Georgia House of Representatives
SESSION REPORT

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

2020 Session Report

HB 86

Education; complaints policy for teachers and other school personnel; provisions

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 86 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-989.7 to allow teachers to appeal a summative personnel evaluation of 'Unsatisfactory' or 'Ineffective' to an independent third party or an administrator in the system office. Local units of administration must develop a complaint review policy for teachers to appeal an evaluation by July 1, 2021, and submit the policy to the Department of Education.

HB 105

Income tax; certain income received by taxpayers as payments from a disaster relief or

assistance program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture in

connection with Hurricane Michael; exempt

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 105 amends 48-7-27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the computation of taxable

net income, by providing an income tax exemption for income received as payments from a disaster relief or assistance program. The payments must be connected with Hurricane Michael and administered by the United

States Department of Agriculture.

The bill also adds a new article to Chapter 13 of Tile 48 of the O.C.G.A. and exempts from sales tax all transportation that is subject to excise tax in the new article. The new article establishes a $0.50 per ride excise tax on each for-hire ground transportation trip and a $0.25 cent per ride excise tax on each shared for-hire ground transportation trip. The proceeds of such excise tax shall be appropriated to a transit provider to be used exclusively for transit projects. If the full amount is not appropriated to the intended provider, the amount of the tax shall be reduced by 50 percent in the following year. If the amount collected is not appropriated to the intended provider for a second year, this Code section shall stand repealed.

The bill also amends 48-13-50.3 of the O.C.G.A., relating to additional tax imposed by innkeepers, forms for reporting, use of funds from additional taxes, and provisions for termination, by changing the definition of "transportation purposes" to mean activities incident to providing and maintain an adequate system of public roads and bridges in this state and for grants to counties for road construction and maintenance and establishing definitions for "transit" and "transit projects". The bill allows up to 10 percent of the fees collected from the $5 per night fee on hotel and motel stays to be appropriated for transit projects.

HB 195

Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund; increase benefit amount payable to beneficiaries after the

member's death

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 195 increases the death benefit for members of the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund from $5,000 to $10,000. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a

fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial investigation estimates the first-year cost is $24,441. The current revenue generated from the one percent tax on premiums from fire insurance companies is sufficient to cover the cost of

this legislation.

HB 230

Business corporations; provide for benefit corporations

By: Rep. Scott Holcomb (81st)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 230 amends the Code section related to business corporations by adding a new

article relating to a "benefit corporations", which is defined as a business with articles of incorporation that

contain a public benefit provision. Requirements of benefit corporations are outlined, such as proper name,

stock certifications, and a disclosure that it is a benefit corporation on issued stock. Additionally, a two-thirds vote of all classes for non-benefit corporations is required to: (1) amend its articles of incorporation to include

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a public benefit provision; (2) transfer property if the entity transferring to is a benefit corporation; or (3) engage in a transaction that would result in shareholders owning shares of a benefit corporation or similar entity. A benefit corporation, without at least a two-thirds vote of all voting classes, shall not amend its articles to remove or substantially alter the public benefit provision, engage in a transaction that gives ownership or interest of the benefit corporation to a non-benefit corporation, or transfer property to a transferee that is not a benefit corporation.
The board of directors of benefit corporations are charged to be mindful of the public provision when conducting its business and adopt a standard to measure the achievement performance regarding the public benefit provision. Liability is limited for boards of directors in that they have: no duty to any person who has an interest in the public benefit specified in the articles of incorporation; and unless stated in the articles of incorporation, the directors shall have no monetary liability to any person for any failure to comply with this Code section or for failure to pursue any public benefit.
The benefit corporation shall also provide each member with a statement containing the public benefit provision on each notice for a meeting. No less than annually, the board shall provide its shareholders, in addition to anyone else who requests it, a statement showing the performance on the pursuit of the public benefit provision of their articles of incorporation.
Requirements of the benefit corporation shareholder meetings are outlined and additional requirements that may be listed in the benefit corporation's articles are listed. The definition of "foreign corporation" includes benefit corporations, social purpose corporations, or substantially similar entities. The right to dissent in benefit corporations gives an option by including "consummation" with a two-thirds vote as previously stated. Finally, a section is amended to refer to one of the sections added in this bill for the requirement of the name of the foreign corporation.

HB 244

Electric membership corporations; comply with certain requirements in determining the rates

for attachments to utility poles by communications service providers; require

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Economic Development & Tourism Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 244 requires electric membership corporations (EMCs) to comply with

certain requirements when determining the rates for attachments to utility poles by communications service providers. The Public Service Commission (PSC) shall publish the rates and conditions for pole attachments by

January 1, 2021. The rates and conditions will become effective on July 1, 2021 for any pole attachment agreement entered into by a provider and an EMC, except for a mutual agreement between the parties, which

differs from the PSC rates. The PSC shall have jurisdiction to enforce compliance with the provisions.

HB 245

Peace Officers' Annuity Fund; require certain benefits payable to a surviving spouse to terminate if such surviving spouse remarries; remove a provision
By: Rep. Debbie Buckner (137th) Through the Retirement Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 245 allows surviving spouses of members of the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund to retain spousal retirement benefits if the spouse remarries. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial investigation determines there is no cost to this legislation.

HB 276

Sales and use tax; certain persons that facilitate certain retail sales; require collection of tax

By: Rep. Brett Harrell (106th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 276 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-2, relating to definitions regarding sales and

use tax, by adding the terms "marketplace facilitator" and "marketplace seller", as well as expanding the

definition of "dealer", to require marketplace facilitators to collect and remit sales tax on behalf of

marketplace sellers.

A "marketplace facilitator" is a person who contracts with a marketplace seller to make available or facilitate taxable retail sales on the marketplace seller's behalf. This includes promoting, marketing, advertising, taking or reserving orders, providing the physical or electronic infrastructure that brings purchasers and marketplace sellers together, or otherwise assisting the marketplace seller in making retail sales and collecting, charging, processing, or otherwise facilitating payment for the retail sales.

A "marketplace seller" is a person who conducts retail sales through or facilitated by any physical or electronic marketplace or platform operated by a marketplace facilitator.

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The definition of "dealer" is expanded to include marketplace facilitators who assist taxable sales through delivery, held for pickup, used, consumed, distributed, stored for use or consumption, or rendered as a service in Georgia if the total value of all sales, including sales from marketplace sellers and the marketplace facilitator itself, exceeds $100,000 in the previous or current calendar year.

HB 292

Regents Retirement Plan; certain remittances required to be made by the University System of

Georgia to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia; eliminate

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 292 repeals the requirement for an accrued liability to be paid to the Teachers

Retirement System of Georgia on behalf of participating Regent's Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) members and the normal contribution rate resulting from employees who cease to be members of TRS. This bill is

certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial

investigation determines there is no cost to this legislation.

HB 337

Georgia Peer-to-Peer Car-Sharing Program Act; enact
By: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Through the Regulated Industries Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 337 is the 'Georgia Peer-to-Peer Car-Sharing Program Act'. A peer-to-peer carsharing program must assume liability of a shared vehicle owner for any bodily injury or property damage to third parties in the amount set forth in the car-sharing program agreement not less than $25,000 for one person in one accident and not less than $50,000 for two or more people in one accident, unless the shared vehicle owner made an intentional or fraudulent material misrepresentation to the car-sharing program before the loss occurred. The car-sharing program must ensure that the shared vehicle owner and the shared vehicle driver are insured under an insurance policy that recognizes the vehicle used is made available through a car-sharing program and provides insurance coverage no less than the policy stated above. The car-sharing program will assume primary liability for a claim when the program is in whole or in part providing the insurance or if a dispute exists as to who was in control of the vehicle at the time of the loss.

The car-sharing program will collect and verify records pertaining to the use of a vehicle and must provide that information upon the request to the shared vehicle owner, insurer, or the shared vehicle driver's insurer to facilitate a claim overage investigation. The program must retain records for a period not less than the applicable personal injury statute of limitations. The car-sharing program has the sole responsibility for any equipment that is put in or on the vehicle to monitor or facilitate the car-sharing transaction. Moreover, the program must agree to indemnify a shared vehicle owner for any damage or theft of said equipment during the shared period not caused by the vehicle's owner. At the time when a vehicle owner registers as a shared vehicle, the car-sharing program must verify that the vehicle does not have any safety recalls on the vehicle that have not been repaired and notify the owner that the vehicle is not available unless a safety repair has been made for any outstanding safety recalls.

HB 341

Crimes and offenses; reproduction of recorded material; update terminology

By: Rep. Matt Dollar (45th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 341 adds memory cards, flash drives, hard drives, and data storage devices to the

list of media protected by copyright restrictions.

HB 417

Law enforcement officers and agencies; comprehensive regulation of trauma scene cleanup

services; provide

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 417 provides for the regulation of trauma scene cleanup services. The Georgia

Secretary of State is responsible for registering trauma scene waste management practitioners. The registration is valid for three years and may be renewed for additional three-year periods. The initial registration fee is $100

and $100 upon renewal. The Secretary of State will maintain a current list of all registered trauma scene waste

management practitioners on its website.

Each practitioner must submit to a fingerprint-based background check prior to being registered and every three years following the initial background check. No person convicted of a felony is eligible for registration. Each practitioner must be bonded in the amount of $25,000 and must have liability insurance for at least $100,000. Each practitioner must provide to the Secretary of State proof of valid generation and transportation permit from the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources for the provision of trauma scene waste management services. The practitioner must also provide proof of all current certifications

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in the removal and disposal of regulated biomedical waste held by the practitioner or any contractor used for waste management services.
The Secretary of State is authorized to issue temporary registrations in the event of a declared public emergency or a state of emergency; however, these registrations terminate no later than 90 days from issuance.
This legislation does not prevent a private property owner from cleaning up a scene on their property themselves, or the gratuitous cleanup performed for the owner of a property by individuals who are not doing so as part of a commercial enterprise for the cleanup or removal of trauma scene waste.
HB 426 Criminal procedure; imposition of punishment for crimes involving bias or prejudice; revise criteria By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Final Bill Summary: HB 426 is the Hate Crime legislation. The bill requires that the prosecution must give notice to the defendant that an enhanced penalty is being sought. If the court determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim, group of victims, or any property is the object of the offense because of the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability, or physical disability then the court can apply an enhanced penalty.
HB 426 designates five misdemeanors available for enhancement and are as follows: simple assault; simple battery; battery; criminal trespass; and misdemeanor theft. For these misdemeanor offenses, the sentence imposed is imprisonment for a period of at least six months but not more than 12 months with a fine not to exceed $5,000. The enhancement can apply to any felony, with the sentence imposed of imprisonment for a period not less than two years and a fine up to $5,000.
HB 426 requires the judge to state when he or she imposes the sentence enhancement and the amount of increase of the sentence is due to the hate crime penalty statute. Moreover, when a law enforcement officer investigates an incident of a crime which appears to the defendant intentionally selected the victim(s) in violation of the hate crime statute, the officer must submit to his or her supervisor a written report of the incident entitled "Bias Crime Report". The report will be used for statistical purposes only, and when no arrest is made will not be subject to open records.
All law enforcement must report to the Georgia Crime Information Center all incidents involving alleged criminal violations of the hate crimes statute, both arrests and non-arrests. The GBI will compile and analyze the statistics of such reports and annually publish the findings in the Georgia Uniform Crime Reports.

HB 444 Dual Enrollment Act; enact

By: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 444 renames the 'Move on When Ready Act' as the 'Dual Enrollment Act.' House Bill 444 limits the number of credit hours the dual enrollment program will fund to 30 hours. The 30-hour cap applies to current students who have taken 18 course credit hours or less. Students who have taken more than 19 hours may receive an additional 12 hours. Under the provisions of this bill, grade-level participation is limited to 11th and 12th graders; however, to continue producing a skilled workforce, 10th grade students may participate in dual enrollment courses provided by the Technical College System of Georgia. Furthermore, 10th grade students who have obtained a Zell Miller Scholarship score on the ACT or SAT or a ninth grader enrolled in dual credit courses may take core courses at a postsecondary institution during the student's 10th grade year.

HB 444 limits the type of course allowable under the 'Dual Enrollment Act' to core subjects. An eligible core course is an English, math, science, social studies, or a foreign language as calculated for HOPE purposes according to O.C.G.A. 20-2-157. There are 2,613 eligible core courses and 4,592 CTAE or career technical agricultural education courses available under O.C.G.A. 20-2-157.

HB 463

Motor vehicles; issuance of a Class C driver's license to operators of certain three-wheeled motor vehicles; provide
By: Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Through the Motor Vehicles Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 463 allows the Department of Driver Services to send out license suspension notices via regular mail or certificate of mailing when the license is suspended as a result of non-compliance with a child support order.

The bill authorizes the state revenue commissioner and the commissioner of driver services to enter into Page 4 of 57

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reciprocal agreements with a foreign country or political subdivision of a foreign country, in specified circumstances. The bill exempts nonresidents or active duty U.S. armed forces members from licenses if they have a valid license issued by a foreign country or subdivision of a foreign country. The bill adds "or political subdivision of a foreign country" in several places in Title 40 to ensure the Code accounts for foreign governments that are not recognized as countries.
The bill allows for the optional issuance of driver's licenses and identification cards in an electronic format. If an individual uses a mobile phone to display his or her electronic identification, such display shall not be construed as consent for search of the mobile phone by a law enforcement officer.

HB 487

Disaster Volunteer Relief Act; certain employees of state agencies to be granted leave from work

with pay in order to participate in specialized disaster relief services; authorize

By: Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 487 allows state employees, under the 'Disaster Relief Volunteer Act,' who

are certified volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol United States Air Force Auxiliary to be granted paid leave for no

more than 15 workdays in a 12-month period. Upon the employee's agency approval, this leave will be specifically used for participation in specialized emergency services operations for the Civil Air Patrol upon the

request of the patrol after activation by a county emergency management agency, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, or a comparable federal agency for that employee's services.

HB 511

Highways, bridges, and ferries; funding sources and a consolidated state entity for the planning

and implementation of mobility and transit services; provisions

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 511 administratively attaches the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority

(ATL) to the Department of Transportation and authorizes the ATL to receive payments from the department.

The legislation provides for staggered terms for the ATL Board of Directors whose members are elected by

secret ballot at the State Capitol during the regular legislative session of the General Assembly immediately

preceding the expiration of the term of office of each member. The bill requires all transit providers in the

ATL region to display the ATL logo and branding on or after January 1, 2023.

