Senate first readers, 2023 March 7

SENATE FIRST READERS MONDAY, MARCH 06, 2023 TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 285.

By Senators Anderson of the 24th and Burns of the 23rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Columbia County Public Facilities Authority; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

SB 286.

By Senators Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Orrock of the 36th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and Butler of the 55th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 64 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation and licensure of pharmacy benefits managers, so as to provide for definitions; to require pharmacy benefits managers to calculate defined cost sharing for insureds at the point of sale; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for violations; to provide for limitations; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for confidentiality; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SR 237.

By Senators Brass of the 28th, Robertson of the 29th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Dr. Hasco William Craver III; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 238.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Summers of the 13th, Ginn of the 47th, Harbison of the 15th and Brass of the 28th:

A RESOLUTION commending Georgia's linemen and recognizing April 10, 2023, as Georgia Lineman Appreciation Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 239.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Albers of the 56th, Brass of the 28th and Butler of the 55th:

A RESOLUTION commending the 2023 Senate Aides and Senate Academic Aides for their exemplary service; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 240.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Beach of the 21st, Robertson of the 29th and Butler of the 55th:

A RESOLUTION commending Alexandra Papadopoulou and inviting her to be recognized by the Senate; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 241.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Lucas of the 26th, Gooch of the 51st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and Echols of the 49th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Starr Hutchings Purdue; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 242.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Mallow of the 2nd, Harbin of the 16th, Echols of the 49th and Brass of the 28th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Boy Scouts of America in Georgia upon the 2023 Scouts Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 243.

By Senators James of the 35th, Rhett of the 33rd, Tate of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Dr. Atilade Olufemi Oshoniyi; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 244.

By Senators James of the 35th, Rhett of the 33rd, Tate of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Mrs. Bridget Iwinose Gold; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 245.

By Senators James of the 35th, Rhett of the 33rd, Tate of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Mr. Lawal B. Abdullahi; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 246.

By Senators James of the 35th, Rhett of the 33rd, Tate of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Mr. Bishop Adeyinka Adejube; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 247.

By Senators Islam of the 7th, Jackson of the 41st, Merritt of the 9th and Esteves of the 6th:

A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating Margaret Portman; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 248.

By Senators Islam of the 7th, Jackson of the 41st, Merritt of the 9th and Esteves of the 6th:

A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating Madison Mitchko; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 249.

By Senators Islam of the 7th, Jackson of the 41st, Merritt of the 9th and Esteves of the 6th:

A RESOLUTION commending and congratulating Maya Ballerstedt; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 250.

By Senator James of the 35th:

A RESOLUTION urging the City of East Point and the City of South Fulton to take joint action to activate the East Point and South Fulton Hospital Authorities to establish a new hospital to serve the citizens of southern Fulton County; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

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SR 251.

By Senator Davenport of the 44th:

A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

SR 252.

By Senators Beach of the 21st, Kennedy of the 18th, Hickman of the 4th, Anavitarte of the 31st and Dolezal of the 27th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Mr. Younghoe Koo; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

HB 31.

By Representatives Buckner of the 137th, Frye of the 122nd, Leverett of the 123rd, Smith of the 138th, Smith of the 70th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hazardous site response, so as to dedicate the proceeds of certain hazardous waste fees to the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund as authorized and subject to the conditions imposed by Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(r) of the Constitution of Georgia; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for an effective date and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

HB 144.

By Representatives Lewis-Ward of the 115th, Bennett of the 94th and Drenner of the 85th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 29-4-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to decisions on ward's well-being, obligations of guardian, and liability of guardian, so as to enact the "George L. Burgess Act"; to provide for the ward's right to communicate; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Children and Families Committee.

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HB 163.

By Representatives McDonald of the 26th, Collins of the 71st, Gilliard of the 162nd, Powell of the 33rd, Barrett of the 24th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, so as to provide for student loan repayment for medical examiners employed by the Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation; to provide for definitions; to authorize the board to approve applications; to provide for eligibility requirements; to provide for continued eligibility requirements; to provide for student loan repayment agreements and conditions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for appropriations contingency; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Higher Education Committee.

HB 227.

By Representatives Leverett of the 123rd, Williamson of the 112th, Smith of the 18th, Anderson of the 10th, Burchett of the 176th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide for the offense of criminal interference with critical infrastructure; to provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to amend Code Sections 35-2-36, 42-8-35.4, and 43-34-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to composition of battalion, rank of battalion personnel, employment of recruits or cadets by commissioner, promulgation of rules and regulations as to enlistment and training of recruits or cadets, confinement in probation detention center, and notification of conviction, respectively, so as to provide for conforming crossreferences; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 230.

