March 7, 2025

Volume 16, Issue 8

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March 6 marked Crossover Day of the 2025 legislative session, a critical point when bills must pass out of their chamber of origin to remain active. Both the Senate and House worked late into the evening to consider bills to meet this deadline. Throughout the day, the ACCG Governmental Affairs team remained engaged, advocating for Georgia’s counties. 

This week’s Legislative Update lists significant bills impacting county governments that made the crossover deadline - many of which are ACCG 2025 Policy Agenda items - and those which did not, including many bills that ACCG opposed.  

ACCG urges county commissioners to closely monitor bills still requiring ACCG action and to contact your legislators to express your support, opposition, or any concerns. As we approach Sine Die (April 4), the last day of session, expect an increase in legislative activity.

Governor Kemp Sign’s AFY2025 Budget 

Gov. Kemp signed the Amended Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 into law on Thursday. To view the Governor’s press release, click here. 

Included in this budget is an additional $265 million for the Local Road Assistance Program (LRA) with no required local match. It also includes $867 million for response costs and relief from Hurricane Helene and $266 million for water and sewer infrastructure. ACCG thanks the Governor and General Assembly for the additional local funds to address critical infrastructure needs.

Significant Legislation that Crossed Over

ACCG Policy Agenda Items

• HB 92 - HB 581 (2024) Cleanup: 5-Acre Limit, Changes to Estimated Rollback Rate, Annual Advertisement to Opt Out (Rep. Shaw Blackmon) – ACCG Negotiating
• HB 137- Raising Public Works Bidding Threshold  (Rep. Victor Anderson) – ACCG Supports.
• HB 155 - Annexation Arbitration Process Revisions  (Rep. Victor Anderson) – ACCG Supports
• HB 164 - Repeals Sunset on Increased Truck Weight Limits (Rep. Steven Meeks) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 179 - Digital Recording Court Reporting – ACCG Supports
• HB 244 - Audit Extension and Hold Harmless for Counties on Annual Audit if Noncompliance is Due to Constitutional Officers (Rep. Chas Cannon) – ACCG Supports.
• HB 423 - Next Generation 9-1-1 Implementation and Oversight – ACCG Supports
• HB 551 - Temporary Operating Permit Cleanup Bill (Rep. Jason Ridley) – ACCG Supports

Items that Require Additional Action

Please share concerns that you or ACCG may have with your Representative(s) or Senator(s) for the following bills:

• HB 646 - Coroner Pay Raise (Rep. Patty Stinson) – ACCG Opposes. Contact your Senator(s) to express any concerns you may have with the state mandating this minimum pay, as well as benefits, in certain scenarios. Counties can already increase coroner pay through local legislation or supplement.
• SB 21 - Waives Sovereign/Governmental Immunities for Immigration Violations (Sen. Blake Tillery) – ACCG Negotiating. Contact your Representative(s) if this waiver of county sovereign immunity is of concern.  
• SB 51 - QBS Mandate for Procuring Professional Services (Sen. Ed Setzler) – ACCG Opposes. Contact your Representative(s) to oppose this mandate.  QBS should remain an option, not a requirement, for counties.
• SB 129 - "Georgia Supporting those Who Sacrificed for Service Act" (Sen. John Albers) – ACCG has concerns regarding the local budget impact given the large number of veterans and first responders who would become eligible for large or unlimited homestead exemptions. Please contact your chief appraiser for more information, and your Representative(s) to express your concerns. 
• SB 138 - New City Creation Sets Dangerous SDS Precedent (Sen. Clint Dixon) – ACCG Opposes. Contact your Representative(s) if this waiver of sovereign immunity, setting alarming new precedent for counties on SDS negotiations, is of concern.  

