December 2021
ACCG NEWS
Review the Legislative Toolkit to Get Prepared for the 2022 Legislative Session
 
The 2022 ACCG Legislative Toolkit is now available. Approved by the ACCG membership, the Legislative Toolkit is a comprehensive document which comprises the association's top Legislative Priorities, Policy Objectives, and Guiding Principles. The Top Four Legislative Priorities include Expansion of Sales Tax to Include Digital Goods; Increase Tag/Title Revenue to Fund Administrative Costs; Funding for Mental Health Reform; and Single County TSPLOST: Allow for Collection of Tax for Maximum Time Period. 

County officials, state leaders, and other key members of the state's policymaking process are highly encouraged to leverage the Toolkit as a resource while engaging in discussions and making decisions during the upcoming legislative session, especially as it pertains to issues related to county governments.

Access the 2022 Legislative Toolkit by clicking here.  


Save the Date: 2022 ACCG Legislative Breakfast

Mark your calendars for the 2022 ACCG Legislative Breakfast. On Wednesday, March 9, join the ACCG policy team at the Twin Towers State Building in Atlanta to connect with and hear from state leaders during a pivotal time in our state’s policymaking process, the legislative session. More details are forthcoming.


Remember to Update Your County’s ACCG County Legislative Coordinator (CLC)

Annually, ACCG asks counties to update their county’s designated CLC to ensure the most accurate data is reflected in our records. The CLC’s primary responsibilities are to relay pertinent information about current legislation to county commissioners and county management, 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 and designate a CLC prior to the legislative session. Click here to see your county’s current CLC. To change or appoint your county’s CLC for 2022, please contact Tottianna Davis at tdavis@accg.org or (404) 522-5022.
State News
Webinar Recording on New Timber Harvest Notification Website Now Available

ACCG and the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) recently hosted a webinar on GFC's newly created Timber Harvest Notification website. A recording of the webinar can be accessed here. The Model Timber Harvest Ordinance and the webinar PowerPoint are also available. Click here to view a map of counties that participated in the pilot phase.


Reminder: Immigration Reports Due December 31

The Immigration Report Collection System managed by the Department of Audits and Accounts (DOAA) opened on November 1st for the reporting period of Dec. 1, 2021, through Nov. 30, 2021. The due date to complete the report is Dec. 31, 2021. Please start preparing early to ensure that you have all the information needed to file the report by the deadline. More information can be found here.


Congressional, State, and Local Redistricting Maps Update

The General Assembly passed new maps for congressional, state house, and state senate districts during the November special session. All adopted maps can be found under the Proposed Plans/2021 Adopted Maps section of the Legislative and Congressional Reapportionment Office website located at https://www.legis.ga.gov/joint-office/reapportionment.

Maps required to be redrawn for county commission districts must be passed by a local Act of the General Assembly. While there is no deadline prescribed in law, it is recommended that counties complete their maps as soon as possible to give county elections staff adequate time to prepare for qualifying in March and the primary in May. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC), Governor Kemp has communicated to legislators that he wants all local redistricting maps ready for signature prior to qualifying. All maps that are not drawn by the Reapportionment Office (i.e., maps drawn by the county or by a consulting group) must be certified through a technical review by the Reapportionment Office BEFORE they can be adopted locally or can be introduced by the General Assembly. This is a brand-new requirement that was passed in 2019. This step is not needed for maps drawn for your county by the Reapportionment Office. All local legislation requires that a local ad run prior to its introduction by the General Assembly, which can be posted up to 60 days prior to session, or once session starts, must run one calendar week prior to its introduction. As such, it is important that your county consider all these requirements in determining the timeframe needed to pass this legislation in a timely manner. Information on local redistricting requirements are available in the ACCG Local Redistricting Toolkit. 
Federal News
Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) in Georgia

Does your county have a transportation project need that is adjacent to, or provides access to, federal lands? If so, check out the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP). The Call for Projects application period is open and runs through February 1, 2022. An estimated total of $11.3M will be available for programming in Georgia. With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the match requirement has been removed. Program details and tips for preparing a good FLAP application can be found here.
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ACCG is YOUR county association. We are here to advance all 159 Georgia county governments. Please feel free to contact a member of the policy team if they can assist in any way.