The legislation updates reporting requirements regarding counties that are reasonably expected to become non-attainment areas under the 'Clean Air Act' within three years of the report and certification of such counties to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

The sunset on the use of the Consumer Price Index for the calculation of the excise tax rate on motor fuels is extended to July 1, 2025.

HB 521

Professions and businesses; temporary licenses for dentists licensed in other states to provide dental care to indigent populations in this state; authorize
By: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 521 authorizes temporary licenses for dentists and dental hygienists who are licensed in other states to provide dental care to indigent populations in Georgia.

HB 576

Courts; distribution priority of partial payments of fines, bond forfeitures, and costs; provide
By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 576 reprioritizes the distribution order of payments collected from driving under the influence and reckless driving fines to move the Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund up from 12th to 5th in order to receive payments.

HB 578

Human Services, Department of; review of certain law enforcement conviction data with regard

to persons seeking to become volunteers, interns, students, or employees; provide

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 578 allows the Department of Human Services to review certain law enforcement conviction data for persons the department considers to hire as a volunteer, intern, or student.

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HB 663

Georgia Judicial Retirement System; membership for certain persons employed in certain full time positions requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia as a condition of employment; require
By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Retirement Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 663 allows employees of the newly created Georgia Business Court (HB 239, 2019 Session) to become members of the Judicial Retirement System of Georgia (JRS) if they are employed fulltime and are in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia. All other employees of the Georgia Business Court will be members of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia (ERS). ERS is required to transfer employee and employer contributions to JRS and the member will receive service credit in JRS equal to the amount of service they earned while a member of ERS. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial investigation determines there is no cost to this legislation.

HB 664

Georgia Judicial Retirement System; membership for certain persons employed in certain full

time positions requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia as a condition of employment;

require

By: Rep. Barry Fleming (121st)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 664 requires individuals hired by the Office of Legislative Counsel after July 1,

2020, to be members of Judicial Retirement System of Georgia (JRS), if they are employed full time and in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia. Employees of the Office of Legislative Counsel hired before July

1, 2020 can elect to remain members of Employees' Retirement System of Georgia (ERS) or transfer to JRS. If

the member elects to transfer to JRS, ERS will transfer all employee and employer contributions, with interest

to JRS. The transferred member receives credit under JRS for all service rendered if the individual pays the full

actuarial cost of that service. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal

retirement bill. The actuarial investigation estimates the annual employer contribution rate will increase from

21.570 percent to 21.571 percent, for a total state cost of $26,000.

HB 695

Brookhaven, City of; increase term limit of mayor

By: Rep. Matthew Wilson (80th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 695 repeals the term limit of the mayor of Brookhaven and repeals expired provisions relating to the election of the mayor and councilmembers during the first four years of the city's existence.

HB 706

Oconee County; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Marcus Wiedower (119th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 706 authorizes the governing authority of Oconee County to levy an excise tax.

HB 716

Insurance; carriers issuing a health benefit plan in this state through an agent shall file proposed commission rates with the department; provide
By: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 716 requires any carrier that issues a health benefit plan through an agent to pay a commission to that agent and file with the Department of Insurance the proposed commission rates relevant to all such agents. The commission paid to the agents must be consistent with the amount proposed in the rates filed and required by the Department of Insurance.

HB 752

Professions and businesses; national background checks by FBI through Georgia Crime

Information Center for licensing to practice as a physical therapist or physical therapist

assistant; provide

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 752 requires psychologists, physical therapists, and physical therapist assistants to

submit a fingerprint record check report conducted by the Georgia Crime Information Center and the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a requirement for licensure to practice within Georgia. The results of such

background checks will not be shared outside the state of Georgia.

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HB 753

Franklin, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 753 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Franklin to levy an excise tax.

HB 755

Charter schools; local boards of education shall provide itemized allotment sheets for the

upcoming fiscal year by July 1 of each year; provide

By: Rep. D. C. Belton (112th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 755 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-2068.1(c.3) relating to charter school funding to require local boards of education to provide itemized allotment sheets to local charter schools. Under the provisions of this bill, a local board of education must provide each local charter school an itemized allotment sheet itemizing the state, local, and federal allocations for the upcoming fiscal year within 45 calendar days after receiving its preliminary allotment sheet from the Department of Education. If a local board of education determines an adjustment must be made to the allocation to a local charter school, the local board of education must provide the local charter school with 30-days' notice before the allocation is amended.

House Bill 755 further amends O.C.G.A. 2-20-2131 relating to intradistrict enrollment of students attending schools outside of their resident school within the school district. Information relating to the acceptance of intradistrict students must be posted on the website of the local school system in a prominent location, easily visible to parents.

HB 758

Georgia Motor Carrier Act of 2012; consideration of the deployment of motor carrier safety

improvements in determining an individual's employment status with a motor carrier; prohibit

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 758 establishes that if a motor carrier implements, requires, or deploys a

motor carrier safety improvement, this action shall not impact the affected individual's status as an employee or

independent contractor.

HB 759

Controlled substances; Schedule IV; change certain provisions

By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 759 is the annual drug update to comply with federal regulations and capture new

synthetic drugs such as spice and bath salts.

HB 777

Community Affairs, Department of; consider amending the state minimum standard codes to allow tall mass timber construction types; direct

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 777 requires the Department of Community Affairs to review the tall mass timber provisions contained in the 2021 International Building Code for construction types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C and consider whether the department should amend the state's minimum standard codes to include the provisions. The review shall be on conducted on or after July 1, 2020 and be completed by July 1, 2021.

HB 779

Alternative ad valorem tax; motor vehicles; revise distribution of the proceeds of such taxes among local governments
By: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Through the Ways & Means Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 779 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5C-1, relating to alternative ad valorem taxes on motor vehicles, by modifying the distribution of proceeds to the counties, municipalities, and school districts. For motor vehicles registered in the incorporated areas of the county, the percent of proceeds going to the county governing authority is decreased from 28 to 23 percent, the percent of proceeds going to the municipal governing authority is increased from 23 to 28 percent, and the remaining 49 percent of proceeds continue to go to the county school district; however, if there is an independent school district in the municipality: 23 percent of the proceeds shall go to the county governing authority; 34 percent of the proceeds shall go to the municipal governing authority; and the remaining 43 percent of the proceeds shall go to the independent school district.

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HB 780

State Properties Commission; use an opinion of value in the valuation of state property where a

conveyance of the property by the state is for the sole and direct benefit to the state; allow

By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Through the State Properties Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 780 allows the State Properties Commission to use an opinion of value or a

written appraisal of value for the conveyance of property that solely and directly benefits the state.

HB 781

Financial institutions; clarify and remove superfluous language; provisions
By: Rep. Bruce Williamson (115th) Through the Banks & Banking Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 781 updates, modernizes, and further amends Title 7 of the Code. The bill clarifies the acquiring parties subject to the Department of Banking and Finance's grounds for disapproval of acquisition proposals by trust companies.

The department's authority is expanded to approve the payment of dividends by a bank or trust company, prior to cumulative profitability, if the bank or trust company is profitable on an annual basis and the payment of such dividend is consistent with standards of safety and soundness.

The department's authority is expanded to waive or modify residency requirements for the board of directors of any bank or trust company.

The bill provides that Georgia chartered banks may conduct any activities at any representative office outside of Georgia as authorized or not prohibited by law. If the activity requires approval from the department, the commissioner can waive the requirement if he or she finds the bank's involvement in particular activities will not threaten safety or soundness of such bank.

Registration process requirements are removed for banks or bank holding companies when registering a representative office in Georgia. A bank or bank holding company must post notice of the closing of a representative office as required by Code Section 7-1-110.1.

The period in which the department must approve or disapprove completed applications for branch offices is reduced from 90 days to 30 days. The department may no longer waive publication requirements when a bank files a written notification, instead of an official application, when applying for a branch office.

Out-of-state banks with branches already established in Georgia are no longer required to notify the department of an acquisition alongside with their application for acquisition made to the federal regulator.

Paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Code Section 7-1-656 replaces "supervisory" committee with "audit" committee. Individual loan officers may only approve or disapprove loans less than or equal to five percent of the credit union's net worth. Loans greater than five percent require approval by the board of directors or credit committee as recorded in the formal minutes and subject to certain limitations on securities.

Code Section 7-1-658 revises the authority of credit unions to issue certain loans. Delegated authority to loan officers to approve or disapprove loans to a borrower shall be limited to loans not exceeding, in the aggregate, five percent of the net worth of the credit union. Furthermore, no credit union shall be authorized to make loans to any one person or corporation where the aggregated of such loans and obligations together exceeds five percent of the net worth of the credit union, unless approved in advance by the board of directors or credit committee, the approval is recorded in formal minutes, and is subject to certain limiting requirements and exceptions.

The department may regulate and prescribe definitions and requirements for the transactions identified in Code Section 7-1-658. The department may also specify that the liabilities of a group of one or more persons or corporations or both shall be considered as owed by one person or corporation based on the common control of the borrowers within the group, or other criteria established by the department for the combination of indebtedness for legal lending limitation purposes. Code Section 7-1-658 removes the requirement that a credit committee act upon any loan in excess of 50 percent of the union's maximum loan limitation, or such lower limit as established by the committee, and specifies the terms "person" and "corporation."

"Night depository" is added as an extension of a banking location and defined as a drop box where customers can make deposits or payments outside of normal banking hours. Night depositories may be located anywhere in the state.

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Code Section 7-1-664 is amended to provide for credit union extensions and related restrictions; specifically for automated teller machines, cash dispensing machines, night depositories, and point-of-sale terminals.
Code Section 7-1-665 is amended to provide for the department's authority and procedure when considering branch applications submitted by credit unions. Certain criteria are identified for the department to consider when reviewing an application and specifies that the decision of the department is final, except that it may be subject to judicial review as provided in Code Section 7-1-90. In the event of a merger or consolidation of two or more credit unions, the resulting credit union or purchasing credit union may continue to operate all branches approved by the department prior to the merger.
The requirement that a licensee or corporate surety notify the department regarding the cancellation of a bond filed by registered or certified mail, statutory overnight delivery with return receipt requested, is eliminated. The same requirement is also eliminated for mortgage loan originators, mortgage brokers, mortgage lenders, or the corporate surety notifying the department regarding the cancellation of a bond filed for the purposes of compliance with Code Sections 7-1-1003.2 or 7-1-1004. Notice must be sent electronically.
The number of days required for a cease and desist order to become final is reduced from 30 days to 20 days after being issued to a person licensed under Article 4 of Title 7 for the receipt of notice of a bond cancellation under Code Section 7-1-687. If a cease and desist order is issued to a person who has been sent a notice of bond cancellation and the bond is reinstated or replaced, the person must provide documentation evidencing the reinstatement or replacement within 20 days of the issuance of the order.
The bill replaces "license number" of a licensee with "unique identifier" and provides that a unique identifier of certain licensees or registrants is not confidential.
Code Section 7-1-1003.1, relating to the physical place of business of an applicant for a mortgage broker license or renewal and requirement that such person have a registered agent and office in Georgia, is repealed and reserved.
The requirement that licensed mortgage brokers and lenders notify the department of an ultimate equitable owner of 10 percent or more of any corporation or other entity licensed under Article 13 of Title 7 is eliminated.
Lastly, requirements for mortgage loan advertisements are revised, and the 'Georgia Fair Lending Act' is amended to provide updated citations to federal regulations.

HB 786

Superior courts; additional judge of the Flint Judicial Circuit; provide
By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 786 provides for the addition of one judge to each of the superior courts of the Cobb, Flint, and Ogeechee Judicial Circuits. The judges are appointed by the governor for a term beginning January 1, 2022, and expiring December 31, 2023, and until a successor is elected and qualified. All subsequent successors shall be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election conducted in the year in which the term of office shall expire for a term of four years and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.

HB 789

Insurance; creation of a surprise bill rating system based upon the number of certain physician

specialty groups contracted with a hospital within a health insurer's network; provide

By: Rep. Mark Newton (123rd)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 789, the 'Surprise Bill Transparency Act', creates a health benefit plan

surprise bill rating system that is defined by the number of green check marks and red X marks between zero and four. The number of check marks and X marks is determined by the number of qualified hospital-based

specialty group types, or lack thereof, with which the health benefit plan is contracted for the provision of health care services. The bill defines "hospital-based specialty groups" as anesthesiologists, pathologists,

radiologists, and emergency medicine physicians. The insurer must make this rating system available for patients to view online for each network plan. If a rating

is less than four check marks, the insurer advertising a hospital as in-network must describe which specialty

group type is not contracted with the health benefit plan. If an insurer processes a claim on a covered person

from an out-of-network specialty group provider at an out-of-network rate, the insurer must update the relevant

rating within 30 days to reflect any necessary reduction in the rating.

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HB 791

Pharmacists; dispense up to a 90 day supply of a maintenance medication under certain

conditions; authorize

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 791 allows a pharmacist to exercise professional judgement in dispensing up

to a 90-day supply of medication up to the total number of dosage units as authorized by the prescriber on the original prescription. Additionally, this bill requires health insurers to waive time restrictions for refills of a 30-

day supply of certain prescription medications during emergencies.

HB 792

Supplemental appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Appropriations Committee

Final Bill Summary: The Amended FY 2020 budget is set by a revenue estimate of $27.4 billion, a decrease of $59 million from the original FY 2020 estimate.

The bill utilizes $100 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR) to address the emergency preparedness and response needs associated with the public health state of emergency caused by the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. The $100 million is shown as a specific revenue source in the bill and is appropriated in the Governor's Emergency Fund program for discretionary use toward the most critical needs.

The bill, tracking sheet, and highlights may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website.

HB 793

General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Appropriations Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 793, the Fiscal Year 2021 budget, is set by a revenue estimate of $25.9 billion. This a

decrease of $2.19 billion, or 7.8%, from the governor's original FY 2021 revenue estimate.

The revised estimate includes $250 million from the Revenue Shortfall Reserve (RSR) to help mitigate budget reductions.

The bill, tracking sheet, and highlights may be found on the House Budget and Research Office website.

HB 799

Motor vehicles; prohibition regarding eligibility of certain violators to receive early reinstatement of their driver's licenses and limited driving permits; repeal
By: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 799 brings driving under the influence of controlled substances and marijuana in line with driving under the influence of alcohol by giving the trial judge the discretion to reinstate a driving license early or allow for a limited driving permit.

HB 802

Calhoun County; board of education; modify compensation of members

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 802 modifies the compensation of the members of the Calhoun County Board

of Education. Each member shall receive $200 per month, in addition to being entitled to participate in any

school district group insurance plan to the extent authorized by O.C.G.A. 20-2-55.