Other Important Measures to Watch

• HB 52 - Expands Qualified Disabled Veteran Exemption to be Portable (Rep. Carmen Rice) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 58 - Drones - Authorize Local Government Restrictions (Rep. Gary Richardson) – ACCG Supports
• HB 66 - Special Modified Rental Motor Vehicles Pay Half TAVT Up Front and Half in a Year (Rep. Ron Stephens) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 85 - Superior Court Judicial Compensation Reform (Rep. Rob Leverett) – ACCG Supports
• HB 90 - Increases CUVA Acreage Limit to 4,000 Acres (Rep. Chas Cannon) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 129 - Allows CUVA Properties to be Leased to Nonqualifying Entities Without Breach (Rep. Chas Cannon) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 134 - Expands Manufactured Home Sales and Use Tax Exemption to Exempt Local Sales Tax (Rep. Beth Camp) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 153 - Extends Sunset Date on Sales Tax Exemption for Concrete Mixers Until June 30, 2031 (Rep. Beth Camp) – ACCG Opposes
• HB 169 - Repeals Solar Exception to CUVA (Rep. Chas Cannon) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 186 - Eliminates Title Ad Valorem Tax for Inherited Vehicles (Rep. Jordan Ridley) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 199 - Protection of personal information of judges and their spouses  (Rep. Trey Kelley)– ACCG Supports
• HB 205 - Drones: Local Governments Must Have State Approval for Usage (Rep. David Clark) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 223 - Timber Tax Exclusion for Disaster Relief Due to Hurricane Helene, Sales Tax Exemption for Replacing Greenhouses, Poultry Sheds, and Livestock Barns (Rep. James Burchett) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 225 - Repeal of School Zone Speed Cameras (Rep. Dale Washburn) – ACCG Negotiating
• HB 229 - Local Sales Tax Exemption for Construction Materials Purchased Through ESPLOST if Floating Homestead Exemption or Freeze (Rep. Yasmin Neal) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 297 - Exempts Commercial Side-By-Sides from Ad Valorem (Rep. Victor Anderson) – ACCG Opposes
• HB 309 - Revise Process to Abolish a County Police Department (Rep. Ron Clifton) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 351 – Landfills: Revise Local Government Permitting Process (Rep. John Corbett) – ACCG Neutral 
• HB 370 - Requires Local Government Name and Number to be Added to Tax Bill Upon HB 581 (2024) Opt Out (Rep. Houston Gaines) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 377 - Manufactured Home Lienholder Rights Preserved (Rep. Rob Leverett) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 397 - Election Call Time Revision  (Rep. Tim Fleming) – ACCG Negotiating 
• HB 398 - Cottage Food Items - Preempt Local Gov Regulating (Rep. Leesa Hagan) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 399 - In-State Staff Requirement for Landlords (Rep. Mary Margret Oliver) – ACCG Supports
• HB 413 - Mobile Sawmills on Agricultural Land Preemption (Rep. David Jenkins) – ACCG Neutral 
• HB 416 - Enterprise Zones (Rep. Chuck Efstration) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 429 - Exempts All Vehicles Currently under the AAVT System (Birthday Tax) (Rep. David Wilkerson) – ACCG Opposes
• HB 439 - Increases Deduction Allowed to Dealers (Rep. Bill Yearta) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 445 - Adds Appeal to Hearing Officer for Non-Wireless Personal Property and Expands Pool of Eligible Hearing Officers (Rep. Chuck Martin) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 449 - Private Water Providers: Regulate Rates (Rep. Trey Rhodes) – ACCG Neutral 
• HB 463 - Senior Local Government Volunteer Work Homestead Exemption (Rep. Shaw Blackmon) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 483 - Provisions for Crimes Against Local Code Enforcement Officers  (Rep. Brian Prince) – ACCG Supports
• HB 485 - Code Revision Bill (Rep. Bill Yearta) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 495 - Move Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation to Dept. of Agriculture (Rep. Robert Dickey) – ACCG Neutral 
• HB 513 – SDS Revisions (Rep. John LaHood) – ACCG Supports
• HB 521 - Deannexation Requests by County Governments (Rep. Victor Anderson) – ACCG Supports
• HB 532 - State Forestry Commission Grant Disbursement (Rep. Buddy Deloach) – ACCG Supports
• HB 586 - Intangible Recording Tax is Due on Notes Seven Years Out Instead of Three (Rep. Bruce Williamson) – ACCG opposes as written but is committed to working with the author on changes in the Senate. 
• HB 614 - Fireworks Noise Ordinance (Rep. Jan Jones) – ACCG Supports 
• HB 651 - Automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zone (Rep. Alan Powell) – ACCG Negotiating
• HR 32 - Constitutional Amendment to Increase CUVA Acreage Limit to 4,000 Acres (Rep. Chuck Efstration) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 12 - Open Records Exclusions for Private Entities (Sen. Frank Ginn) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 16 - Allow County Commissioners to Act as Bail Bondsmen (Sen. Matt Brass) – ACCG Neutral 
• SB 17 - "Ricky and Alyssa's Law" for New School Safety Measures (Sen. Jason Anavitarte)– ACCG Neutral
• SB 36 - Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (Sen. Ed Setzler) – ACCG Neutral 
• SB 45 - Increases CUVA Acreage Limit to 4,000 Acres (Sen. Sam Watson) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 47 - Sales Tax Holiday for Firearms and Firearm Accessories (Sen. Jason Anavitarte) – ACCG Opposes
• SB 52 - "Timberlands Recovery, Exemption, and Earnings Stability (TREES) Act" (Sen. Russ Goodman) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 59 - Allows CUVA Properties to be Leased to Nonqualifying Entities Without Breach (Sen. Sam Watson) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 68 - Governor’s Tort Reform Package (Sen. John F. Kennedy) – ACCG Supports
• SB 69 - Tort Reform – Regulate Third-Party Financing Practices (Sen. John F. Kennedy) – ACCG Supports  
• SB 74 - Penalties for Librarians for Failure to Remove Harmful Materials (Sen. Max Burns) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 119 - Manufactured Home Lienholder Rights Preserved (Sen. Russ Goodman) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 132 - Insanity and Mental Incapacity Evaluations (Sen. Brian Strickland) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 163 - Regulation of Firearms & Weapons: Enhancing Penalties Against Local Governments (Sen. Colton Moore) – ACCG Opposes
• SB 175 - Prohibits Rank Choice Voting (Sen. Randy Robertson) – ACCG Neutral 
• SB 298 -Sovereign Immunity: Right of Direct Appeal (Sen. Randy Robertson) – ACCG Supports   
• SR 56 - CA - Increases CUVA Acreage Limit to 4,000 Acres (Sen. Sam Watson) – ACCG Neutral

