February 12, 2021
Volume 12, Issue 5
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Legislature Introduces More Election Bills |
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Since last week’s ACCG Legislative Update, 15 additional election bills have been introduced at the General Assembly, totaling more than 50 bills thus far this session, and there are certain to be more. Among these bills are efforts to limit no-excuse absentee voting (HB 325); enhance absentee signature verification (HB 351); prohibit voting systems from using wireless technology (HB 326); require extensive hand-counting and other audits for all elections (HB 406); restrict use of mobile voting units (SB 93); require all early voting centers to be open on election day, in addition to all precincts (SB 99); require immediate posting, counting and tabulation of ballots on election day (SB 141); and allow counties to offer an additional weekend of early voting (SB 147).
ACCG’s Policy Council Election Subcommittee is reviewing all bills, their impact on county election operations, and will continue to update the association’s positions as appropriate. Meanwhile, please continue sharing any concerns you have with your state Senators and Representatives, particularly those on the House Special Committee on Election Integrity Committee (for House bills) and the Senate Ethics Committee (for Senate bills). Should any of these bills start progressing, there will likely be changes made, and many will likely be consolidated into omnibus election legislation.
Contact Deputy Legislative Director Todd Edwards ([email protected]) with questions regarding election legislation.
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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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Major Property Tax Bill Overhaul
House Bill 352 proposes major changes to the property tax system for counties, school systems, and cities. Property tax is the largest revenue source for Georgia’s counties, and the proposed changes would significantly change how particular properties are assessed and taxed, creating new winners and losers and injecting new uncertainty and administrative problems for this revenue source that is critical to counties’ and other local governments’ ability to provide services to their citizens. More information on HB 352 may be found here.
Please contact Deputy General Counsel Larry Ramsey ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns.
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Public Hearings via Teleconference Legislation Passes Committee
Addressing an ACCG Agenda item, House Bill 98 by Rep. Eddie Lumsden passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday, authorizing local governments to hold public hearings by teleconference in declared emergencies. Sen. Frank Ginn has introduced identical legislation, Senate Bill 95, in the upper chamber.
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Legislation Allowing Court Proceedings via Video Conferencing Introduced
Introduced this week, House Bill 371 allows certain court proceedings to be conducted via video conferencing in local jails. Counties must be able to host the videos over a secure connection allowing for the confidentiality of attorney/client meetings. HB 371 will help counties that participate in video conferencing realize time and cost savings related to the transport of county inmates.
Please contact Associate Legislative Director Debra Nesbit ([email protected]) with any questions.
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Cybersecurity Bills Progressing
Two House bills addressing county cybersecurity concerns made movement this week. House Bill 134, by Rep. Victor Anderson, passed the full House this week and House Bill 156, by Rep. Don Parsons, was approved by the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee. Both bills, supported by ACCG, authorize local governments to discuss matters related to cybersecurity services in executive session and exempt certain cybersecurity documents from open records.
Contact Deputy Director Todd Edwards ([email protected]) with questions regarding cybersecurity legislation.
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Log Truck Weight Bill Introduced
Senate Bill 118, sponsored by Sen. Tyler Harper and supported by the Georgia Forestry Association, proposes to allow logging trucks to increase their weight up to 100K lbs., if a sixth axle is added and a permit from the Georgia Department of Public Safety is secured. Current law allows forest products to be hauled on five axles up to 84,000 lbs.
ACCG has traditionally opposed legislation that increases weight limits on local roads and bridges as current weight limits are at maximum capacity. Increasing truck weights contributes to the rapid deterioration of local roads and bridges while increasing the number of bridges that will require "posting" due to weight restrictions, ultimately costing county taxpayers more money to maintain and repair such critical infrastructure. Weight limit increases also contribute to upticks in the number and severity of accidents which negatively affect the safe passage and efficient movement of freight and people throughout Georgia.
Please contact Associate Legislative Director Kathleen Bowen ([email protected]) with any questions or concerns regarding this legislation.
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Local Permitting Again in Legislative Cross Hairs
This week, House Bill 302 was introduced by Rep. Martin Momtahan. Currently, state law allows local governments to calculate and apply permit/regulatory fees through five different methods:
- a flat fee for each business or practitioner
- a flat fee for each type of permit or inspection requested
- an hourly rate based on the inspector’s wage and benefits
- an hourly rate based on their wage and benefits, plus their administrative, travel and other expenses
- the square footage of the new construction to be served by the system to be installed; or
- for renovations, the cost of the project in taking into account the building valuation data
This legislation eliminates option “5” and “6” above as methods by which local permitting/regulatory fees are imposed. Furthermore, the bill prohibits local permits fees on taxi and limousine operators and boxing promoters. Please contact members of the House Ways and Means Committee with any concerns your county may have.
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Elimination of 35% Petition Requirement for Package Liquor Sales Targeted
On Thursday, House Bill 273 by Rep. Mandi Ballinger passed out of a House subcommittee, allowing counties and cities the option to bypass the current requirement that at least 35 percent of registered voters must sign a petition in order to authorize the package sale of distilled spirits in a jurisdiction. This bill would just require a local government to pass an ordinance/resolution, then let the voters decide the issue via a local referendum.
Across the hall, Sen. Matt Brass has introduced Senate Bill 145, authorizing this same process. ACCG has a long-standing policy position in support of removing the 35-percent petition requirement and simply letting the voters decide. Please contact members of the House Regulated Industries Committee if your county supports getting rid of this requirement. The Senate bill has not yet been assigned to committee.
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Stay Connected and Engaged! |
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Watch the Virtual Legislative Update Via Zoom
ACCG would like to remind county officials that it has transitioned the Facebook Live Legislative Update to the Virtual Legislative Update now hosted via Zoom. Click here to watch the recap of today's live event.
The Virtual Legislative Update will take place every Friday at 9:00 a.m. Those interested in joining the conversation each week can do so by accessing 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.
FOX 5 Atlanta- February 10, 2021
Atlanta Journal-Constitution- February 10, 2021
WRBL - February 10, 2021
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Questions? Email the
ACCG Legislative team:
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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.
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