HB 808

Alternative ad valorem tax; motor vehicles; revise a definition
By: Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Through the Transportation Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 808 amends the definition of "loaner vehicle" by allowing vehicles owned by a dealer to remain exempt from the Title Ad Valorem Tax for up to 45 days when the vehicle is used as a loaner vehicle.

HB 817

Columbia County; board of education; modify compensation of members By: Rep. Barry Fleming (121st) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 817 modifies the compensation of the members of the Columbia County Board of Education. The chairperson shall receive $10,500 per year and other members of the board shall make $8,500 per year.
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HB 819

Motor vehicles; veterans' license to any person who is a United States citizen and resident of this

state who served in the military for an ally of the United States during a time of war or other

conflict; authorize issuance

By: Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 819 allows for the issuance of veterans' licenses to Georgia residents who are

veterans of the armed forces for countries that are allies of the United States. The bill repeals a provision

related to storage of unregistered vehicles in specified instances.

HB 820

Transportation, Department of; state investment in railways and railroad facilities and

equipment; provide

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 820 establishes within the Department of Transportation a Georgia Freight Railroad Program to enhance the state's investment in freight rail projects. This program is administered by the commissioner and is subject to appropriations. It is composed of three subprograms: rail enhancement, rail preservation, and rail industrial. In administering these subprograms, every effort will be made to balance the initiative around the state. At the end of each fiscal year, the commissioner or his appointee will submit a report of the program to the governor, lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the House. The report shall also be made available to the members of the General Assembly.

HB 822

Bartow County; Board of Education; change description of districts By: Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 822 changes the description of the Bartow County Board of Education districts.

HB 823

Crimes and offenses; lifetime disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle by persons convicted of trafficking other persons for labor or sexual servitude; provide
By: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Through the Motor Vehicles Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 823 state that a person who knowingly uses a commercial motor vehicle in the commission of sexual or labor trafficking crimes is disqualified as a commercial motor vehicle driver for life.

HB 825

Barrow County; Board of Education; modify compensation of members
By: Rep. Terry England (116th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 825 modifies the compensation for members of the Barrow County Board of Education. Each member of the board receives $200 per month, except the chairperson, who shall receive $300 per month. Additionally, each member shall receive a $75 per diem for each meeting of the board occurring inside the county and $75 per day for meetings, official travel, or training occurring outside the county.

HB 826 Meigs, City of; elections and terms of office; provide

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 826 provides for the elections and terms of office of the city of Meigs.

HB 831

Cook County; Probate Court; charge technology fee By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 831 authorizes the Cook County Probate Court to assess and collect a technology fee.

HB 833

Waters, ports, and watercraft; promulgate rules and regulations regarding long-term anchoring; authorize

By: Rep. Ron Stephens (164th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 833 defines "long-term anchoring" as anchoring a vessel within a 5,280-foot radius of a documented anchoring point for over 14 cumulative days in a calendar year. Anchoring a vessel within a

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5,280-foot radius of a documented anchoring point for up to 14 cumulative days is considered short-term anchoring. "Anchorage restriction areas" are defined as any location in the state within 300 feet of a marina, 150 feet from a marine structure other a marina, or within 500 feet of approved commercial shellfish growing or public harvest areas.
The bill prohibits any person from long-term anchoring a vessel in state estuarine areas without a permit issued by the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. Short-term anchoring is not affected and the commissioner may make exceptions.

HB 838

Law enforcement officers and agencies; Office of Public Safety Officer Support; change the

name

By: Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 838 renames the recently established Office of Public Safety Officer Support at the Department of Public Safety to the Office of Public Safety Support.

The legislation gives the right for a civil suit to be brought by a peace officer against any person, group of persons, organization, or corporation, for damages suffered during the officer's performance of official duties, or for filing a false complaint against the officer.

HB 841 Bartow County; ad valorem tax for county purposes; increase homestead exemption By: Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (14th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: HB 841 increases a Bartow County homestead exemption from $5,000 to $10,000.

HB 846

Revenue and taxation; interest paid on refunds of overpayments of taxes and past due taxes

shall be equal to the bank prime loan rate; provide

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 846 provides the annual Internal Revenue Code update to O.C.G.A. 48-8-2,

which includes retroactive changes regarding disaster relief, medical expense deductions, and 'CARES Act'

provisions among other changes.

The bill also adds a new Code Section at 48-8-49.1, which establishes and defines the direct pay reporting program. The program allows a taxpayer to accrue and pay directly to the department the sales and use taxes owed. To qualify, a taxpayer must purchase more than $2 million of tangible personal property per year, average purchases of tangible personal property of over $2 million per year for the past three years, or meet a lower spending threshold prescribed by the department and be classified in one of nine industry codes.

The interest on overpayments of sales taxes by a taxpayer with a direct payment permit shall begin to accrue on the date an amended return or a refund claim is filed.

In the case of overpayments from a direct pay permit holder, the bill also allows the affected political subdivision to choose to make payments over a period of time equal to or less than the amount of time subject to the claim.

House Bill 846 includes a new income tax credit for manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE). Any PPE manufacturer that is qualified to claim either the jobs tax credit or quality jobs tax credit is allowed an additional $1,250 per job to the extent that the qualifying job is engaged in the manufacturing of PPE. After the manufacturer has utilized tax credits for the company's income tax liability, the PPE credits may utilized to offset the company's payroll tax liabilities. This credit is effective beginning January 1, 2020 and expires January 1, 2025.

Finally, employers eligible for job tax credits and quality jobs tax credits to choose to utilize the number of fulltime employees the employer claimed in 2019 during the 2020 and 2021 tax years.

HB 847

Hemp farming; definitions, penalties and criminal background checks; provide

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 847 defines "key participant" as the sole proprietor, a partner, or person with

managerial control in a corporation. It specifies "hemp products" shall not include any part of the Cannabis

plant, except for completely defoliated mature stalks, fiber produced from the stalks, or sterilized seeds.

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Any college or university in Georgia may pilot a hemp research program. Colleges and universities are also authorized to engage third parties to assist in research programs.
The bill allows a licensee to provide or sell hemp to another person who is not a Georgia licensee or permittee so long as that person is located in a state with a hemp regulation plan that is in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture. A licensee may also sell to any Georgia college or university.
HB 847 revises background check requirements for licensees and permittees by requiring that key participants provide at least one set of electronically recorded fingerprints to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture shall then transmit the fingerprints to the Georgia Crime Information Center, which in turn shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a search of bureau records.
The bill requires any hemp or hemp products that are shipped, transported, or otherwise delivered to have proper documentation that indicates that the hemp meets federal hemp guidelines, including that it does not exceed the federally-defined THC level for hemp. Any person transporting or shipping hemp or hemp products must also carry a bill of lading that includes the following: name and address of the owner of the hemp; point of origin; name and address of the point of delivery; kind and quantity of packages; and date of shipment.
HB 847 increases the initial permit fee for a hemp processor from $25,000 to $50,000. The Georgia Department of Agriculture has the right to collect samples of hemp for testing, which must be collected before any hemp may be harvested.

HB 848

State government; provide the Department of Administrative Services additional options when disposing of surplus property in the best interest of the state; change certain definitions
By: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 848 allows the Department of Administrative Services to sell surplus property to political subdivisions, charitable institutions, or public corporations that are not located in Georgia.

HB 851

Cobb County; State Court; change compensation of judges

By: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 851 changes the compensation of the Cobb County State Court judges. The

bill changes the additional compensation of the chief judge from $9,492.67 to $9,872.38. The salary of the

judges of Division 1 of the state court is changed from $181,950.72 to $189,228.74.

HB 855

State Board of Education; determine eligibility criteria for foster care students to receive special education and related services; provisions
By: Rep. Marcus Wiedower (119th) Through the Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 855 creates O.C.G.A. 20-2-152.2 relating to the evaluation of foster care students to determine whether the student has been exposed to trauma which adversely affected the student's educational performance or behavior. No later than August 1, 2021, the Department of Education will provide guidance to local school systems on procedures to immediately and deliberately evaluate foster care students when the student enrolls in the school.

HB 857

Conservation and natural resources; burning of certain chemically treated wood products for

purposes of commercial energy generation; prohibit

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 857 requires permits issued for biomass boilers to prohibit the burning of railroad ties treated with creosote or naphthenate compounds for the purpose of commercial electricity generation. Boilers that provide steam or electricity to a co-located forest products processing plant are exempt.

HB 860

Putnam County; nonbinding advisory referendum; provide
By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 860 provides for a nonbinding advisory referendum to ascertain whether the electors of Putnam County desire the county board of commissioners to levy an ad valorem tax to retire debt incurred by the Putnam County Hospital Authority.

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HB 861

Motor vehicles; commercial carriers; amend certain definitions By: Rep. Marcus Wiedower (119th) Through the Motor Vehicles Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 861 revises the definition of a "commercial motor vehicle" to include vehicles that are used only in intrastate commerce or only in interstate commerce.

HB 865

Wills, trusts, and administration of estates; Revised Probate Code of 1998; revise and update provisions
By: Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (14th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 865 is a comprehensive, 108-page bill that amends provisions of Titles 7, 9, 10, 15, 19, 23, 50, and 53 of the Code relating to wills, trusts, and the administration of estates.

The bill clarifies and expands the jurisdiction of the probate court, codifies long-standing common law regarding the incorporation of existing documents into wills by certain reference, and provides effect for separate personal property memoranda referred to in a will. The bill expands the jurisdiction of both nonArticle 6 probate courts to include DNA testing and approval of settlement agreements and Article 6 probate courts to include trust matters and will constructions in fiduciary accounting proceedings. The probate court's ability to appoint a temporary administrator in the absence of a personal representative is clarified.

Regarding probate court procedure, the bill makes terminology more consistent throughout the Code, clarifies the requirements for service of notice and for filing creditors' claims, and restores the finality of solemn form probate. The time for filing objections in probate court is extended from 10 days to the 30 days, except when good cause is shown for shortening the time for responding.

Regarding wills, the bill provides that will execution and trust formalities are not satisfied by electronic presence and signature. Conditions in "no contest" clauses, are not enforceable against an interested person for: bringing an action for interpretation or enforcement; bringing an action for an accounting, removal, or for other relief against a personal representative; or entering into a settlement agreement. The bill also updates terminology, corrects errors, and clarifies provisions regarding time and procedure for service of notice.

Regarding year's support, Chapter 3 of Title 53 clarifies the preference of year's support before all other debts or demands, allows for divestment of property taxes under certain circumstances, and clarifies the application of year's support provisions to a decedent's minor children by individuals other than the surviving spouse.

Regarding trusts, the bill expands amendments previously made in 2018 with respect to virtual representation, non-judicial settlement agreements, trust modification, trust decanting, and trust directors. The changes refine the definition of a charitable trust, address appellate authority concerning creditors' rights to revocable trusts, and codify actions that do not violate a "no contest" clause in a trust instrument. Substantive and procedural requirements are provided for the modification of termination of trusts. The bill clears up Georgia's trust investment statute by explicitly providing for a "prudent investor" standard for the investment of trust assets. It also permits a trustee to consider the personal values of beneficiaries in making investment decisions.

Alimony obligations of estates are prioritized and protected.

Finally, the bill amends the 'Georgia Power of Attorney Act' to bring those uniform act provisions into line with pre-existing statutes regarding real property transfers and Medicaid qualification trusts. Article 6 probate court qualifications are amended to conform with the 2017 amendments to the superior and state court qualifications. The continued vitality of existing common law and equitable doctrines is codified for the probate Code, as it is for the trust Code, and the incorporation of powers by reference is clarified.

HB 869

Clayton County Water Authority; provide corporate powers and purposes

By: Rep. Mike Glanton (75th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 869 provides that the Clayton County Water Authority is a body corporate and politic, a political subdivision of the state, and a public corporation.

HB 871 Jasper County Public Facilities Authority Act; enact By: Rep. Susan Holmes (129th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 871 creates the Jasper County Public Facilities Authority.

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HB 873

Butts County; joint county-municipal board of elections; prohibit persons employed by certain

local governments from being eligible to serve on the board for a designated period of time

following their government employment

By: Rep. Susan Holmes (129th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 873 states no person who has been employed by Butts County or the cities of Jackson, Jenkinsburg, or Flovilla shall be eligible to serve as a member of the joint county-municipal board of elections and registration until three years has elapsed from the person's final date of employment.

HB 874

Butts County; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Susan Holmes (129th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 874 authorizes the governing authority of Butts County to levy an excise tax.

HB 875

Carroll County Water Authority; increase annual compensation cap for members

By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 875 increases the annual compensation cap for Carroll County Water

Authority members.

HB 876

Greene County Airport Authority; provide procedures for inactivation and reactivation

By: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 876 provides for procedures for inactivation and reactivation of the Greene County Airport Authority.

HB 877

Motor vehicles; standards for issuance of a Georgia certificate of title for certain motor vehicles;

provide

By: Rep. Don Hogan (179th)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 877 changes the definition of "low-speed vehicle" to include non-electric

vehicles that have been converted to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. The bill defines

"converted motor vehicle" and provides requirements for title issuance.

HB 879

Alcoholic beverages; legislative intent of the General Assembly to exercise strict regulatory

control over the three-tier system; provide

By: Rep. Brett Harrell (106th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 879 reinforces legislative intent to exercise strict control over the three-tier system for the regulation of alcoholic beverages. Except where prohibited by local ordinance or resolution, the bill allows a licensed package goods retailer to sell and deliver alcoholic beverages in unbroken packages for consumption off premises, if that retailer is not: a manufacturer of alcoholic beverages; a carrier; or a shipper.

The delivery must be made by a person at least 21 years of age who has: a Georgia driver's license; undergone a background check; no major traffic violation in the past three years; no conviction of driving under the influence in the past seven years; no match on the National Sex Offender Registry; and undergone approved training.

The deliverer must refuse to make the delivery if no individual is at the address to accept delivery; or the individual attempting to accept the delivery is less than 21 years old, fails to produce proper identification, fails to provide a signature that matches proper identification, or appears intoxicated.

HB 884

Tifton, City of; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 884 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Tifton to levy an excise tax.

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HB 888

Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act; enact

By: Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 888 is the 'Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act' and provides definitions

and provisions that only apply to health care plans that are subject to the regulatory authority of the Office of

Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner. "Surprise bill" means a bill resulting from an occurrence in which

charges arise from a covered person receiving health care services from an out-of-network provider at an in-

network facility.