Significant Legislation that Did Not Crossover

• HB 75 - Court Order Requirement for Euthanizing Unrelinquished Impounded Animals (Rep. Jordan Ridley) – ACCG Negotiating 
• HB 76 - Requires Public Hearings for Local Transportation Projects of Significant Impact (Rep. Stacey Evans) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 142 - Allows BOC to Extend Preferential Assessment Period for up to12 Years for Income-Producing Rehabilitated/Landmark Historic Property (Rep. Mark Newton) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 168 - SPLOST Renewals Require a Local Act (Rep. Mitchell Horner) – ACCG Opposes
• HB 180 - Requirements for Probate Judges (Rep. Tyler Smith) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 246 - Qualification Requirements for Office of Sheriffs (Rep. Houston Gaines)– ACCG Neutral
• HB 260 - Increases Statewide Homestead Exemption to $5,000 (Rep. Matt Reeves) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 295 - Requires Local Governments to Compensate Property Owners (Rep. Houston Gaines) – ACCG Negotiating 
• HB 305 - Restrictions on Corporate Interest in Single Family Homes (Rep. Phil Olaleye) – ACCG Neutral 
• HB 317 - Authorize Workforce and Residential Infrastructure Districts (Rep. Ron Stephens) – ACCG Supports
• HB 318 - Revise Zoning Appeals Process (Rep. Matt Reeves) – ACCG Supports 
• HB 319 - Public Employees Subject to Prosecution for Immigration Violations  (Rep. David Clark) – ACCG Negotiating 
• HB 387 - SDS Growth Boundary Agreements (Rep. Brad Thomas) – ACCG Negotiating
• HB 400 - The Community Housing Options Increase Cost Efficiency (CHOICE) Act (Rep. Spencer Frye) – ACCG Opposes
• HB 456 - Restores Estimated Taxes and Allows for Appeals After Tax Bill (Rep. David Wilkerson) – ACCG Opposes
• HB 467 - Provisions & Penalties for Monument Removal/Damage (Rep. Alan Powell) – ACCG Negotiating 
• HB 474 - Hotel/Motel Tax Applies to Continuous Occupancy After 30 Days (Rep. Ron Stephens) – ACCG Supports
• HB 492 - Hotel/Motel Tax Applies to Continuous Occupancy After 30 Days (Rep. Clint Crowe) – ACCG Supports
• HB 526 - Allows BOC to Extend Preferential Assessment Period for up to12 Years for Income-Producing Rehabilitated/Landmark Historic Property (Rep. Mark Newton) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 528 - Data Centers Must Provide Disclosure Reports (Rep. Debbie Buckner) – ACCG Neutral  
• HB 537 - HB 581 (2024) Sales Tax Cleanup (Rep. Shaw Blackmon) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 547 - Allows Multiple CUVA Covenants to be Combined into a Single Covenant (Rep. Chas Cannon) – ACCG Neutral
• HB 555 - Corporate Investment Limits on Residential Properties (Rep. Derrick McCollum) – ACCG Support
• HB 560 - Allows Absent Counties for LOST, Adds DeKalb County Sales Tax Language, Exempts ESPLOST Expenditures from Local Sales Tax (Rep. Chuck Martin) – ACCG Negotiating
• HB 578 - Increase in monthly 9-1-1 charge assessed by local governments (Rep. Mike Cheokas)– ACCG Neutral
• HB 665 - Transfer Environmental Responsibilities from County Boards of Health to Department of Public Health (Rep. Derrick McCollum) – ACCG Neutral 
• HB 728 - State Election Board Rule Effective Date(Rep. Scott Hilton) – ACCG Support
• HR 250 - CA to Freeze Fair Market Value at the Most Recent Purchase Price (Rep. Dale Washburn) – ACCG Opposes
• SB 15 - Nonpartisan Elections of County Governing Authorities  (Sen. Ed Setzler) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 24 - Allows BOC to Extend Preferential Assessment Period for up to12 Years for Income-Producing Rehabilitated/Landmark Historic Property (Sen. Max Burns) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 37 - AI Usage Plan(Sen. John Albers) – ACCG Negotiating 
• SB 64 - Drones – Prohibit Counties from Using Chinese-Made (Sen. Clint Dixon) – ACCG Negotiating
• SB 75 - School Zone Speed Detection Devices (Sen. Clint Dixon) – ACCG Negotiating
• SB 106/HB 299 - Authorizes Local Governments to Regulate Rental Prices (Sen. Donzella James/Rep. Rhonda Burnough) – ACCG Neutral 
• SB 116 - Collection of DNA from individual in a detention facility (Sen. Timothy Bearden) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 189 - Legal Notices – DCA to Establish Online Posting Site (Sen. Rick Williams) – ACCG Supports 
• SB 243 - Back the Blue Fund (Sen. Larry Walker) – ACCG Neutral
• SB 270 - Supervised Assistance Voting Events, Public Notice Provisions & State Election Board Rulemaking Effective Date Revision (Sen. Sam Watson) – ACCG Negotiating 
• SB 285 - Increase 9-1-1 Fee for Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund (Sen. Randy Robertson) – ACCG Opposes
• SR 131 - Legalize Gambling/Sports Betting: Counties Receive Funding (Sen. Carden Summers) – ACCG Neutral 
• SR 282 – Joint Study Committee on 911 Fee Increase (Sen. Timothy Bearden) – ACCG Neutral

