2024 Legislative Session Report Week 6
February 16, 2024 |
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Photo Credits: House Media Services |
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This week the General Assembly convened for legislative days 19-22, officially making it halfway through the 2024 legislative session. The General Assembly conducted business on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Wednesday being a committee workday. We are still focused on advancing key pieces of legislation through the committee process in both chambers to ensure they pass their respected chamber before Crossover on February 29th.
It was an exciting week at the Capitol with GFB members from across the state convening for the annual GFB Day at the Capitol. We also had the chance to see 4-H'ers from across Georgia fill the halls Wednesday for 4-H Day at the Capitol. This year, Georgia 4-H had a record attendance, and it was encouraging to see so many youth fill the halls connecting with legislators. Opportunities like this are important for young leaders to learn about the legislative process and engage with elected officials.
Next week, the General Assembly will be off on Monday to observe President's Day but will reconvene Tuesday through Thursday for legislative days 23-25. |
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On Tuesday, February 13th, over 600 Georgia Farm Bureau members congregated under the Gold Dome to advocate for our state's number 1 industry. GFB Day at the Capitol is always a highlight of session because we get the opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our organization to elected officials. GFB members filled the halls of the Capitol advocating for issues important to agriculture while building relationships with their legislators.
The day began with members gathering at the Freight Depot for coffee with Chairman Robert Dickey of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and Chairman Russ Goodman of the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee, both of whom are longtime members of GFB. They each gave remarks about what is going on in Atlanta and legislation going through their committees this session. Following the morning session, members made their way up the street to the Capitol to spend the remainder of the morning watching both chambers take up legislation.
The day concluded back at the Freight Depot for lunch with Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Commissioner Tyler Harper, Speaker Jon Burns and members of the General Assembly. All three of our speakers highlighted the work GFB does at the Capitol every day to advocate for agriculture. We appreciate everyone who took the time to travel to Atlanta and participate in this great event. The strength and effectiveness of our organization is dependent on our membership, and events like this demonstrate our members' commitment to ensuring the success of Georgia agriculture. |
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EPA Announces Dicamba Existing Stock Order
As we reported last week, a federal court in Arizona invalidated the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2020 approvals for dicamba-based products intended for over-the-top (OTT) application in soybeans or cotton on Feb. 6. This decision effectively prohibits the use of XtendiMax (Bayer), Engenia (BASF), and Tavium (Syngenta) for OTT applications during the upcoming 2024 growing season until the EPA reevaluates the matter. This marks the second time dicamba's EPA approval has been invalidated in court, following a previous ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The EPA had reauthorized dicamba by the end of October 2020.
While the ability of the EPA to reapprove dicamba for OTT use in the 2024 growing season is still being determined, industry groups like the National Cotton Council and Georgia Farm Bureau submitted letters to EPA on February 8 urging swift action to appeal the court's ruling and to grant a flexible existing stocks order.
We are pleased the EPA moved quickly issuing this order on February 14. In Georgia, the deadline for sale & distribution of existing stocks for soybeans and cotton are May 31 and June 30, respectively. The end date for producers to use the product for soybean and cotton are June 30 and July 30, 2024. Please click here to read the full Order, containing key details, limits, and provisions for use during the 2024 growing season. |
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HB 1172 Passes House Committee
On Thursday, February 15th, HB 1172 passed out of the House Judiciary Committee. This bill is a priority of GFB this legislative session and seeks to remove public trust doctrine from the statutes pertaining to navigable waters in Georgia. This bill is vitally important to the agriculture and the business community as it tries to claw back private property rights that were lost by last year's SB 115. The inclusion of public trust doctrine in code places industry at threat of baseless lawsuits from those who oppose the work we do.
In committee, HB 1172 passed out with an extremely close vote. After an initial tie, the decision came down to the chairman of the committee who voted in favor of passage. It will take the full support of our organization, along with our allied groups, to ensure this bill passes on the floor. We encourage you to reach out to your legislators to express the importance of this legislation. |
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Committees Debate Foreign Ownership of Farmland
Two bills that GFB is closely monitoring, SB 420 and HB 1093, were brought up in committees on Wednesday, February 14th. These bills contain almost identical language that would prevent the acquisition of farmland by foreign adversaries, as determined by the federal government. It is important that we protect our land resources from the control of adversaries who are at odds with our nation's values. We want to ensure that our farmland is being used to produce the food, fiber, and shelter needed by our state and country to sustain ourselves.