Section 4 requires that regardless of whether a health care provider furnishing emergency medical services is a participating provider or not, an insurer providing benefits to covered persons with respect to emergency medical services must pay for the emergency medical services without need for any prior authorization determination or any retrospective payment denial for these services. In the event a covered person receives emergency medical services from a non-participating emergency medical provider, the provider notifies the person that no monies are owed for the provision of the services except the person's deductible, co-insurance, co-payment, or other cost-sharing amount. The provider collects or bills the person's cost-sharing amount, and the insurers directly pay the provider: the greater of the verifiable contracted amount paid by all eligible insurers for the same or similar service; the most recent verifiable amount agreed to by the insurer and nonparticipating provider; or a higher amount the insurer deems appropriate given the complexity and circumstances of the services provided. Any amount the insurer pays the non-participating provider is not required to include any amount of cost-sharing payments owed or paid by the person. A health care plan does not deny benefits for emergency medical services previously rendered based upon a covered person's failure to provide subsequent notification in accordance with plan provisions where the covered person's medical condition prevented timely notification. In the event a covered person receives emergency services from a nonparticipating facility, the facility bills the covered person no more than the person's cost-sharing amount. This part of the legislation adds out-of-network hospitals to the arbitration process for emergency services only.

Section 5 requires an insurer that provides benefits with non-emergency medical services to pay for these services in the event that the services result in a surprise bill regardless of whether the provider furnishing the services is a participating provider or not. In the event a covered person receives non-emergency medical services by a non-participating provider, the non-participating provider must notify the person that no monies are owed for the provision of services except the person's cost-sharing amount and collects or bills for that amount. Any amount that the insurer pays the non-participating provider is not required to include any of the cost-sharing portion owed by the covered person. For purposes of the covered person's financial responsibilities, the health care plan treats the non-emergency medical services received from a nonparticipating provider as if a participating provider rendered the services.

Section 6 states that no health care plan may deny or restrict the provision of covered benefits from a participating provider to a covered person solely because the covered person obtains treatment from a nonparticipating provider leading to a balance bill. The insurer provides notice of this protection in writing to the covered person.

Section 7 states nothing in this act reduces a covered person's financial responsibilities in the event that the covered person chooses to receive non-emergency medical services from an out-of-network provider. These services are not considered a surprise bill. The covered person's choice must be documented via written and oral consent in advance of the provision of services. Additionally, the covered person's choice may only occur after the person has been provided with an estimate of the potential charges. If during the provision of nonemergency medical services a covered person requests that the attending provider refer the person to another provider for the immediate provision of additional non-emergency medical services, the referring provider is exempt from the requirements of this act if the following are is satisfied: the referring provider advises the covered person that the referred provider may be a non-participating provider and may charge higher fees than a participating provider; the covered person orally and in writing acknowledges that the referred provider may be a non-participating provider and may charge higher fees than a participating provider; the written acknowledgment is on a document provided by the referring provider and includes language to be determined by the commissioner through rule and regulation; and the referring provider records the satisfaction of these requirements in the person's medical file.

Section 8 requires the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to maintain an all-payer health claims database and a record of insurer payments, which tracks the payments by a wide variety of health care services and by geographical areas of Georgia. The department updates information in this database at least annually and maintains the information on its website. If an appropriation is not provided for this database, the department will update information from other verifiable data as deemed appropriate on at least an annual basis.

Section 9 provides that if an out-of-network provider or facility concludes that payment received from an insurer is not sufficient given the complexity and circumstances of the services provided, the provider may

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initiate a request for arbitration with Office of the Insurance Commissioner. The provider submits this request within 30 days of receipt of payment for the claim and concurrently provides the insurer with a copy of the request. A request for arbitration may involve a single patient and a single type of health care service, a single patient and multiple types of health care services, multiple patients and a single type of health care service, or multiple substantially similar health care services in the same specialty on multiple patients.
Section 10 allows the office to dismiss certain requests for arbitration, if the disputed claim is: related to a health care plan that is not regulated by Georgia; pending action in state or federal court at the time of the request for arbitration; subject to a binding claims resolution process entered into prior to July 1, 2021; made against a health care plan subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the 'Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974'; or in accord with other circumstances as may be determined by rule.
Section 11 requires that within 30 days of the insurer's receipt of the provider's or facility's request for arbitration, the insurer submit to the commissioner all data necessary to determine whether the insurer's payment to the provider was in compliance. The commissioner is not required to make a determination prior to referring the dispute to a resolution organization for arbitration.
Section 12 authorizes the commissioner to promulgate rules implementing an arbitration process and to select one or more resolution organizations to arbitrate certain claim disputes between insurers and out-of-network providers or facilities. Prior to proceeding with arbitration, the commissioner will allow the parties 30 days from receipt of the request for arbitration to negotiate a settlement. The parties must notify the commissioner in a timely manner the result of the negotiation. If the parties have not notified the commissioner of the result within those 30 days, the commissioner has five days to refer the dispute to a resolution organization. The department will contract with one or more resolution organizations by July 1, 2021 to review and consider claim disputes between insurers and out-of-network providers.
Section 13 states that upon the commissioner's referral of a dispute to a resolution organization, the parties have five days to select an arbitrator by mutual agreement. If the parties have not notified the resolution organization of their mutual selection before the fifth day, the resolution organization will select an arbitrator from among its members. Any selected arbitrator will be independent of the parties and will not have a personal, professional, or financial conflict with any party to the arbitration. The arbitrator will have experience or knowledge in health care billing and reimbursement rates and will not communicate ex parte with either party.
Section 14 requires that the parties have 10 days after the selection of the arbitrator to submit in writing to the resolution organization each party's final offer and each party's argument in support of their offer. The parties' initial arguments are limited to 20 written pages per party. The parties may submit documents in support of their arguments, and the arbitrator may require additional written arguments and documentation as necessary, but the arbitrator may require the additional filing no more than once. Additional written arguments are limited to no more than 10 pages per party. The arbitrator may set filing times and extend filing times as appropriate. Failure of either party to submit the supportive documentation may result in a default against the party for failing to make the timely submission.
Section 15 requires that each party submit one proposed payment amount to the arbitrator. The arbitrator picks one of the two amounts and reveals that amount in the arbitrator's final decision. The arbitrator does not modify the selected amount. In making a decision, the arbitrator considers the complexity and circumstances of each case, including, but not limited to, the level of training, education, and experience of the provider and other factors. The arbitrator's final decision is in writing and describes the basis for a decision. Notwithstanding Code Section 33-20E-14, a decision will be made within 30 days of the commissioner's referral. Any default or final decision issued by the arbitrator is binding upon the parties and not appealable through the court system.
Section 16 requires the party whose final offer amount is not selected by the arbitrator to pay the arbitrator's expenses and fees, and any other fees assessed by the resolution organization directly to the resolution organization. In the event of default, the defaulting party is also responsible for the resolution organization's assessed fees. In the event that both parties default, both parties are responsible for paying the organization one-half of all monies due. Monies due will be paid in full to the resolution organization within 15 days of the losing party's receipt of the arbitrator's final decision. Within three days of the organization's receipt of monies due to the party whose final offer was selected, the monies will be distributed to that party.
Following the resolution of arbitration, the commissioner refers any case that a provider has acted in violation of this chapter to the appropriate state agency or governing entity with governing authority over the provider. The referral includes a description of violations and the commissioner's recommendation for enforcement action. That agency or governing entity may initiate an investigation regarding the referral within 30 days of receiving the referral and conclude it within 90 days of receiving the referral.

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Sections 18 thru 23 provide that once a request for arbitration has been filed with the commissioner by a provider, neither the provider nor the insurer in a dispute will file a lawsuit in court regarding the same out-ofnetwork claim. Each resolution organization contracted with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner reports to the office on a quarterly basis the results of all disputes referred to an organization as follows: the number of arbitrations filed, settled, arbitrated, defaulted, or dismissed during the previous calendar year, and whether the arbitrators' decisions were in favor of the insurer or the provider. On or before July 1, 2022 and each July 1 thereafter, the commissioner will provide a written report to the House Committee on Insurance and the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. This report, also posted on the department's website, summarizes the arbitrations. Non-participating providers do not report to any credit-reporting agency any covered person who receives a surprise bill for the receipt of health care services from a provider and does not pay the provider any co-pay, coinsurance, deductible, or other cost-sharing amount beyond what the covered person would pay the non-participating provider had the non-participating provider been a participating provider. Nothing in this chapter reduces a covered person's financial responsibilities with regard to ground ambulance transportation.
This act is effective on January 1, 2021.

HB 889 Toombs County Public Facilities Authority Act; enact

By: Rep. Greg Morris (156th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 889 creates the Toombs County Public Facilities Authority.

HB 893

Special Insurance Fraud Fund; frequency of assessments; reduce By: Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 893 reduces the frequency of Special Insurance Fraud Fund assessments from quarterly to annually.

HB 894

Seed Development Commission; stagger terms of members

By: Rep. Steven Meeks (178th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 894 staggers the terms for members of the Seed Development Commission. To do so, the initial terms for members appointed by May 31, 2021, are changed as follows: the governor's two

appointees shall serve a single four-year term; the lieutenant governor's appointee shall serve a single five-year term; and the speaker of the House's appointee shall serve a single five-year term. Initial terms for members

appointed by May 31, 2022, are changed as follows: two appointees, one each chosen by the House

Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee and the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee,

shall serve a single six-year term; the commissioner of Agriculture's appointee shall serve a single five-year term; and the dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the University of Georgia's

appointee shall serve a single five-year term. The successors to each of these initial appointees shall serve fouryear term.

HB 897

State Forestry Commission; create a standing timber notification website; require
By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 897 requires the State Forestry Commission to begin creating a website by October 1, 2020 for persons or firms harvesting standing timber to use as uniform system of notification to local governing authorities. The State Forestry Commission must provide notice of when the website is operational. Within 19 months of becoming operational, the State Forestry Commission shall set a date upon which use by persons or firms harvesting timber for notification purposes is mandatory.

Standing timber harvesting entities shall maintain a bond or letter of credit to protect the county or municipality against any damage that requires the restoration of a ditch structure, the removal of harvesting residue placed in or around rights-of-way, or the repair of county or municipal roads. A county or municipality has 30 days to provide a written claim of damage to the harvesting firm, at which time the harvesting firm has 30 days to do one of the following: request an extension of no more than 90 days to account for inclement weather; repair the damage at their own expense with the approval of the governing body; or appeal the written claim to the magistrate court of the county. If a bond or letter of credit is revoked, the harvesting entity has five business days to obtain a new bond or letter of credit. The governing authority may increase the required bond or letter of credit amount by $2,500 for each instance of revocation, up to $10,000 of the original bond or letter of credit.

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HB 901

Georgia Environmental Finance Authority; power to make loan commitments and loans to local

governments and nongovernment agencies for projects that permanently protect land and

water; provide

By: Rep. Mike Cheokas (138th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 901 allows the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to provide loans or loan commitments to local governments and non-governmental entities for projects that protect land or water with at least one of the following conservation purposes: water quality protection at rivers, streams, and lakes; flood or wetlands protection; erosion reduction; protection of riparian buffers; protection of agricultural and forestry lands; protection of cultural or heritage sites; scenic protection; recreational activities; or the connection of other qualifying projects.

The bills allows the State Treasurer to invest in mutual funds.

HB 907

Military; additional time period of service in the definition of "war veteran"; include

By: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th)

Through the Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 907 expands the service period for the definition of "war veteran" to those who were

discharged without any dishonorable conditions, served on active duty, or served in a reserve component of the

United States Armed Forces to include January 1, 1947 through June 26, 1950.

HB 911

Crimes and offenses; offenses of improper sexual conduct by a foster parent in the first and

second degrees; provide

By: Rep. Ed Setzler (35th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 911 adds foster parents to the list of individuals who have authority over individuals

under their care, such as teachers, therapists, and correctional officers, who can be charged with improper sexual contact in the first and second degree.

HB 912

Social services; authorize foster parents to arrange for short-term babysitting

By: Rep. Albert Reeves (34th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 912 allows a foster parent to arrange for an occasional short-term babysitter of a

child in foster care for up to 72 consecutive hours when the foster parent uses a reasonable and prudent

standard in selecting an appropriate babysitter.

The bill gives hearings involving dependency issues to take priority over cases involving jury trials. The Department of Family and Child Services may work with child placement agencies regarding the hours of training required for foster and respite families.

HB 914

Professions and businesses; military spouses licensed in other states to practice certain

professions and occupations in this state; provide

By: Rep. Heath Clark (147th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 914 requires professional licensing boards to issue an expedited license to a

military spouse or transitioning service member who holds a current license, in good standing, with another

state; examinations to demonstrate required knowledge may be required.

HB 918

Pharmacies; various provisions relating to the practice of pharmacy; revise

By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 918 amends 'The Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights' to exclude the cost of claims

by prescription number as a criterion in determining which claims to audit. Audits will not include more than

100 prescriptions per audit and an entity will not audit more than 200 prescriptions in any 12-month period.

A pharmacy is not responsible for any penalty or fee in connection with an audit. There is no recoupment of funds from a pharmacy in connection with claims for which the pharmacy has already been paid without first complying with these requirements. There is no recoupment from a pharmacy except in cases of fraud, a missfilled prescription, or an error that resulted in an over-payment, in which case the recoupment is limited to the amount over-paid. Additionally, this bill limits the auditing of a pharmacy to no more than once every six months.

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HB 921

South Fulton, City of; revise provisions regarding the city attorney

By: Rep. Roger Bruce (61st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 921 revises provisions relating to the city attorney for the city of South Fulton.

HB 922

Whitfield County Board of Education; revise and restate the law

By: Rep. Kasey Carpenter (4th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 922 repeals a local constitutional amendment providing for the division of Whitfield

County into school districts, and revises the law relating to the Whitfield County Board of Education.

HB 923

Clinch County; Board of Education; modify the compensation of the members

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 923 modifies the compensation of the Clinch County Board of Education

members. The chairperson of the board of education shall receive a per diem of $500 for each day of

attendance at regular meetings and $100 for each day of attendance at called meetings, including training sessions, provided the compensation shall not exceed $700 per month. The other members of the board shall

receive a per diem of $400 for each day of attendance at regular meetings and $100 for each day of attendance at called meetings, including training session, provided the compensation shall not exceed $600 per month.

HB 924

Habersham County; Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenue; update the procedures for

filling vacancies

By: Rep. Terry Rogers (10th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 924 updates the procedures for filling vacancies on the Habersham County

Board of Commissioners.

HB 932

Georgia Podiatry Practice Act; podiatric medicine and surgery; change certain provisions
By: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 932 provides that doctors of podiatric medicine who are practicing within their scope of practice as established by law may organize and jointly own a professional corporation with any doctors of medicine or osteopathy. Additionally, this bill adds a criminal background check to the list of licensure requirements for podiatric medicine.