ACCG's Dante Handel, discusses tax issues with Rep. Joseph Gullett (left) and Paulding County Commissioners Keith Dunn and Sandy Kaecher.

Team members Todd and Kaylon discuss policy with White County Chairman Travis Turner (right).

Review the ACCG Legislative Toolkit

County officials are encouraged to review the 2025 Legislative Toolkit and share it with their legislative delegation before the 2025 legislative session ramps up.  The Toolkit includes policy briefs on ACCG's top three Legislative Priorities as well as the association's Guiding Principles and Policy Objectives.  The top three Legislative Priorities for 2025 include HB 581 Cleanup, Implementation of Next Generation 911 System, and Truck Weight Increase/LMIG.

Questions regarding any issues outlined in the Toolkit should be directed to a member of the Governmental Affairs Team.

Update Your County Legislative Coordinator (CLC)

It is time for counties to update their 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 Avis White at awhite@accg.org or 404-522-5022.

Click here to review your county's current CLC.

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.

Gov. Kemp Signs AFY25 Budget - Delivering Hurricane Relief, Tax Refunds, and Major One-Time Investments

Office of Governor Brian Kemp - March 6, 2025

Georgia House passes two tax relief measures

Capitol Beat - March 6, 2025

Ga. lawmakers push to ban speed cameras near schools

WRDW - March 4, 2025

Lawmakers are considering multi-million-dollar upgrade to Georgia’s aging 911 infrastructure

GPB - March 3, 2025

Wheeler County Opts Out of HB581

The Advance - March 3, 2025

Georgia Lawmakers Must Now Fix Differences on Bill to Boost Hurricane Helene Relief

Insurance Journal - March 3, 2025

Local officials disagree with possible school zone camera ban

Now Habersham - February 28, 2025