The biggest difference between these two bills is the radius from a military installation which a foreign adversary is allowed to own land within. SB 420 prohibits the purchase of land within 25 miles of a military installation, whereas HB 1093 prohibits purchases within 10 miles.
HB 1093 passed out of the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee on Wednesday with overwhelming support from the committee. SB 420 received a hearing only by the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee, and we expect to see it come up for a committee vote next week. |
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Sens. Anavitarte, Goodman, Beach, Cowsert, Gooch, and others
This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, government, or business from a country considered to be foreign adversary as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, governments, and businesses of any land that is within a 25 mile radius of a military installation. Any violator would be convicted of a felony with up to two years in prison or a $15,000 fine.
Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee 1/30/2024
Sens. Watson, Goodman, Anderson, Walker, Ginn, and others
This bill addresses farm use vehicles as it relates to right-of-way on the road. It changes the definition of "Implement of husbandry" requiring the main use to be primarily for agricultural operations, not exclusively.
Passed Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/8/2024
Sens. Robertson, Kirkpatrick, Watson, Strickland, and Sims
This bill relates to the regulation and enforcement of hemp products in Georgia by the Department of Agriculture. This bill requires for particular labeling, signage, and sets the legal age of consumable hemp products at 21 years old.
Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities 2/1/2024
Sens. Walker, Goodman, Ginn, Watson, Hickman, and others
This resolution recognizes February 14, 2024, as 4-H Day at the Capitol.
Read and Adopted 1/25/2024
Save the Date
February 27 - GA Citrus Association Annual Conference
February 29 - GCA Steak Biscuit Day at the Capitol
March 5 - PB&J Day at the Capitol
March 13-15 - GA Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention
March 15 - FFA 17th Annual Blue & Gold Gala
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GA Dept. of Ag Celebrates 150th Anniversary
This year marks the 150th Anniversary of the Georgia Department of Agriculture--the nation's oldest state department of agriculture! To commemorate the department's significant milestone serving our state's #1 industry, Commissioner Harper is hosting an event at the capitol at 2p.m. on February 28, 2024. We appreciate the longstanding relationship with GDA and its staff that serve our members through a number of services and applaud Commissioner Harper's leadership carrying us into the next 150 years.
Reps. Corbett, Meeks, Pirkle, Dickey, and Williams This bill would establish the State Board of Registration for Foresters as an independent agency attached to the State Forestry Commission for administrative purposes. Currently the Board is under the professional licensing boards division of the Secretary of State's office. Passed House 2/15/2024
Reps. Smith, Kelley, Williamson, Stephens, and Blackmon This legislation would establish the Solar Technology Trust Fund and impose a fee of $15 per kilowatt of capacity on retail sales of solar equipment in Georgia. The fees collected would be used by the trust fund for remediation, decommissioning, and disposal of solar equipment, such as solar panels. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee 2/13/2024
Reps. Anderson, Rhodes, Burchett, Smith, Williams, and others This bill defines a multipurpose off-highway vehicle and ensures no multipurpose off-highway vehicle shall be returned for or subject to ad valorem taxation. Passed House 2/15/2024
Reps. Todd, Williams, Cannon, Horner, and Barrett This bill requires all retail stores to accept cash for purchases. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee by Substitute 2/9/2024
Reps. Gambill, Dubnik, Erwin, Martin, Hong, and others This bill establishes the State Workforce Development Board. This board will be responsible for publishing the High-Demand Career List for be used as guidance for supporting workforce development. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Higher Education Committee 2/9/2024
Reps. McDonald, Blackmon, Jones, Hong, Wade, and others This is a priority bill of Governor Kemp and seeks to reduce the state income tax. The income tax would be reduced by 10 basis points from 5.49% to 5.39%. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 2/9/2024
Reps. Reeves, Burns, Blackmon, Jones, Knight, and others This bill is a priority of House Leadership. It increases the maximum for statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem tax from $2,000 to $4,000. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 2/9/2024
Reps. Daniel, Burns, Blackmon, Williamson, Silcox, and others This bill is a priority of House Leadership. It increases the personal exemption for each dependent claimed by a taxpayer from $3,000 to $4,000. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 2/9/2024
Reps. Franklin, Corbett, Hagan, Dickey, and Parrish This bill would establish the fourth Friday in November as National Sugarcane Day. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Economic Development & Tourism Committee 2/12/2024
