg.org
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ACCG Governmental Affairs Team in Action |
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Rep. Leesa Hagan, ACCG Associate Director of Governmental Affairs Martha Revelo, Rep. John Corbett, and ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate Gabriel Carter
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ACCG Governmental Affairs Associate Dante Handel speaking with GMA Governmental Relations Director Jim Thorton and
GMA Governmental Relations Associate Leona Rittenhouse
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Save the Date: 2024 Legislative Breakfast |
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Save the date for the 2024 Legislative Breakfast to get the latest updates and learn more about trending state issues. Legislation passed during the 40-day session can have a direct impact on county government operations. For this reason, it is important for county officials to stay involved and engaged. The ACCG Governmental Affairs team does an outstanding job working on behalf of Georgia's county governments, but it is extremely important for state leadership and legislators to see and hear from county officials and staff on issues before the General Assembly. Attend this event to do your part to help advance sound policy for Georgia's counties.
More information, including an event agenda and registration details, are forthcoming and will be available soon.
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Stay Connected and Engaged! |
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Please Remember to Update Your County Legislative Coordinator (CLC)
It is time for counties to review and update, if necessary, their ACCG County Legislative Coordinator (CLC). The CLC’s primary responsibilities are to relay pertinent information about current legislation to county commissioners and county management and to maintain an open line of communication with ACCG to ensure county-specific information is readily available for legislators. ACCG encourages all counties to participate in this network and designate a CLC prior to the legislative session. To confirm, update, or appoint your county’s CLC, please contact Tottianna Davis at tdavis@accg.org or 404-522-5022.
Click here to review your county's CLC from the 2023 session.
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Virtual Legislative Update Replay
Watch the replay of the Virtual Legislative Update here. As a reminder, join the ACCG Governmental Affairs team every Friday at 9:00 a.m. during the legislative session. This is a recurring event, so county officials can access the meeting each week through this link.
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Policy Communication Tools
Don't forget about the various communications tools that will help keep you informed and engaged. Click here to read all about them!
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News You Can Use - Articles Related to ACCG Policy Issues
Articles covering some of ACCG's major policy issues are found here. Click the hyperlinked title to begin reading.
Georgia Recorder - January 24, 2024
Capitol Beat- January 24, 2024
AccessWDUN - January 24, 2024
Fox News - January 22, 2024
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Questions? Email the
ACCG Governmental Affairs team:
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ACCG is YOUR county association. We are here to advance all Georgia county governments. Please feel free to contact a member of the Governmental Affairs team if they can assist in any way. |
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