By Representatives Newton of the 127th, Prince of the 132nd, Frazier of the 126th, Gladney of the 130th and Howard of the 129th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to sales and use taxes, so as to provide for a qualified consolidated government special purpose local option sales tax; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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HB 244.

By Representatives Petrea of the 166th, Rhodes of the 124th, DeLoach of the 167th, Sainz of the 180th, Townsend of the 179th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to game and fish, so as to extend the date by which rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Natural Resources must be in effect for purposes of establishing criminal violations of said rules and regulations; to amend Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to seafood, so as to require certain reporting of non-activity by seafood dealers; to amend Part 4 of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to shellfish, so as to provide for a definition; to authorize discretionary penalties for certain enforcement actions by the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for effective dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

HB 264.

By Representatives Smith of the 138th, Rhodes of the 124th, Williams of the 148th, Corbett of the 174th, Blackmon of the 146th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-311 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to creation of county boards of equalization, duties, review of assessments, and appeals, so as to revise certain deadlines and procedures for the handling of appeals of property tax assessments; to revise certain notice requirements and procedures; to revise provisions for certain automatic judgements; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

HB 273.

By Representatives DeLoach of the 167th, Townsend of the 179th, Williams of the 168th and Petrea of the 166th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to the Department of Natural Resources, so as to extend the date by which rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Natural Resources must be in effect for purposes of establishing criminal violations of said rules and regulations; to amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Sapelo Island Heritage Authority, so as to amend the composition and chairmanship of the Sapelo Island Heritage Authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

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HB 295.

By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Bennett of the 94th, Newton of the 127th, Cooper of the 45th, Jones of the 47th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to revise certain procedures, timelines, and other matters concerning consumer protections against surprise billing; to provide grounds for new violations of unfair claims settlement practices; to provide for payments by insurers; to provide for Commissioner authority; to provide for penalties; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

HB 302.

By Representatives Franklin of the 160th, Smith of the 18th, Hitchens of the 161st, Miller of the 62nd and Silcox of the 53rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-5-94 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to restraining orders and protective orders, so as to provide for the issuance of a temporary or permanent protective order by the court; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 327.

By Representatives Cameron of the 1st, Tarvin of the 2nd, Camp of the 135th, Mathiak of the 74th and Huddleston of the 72nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-6-22 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to incest, so as to include step-grandparent and stepgrandchild relationship; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 348.

By Representatives Collins of the 71st, Lumsden of the 12th, Hitchens of the 161st, Rhodes of the 124th, Powell of the 33rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 14 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to use of speed detection devices and red light cameras, so as to provide for standards for signs warning of the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices; to amend Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, so as to authorize district attorneys, solicitorsgeneral, and prosecuting attorneys to enforce civil monetary penalties relative to the enforcement of laws regarding speeding in a school zone using recorded images; to amend Code Section 40-6-163 of the O.C.G.A., relating to duty of driver of vehicle meeting or overtaking school bus, reporting of violations, and civil monetary penalty for violations captured by school bus camera, so as to revise penalties for failure to pay a civil monetary penalty relating to illegal passing of a school bus; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

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HB 362.

By Representatives Mathiak of the 74th, Gunter of the 8th, Greene of the 154th, Ehrhart of the 36th and Taylor of the 173rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to provide for a benefit provider to disclose certain payments to a treating healthcare provider; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; to provide for an effective date; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

HB 373.

By Representatives Jones of the 60th, Sainz of the 180th, Sharper of the 177th, McCollum of the 30th and Scott of the 76th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, so as to designate September 11 of each year as "First Responders Appreciation Day" in Georgia; to provide legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Rules Committee.

HB 375.

By Representatives Leverett of the 123rd and Scoggins of the 14th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 29-5-23 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to authority of conservator and cooperation with guardian or other interested parties, so as to define the term "gross settlement"; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 384.

By Representative Henderson of the 113th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-29-3.2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to individual accident and sickness insurance coverage for mammograms, Pap smears, and prostate-specific antigen tests, so as to provide for annual notification by insurers to male insureds of coverage for prostate-specific antigen tests; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

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HB 404.

By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Williamson of the 112th, Cooper of the 45th, Crawford of the 84th, Oliver of the 82nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant, so as to provide for a duty of habitability for certain rental agreements; to provide for an exception to such duty; to provide for an exception to landlord tort liability; to provide for definitions; to provide for notice; to provide for a maximum security deposit amount; to provide for expedited evictions for certain criminal activity; to provide for a short title; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 408.