Reps. Carpenter, Huddleston, Cameron, Hilton, and Vance This bill designates cornbread as the official Georgia state bread. Passed House and Assigned to Senate Economic Development & Tourism Committee 2/12/2024
Reps. Clark, Pirkle, Blackmon, Corbett, Bonner, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, government, or business from a country considered to be foreign adversary as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, governments, and businesses of any land that is within a 10 mile radius of critical infrastructure or a military facility. Any violator would be convicted of a felony with up to two years in prison or a $15,000 fine. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee by Substitute 2/15/2024
Reps. Wade, Gambill, Hong, McDonald, Jones, and others This bill is known as the Data Analysis for Tort Reform Act. It is a priority of Governor Kemp and will help his administration gather information to help prepare for future tort reform efforts. Passed House Insurance Committee by Substitute 2/15/2024
Reps. Burchett, Rhodes, Leverett, Smith, and Williams This bill comes from the Chairman of the House Study Committee on Fishing Access to Freshwater Resources. This bill is a priority of GFB this session. It fixes unintended consequences of SB 115 (2023) and removes the reference to public trust doctrine as it relates to navigable waters. Passed House Judiciary Committee 2/15/2024
Reps. Ridley, Rhodes, Ridley, Cannon, and Corbett This bill allows for bow fishing of channel and flathead catfish state wide. Recommitted to House Game, Fish, & Parks Committee 2/15/2024
Reps. Leverett, Petrea, Prince, Jackson, and Adesanya This bill amends the Georgia Soil Amendment Act of 1976 and prohibits the application of soil amendments to a site currently subject to a consent order issued by EPD or an existing enforcement action of EPD. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/12/2024
Reps. Cannon, Corbett, Dickey, Meeks, Campbell, and others This bill revises a definition within the Agricultural Commodity Commission code section. It does away with the provision requiring producers of citrus to operate at least 5 acres of fruit trees to be eligible for the Citrus ACC. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/13/2024
Reps. Huddleston, Frye, Dickey, Pirkle, Thomas, and others This bill amends the Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program. Recipients of the loan repayment program would qualify for 3 payments of $25,000 over the course of 3 years. The program would be limited to applicants who have been practicing food animal medicine for less than 10 years in a rural community. Assigned to House Higher Education Committee 2/15/2024
Sens. Hufstetler, Albers, Esteves, Echols, Anavitarte, and others. This bill is an omnibus tax bill. It deals with ad valorem taxation of property. It revises the limitations on setting mileage rates and provides a statewide homestead tax exemption from ad valorem taxes if the current year assessed value of a homestead is more than 3 percent from the adjusted base year value. Passed Senate 2/15/2024
Sens. Echols, Albers, Walker, Esteves, Hickman, and others This bill seeks to encourage greater collaboration between the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia. It would require both systems to set up course with transferable credits and list all courses for students. Passed Senate Higher Education Committee 2/15/2024
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Walker, Robertson, Payne, Anavitarte, and others This bill would grant a temporary license for out-of-state veterinarians to preform sterilization services. The goal is to help provide more resources to address overpopulation and the high demand for sterilization services. Passed Senate and Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/9/2024
Sens. Tillery, Setzler, Burns, Walker, Albers, and others This bill is a part of Senate leaderships efforts to address the legal climate in Georgia and provide relief to businesses and insurance companies. This bill is commonly known as direct action and prevents a plaintiff from suing only an insurance company in the case of an accident. Direct action directly benefits large commercial fleets and their insurers, but we are still excited to see the Senate begin to tackle this issue. Passed Senate and Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 2/15/2024
Sens. Watson, Goodman, Anderson, Walker, Ginn, and others This bill addresses farm use vehicles as it relates to right-of-way on the road. It changes the definition of "Implement of husbandry" requiring the main use to be primarily for agricultural operations, not exclusively. Passed Senate 2/16/2024
Sens. Summers, Kennedy, Goodman, Walker, Anderson, and others This bill would grant a state-wide exemption for aircraft used for aerial applications of fertilizers and pesticides. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 2/13/2024
Sens. Goodman, Watson, Summers, Hodges, Anderson, and others This bill would designate blueberries as the official state berry of Georgia. Assigned to Senate Economic Development & Tourism Committee 2/13/2024
Sens. Hickman, Goodman, Watson, Anderson, and Gooch This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia's Farmlands. Passed Senate 2/15/2024