HB 933

Troup County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

By: Rep. Randy Nix (69th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 933 increases a homestead exemption from $10,000 to $40,000 for residents

of the Troup County School District who are 65 and older with incomes not exceeding $40,000.

HB 935 Gwinnett County; Recorder's Court; provide for senior judges By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 935 provides for senior judges of the Gwinnett County Recorder's Court.

HB 942 Flowery Branch, City of; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Emory Dunahoo (30th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: HB 942 allows the city of Flowery Branch to levy an excise tax.

HB 943

Oakwood, City of; levy an excise tax By: Rep. Emory Dunahoo (30th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 943 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Oakwood to levy an excise tax.

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HB 944

Miller County; Board of Education; provide for the election of members by qualified electors within their respective districts
By: Rep. Winfred Dukes (154th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 944 provides for the election of the Miller County Board of Education members by district.

HB 945

Miller County; Board of Commissioners; provide for the election of members by qualified electors within their respective districts
By: Rep. Winfred Dukes (154th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 945 provides for the election of the Miller County Board of Commissioners by district.

HB 946

Insurance; extensive revisions regarding pharmacy benefits managers; provide

By: Rep. David Knight (130th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 946 requires any physician employed or contracted with a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) that is advising or making determinations specific to an insured individual to: have actively seen patients within the past five years; and has practiced in the same specialty area for which the physician is providing advisement within the past five years. The Department of Community Health (DCH) is encouraged to require the use of a licensed Georgia physician for prior authorization, step therapy appeals, or determination reviews for contracts and amendments entered into with a PBM.

This bill grants the Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulatory authority of PBMs in Georgia. Any methodologies utilized by a PBM in connection with reimbursement must be filed with the department. A PBM must utilize the national average drug acquisition cost as a point of reference for the ingredient drug product component of a pharmacy's reimbursement for drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list. A report must be filed with the department every four months detailing all drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list reimbursed at 10 percent and below the national average drug acquisition cost, as well as all drugs reimbursed at 10 percent and above this national average. For each drug in the report, a PBM must include: the month the drug was dispensed; the quantity of the drug dispensed; the amount the pharmacy was reimbursed per unit or dosage; whether the dispensing pharmacy was an affiliate; whether the drug was dispensed pursuant to a state or local government health plan; and the national average drug acquisition cost on the day the drug was dispensed.

PBMs will not engage in any practice that: discriminates in reimbursement, assesses any fees or adjustments, or excludes a pharmacy from the PBM's network; in any way bases pharmacy reimbursement for a drug on the patient outcomes, scores, or metrics; includes imposing a point-of-sale fee or retroactive fee; or derives any revenue from a pharmacy or insured in connection with performing PBM services.

PBMs are required to pass on to the health plan 100 percent of all rebates it receives from pharmaceutical manufacturers and report annually to each health plan the aggregate amount of all rebates and other payments that the PBM received from pharmaceutical manufactures in connection with claims if administered on behalf of the health plan. PBMs must offer the option of charging a health plan the same price for a prescription drug as it pays a pharmacy for the prescription drug. A PBM must report in the aggregate to a health plan the difference between the amount the PBM reimburses a pharmacy and the amount the PBM charges a health plan. This information will be confidential and not subject to open records unless the health plan is administered by the DCH.

HB 953

Administrative Services, Department of; certain terms in particular types of state contracts

shall be void and unenforceable and should not be included in such agreements; provide

By: Rep. Bonnie Rich (97th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 953, relating to state purchasing, provides guidelines for contracts that are

entered into by the Department of Administrative Services. The bill authorizes the department to enter into

agreements with cooperative purchasing organizations.

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HB 957

Education; certain charter school employees shall be included in the health insurance fund for

public school teachers; provide

By: Rep. Jan Jones (47th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 957 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-880 to clarify that teachers at charter schools are

eligible to participate in state health insurance plans. Section II of House Bill 957 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-2066 to allow charter school governing boards to require proof of residency either at the time of application or

enrollment. Under the provisions of this bill, the term a State Charter Schools Commission member serves will

increase from a two-year to a four-year term. HB 957 further creates a new Code Section 20-2-2088.1 to

require closing state charter schools to retain records for one year so educational records can be forwarded to former students' new schools. After one year, the state charter school will transfer all records to the State

Charter Schools Commission.

HB 966

Conservation and natural resources; regulate the harvest and sale of palmetto berries
By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 966 provides for the harvest and sale of saw palmetto berries. A saw palmetto berry seller must obtain a certificate of harvest from a landowner indicating permission for harvest to sell to a saw palmetto berry dealer. A saw palmetto berry dealer that purchases berries directly from a landowner must obtain a certificate of harvest from the landowner. Any person that participates in the procurement of saw palmetto berries shall maintain a legible record of all activities and purchase transactions for no less than two years from the date of harvest.

Law enforcement or the director of the State Forestry Commission may issue an order to stop harvest, sale, or use if there is an indication that an individual is in violation of the provisions for the harvest and sale of saw palmetto berries. The berries must be released if proof of the requirements being met are provided to law enforcement or the director. If the violation is upheld by the superior court of the county in which the saw palmetto berries are found, the berries shall be destroyed.

The following violations are considered misdemeanors that may be punished by a fine of no more than $1,000: the sale of saw palmetto berries to a berry dealer or seller without first obtaining a certificate of harvest; the harvest of saw palmetto berries without obtaining a certificate of harvest from the landowner; the purchase of saw palmetto berries without obtaining a landowner's certificate of harvest; or knowingly possessing saw palmetto berries that were harvested illegally. A person that knowingly purchases or sells saw palmetto berries valued at less than $1,500 without a landowner's certificate of harvest may be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by either or both a fine equal to the value of the berries and/or up to one year imprisonment. If the value of the saw palmetto berries exchanged exceeds $1,500, the person that knowingly purchased or sold the berries may be punished by either or both a fine equal to the value of the berries, up to $5,000, and imprisonment of up to three years.

HB 967

Columbus, City of; Municipal Court; provide that the sheriff of Muscogee County shall be the

ex officio marshal of said court

By: Rep. Vance Smith (133rd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 967 provides that the sheriff of Muscogee County shall be the ex officio marshal of the Columbus Municipal Court.

HB 969

Housing; certain provisions pertaining to unlawful practices in selling or renting dwellings and the procedures, remedies, and judicial review related thereto; change
By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 969 amends Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 of the Code, regarding fair housing, to meet the "substantially equivalent" threshold required for state housing laws in order to be certified by the Fair Housing Assistance Program. The bill clarifies the purpose of preventing the administrator of the Commission on Equal Opportunity from pursuing actions for discrimination in housing if the Department of Housing and Urban Development has already initiated an investigation or action, and provides that it is not intended to prevent the dual filing of complaints on the state and federal level.

The bill removes the attorney general's discretion when determining whether to pursue an action for housing discrimination and requires the attorney general to pursue the action if elected by the involved parties, or if the administrator recommends action.

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In the event the parties do not elect for the attorney general to pursue the action, the administrator shall refer the complaint to an administrative law judge instead of the board of directors of the Commission on Equal Opportunity. The administrator may review and reject or modify any finding by the administrative law judge. If no party appeals to the administrator, and the administrator takes no action, the finding becomes final after 30 days. A party may appeal the final order in the Superior Court of Fulton County within 30 days. The standard of review for the appeal is changed to be consistent with the 'Administrative Procedure Act'. Attorney's fees and court costs may not be awarded to respondents unless the respondent prevails on all alleged violations in addition to showing that the action was frivolous.
Respondents to a complaint alleging housing discrimination must serve an answer on the administrator, in addition to the complainant. The requirement that discovery in actions for housing discrimination, and the enforcement thereof, be conducted in the same manner as discovery under the 'Civil Practice Act' is removed. This bill also corrects cross-references within the Code.

HB 972

Public utilities and public transportation; penalties for violations of pipeline safety standards and regulations prescribed and enforced by the Public Service Commission; provide
By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 972 provides penalties for violations for pipeline safety standards and regulations prescribed and enforced by the Public Service Commission pursuant to O.C.G.A. 46-2-20. Any operator who violates a rule or regulation or which fails, neglects, or refuses to comply with any order after notification is liable to a penalty not to exceed the maximum penalty provided for in federal Code 49 C.F.R. Section 190.223.

HB 975

Madison County; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

By: Rep. Tom McCall (33rd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 975 provides an $8,000 homestead exemption from Madison County ad valorem taxes for residents of the county who are 70 years old.

HB 976 Bulloch County Public Facilities Authority Act; enact By: Rep. Jan Tankersley (160th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 976 creates the Bulloch County Public Facilities Authority.

HB 983

Sexual Offender Registration Review Board; information required to be provided by sexual offenders when they register; revise
By: Rep. Ricky Williams (145th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 983 adds landlines and mobile telephone numbers to the list of required registration information that must be submitted to the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board. A sexual offender who resides in a private or state operated health care facility, hospice facility, or skilled nursing home may complete the annual registration requirement at any time during their birthday month with the permission of the sheriff of the county where the offender resides. The sheriff may also waive that offender's requirement to be fingerprinted, but the sheriff shall still be authorized to photograph the offender.

HB 984

Criminal procedure; sentencing; change provisions
By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 984 grants the sentencing court more time to hear arguments regarding motions modifying a defendant's sentence by removing the requirement to issue an order or hear the matter within the time limits required to file the motion by the defendant. The bill clarifies the computation of time served by granting the defendant time served for each day of incarceration in any facility pre- and post-trial.

HB 985 Homer, City of; city council; provide for election districts

By: Rep. Chris Erwin (28th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 985 provides for election districts for the Homer City Council.

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HB 987

Health; additional measures for the protection of elderly persons; provide

By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 987 provides several new provisions for the protection of elderly persons in

personal care homes with 25 beds or more and in assisted living facilities, to include: requiring an initial and

annual training for direct care staff; maintaining a minimum on-site staffing ratio of one direct care staff person

for every 15 residents during waking hours, and one for every 20 residents during non-waking hours; providing

a 60-day notice to the Department of Community Health and residents of any bankruptcy or property eviction

and a 14-day notice for any change of ownership that affects care; and providing a financial stability affidavit

upon submission of application for licensure to affirm ability to operate for two years.

Additionally, assisted living facilities must maintain at least two direct care staff at all times and a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) between eight and 40 hours per week depending on number of residents in facility.

House Bill 987 also provides a certification for memory care units that must provide the following staff: one dementia trained staff person for every 12 residents; one licensed social worker or professional counselor for eight hours per month; one RN, LPN, or certified medication aide at all times; at least two direct care staff at all times; at least one RN or LPN between eight and 40 hours on-site depending on number of residents; and initial and annual dementia specific training.

The bill adds a provision related to COVID-19. Each personal care home with 25 or more beds, each assisted living community, and each nursing home licensed in Georgia must: inform its residents and their representatives by 5:00 p.m. the next day following the occurrence of either a single confirmed infection of COVID-19 or another type of airborne infectious disease; maintain a minimum seven-day supply of protective masks, surgical gowns, eye protection, and gloves; maintain and publish policies and procedures pertaining to control and mitigation efforts; and include a pandemic plan for influenza and other infectious diseases. Unless previously tested, and no later than 90 days after its effective date, each resident and direct care staff person in a long-term facility in Georgia is required to receive an initial baseline molecular Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) CoV-2 test.

Additionally, this bill creates the State Board of Long-Term Care Facility Administrators consisting of nine members: three members who are nursing home administrators in Georgia; three members who are either a personal care home or assisted living community administrator; two members of the public who are not administrators; and one member who is a health care professional.

Furthermore, House Bill 987 imposes a mandatory fine of at least $5,000, and increases the maximum daily fine for long-term care facilities from $1,000 to $2,000 up to a total of $40,000 for any violation that causes the death or serious physical injury of a resident.

HB 988

Macon County; board of elections and registration; expand from three to five members

By: Rep. Patty Bentley (139th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 988 expands the Macon County Board of Elections and Registration from

three members to five members.

HB 990 Screven, City of; terms of mayor and city council; revise

By: Rep. Steven Meeks (178th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 990 revises the terms of the mayor and city council of Screven.

HB 991

Healthcare Transparency and Accountability Act; enact

By: Rep. Matt Hatchett (150th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 991 creates the Health Care Transparency and Accountability Oversight

Committee. The committee has authority to review the performance and conduct of all state health care plan contractors and their subcontractors. The oversight committee is composed of nine members: a physician, a

pharmacist, and a consumer member who receives benefits from a state health care plan, each appointed by the governor; and six members of the General Assembly, including two members appointed by the governor, two

members appointed by the lieutenant governor, and two members appointed by the speaker of the House.

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HB 993

Health; vital records reports and data from the state registrar relating to child abuse reports;

provide

By: Rep. Katie Dempsey (13th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 993 directs the state registrar to provide reports filed regarding abuse and neglect

concerning a child or his or her parents or siblings to the Division of Family and Children Services. The bill eliminates the child abuse registry as well as any reference to the registry in Code.

HB 998

Game and fish; effective date of rules and regulations promulgated by the Board of Natural

Resources; change

By: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th)

Through the Game, Fish, & Parks Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 998 aligns implied consent language regarding boating or hunting while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or other substances to acknowledge that submitting to a chemical test is optional. The effective date of any rules and regulations regarding criminal violations promulgated by the Board of Natural Resources is changed from January 1, 2019 to January 1, 2020.

The bill designates the shoal bass as the official Georgia state riverine sport fish.

The use of an air gun for hunting big game is allowed until July 1, 2025, at which time the General Assembly shall review the statute.

The Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority shall exist for an additional 40 years past its initial 99-year term.

House Bill 998 eliminates the requirement for the Department of Natural Resources to annually report the number of deer killed to the General Assembly.

HB 1000 Braselton, Town of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1000 allows the governing authority of the town of Braselton to levy an excise tax.

HB 1005 Forsyth, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Robert Dickey (140th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1005 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Forsyth to levy an excise tax.

HB 1008 Buildings and housing; residential industrial building; revise the definition

By: Rep. Joe Campbell (171st)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1008 revises the definition of "residential industrialized building" by removing the

restriction that prohibits the structure from having a permanent metal chassis.

HB 1016 Atkinson County; Board of Education; change compensation of members By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1016 changes the compensation of the Atkinson County Board of Education members to $500 per month.

