March 14, 2025

Volume 16, Issue 9

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This week the House passed the FY 2026 Budget (HB 68), totaling $37.7 billion. The budget includes increases for Georgia’s prison system along with school safety and mental health services in schools. It also calls for a 5% increase to the current EMS Medicaid reimbursement rate for all billing codes and Medicaid reimbursement for licensed ambulance services including transportation payment for the first 10 miles of transport, a component of ACCG’s EMS Policy Objective. Additionally, Local Maintenance and Improvement Grants (LMIG) received an increase of approximately $27.5 million, mirroring Gov. Kemp’s budget recommendation, to reflect 10% of projected motor fuel tax revenue. Forestland Protection (FLPA) Grants remain unchanged, with roughly $39 million allocated. The budget is now being considered by the Senate. The House version of the FY 2026 budget and summary information can be accessed here.

State revenues collected in February saw an increase of 4.6% which included increases in local sales tax and Title Ad Valorem Tax (TAVT). More information on February’s tax revenues can be viewed here.

Additionally, several ACCG Policy Agenda items progressed this week, including bills to implement Next Generation 9-1-1, enhance the state annexation arbitration process, increase the public works bidding threshold, and authorize digital court reporting. Of concern, SB 138, sets a dangerous precedent for new city creation and service delivery strategy negotiations, passed the House and now awaits action by the Governor.  

ACCG urges counties to stay in close contact with their legislative delegation over the next few weeks on bills ACCG supports and opposes. County commissioners are the most effective advocate for Georgia’s counties under the Gold Dome, and their engagement is essential to ACCG’s success.  

Legislation Requiring County Action

Coroner Pay Raise

HB 646, by Rep. Patty Marie Stinson, mandates statewide minimum salaries for coroners based on a county’s population. ACCG opposes this, recognizing that counties are already able to increase their coroner and deputy coroners pay through local supplement or local act. To see ACCG’s Action Alert on this bill, click here. If you have concerns with this bill, please contact your Senator(s).  

Staff Contact: Todd Edwards, Director of Governmental tedwards@accg.org

QBS Mandate for Procuring Professional Services

SB 51, by Sen. Ed Setzler, passed the House Governmental Affairs Committee. This bill requires local governments to utilize Qualified Based Selection (QBS) to acquire professional services of architects, interior designers, land surveyors, landscape architects, and professional engineers. ACCG opposes this bill. Please contact your House members immediately if you have concerns with this bill.

Staff Contact: Kaylon Day, Governmental Affairs Associate; kday@accg.org

ACCG Policy Agenda Items

Raising Public Works Bidding Threshold 

HB 137, by Rep. Victor Anderson, passed the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee. This bill raises the public works bidding threshold from $100,000 to $250,000. In the case of road projects, this threshold is being raised from $200,000 to $250,000. ACCG supports this bill.  

Staff Contact: Kaylon Day, Governmental Affairs Associate; kday@accg.org

Annexation Arbitration Process Revisions

HB 155, by Rep. Victor Anderson, passed the Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee. This bill is jointly supported by ACCG and the Georgia Municipal Association and helps the Department of Community Affairs appoint and maintain panels for annexation arbitration disputes. ACCG supports this bill. 

Staff Contact: Todd Edwards, Director of Governmental Affairs; tedwards@accg.org

ACCG Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards, alongside bill sponsor Rep. Victor Anderson, expressing ACCG’s support for HB 155 in the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

Truck Weights Sunset Removal

HB 164, by Rep. Steven Meeks, removes the sunset on the increased truck weight limits passed under HB 189 (2023).  ACCG is neutral on this bill as introduced, contingent upon no substantive changes to weights, commodities, or the non-attainment area.

Staff Contact: Dante Handel, Associate Director of Governmental Affairs; dhandel@accg.org

Digital Court Reporting

HB 179, by Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. This bill authorizes the use of digital recording of certain court proceedings as an alternative to traditional court reporting. ACCG supports this bill.

Staff Contact: Doug Reineke, Governmental Affairs Contractor; dreineke@accg.org

Next Generation 9-1-1 

HB 423, by Rep. Will Wade, passed the Senate Public Safety Committee this week. This bill amends Georgia’s emergency communications laws to modernize the state’s 9-1-1 system by implementing Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) services. It also revises definitions and updates the responsibilities of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority (GECA) to oversee and enforce standards for a statewide NG9-1-1 network. ACCG supports this bill.



Staff Contact: Doug Reineke, Governmental Affairs Contractor; dreineke@accg.org

Other Important Measures

Increase CUVA Acreage

HB 90 and HR 32, by Rep. Chuck Efstration, doubles the conservation use acreage (CUVA) limit from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. ACCG is neutral on this bill. 

Staff Contact: Dante Handel, Associate Director of Governmental Affairs; dhandel@accg.org

Personal Information Protection for Judges

HB 199, by Rep. Trey Kelley, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee this week and enhances protections for the personally identifiable information of judges and their spouses. It creates a statewide form allowing protected persons to request the removal or redaction of their personal information from public records. ACCG supports this bill.

Staff Contact: Doug Reineke, Governmental Affairs Contractor; dreineke@accg.org

Intangible Recording Tax

HB 586, by Rep. Bruce Williamson, limits the intangible recording tax, which local governments currently collect on most recorded loans that last more than three years.  This legislation would change the duration threshold for loans that must pay the tax from those in excess of 36 months to only those in excess of 62 months. ACCG is neutral on this bill.  

Staff Contact: Dante Handel, Associate Director of Governmental Affairs; dhandel@accg.org

House Study Committee on Next Generation 9-1-1

HR 429, by Rep. Chuck Martin, passed the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee this week. This resolution establishes the House Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1 to evaluate and improve Georgia's 9-1-1 system.

Staff Contact: Doug Reineke, Governmental Affairs Contractor; dreineke@accg.org

Bill Setting Dangerous Precedent for New City Creation and SDS Negotiations

SB 138, by Sen. Clint Dixon, passed out of the House and will be sent to the Governor. While currently only applying to Gwinnett County and the new city of Mulberry, it sets a very dangerous service delivery and sovereign immunity precedent for existing and new cities to pursue statewide. ACCG opposes this bill. 

Staff Contact: Todd Edwards, Director of Governmental tedwards@accg.org

ACCG Associate Director of Governmental Affairs Dante Handel speaking in support of HB 423 in the Senate Public Safety Committee.  

ACCG General Counsel Larry Ramsey expressing ACCG’s concerns with SB 21 in House Public Safety Committee.  

Legislative Update Live! Replay

Watch the replay of the Legislative Update Live! 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. There is no need to register more than once.

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!

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 Lawmakers consider bill to reduce wait times for mental health exams

95.5 WSB - March 13, 2025

Tort reform legislation clear Senate

The Brunswick News - March 12, 2025

Georgia bill removes protections of 'sanctuary cities' from potential lawsuits

11 Alive - March 12, 2025