Reps. Camp, Mathiak, Lim, Au, and Cameron This bill would establish the State Board of Veterinary Medicine as an independent agency attached to the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes. The State Board of Veterinary Medicine serves as the licensing board for veterinarians in the state of Georgia. Currently, this board is administratively attached to the Secretary of State and is under the professional licensing boards division. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Gullett, Parsons, Thomas, Anderson, Meeks, and others This bill deals with ensuring transparency between buyers and sellers of distributed energy generation systems, including solar energy procurement, and provides access to educational information surrounding contracts and agreements for such systems. It specifically looks to address deceptive business practices seen throughout the state by certain companies selling rooftop solar systems. Passed House on 2/22/2023 & Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities on 3/1/2023
Reps. Jackson, Hawkins, Cooper, Williams, Beverly, and others This bill would eliminate the current tax credit available for rural physicians and replace it with a new tax credit of up to $5,000 for each taxable year. The new tax credit would be available to a wider array of health care professionals including dentists, nurse practitioners, physical assistants and more. It also imposes certain restrictions such as a cap on the number of years it can be claimed (5 years) and restrictions on those who are already working in a rural area. Passed House on 3/6/2023 & Passed Senate Finance Committee 1/30/2024
Reps. Momtahan, Parsons, Dickey, Tarvin, Pirkle, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of certain types of land or properties, including farms and agricultural land, by Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean governments, citizens, or companies. It would both prohibit direct ownership but also ownership through majority stock or other specified intertest. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Schofield, Drenner, Kennard, Evans and Hutchinson This bill would require the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations to gradually reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from every electric utility in Georgia, regardless of fuel type. It would require that by 2050 all electricity provided by an electric utility in Georgia be generated from energy sources that produce zero greenhouse gasses. Assigned to House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Lewis-Ward, Beverly, Jackson, and Gilliard This bill would establish the Office of Equity in Agriculture to support current members of socially disadvantaged groups and to encourage the growth of socially disadvantaged groups into the field of agriculture. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Thomas, Schofield, and Marin This bill would establish the ability to set up and operate a Microenterprise home kitchen. This would be a noncommercial kitchen facility located in a private home or on a farm where ready-to-eat food is handled, stored, prepared, or offered for sale for consumption off the premises. The kitchen must meet the criteria to be a microenterprise as established by the Department of Economic Development. This bill would exclude food sales establishments, any food production which requires a license by the Dept. of Agriculture, and more. Heard House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/14/2023
Reps. Dickey, Houston, Gilliard, and Carpenter Over the past few years there has been discussion over how to address issues with our state's Farmers Markets, some of which are in need of substantial capital repairs and improvements. Several of the markets have also suffered from profitability issues, leading to the temporary closing of certain markets. This bill seeks to establish the Georgia Farmers Market Authority, allowing the state's markets to be run more like a business by retaining the income it generates and using it to operate and improve the markets. Recommitted to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 3/1/2023
Reps. Scott, Schofield, and Davis Under this proposal, the Department of Human Services could establish the Healthy Food Development Program, to establish, support, facilitate, and expand access to healthy foods in eligible underserved areas, in coordination with Departments of Economic Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources on an approved application basis. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on 2/9/2023
Reps. LaHood, Parrish, Williams, Jackson, Burchett and others. This bill seeks to amend the tax credit limit for rural hospital contributions and redefines a rural hospital organization. It would increase the tax credit limit for contributions by corporate donors and increase the aggregate limit for tax credits for contributions to rural hospital organizations. This bill includes a sunset date of December 31, 2023. Passed House Ways and Means Committee 2/1/2024