HB 1017 Public officers and employees; revise when dependents qualify for a payment of indemnification for death under the Georgia State Indemnification Fund
By: Rep. Dominic LaRiccia (169th) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1017 requires indemnification payments for death suffered in the line of duty by a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, emergency management specialist, state highway employee, or a prison guard to be made to the surviving, not remarried spouse; the surviving children under the age of 19, or under the age of 24 if the child is a student enrolled in an institution of postsecondary education; or any dependents not included in Georgia Code, but who are shown as dependents in the spouse's or deceased person's most recent tax return. In the case of organic brain damage suffered in the line of duty, the payment is made to the legal guardian of the organically brain-damaged person. The bill applies to claims regarding any incident giving rise to a death occurring on or after August 1, 2016.
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HB 1019 South Fulton, City of; offices of mayor and councilmember are part time; provide By: Rep. Debra Bazemore (63rd) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1019 provides that the offices of the city of South Fulton mayor and councilmember are part time.

HB 1025 Acworth, City of; adopt by reference a certain map

By: Rep. Ed Setzler (35th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1025 adopts by reference a certain map for the city of Acworth.

HB 1029 Twiggs County; office of probate judge; provide nonpartisan elections

By: Rep. Danny Mathis (144th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1029 specifies that elections for the office of probate judge of Twiggs County

will be nonpartisan. The bill does not affect the current term of the sitting probate judge of Twiggs County, but will apply in all future elections.

HB 1030 Twiggs County; office of chief judge of the Magistrate Court; provide nonpartisan elections

By: Rep. Danny Mathis (144th)

Through the Governmental Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1030 specifies that elections for the office of chief judge of the magistrate

court of Twiggs County will be nonpartisan. The bill does not impact the current term of the chief judge of the

magistrate court of Twiggs County, but will apply in all future elections.

HB 1033 Cobb County; State Court; change salary of the executive assistant to the clerk

By: Rep. Ginny Ehrhart (36th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1033 changes the salary of the executive assistant to the clerk of the Cobb

County State Court to $64,645.56.

HB 1037 Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act; move certain sound recordings from qualified

production activities to production expenditures

By: Rep. Matt Dollar (45th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1037 amends 48-7-40.26, relating to the 'Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act' by expanding the audit requirements, restricting the additional 10 percent credit received for

including the Georgia promotional, and by limiting the qualified expenditures.

The bill requires all productions claiming credits to be audited by either an independent auditor or the Department of Revenue. Beginning January 1, 2021, all projects seeking a credit greater than $2.5 million must comply with the audit requirements. Beginning January 1, 2022, all projects seeking a credit greater than $1.25 million must comply with the audit requirements. Beginning January 1, 2023, all projects seeking a credit of any amount must comply with the audit requirements.

When applying for the tax credit, the production company must submit the following information prior to beginning the required audit: a description of the state certified production; a detailed accounting of all qualified production activities; a detailed listing of employee names and wages when salaries are included in the base investment; receipts for tangible personal property included in the base investment; contracts for goods or services included in the base investment; W-9 forms completed and issued by each vendor for which expenditures are included in the base investment; notification of any intent to utilize an eligible auditor; a description of the distribution of the state certified production; the total amount of the tax credit sought; and a statement affirming that the documents submitted are true and correct.

Each audit must do the following: be completed in accordance with this Code section and procedures developed by the department; utilize sampling methods adopted by the department; follow regulations published by the department; verify each expenditure and exclude any that do not fully meet the requirements; exclude any expenditure not submitted or which occurred after the application was submitted; and be submitted to the department for review and revisions prior to issuing a final certificate.

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The department shall provide for certification and decertification of certified public accountants as eligible auditors. To obtain certification an accountant must: register with the department; maintain its registration with the Georgia State Board of Accountancy; agree to and be capable of completing audits in accordance with procedures developed by the department; successfully complete all training required; pay the department a registration fee; and post and maintain any bond the department establishes for each auditor.
For each year a production company claims or transfers the tax credit, the production company must attach the following information to the companies tax return: the amount of the credit claimed; any tax credit previously taken by the production company; the amount of tax credit carried over from prior years; the amount of tax credit utilized in the current tax year; and the amount of tax credit to be carried over to subsequent tax years.
The bill also states that the additional 10 percent credit received for including the Georgia promotional logo shall only be allowed after a production or other qualifying product has been commercially distributed in multiple markets.
The bill limits the qualified post-production expenditures by specifically excluding expenditures for work or services not conducted in Georgia, expenditures for goods that were not purchased or rented in Georgia from a Georgia retailer, and transactions that are subject to sales and use tax but where the sales and use tax was not paid.
The carry-forward period for the credits earned is reduced from five years to three years.

HB 1039 Contracts; additional protections for consumers who enter into service contracts that contain

lengthy automatic renewal provisions; provide

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1039 requires that a seller for any contract for service that automatically renews for a

period of more than 24 months must obtain the following for the automatic renewal provision to be

enforceable: written or electronic acknowledgement from the consumer that a notification has been provided,

and a written or electronic response indicating the consumer does not intend to terminate the contract.

HB 1042 Fannin County; levy an excise tax; authorize

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1042 authorizes the governing authority of Fannin County to levy an excise tax.

HB 1043 Fannin County; Board of Education; change compensation of members

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1043 changes the compensation of the Fannin County Board of Education

members to $12,000.

HB 1050 Georgia Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association; certain persons receiving insurance coverage from health maintenance organization subscriber contracts or health care corporation plans; extend association protections
By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1050 adds "health care management organizations" to the life and health association guarantee fund and equally splits future assessments for long-term care insurer insolvencies between the association's member insurers.

HB 1051 Arabi, Town of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Noel Williams (148th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1051 provides a new charter for the town of Arabi.

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HB 1057 Agriculture; further regulation of soil amendments derived from industrial by-products by local

governments; authorize

By: Rep. Trey Rhodes (120th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1057 prohibits the distribution or application of fertilizer or a soil amendment that

contains domestic septage. The first instance an individual is caught distributing or applying fertilizer or a soil amendment that contains domestic septage shall be considered a misdemeanor, with each subsequent violation

being considered a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. The first offense shall carry a penalty of no

more than $25,000, while each subsequent offense shall be penalized no more than $50,000 per violation.

Any individual that distributes a soil amendment must pay the commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources a fee of no more than $0.30 per ton. Each registrant must keep records of sales and file semi-annual reports that include the fee payments.

The bill allows for the Department of Natural Resources to set the minimum standards for the application of soil amendments derived from industrial by-products through rules and regulations, excluding forest products, slates, clays, shells, gypsum, and lime. Local governments may further regulate soil amendments by adopting or enforcing any zoning ordinance that exceeds the minimum standards set by the department.

HB 1070 Condominiums; new insurance policy disclosure requirements for condominium associations and unit owners in the event of potential or actual claims filed against such policies; provide
By: Rep. Houston Gaines (117th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1070 allows a condominium association and unit owners to request a written copy of the certificate of insurance or contact information of the assigned adjuster from the other party for claims related to water damage.

HB 1075 Atlanta, City of; Board of Education; provide for staggered terms for members

By: Rep. Betsy Holland (54th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1075 provides for staggered terms for members of the Atlanta Independent School System Board of Education.

HB 1087 Holly Springs, City of; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption in the amount of up to

$409,900.00 for residents 62 years or older

By: Rep. Scot Turner (21st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1087 provides a homestead exemption from city of Holly Springs ad valorem taxes up to $409,900 of the appraised value of the homestead for residents who are 62 and older.

HB 1088 Ludowici, City of; change corporate limits

By: Rep. J. B. Jones (167th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1088 changes the corporate limits of the city of Ludowici.

HB 1090 Labor and industrial relations; provisions regarding employer's obligation to provide break time for an employee to express breast milk; revise
By: Rep. Deborah Silcox (52nd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1090 requires employers to provide break time to employees who need to express breast milk. Additionally, this bill allows the labor commissioner to set the amount of deductible earnings related to a person's unemployment up to $300 and grants the commissioner of insurance the authority to adopt emergency rules during a declared statewide emergency and authorize a work-sharing program.

HB 1093 Agriculture; provide for an Agricultural Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes

By: Rep. Steven Meeks (178th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1093 creates the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Wine and Grapes. Two members shall be producers of wine as appointed by ex-officio members and one member from each of the three designated regions in the state.

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HB 1098 Highways, bridges, and ferries; development of a state-wide strategic transportation plan;

provide

By: Rep. Kasey Carpenter (4th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1098 updates the requirement for the Department of Transportation to

develop the statewide strategic transportation plan in coordination with the statewide transportation plan that is required by the federal government. The legislation allows for the relocation of billboards with obstructed

visibility due to the construction of a sound wall, noise barrier, or other transportation related improvement.

The bill requires the local jurisdiction to provide a variance or compensation for damages related to land use ordinances when rights of way or real property are acquired or condemned by a state agency, county, or municipality and documentation of conflict has been issued to a property owner.

HB 1102 Revised Homestead Option Sales and Use Tax Act of 2020; enact

By: Rep. Dale Rutledge (109th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1102 amends Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., by adding the 'Revised

Homestead Option Sales and Use Tax Act of 2020.' The bill allows for the voters of a county where a

homestead option sales and use tax (HOST) is currently in place to file a petition, signed by at least 10 percent of the registered voters, with the county election superintendent to replace the current HOST with a revised

homestead option sales and use tax (RHOST). Ninety-nine percent of the proceeds of a RHOST must be disbursed to each municipality and used to roll back, and eliminate if possible, the millage rates for the ad

valorem taxes on homesteaded properties and the remaining one percent shall be directed to the state general

fund to defray the cost of administration.

The bill also contains ballot language for the replacement of a HOST with a RHOST and the termination of a RHOST.

HB 1110 East Dublin, City of; new term for the mayor pro tempore; provide

By: Rep. Matt Hatchett (150th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1110 provides a new term for the mayor pro tempore of the town of East Dublin, and provides for the designation of at-large councilmember posts.

HB 1114 Medical assistance; Medicaid coverage for lactation care and services and postpartum care;

provide

By: Rep. Sharon Cooper (43rd)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1114 requires the Department of Community Health to provide Medicaid

coverage, and pursue a waiver if needed, to provide coverage for lactation care and services to pregnant and

lactating women, children who are breastfeeding or receiving their mother's milk, and postpartum care for

mothers for a period of up to six months following birth. This bill will become effective only upon the effective

date of a specific appropriation of funds by the General Assembly.

HB 1115 Clarksville, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Terry Rogers (10th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1115 provides a new charter for the city of Clarkesville.

HB 1117 Stewart County; Board of Education; provide for compensation and expenses of members

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1117 provides for the compensation and expenses of the Stewart County

Board of Education members. Board members, excluding the chairperson, shall receive $300 per month. The

chairperson shall receive $350 per month.

HB 1118 Douglas, City of; election of members of governing authority; provide By: Rep. Dominic LaRiccia (169th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1118 provides for the election of the members of the governing authority of the city of Douglas.

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HB 1119 Paulding County; State Court; create

By: Rep. Joseph Gullett (19th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1119 creates the state court of Paulding County.

HB 1125 Lacee's Law; enact

By: Rep. Trey Kelley (16th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1125 requires the Department of Community Health and the Georgia Composite Medical Board to identify and compile information on an annual basis that identifies individuals at high risk for breast cancer. Additionally, the bill requires the State Health Benefit Plan to include coverage for breast cancer screening for women ages 30 or older who are at high risk of breast cancer.

HB 1132 Cochran, City of; include mayor as a member of the governing authority

By: Rep. Danny Mathis (144th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1132 adds the mayor as a member of the governing authority of the city of

Cochran.

HB 1137 Washington County; State Court; authorize assessment and collection of a technology fee

By: Rep. Mack Jackson (128th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1137 authorizes the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Washington County State Court.

HB 1138 Argyle, Town of; elections and procedures; provide

By: Rep. John Corbett (174th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1138 provides for elections and procedures for the town of Argyle, in

addition to powers and duties of the mayor, councilmembers, and other positions in the town.

HB 1142 Forsyth County; creation or expansion of one or more community improvement districts in any

municipality; authorize

By: Rep. Todd Jones (25th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1142 authorizes the creation or expansion of one or more community improvement districts in any municipality in Forsyth County.

HB 1145 Calhoun, City of; terms and qualifications for the mayor, councilmembers and board of

education members; provide

By: Rep. Matt Barton (5th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1145 provides terms of office and qualifications for the mayor, councilmembers, and members of the board of education in the city of Calhoun.

HB 1147 Upson County; board of education; modify compensation of members

By: Rep. Ken Pullin (131st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1147 modifies the compensation of the Upson County Board of Education

members. The base compensation of each member shall be $500 per month, provided that the actual monthly

compensation shall be based upon the percentage of meetings such member actually attended each month. Calculation of a member's actual monthly compensation is made by dividing the number of meetings attended

by the actual number of meetings scheduled each month, and then multiplying the quotient by $500.

HB 1148 Berrien County; Magistrate Court; provide for election of future chief magistrates By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1148 provides for the non-partisan elections of future chief magistrates of the Berrien County Magistrate Court.

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HB 1154 Dade County; Probate Court; charge technology fee

By: Rep. Colton Moore (1st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1154 authorizes the Dade County Probate Court to charge a technology fee for each fine assessed for a criminal, traffic, or ordinance violation.

HB 1156 Cobb County; tax commissioner's office; change compensation of certain employees

By: Rep. John Carson (46th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1156 changes the compensation of certain employees of the Cobb County tax

commissioner. The tax commissioner shall receive a minimum salary as provided by Code Section 48-5-183, in

addition to a supplement of $23,986.68. The tax commissioner is allowed one chief clerk whose salary shall be

$117,502.65. Two positions, an executive secretary and an administrative specialist, shall receive salaries of $64,645.56.

HB 1157 Barrow County; State Court; create By: Rep. Terry England (116th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1157 creates the Barrow County State Court.

HB 1160 Uvalda, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Greg Morris (156th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1160 provides a new charter for the city of Uvalda.

HB 1162 Blue Ridge, City of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. David Ralston (7th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1162 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Blue Ridge to levy an

excise tax.

HB 1163 Randolph County; board of education; change compensation of members

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1163 changes the compensation of the Randolph County Board of Education members. Board members, excluding the chairperson, shall receive $300 per month, and the chairperson will receive $350 per month.

HB 1165 Joint Liberty County, City of Gum Branch, City of Midway, City of Riceboro, and City of Walthourville Fire Protection Facilities and Equipment Authority; repeal Act

By: Rep. Al Williams (168th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1165 repeals the joint Liberty County, city of Gum Branch, city of Midway, city of Riceboro, and city of Walthourville Fire Protection Facilities and Equipment Authority.

HB 1166 Fayette County; school district ad valorem tax; provide new homestead exemption

By: Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1166 provides a new homestead exemption, which has the effect of a

valuation freeze, from Fayette County School District ad valorem taxes.