By Representatives Williamson of the 112th, Blackmon of the 146th and Gambill of the 15th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use tax, so as to change the sunset provision for the exemption for competitive projects of regional significance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

HB 453.

By Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Cooper of the 45th, Sharper of the 177th, Hawkins of the 27th, Seabaugh of the 34th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to repeal a requirement that every ambulance service pay an annual license fee; to repeal a requirement that ambulance service annual license fees be deposited into the Indigent Care Trust Fund; to provide for a conforming change; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

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HB 470.

By Representatives Cooper of the 45th, Parrish of the 158th, Leverett of the 123rd, Smith of the 18th, Reeves of the 99th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical and other confidential information, so as to allow for voluntary open communications related to healthcare under rules of evidence; to provide for definitions; to provide that certain open communications shall not be subject to future disclosure; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to amend Chapter 33 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health records, so as to revise definitions; to revise provisions relating to the furnishing of copies of health records; to revise provisions relating to the costs of furnishing health records; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 492.

By Representative Powell of the 33rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Hartwell, approved April 6, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 5476), as amended, so as to revise provisions related to its corporate boundaries; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 520.

By Representatives Jones of the 25th, Oliver of the 82nd, Efstration of the 104th, Beverly of the 143rd, Cooper of the 45th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 of the O.C.G.A., relating to housing authorities generally, so as to revise provisions relating to tenant selection; to amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 7 of Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to demurrers, motions, and special pleas and exceptions relative to insanity and mental incompetency, so as to repeal provisions relating to proceedings upon a plea of mental incompetency to stand trial which were deemed unconstitutional and enact new provisions relating to the same subject; to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for the development of state level guidance to standardize terminology relating to serious mental illness; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

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HB 529.

By Representatives Williams of the 148th, Lumsden of the 12th and Gunter of the 8th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 33 and 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance and motor vehicles and traffic, respectively, so as to provide for minimum amounts of uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to be maintained by transportation network companies and taxi service companies; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

HB 530.

By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Smith of the 18th, Leverett of the 123rd and Gunter of the 8th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to depositions and discovery, so as to provide for protective orders for certain high-ranking officers; to provide for definitions; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state tort claims, so as to provide for designees of state government entities for service of process for civil actions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

HB 539.

By Representative Leverett of the 123rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that the judge of the Probate Court of Wilkes County shall also serve as the chief magistrate judge of the Magistrate Court of Wilkes County on and after January 1, 2025; to provide for the continuation in office and expiration of term of the current chief magistrate judge; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 543.

By Representatives Reeves of the 99th, Smith of the 18th, Silcox of the 53rd, Leverett of the 123rd and Gunter of the 8th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-12-122 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to demand of jury panels from which to select jury in civil actions in the state courts and the superior courts, so as to revise an exception to sixperson jury trials in civil actions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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HB 545.

By Representatives Cannon of the 172nd, Corbett of the 174th, Dickey of the 145th, Rhodes of the 124th, Houston of the 170th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodity commissions generally, so as to provide for an Agricultural Commodity Commission for Citrus Fruits; to provide for a definition; to provide for balloting for continued existence of said commission; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

HB 547.

By Representative Hatchett of the 155th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of East Dublin, approved April 9, 1981 (Ga. L. 1981, p. 4645), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 5, 2006 (Ga. L. 2006, p. 4402), so as to extend the corporate limits of the city; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 569.

By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Petrea of the 166th and Franklin of the 160th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act establishing the State Court of Bryan County (formerly the City Court of Pembroke), approved January 10, 1938 (Ga. L. 193738, Ex. Sess., p. 714), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 3, 1972 (Ga. L. 1972, p. 3360), so as to provide that the judge of such court shall serve in a full-time capacity; to update provisions regarding the election and compensation of the judge; to authorize the appointment of judges pro tempore and judges pro hac vice; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 580.

By Representatives Collins of the 71st, Smith of the 70th, Smith of the 18th and Huddleston of the 72nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the compensation and expenses of the chairperson and members of the Board of Education of Carroll County, approved March 25, 1986 (Ga. L. 1986, p. 4720), so as to change provisions relating to compensation of the members of the board; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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HB 586.

By Representative Smith of the 18th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Haralson County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology needs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 596.

By Representative Greene of the 154th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Randolph County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology uses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HR 96.

By Representatives Williams of the 148th, Petrea of the 166th, Dickey of the 145th, Corbett of the 174th, Rhodes of the 124th and others:

A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for a reduction in the rate of the ad valorem tax assessment of timber at sale or harvest; to require state appropriations to each county, municipality, or school district affected by such reduced rate of taxation; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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