Reps. Yearta, Corbett, Cannon, Jasperse, and Franklin This bill would make it unlawful for anyone other than a secondary metal recycler to sell, purchase, possess, or transport a catalytic convertor. The individual would be charged on a separate offense for every individual catalytic convertor. This, along with other similar pieces of proposed legislation, are in response to increasing frequency of catalytic converter theft in recent years. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 2/13/2023
Reps. Williams, Meeks, Rhodes, Dickey, Blackmon, and others This bill seeks to grant a second round of funding to the Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs program. This bill would also increase the application fee and provide an annual maintenance fee. Passed House Ways and Means Committee 3/2/2023
Reps. Anderson, Williamson, Parsons, Frazier, Jones and others This bill says no governmental entity of this state shall adopt any policy that restricts or prohibits, or has the effect of restricting or prohibiting, the type or source of energy or fuel to be delivered to a home or the appliance to be used. Passed House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunication Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Houston, Meeks, Dickey, Pirkle This bill would establish the Farmer's Market Trust Fund allowing for the state farmers markets to retain fees and utilize them to repair and maintain those farmers markets and for marketing and promotion of Georgia agricultural goods. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/16/2023
Reps. Knight, Corbett, Rhodes, Cannon, and Pirkle This bill would do away with an exemption provided in the Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA) program that allows for the installation of solar panels on land within a CUVA covenant, so long as that portion of the land is removed from the covenant and the specified breach penalty is paid. That penalty in current law is less than what must be paid for a normal breach on a property that is subject to a covenant. Under this proposal, installing solar panels on land enrolled in CUVA would constitute a breach of the covenant, and the full penalty would have to be paid. Passed House Ways and Means Committee 3/3/2023
Reps. Pirkle, Jasperse, Meeks, Rhodes, Knight, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, government, or business from a country considered to be foreign adversary as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, governments, and businesses of any land that is within a 25 mile radius of a military facility. The bill does allow for possession in certain special circumstances such as through an inheritance or for the collection of debts, but the land must be dispersed after a specified period of time. Passed House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/28/2023
Reps. Pirkle, Corbett, Williams, and Rhodes This bill seeks to make changes to the current hemp law to ensure the safety of the products being sold and marketed here in Georgia by requiring certain labeling and testing requirements for all consumable hemp products. It defines hemp products, consumable hemp products, and industrial hemp products to distinguish between the different usages of hemp plants. It seeks make changes to the licensing and registration process and fee structure for growers, processors, and retailers. This bill also requires a person to be 21 years old to purchase consumable hemp products, be the target of certain marketing, or receive samples of consumable hemp products in stores. Passed House 3/6/2023 & Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee 3/7/2023
Reps. Leverett, Petrea, Prince, and Jackson This bill seeks to address issues with bad actors improperly applying soil amendments through increased notification requirements and delegation of enforcement authority to certain local governments. GFB is actively monitoring this bill and has been in discussions with the sponsor to work towards an appropriate and balanced solution to the issue. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/21/2023
Reps. Drenner, Carter, Evans, Davis, and Thomas This bill creates a definition for what is an overburdened community and seeks to establish a special permitting process and environmental justice considerations that must be followed for an individual or entity to build or expand certain types of facilities in an overburdened community. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Drenner, Carter, Evans, Davis, and Thomas This bill is titled Georgia Environmental Justice Act of 2023. It establishes the Environmental Justice Commission to oversee the permitting of certain projects in low-income and minority neighborhoods. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Barnes, Beverly, Clark, Au, Oliver, and others. This bill seeks to provide free school meals to all public-school students who qualify for the reduced-price meals under federal and state guidelines. It encourages the use of Georgia Grown products in school breakfast and lunch programs to promote Georgia agriculture and healthy eating. Assigned to House Education Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Washburn, Bazemore, Reeves, Lim, Ridley, and others. This bill is known as the "Housing Regulation Transparency Act." It seeks to limit the duration of time that a local government may enact a temporary housing moratorium on properties being developed for residential purposes to 180 days. It also requires that a local government must wait another 180 days before enacting any new temporary housing moratorium once the initial 180-day moratorium is expired. The bill allows for exemptions under certain circumstances including a declared state of emergency, when safety is of concern, a court order, or while a studied is being conducted investigating future development. This bill also grants local governments the power to collect fees associated with their zoning powers and issuance of permits. This is to create an equitable program for governments to finance the development and creation of local planning, land use, and zoning ordinances for orderly growth. Assigned to Conference Committee 3/29/2023