HB 1167 Atlanta, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide new homestead exemption

By: Rep. Park Cannon (58th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1167 provides a new homestead exemption from city of Atlanta ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes in the amount of $30,000 for each resident of Atlanta who holds real property subject to a written lease having an initial term of not less than 99 years with a landlord that is an entity exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and who owns all improvements located on the real property.

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HB 1169 Shellman, City of; filling vacancies on the city council; revise provisions

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1169 revises provisions for filling vacancies on the Shellman City Council.

HB 1171 Newton County; dissolve Recreation Commission; authorize By: Rep. Pam Dickerson (113th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: HB 1171 allows Newton County to dissolve the Newton County Recreation Commission.

HB 1173 Bluffton, City of; mayor can vote to provide a majority on city council; provide

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1173 provides that the mayor of the city of Bluffton can vote on the city council to provide a majority.

HB 1174 Newton County Public Facilities Authority Act; enact By: Rep. Pam Dickerson (113th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1174 creates the Newton County Public Facilities Authority and provides for the appointment of members to the authority.

HB 1175 Port Wentworth, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Bill Hitchens (161st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1175 provides a new charter for the city of Port Wentworth.

HB 1176 Mountain Park, City of; new term for a city council seat; provide

By: Rep. Jan Jones (47th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1176 provides a new term for a Mountain Park City Council seat.

HB 1177 Jefferson, City of; independent school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1177 amends a city of Jefferson independent school system homestead

exemption by requiring yearly income statements to continue to receiving the exemption.

HB 1178 Commerce, City of; independent school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1178 amends a city of Commerce independent school district homestead exemption by requiring yearly income statements to continue to receive the exemption.

HB 1179 Jackson County; school district ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption

By: Rep. Tommy Benton (31st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1179 amends a Jackson County school district homestead exemption by

requiring yearly income statements to the tax commissioner to continue to receive the exemption.

HB 1180 Chattooga County; Board of Education; election of members; repeal amendment By: Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1180 repeals the local amendment to the state constitution for the election of members of the Chattooga County Board of Education.

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HB 1181 Johnson County; Board of Education; change compensation of members

By: Rep. Matt Hatchett (150th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1181 changes the compensation of the members of the Johnson County Board

of Education. Each member, except for the chair, shall receive a $200 per diem, while the chairperson shall

receive a $250 per diem for each day of attendance at meetings of the board and while meeting and traveling as

a member of a committee of the board on official business first authorized by a majority of the board.

HB 1182 Hall County Family Connection Network; repeal an Act

By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1182 repeals an act creating the Hall County Family Connection Network.

HB 1183 Pine Mountain, Town of; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Vance Smith (133rd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1183 authorizes the governing authority of the town of Pine Mountain to levy an excise tax.

HB 1189 Hall County Commission for Children and Families; repeal an Act

By: Rep. Matt Dubnik (29th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1189 repeals the Hall County Commission for Children and Families.

HB 1191 Bacon County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1191 authorizes the Bacon County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees as part of the court costs in the magistrate court.

HB 1192 Pierce County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1192 authorizes the Pierce County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees as part of the court costs in the magistrate court.

HB 1193 Brantley County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1193 authorizes the Brantley County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees as part of the court costs in the magistrate court.

HB 1194 Ware County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1194 authorizes the Ware County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees as part of the court costs in the magistrate court.

HB 1195 Berrien County; office of probate judge; provide nonpartisan elections By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1195 provides for future elections for the office of probate judge of Berrien County to be non-partisan.

HB 1196 Coffee County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1196 authorizes the Coffee County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees as part of the court costs in the magistrate court.

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HB 1197 Charlton County; Magistrate Court; impose and collect county law library fees By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1197 authorizes the Charlton County Magistrate Court to impose and collect county law library fees as part of the court costs in the magistrate court.

HB 1198 Hart County; ad valorem tax; increase amount of homestead exemption

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1198 amends a Hart County homestead exemption by increasing the amount of the county exemption for residents 65 and older from $10,000 to $15,000 of the assessed value of that homestead.

HB 1199 Franklin County; ad valorem tax; increase amount of homestead exemption

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1199 amends a Franklin County homestead exemption for both county and

educational purposes by raising the exemption amount to $20,000 of the assessed value.

HB 1200 Wilcox County; board of elections and registration; provide for hiring of employees

By: Rep. Noel Williams (148th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1200 provides for the hiring of employees for the Wilcox County Board of Elections and Registration, including an election supervisor, by the county manager.

HB 1215 City of Fayetteville Community Improvement Districts Act; enact By: Rep. Derrick Jackson (64th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1215 provides for the creation of one or more community improvement districts in Fayetteville City.

HB 1216 Union City; City of; ad valorem tax; provide homestead exemption By: Rep. Derrick Jackson (64th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1216 provides a $2,000 homestead exemption from Union City ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes.

HB 1217 Middle Chattahoochee Regional Water and Sewer Authority Act; enact By: Rep. Derrick Jackson (64th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: HB 1217 renames the South Fulton Municipal Regional Water and Sewer Authority.

HB 1218 Hart County; Board of Education; revise compensation of members

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1218 revises the compensation of the Hart County Board of Education members. Each member of the board receives $200 per month for attendance at meetings of the board, while the chair receives $250 per month. Additionally, each member shall receive $139 for each day of attendance at planning and training sessions, but such compensation shall be limited to no more than five calendar days each year.

HB 1221 Haralson County; school district ad valorem tax; increase exemption

By: Rep. Trey Kelley (16th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1221 increases a Haralson County School District homestead exemption from

$8,000 to $14,000 for residents who are 65 and older and have annual incomes not exceeding $10,000.

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HB 1223 Colquitt County; Airport Authority; modify provisions regarding qualifications, selection,

terms, powers, officers, and duties of members

By: Rep. Sam Watson (172nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1223 modifies provisions regarding the qualifications, selection, terms,

powers, officers, and duties of members of the Colquitt County Airport Authority.

HB 1225 Young Harris, City of; reduce size of city council; modify term of mayor

By: Rep. Matt Gurtler (8th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1225 reduces the size of the Young Harris City Council.

HB 1227 Cusseta-Chattahoochee County; levy an excise tax

By: Rep. Mike Cheokas (138th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1227 authorizes the governing authority of the Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County to levy an excise tax.

HB 1231 Chehaw Park Authority; change name of park; provisions

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1231 changes the name of the Chehaw Park Authority and expands its

purpose to include the acquisition of zoological specimens.

HB 1233 Lavonia, City of; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; increase homestead exemption

By: Rep. Alan Powell (32nd)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1233 increases a city of Lavonia homestead exemption from $10,000 to $20,000 for residents who are 65 and older.

HB 1234 Tallulah Falls, Town of; terms, qualifications, election, and vacancies of mayor and

councilmembers; modify provisions

By: Rep. Chris Erwin (28th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: HB 1234 modifies provisions for the mayor and councilmembers of the town of Tallulah

Falls.

HB 1243 DeKalb County; board of commissioners; change manner of appointment and terms of office of

members

By: Rep. Viola Davis (87th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1243 changes the manner of appointment and terms of office of the members

of the DeKalb County Board of Ethics, and provides for an ethics administrator and the duties of that position.

HB 1245 Lanier County Building Authority Act; enact By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1245 creates the Lanier County Building Authority.

HB 1246 Satilla Regional Water and Sewer Authority; all five board members are elected pursuant to the Act; provide
By: Rep. James Burchett (176th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1246 provides that all five Satilla Regional Water and Sewer Authority board members be elected.

HB 1247 Warner Robins, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Heath Clark (147th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1247 provides a new charter for the city of Warner Robins.

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HB 1248 Cordele, City of; provide new charter

By: Rep. Noel Williams (148th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1248 provides a new charter for the city of Cordele.

HB 1249 Henry County; Redevelopment Powers Law; provide for a referendum By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: House Bill 1249 authorizes Henry County and each municipality within Henry County to exercise all redevelopment powers found in the Georgia Constitution and Code.

HR 326

Roger C. Dill Transportation Center; Tift County; dedicate By: Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Through the State Properties Committee
Final Bill Summary: HR 326 dedicates the newly constructed Department of Transportation building in Tift County as the Roger C. Dill District Office.

HR 935

Study Committee - Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics; create

By: Rep. Kevin Tanner (9th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 935 creates the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics to continue the work of determining the best course of action with regard to funding and policy development

relating to freight and logistics through legislative and budgetary recommendations. The commission is

composed of 22 members: three members of the House appointed by the speaker and three members of the

Senate appointed by the lieutenant governor, including the chairs of the House and Senate Transportation committees; six representatives, three appointed by the speaker and three by the lieutenant governor, of entities

which provide freight and logistics services, possess expertise in the operations of a major airport hub, or lead a major commodity or lead a major commodity shipper, major air shipping provider, or major manufacturing

operation based in this state; four members, two appointed by the speaker and two by the lieutenant governor,

who serve as local government officials; the executive directors of the Georgia Municipal Association and the

Association County Commissioners of Georgia; the president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce; the

president of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce; the commissioner of transportation, ex-officio; and the

executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, ex-officio.

HR 1023 Constitutional Amendment - Judiciary; people may petition for declaratory relief from certain acts of this state or certain local governments or officers or employees; provide - CA By: Rep. Andrew Welch (110th) Through the Judiciary Committee Final Bill Summary: House Resolution 1023 proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to waive sovereign immunity for actions in the superior court seeking declaratory relief from acts of the state, or any county, consolidated government, or municipality of this state, outside the scope of lawful authority or in violation of the laws of the Georgia Constitution or the Constitution of the United States. A court awarding declaratory relief may enjoin such acts to enforce its judgment. The waiver applies to past, current, and prospective acts that occur on or after January 1, 2021.
Actions against the state shall be brought exclusively against the state and in the name of the State of Georgia. Actions against any county, consolidated government, or municipality shall be brought exclusively against the named entity.
The power of the court to dismiss or deny relief and other powers of the court to hear a case are not affected. The General Assembly may limit the power or duty of a court to dismiss any action or deny relief.
No damages, attorney's fees, or costs of litigation shall be awarded in an action authorized by this amendment.

HR 1094 Property; granting of non-exclusive easements; authorize
By: Rep. Emory Dunahoo (30th) Through the State Properties Committee
Final Bill Summary: HR 1094 authorizes the granting of non-exclusive easements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads, and ingress and egress in, on, over, under, upon, across, or through property owned by the state in the counties of Barrow, Calhoun, Chatham, Cherokee, Clayton,

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Cobb, Crisp, Dougherty, Douglas, McIntosh, Muscogee, Paulding, Polk, and Richmond, as follows:
Article 1 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.75 of an acre in Barrow County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment that will serve the recreation fields at Fort Yargo State Park-Victor Lord Park for $10.
Article 2 grants an easement to Diverse Power or its successors and assigns over approximately 4.94 acres in Calhoun and Dougherty Counties under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve new shooting range at Chickasawhatchee Wildlife Management Area for $10.
Article 3 grants an easement to Atlanta Gas Light or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.128 acres in Chatham County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground natural gas lines and associated equipment to serve Hutchinson Island across the Savannah River for $66,400.
Article 4 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.21 of an acre in Cherokee County under the custody of the Department of Human Services for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of overhead and underground electrical transmission lines and associated equipment to serve the new Department of Family and Children Services and Division of Child Support Services Building for $10.
Article 5 grants an easement to Clayton County or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.89 of an acre under the custody of the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of waterline, sewer line, and water vaults to serve the Atlanta State Farmers Market for $10.
Article 6 grants an easement to Atlanta Gas Light or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.02 of an acre in Cobb County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve the Marietta Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College for $10.
Article 7 grants an easement to Bridgeline Capital, LLC or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.326 of an acre in Cobb County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground sanitary sewer lines to serve their new development at the Marietta Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College for $8,900.
Article 8 grants an easement to Crisp County Power Commission or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.75 of an acre in Crisp County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground fiber optic line to serve a new telecommunication tower at Georgia Veterans State Park for $10.
Article 9 grants an easement to Southern Fiberworks or its successors and assigns over approximately 9.11 acres in Crisp County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground fiber optic cable to serve park facilities at Georgia Veterans State Park for $10.
Article 10 grants an easement to Greystone Power Corporation or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.16 of an acre in Douglas County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground electrical transmission line and associated equipment to serve new restroom building at Sweetwater Creek State Park for $10.
Article 11 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.009 of an acre in McIntosh County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground transmission line and associated equipment to serve new host site at Fort King George State Park for $10.
Article 12 grants an easement to the City of Darien or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.009 of an acre in McIntosh County under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of underground sanitation line and associated equipment to serve new host site at Fort King George State Park for $10.
Article 13 grants an easement to Columbus Consolidated Government or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.12 of an acre in Muscogee County under the custody of the Georgia Bureau of Investigations
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for the construction, installation, operation and maintenance of a sanitary sewer line to serve the Columbus Crime Laboratory Campus for $10.
Article 14 grants an easement to Ronald Collum or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.19 acres in Paulding and Polk Counties under the custody of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for ingress egress in exchange for Ronald Collum to convey an old access easement to the State, along with three additional access easement totaling approximately 2.51 acres at Paulding Forest Wildlife Management Area.
Article 15 grants an easement to the Hale Foundation, Inc. or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.25 of an acre in Richmond County under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia for the construction, operation and maintenance of an access easement for ingress egress over Augusta Technical College for fair market value not less than $650.