Reps. Gilliard, Stephens, Willis, and Thomas This bill, titled the "Georgia Hemp Industry Growth and Business Partnership Tax Credit Act," provides for a tax credit for costs of doing business with Georgia Grown hemp owners and suppliers. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 2/23/2023
Reps. Lewis-Ward, Beverly, Bentley, Jackson, and Schofield This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to spend no less than 5% of the entire marketing and promotion budget on minority or women owned agricultural enterprises. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cheokas, Collins, Hitchens, Yearta, and Washburn This bill would allow a county to establish a trespass enforcement program to provide any participating owner or rightful occupant of property with a method for designating any peace officer with the local law enforcement agency as his or her authorized representative for purposes of enforcing criminal trespass. Assigned to House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cameron, Camp, Campbell, Hagan, and Huddleston This bill is tilted the Healthy Food Development Program Act. It allows for the Department of Human Services to coordinate with the Department of Economic Development to create the Healthy Food Development Program. They could provide grants, loans, state tax credits, equipment, other financial assistance or technical assistance to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, or other retailers. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Hagan, Gaines, Camp, and Clark This bill creates the cottage food operator license for a person who produces homemade food items at a residential property for sale to a consumer. They will be permitted to only sell non-potentially hazardous foods - foods that do not require temperature control for safety. A license must be obtained through the Department of Agriculture for $100 per year to obtain this license. This bill exempts cottage food operators from inspection but grants the Department the power to conduct an inspection upon complaint. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cheokas, Yearta, Mathiak, Ridley, Powell, and others This bill would increase a statewide ad valorem tax exemption limit for tangible personal property from $7,500 to $50,000. It also provides for a statewide referendum and a question to be placed on the ballot for the voters of Georgia to decide on making this change. Assigned to House Ways and Means Committee 3/23/2023
Reps. Smith, Dickey, Pirkle, Leverett, Hagan, and others This bill increases the punishment for livestock theft by increasing both the penalty fines and the years of imprisonment. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 3/29/2023
Reps. Taylor, Lumsden, Collins, Hitchens, and Dunahoo This bill would allow any law enforcement to enforce excess vehicle weight limitations using automated vehicle weight detection system. This would allow the use of weight detecting technology and cameras capable of determining the gross vehicle weight and individual axle weights of a passing motor vehicle and producing recorded images of such vehicle located outside of a fixed scales facility. The technology could be implemented by third party agents. Assigned to House Motor Vehicles Committee 1/09/2024
Reps. Washburn, Au, Stephens, Anulewicz, Hitchens, and others This bill would exempt Georgia from the advancement of standard time, known as daylight savings upon the exemption from daylight savings by North and South Carolina and the portions of Florida and Tennessee that observe eastern standard time. Assigned to House State Planning & Community Affairs Committee 1/10/2024
Rep. Thomas This bill would provide for a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes for the full value of a homestead used for agricultural purposes under certain parameters. The farmer must be engaged in production agriculture for no more than 5 years and operate on no more than 5 acres. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/10/2024
Reps. Ridley, Ridley, Jasperse, Fleming, Persinger, and others This bill would require all food service establishments in the state that serve food products containing cell cultured meat or plant-based meat alternatives to display on their menus, or on placards visible to the public, disclosures stating that such food products contain cell cultured meat or plant based meat alternatives. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/11/2024
Reps. Vance, Tarvin, Lumsden, Collins, and Hitchens This bill would add to what is considered criminal trespass and make entrance upon property of another without consent shall be an offense of criminal trespass. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 1/12/2024
Reps. Burchett, Cannon, Dickey, Meeks, and Rhodes This bill would exempt all qualified producers from paying county or municipal permit fees greater than $500 on agricultural structures. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/23/2024
Reps. Seabaugh, Reeves, Burhcett, Crowe, Silcox, and others This bill is known as the Georgia Squatter Reform Act. It seeks to strengthen the definition of criminal trespass to address issues with squatters. Squatters occupy an abandoned or unoccupied property without consent from the owner. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Williamson, Blackmon, Crowe, Silcox, Hilton, and others This bill decreases the corporate income tax rate. It matches the corporate income tax rate to the individual income tax rate applicable to all taxable years beginning January 1, 2024. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Blackmon, Williamson, Wade, Hong, Meeks, and others This bill eliminates the Revenue Shortfall Reserve limit. Currently, the state can only hold 15% of the previous year's net revenue in the reserve. This bill would eliminate that limitation. Assigned to House Appropriations Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Pirkle, Corbett, Rhodes, and Lott This bill is brought by the Department of Agriculture to help enforce and regulate hemp products in Georgia. This bill will require certain labeling and prohibit the sale of consumable hemp products to individuals under the age of 21 years. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs 2/7/2024
Reps. Blackmon, Knight, Martin, and Crowe This bill requires all parcels to be reappraised in 2025. After 2025, every parcel must be reappraised every three years. Passed House Ways & Means Committee by Substitute 2/8/2024
Reps. Cannon, Dickey, Huddleston, McCollum, Meeks, and others This bill would allow a non-eligible entity to lease property in a CUVA covenant as long as the ownership includes at least one citizen of the United States and the primary purpose of the land is production agriculture. GFB policy supports this bill. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/29/2024
Reps. Cannon, Pirkle, Corbett, Rhodes, Williams, and others This bill authorizes the State Forestry Commission to access tax accessors reports on the assessment of standing timber. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/30/2024
Reps. Huddleston, Burchett, Cannon, Camp, Rhodes, and others This bill is known as the "Purple Paint Law." It allows landowners to mark their property boundaries with purple paint marks on trees or post in place of typical signage. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 2/1/2024
Reps. Camp, Carson, Powell, Persinger, Gullet, and others This bill is known as The Georgia Homegrown Solar Act of 2024. It gives private solar producers the ability to aggregate demand and sell excess energy to large scale utilities. Assigned to House Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications Committee 2/8/2024
Reps. Townsend, Smith, DeLoach, Vance, Reeves, and others This bill requires the Environmental Protection Division to consider regulatory and criminal history of any applicant, including out-of-state history, seeking a permit from the Division. Assigned to House Natural Resources & Environment Committee 2/8/2024
Reps. Williams, Petrea, Dickey, Corbett, Rhodes, and others This resolution proposes an amendment to the state constitution that would reduce the rate of ad-valorem tax assessment on timber at the time of sale or harvest. The proposal would require that the state appropriate funds annually to each county or municipality to compensate for any loss in revenue. Passed House 3/2/2023 and Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 3/6/2023
Reps. Bennett, Jenkins, Dempsey, Lewis-Ward, Newton, and others This resolution establishes the House Healthy Food Retail Study Committee to investigate the lack of access to healthy foods in both rural and urban areas. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/15/2023
Reps. Drenner and Thomas This is a resolution creating the House Study Committee on Environmental Justice. This committee will study the impact of pollution and hazardous materials on low-income neighborhoods or neighborhoods consisting primarily of minorities. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Mathiak, Gunter, Hatchett This resolution would create the House Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment. This study would look to raise awareness of the challenges rural hospitals face to recruit personnel and retain surgical support personnel. Recommitted to House Special Rules Committee 3/29/2023
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Robertson, Hufstetler, Payne, Butler, and others This bill seeks to address licensing, testing, and retail sales of consumable hemp products. It puts in place certain testing requirements for consumable hemp products, establishes a licensing structure with the associated fees, and addresses certain issues surrounding the offering of hemp samples to anyone under 21 years of age. The bill also puts in place specific labeling requirements for retail consumable hemp products. Recommitted to Senate Rules Committee 2/22/2023
Sens. Jackson, Goodman, Summers and Butler This bill, called the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," would change the limitations for individuals seeking a license or permit to grow hemp. It would change current law to allow individuals who are convicted of a misdemeanor involving the sale of a controlled substance, to apply for and be given a license or permit to grow industrial hemp. It would also allow someone convicted of a felony to apply for and receive a license or permit after 10 years has passed from said felony. Recommitted to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/28/2023
Sens. Beach, Dolezal, Goodman, Summers, Anderson, and others This bill would prohibit the purchase of agricultural land by a non-resident foreign alien who is subject to a government that is considered a foreign adversary as defined by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict the purchase of agricultural land by any government of, or business domiciled in a country subject to a government that is considered a foreign adversary. There are provisions within the bill that would also limit the foreign ownership of land near certain military instillations. Passed Senate 3/2/2023 and Recommitted to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 3/29/2023
Sens. Anderson, Brass, Burns, Anavitarte, Robertson and others This bill changes the definition of what is considered a dangerous or vicious dog. This bill revises the definition to include the following: a dog who is unprovoked barking, growling, or snarling, aggressively running along fence lines, or escaping confinement when people are present. It requires the owner of a dangerous dog as defined by the bill to maintain a $500,000 insurance policy covering any damage or bodily harm caused by the dog. Assigned to Senate Insurance and Labor Committee 2/13/2023
Sens. Still, Dolezal, Robertson, Anavitarte, Payne, and others This bill which at one time would have only prohibited local regulations that create differing standards for gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment, now includes an additional 33 pages of language that addresses numerous other issues. Senate Disagreed to House Amendment 3/29/2023 & House Insisted 3/29/2023
Sens. Goodman, Sims, Walker, Brass, Mallow, and others This bill is a companion bill to HB 189. The current state law sets the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of any 5-axle truck at 80,000lbs. Agriculture and forestry receives a 5% variance exemption to allow them to haul 84,000lbs. The bill would allow for these industries and a few additional ones to haul using a 12.5% variance, setting allowable weights at 90,000lbs. This bill only pertains to state roads. Due to federal regulations, trucks traveling on interstates are only allowed to haul at 80,000lbs with no variances. Heard by Senate Transportation Committee 2/27/2023
Sens. Jones, Goodman, Butler, Hickman, and Sims This bill is entitled the "Food Insecurity Eradication Act." It establishes the Georgia Food Security Advisory Council under the Georgia Department of Agriculture to advise the General Assembly on ways to alleviate food insecurity in the state. Passed Senate 3/6/2023 & Recommitted to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 3/29/2023
Sens. Dolezal, Still, Gooch, Kennedy, Watson and others This legislation deals with premises liability action and seeks to make changes to tort law provisions that are significant to landowners. It states no landowner shall be liable in a premises liability action to anyone who is injured on the landowner's property as the result of the willful, wanton, or intentionally tortious conduct of any third party who is not a director, officer, employee, or agent of the landowner unless the invitee can prove specific items as laid out by the legislation. Senate Tabled 3/6/2023
Sens. Jones, Harbison, Rahman, Merrit, Butler and others This bill is entitled the Right to Repair Act. It seeks to require manufactures of digital and electronic products to provide diagnostic and repair information, parts, and tools to independent repair providers. Assigned to Senate Science and Technology Committee 2/27/2023
Sens. Anavitarte, Gooch, Anderson, Summers, Cowsert and others. This resolution will form the Senate Study Committee on the Benefits of Solar Energy in Georgia. It will report on the pros and cons of solar generated energy in the state of Georgia. Passed Senate Rules Committee on 3/23/2023
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Hufstetler, Payne, Echols, Dugan, and others. This bill is known as the Outdoor Dog Protection Act. It would make it unlawful to leave a dog outdoors or unattended for more than 24 hours under the defined circumstances within the bill. It provides an exemption for livestock herding dogs, dogs sued within production agriculture, and hunting or field training dogs. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee 3/27/2023
Sens. Anderson, Albers, Robertson, Williams, Payne, and others This bill prohibits any motor vehicle from operating on any highway whose suspension has been elevated or lowered six inches above or below the manufacturer's recommendation for such vehicle. No motor vehicle may operate on any highway whose front frame is more than four inches above the rear of the vehicle. Passed Senate Senate and Assigned to House Motor Vehicles Committee 2/1/2024
Sens. Robertson, Burns, Williams, Anavitarte, and Dolezal |