HR 1163 Justice Robert Benham Bridge; Bartow County; dedicate By: Rep. Matthew Gambill (15th) Through the Transportation Committee Final Bill Summary: HR 1163 is the annual House version of road dedications and includes the following:
House Resolution 1163, dedicating the bridge on State Route 113 over I-75 in Bartow County as the Justice Robert Benham Bridge;
House Resolution 880, dedicating the bridge on SR 26/US 80 over Turner Creek in Chatham County as the Al St. Lawrence Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 896, dedicating the bridge at Wilmington River on State Route 26/U.S. 80 in Chatham County the James "Jimmy" A. Petrea Bridge;
House Resolution 912, dedicating the new portion of Belfast Siding Road located at Interstate 95 in Bryan County as the Jimmy Burnsed Interchange;
House Resolution 913, dedicating the bridge at Belfast Siding Road in Bryan County as the Fowler-Burnsed Bridge;
House Resolution 1092, dedicating the portion of State Route 153 from State Route 41 to the Marion County line in Webster County as the Chris Shannon Memorial 16 Highway;
House Resolution 1161, dedicating the portion of State Route 15 from mile marker 6 to mile marker 8 in Oconee County as the T/5 James Oscar Hardigree, Jr., U.S. Army WWII Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 1165, dedicating the intersection of State Route 113 and US 41/State Route 3 in Bartow County as the Sgt. Stanley Thomas Bradley Veterans Memorial Intersection;
House Resolution 1218, dedicating the portion of State Route 64 from the city limit of Ray City to the Berrien County border as the James Edward Giddens Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 1238, dedicating the portion of State Route 280 from the Lanier Community to Black Creek Bridge in Bryan County as the Blondean Newman Highway;
House Resolution 1268, dedicating the interchange at Interstate 85 with Interstate 285 in Fulton County as the Emma Darnell Memorial Interchange;
House Resolution 1281, dedicating the portion of State Route 9 from the Dawson County line to the intersection with Highway 53 in Dawson County as Thunder Road;
House Resolution 1283, dedicating the portion of State Route 92 from 1st Avenue to Henry Jackson Road in Spalding County as the Dr. Randy Valimont Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 1267, dedicating the I-75/SR 27 interchange in Dooly County as the Asa Daniels, Jr., Interchange;
House Resolution 1325, dedicating the interchange at I-75 and Pinehurst-Hawkinsville Road/Exit 117 in Dooly County as the Van Peavy, Jr., Interchange;

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Senate Resolution 946, dedicating the bridge over Little Suwannee Creek in Clinch County as the Wallace Lawson Jernigan Memorial Bridge;
Senate Resolution 985, dedicating the portion of State Route 70 from Camp Creek Parkway to Campbellton Road in Fulton County as the Leroy Johnson Memorial Highway;
Senate Resolution 966, dedicating the interchange at State Route 316 and Riverside Parkway in Gwinnett County as the K.C. Bowen, Jr., Interchange;
House Resolution 1216, rededicating Directors Drive behind the Annex Buildings at the Garden City Terminal as Rapp Way; and
Senate language dedicating the portion of State Route 72 from State Route 98 to the Elbert County line in Madison County as the Bill Madden Parkway.

HR 1167 Property; conveyance of certain state owned real property; authorize

By: Rep. Gerald Greene (151st)

Through the State Properties Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 1167 is a conveyance resolution for properties located in six counties, conveying

property owned by the state of Georgia or amending those conveyances, as follows:

Article 1 authorizes a purchase option and conveys 2.203 acres of property in Fulton County, located in Land Lots 77 and 78 of the 14th District of Fulton County, to CNN Center Ventures for the consideration of $18,800,000.

Article 2 surpluses approximately 2.066 acres of improved real property in Glynn County, being a portion, commonly known as the former Georgia Air National Guard Site, under the custody of the Department of Defense, to a local government or State entity for a consideration of $10 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity.

Article 3 leases approximately 14.6 acres, being a portion of the New Echota Historic Site at 143 Craigtown Rd., City of Calhoun, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to the Calhoun Elks Home, Inc. for a term of 10 years with two five-year renewal options for fair market value.

Article 4 removes a deed restriction over approximately 4.01 acres of improved property, commonly known as Courthouse Square in Muscogee County, for $10.

Article 5 conveys approximately 0.191 of an acre, being a portion of the Paulding Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia, to Paulding County for the Dallas Battlefield Trail for $10.

Article 6 leases approximately 59,360 square feet of the Paulding Youth Detention Center, under the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice, at 538 Industrial Blvd. N., City of Dallas to Wellspring Living, Inc. for a term of five years with two five-year renewal options for $10 annually and the requirement that Wellspring Living, Inc. operate the building exclusively on behalf of the Department of Juvenile Justice's mission as a receiving center.

Article 7 conveys approximately 0.076 of an acre, being a portion of the Dillard Apple House, under the custody of the Department of Agriculture, to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a total consideration of $6,200, being comprised of $4,125 in fee and $2,025 for cost to cure.

Article 8 conveys approximately 0.131 of an acre, being a portion of the Dillard Farmers Market, under the custody of the Department of Agriculture, to the Georgia Department of Transportation for a total consideration of $10,300.

Article 9 conveys approximately 25 acres of improved property, known as the Hooks-Hanner Environmental Resource Center, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, for $10 so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity and subject to a lease-back of approximately 844 square foot portion of the 5,348 square foot office building along with approximately 4,750 square foot storage warehouse building for a term of 10 years with an option to renew for another 10 years for the consideration of $10 annually.

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HR 1300 Glynn County; Murray County; change of use of certain property; authorize

By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (155th)

Through the State Properties Committee

Final Bill Summary: HR 1300 grants an easement on six acres of land on a heritage preserve in Glynn County,

in the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to the Department of Transportation for the widening of

State Route 25/US Route 17 and installing a roundabout at the intersection of State Route 25/US Route 17 and

State Route 99.

The resolution grants an easement for 0.194 of an acre of a heritage preserve in Murray County, in the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to the Department of Transportation for the widening of State Route 52 ALT.

HR 1300 renames the Gordonia-Altamaha State Park as the Jack Hill State Park.

SB 20

Counties and Municipal Corporations; establishment of banking improvement zones; areas

underserved; provide

By: Sen. Michael Rhett (33rd)

Through the Banks & Banking Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 20 provides that the Department of Community Affairs may, after

application by a local government, designate a banking improvement zone within the jurisdiction of such government for the purpose off encouraging the establishment of branches or representative offices of a bank

within an area that is underserved by banking services. Prior to designating an improvement zone, the department must determine whether any potential gains to a bank from a below rate interest agreement, as

authorized by the bill, is ample consideration for a substantial public benefit. Additional considerations are also provided.

Upon approval, the governing body of a local government may, through ordinance or resolution, designate a bank to be located within the newly created improvement zone as the depository for local government funds. Said ordinance shall also designate a fixed interest rate equal to, or less than, the posted two-year certificate of deposit rate at the bank.

SB 26

Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; prior service as a member of Georgia Defined Contribution Plan; creditable service; provide
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Retirement Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 26 allows members of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) to receive creditable service for prior membership under the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan. The member must have five years of creditable service with ERS and transfer all funds from their Georgia Defined Contribution Plan to ERS. The member must pay the Board of Trustees an amount determined to cover the full actuarial cost of granting service after accounting for funds transferred from their Georgia Defined Contribution Plan. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial investigation determines there is no cost to this legislation.

SB 28

Insurance; imposing a copayment, coinsurance, or office visit charge in an amount greater than

charges imposed for physician; prohibit

By: Sen. Lester Jackson (2nd)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 28 establishes additional criteria for co-payments in certain health benefit

plans. The bill adds a provision regarding insurance requiring co-payments to: be reasonable in relation to the

covered benefits to which they apply; must serve as an incentive rather than a barrier to access appropriate care; and must not unfairly deny necessary health care services.

SB 38

Courts; electronic filing requirements of superior and state courts; certain types of filings; exclude By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Judiciary Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 38 amends Chapter 8 of Title 26 of the Code, relating to county police, to provide a method for the abolition of a county police department and transfer the law enforcement functions of that department to the sheriff of the county. A county police department may be abolished by a local Act of the General Assembly or by a resolution of the governing authority of the county. Any local Act or resolution must be approved by the electors of the county. If approved, the county police department shall be abolished 180 days following the referendum. At such time all property, equipment, records, documents, funds, and other
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items in the possession or control of the county police department shall be transferred to the sheriff of the county. This Act is repealed on January 1, 2022.

SB 43

Revenue Bonds; definition of the term "undertaking" as it relates to electric systems; revise

By: Sen. Chuck Payne (54th)

Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 43 revises the definition of "undertaking" relating to revenue bonds by

adding electric transmission to the list of undertakings available for the issuance of revenue bonds. Any revenue certificates issued by a government body with electric utility assets that have a net book value of less

than $300 million shall be authorized by a majority vote in the political subdivision affected.

SB 68

Local School Systems; financial management; strengthen provisions

By: Sen. Freddie Sims (12th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 68 increases training requirements for local boards of education by adding

financial management training, and it requires all previous annual training requirements to be completed before becoming eligible for re-election. Newly-elected board members will receive guidance and training

specific to his or her local school system's most recent audit findings and the risk status of the local school system.

The Department of Audits and Accounts shall designate local school systems with irregularities or budget deficits for three or more consecutive years as high-risk local school systems, and school systems with one year to two consecutive years of irregularities or budget deficits as moderate-risk local school systems. The local school superintendent must submit a corrective action plan to the Department of Education within 120 days of receiving notice of the risk designation from the local board of education. The local school superintendent of a high-risk or moderate-risk local school system is required by Senate Bill 68 to complete financial management and financial governance training.

SB 68 requires specific contractual obligations to be made relating to maintaining or achieving financial stability of the local school system when entering into a flexibility contract with the State Board of Education. If a system is designated as a high-risk local school system, there must be a written corrective action plan in place.

The Department of Education will monitor the financial stability of each local school system and provide support and guidance to high-risk and moderate-risk local school systems.

Part II of Senate Bill 68 amends multiple provisions of the Code relating to the Chief Turnaround Office by moving the oversight of turnaround schools from the State Board of Education to the Department of Education.

Part III of Senate Bill 68 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-989.7 to allow teachers to appeal a summative personnel evaluation of 'Unsatisfactory' or 'Ineffective' to an independent third party or an administrator in the system office. Local units of administration must develop a complaint review policy for teachers to appeal an evaluation by July 1, 2021, and submit the policy to the Department of Education.

Part IV amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-58 by requiring local boards of education to hold a public comment period during every regular monthly meeting. Local boards of education shall not require individuals to give more than 24-hours' notice before the meeting to participate in the public comment period.Senate Bill 28 establishes additional criteria for co-payments in certain health benefit plans. The bill adds a provision regarding insurance requiring co-payments to: be reasonable in relation to the covered benefits to which they apply; must serve as an incentive rather than a barrier to access appropriate care; and must not unfairly deny necessary health care services.

SB 104

Resuscitation; parental requirement for consent; revise

By: Sen. Chuck Payne (54th)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 104 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-7.05, 48-8-7.3, 48-8-46, 48-8-57.1, 48-8-57.2,

48-8-57.3, and 48-8-101, relating to exemptions to sales and use taxes, by eliminating the sunset dates on the

sales and use tax exemptions on purchases made by and tangible personal property donated to non-profit health

centers, non-profit volunteer health clinics, qualified food banks, donations of food and food ingredients to a

qualified non-profit agency used for hunger relief or disaster relief purposes, and donations of food and food

ingredients following a natural disaster which is used for disaster relief purposes.

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It extends the sunset date on the exemption of non-commercial written materials by a 501(c)(3) organization providing the materials to charity supporters to July 1, 2026.
The bill also expands the sales tax exemption to blood banks to include organ procurement organizations. Each organ procurement organization exempt must submit an annual report to the Department of Community Health, which includes the number of donors and transplants facilitated by the organization in the prior fiscal year.

SB 123

Waste Management; the coal ash surcharge imposed by host local governments; eliminate By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee Final Bill Summary: SB 123 raises the required local government surcharge on a municipal solid waste disposal facility operated by a private enterprise from $1.00 per ton to $2.50 per ton. The bill removes an exception for the same facilities that accept coal combustion residuals and raises the required surcharge from $1.00 to $2.50 per ton of coal combustion residuals. The percentage of surcharges collected by local governments specifically designated to offset repairs is lowered from 50 to 20 percent.
The bill allows for any permitted municipal solid waste landfill operating by July 1, 1997 to expand its operation within two miles of a federally restricted military air space used for a bombing range.
SB 123 removes language to lower the surcharge on the disposal of waste at a solid waste disposal facility from $0.75 per ton of solid waste to $0.51 per ton. The surcharge's sunset date is June 30, 2025. The bill strikes language to lower the fee on all new replacement tires from $1.00 to $0.38 per tire sold. The fee's sunset date is June 30, 2025.

SB 134

Georgia Commission on the Holocaust; commission for administrative purposes; reassign
By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 134 assigns the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia as the administrative body for the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust. The commission was administratively attached to the Department of Community Affairs.

SB 144

Taxes on Tobacco Products; issuance of special event tobacco permits; authorizing off-premise

sales of certain tobacco products; provide

By: Sen. Lee Anderson (24th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 144 allows for a licensed dealer engaged in the tobacco business to apply for a

special event tobacco permit for the off-premise sale of cigars, cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco at a temporary

location offsite from the licensed location for a period of no more than 10 days. All such permits will be issued

by the commissioner of the Department of Revenue, who will also make rules and regulations regarding the

application and issuance of the permits. SB 144 does not affect local ordinances regarding tobacco.

SB 176

Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; certain public employers; make employer and

employee contribution on behalf of retired members; require

By: Sen. Ellis Black (8th)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 176 allows retired members of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia (ERS)

to return to service, but employers must pay the employee and employer contribution rate. Members continue

to receive their retirement benefit as long as they do not exceed 1,040 hours of paid employment during a

calendar year, but they will not earn any additional creditable service. The Department of Audits and Accounts has certified SB 176 as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

SB 188

Reinsurance of Risks; adequate regulation of reinsurers; incorporation of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners reinsurance model into the Georgia Insurance Code; provide
By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Through the Insurance Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 188 provides authority to the commissioner of Insurance to adopt by regulation specific additional requirements relating to or setting forth the valuation of assets or reserve credits, the amount and forms of security supporting reinsurance arrangements, and the circumstances in which credit is reduced or eliminated.

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SB 211

Advertisement and Sale of Meat; representation of nonanimal products and non-slaughtered

animal flesh as meat; render unlawful

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 211 prohibits labeling or advertising food that is not derived from the flesh, offal, or

other by-product of an animal as meat unless the labeling clearly states one of the following: "lab-grown", "labcreated", or "grown in a lab" if it is made of cell cultured products; or, "vegetarian", "veggie", "vegan", "plant

based", or other similar term if it is a plant-based product.

SB 249

Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; amount of monthly dues paid; increase; amounts

collected from fines; revise

By: Sen. John Albers (56th)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 249 allows jail officers who are certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and

Training Council to become members of the Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund. The monthly member

contribution increases from $20 to $25 per month. The benefit increases from $17.50 to $25.15 for each full year of creditable service on July 1, 2020, and automatically increases to $30 per month for each year of

creditable service on July 1, 2021. SB 249 revises the fee structure for forfeited and collected bonds in any

quasi-criminal case from a graduated fine to the greater of $10 or 10 percent. The bill also revises fees collected

before pretrial diversion in any quasi-criminal case to $5 or five percent, whichever is greater. This bill is

certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial

investigation determines the first-year cost is $13,798,000, with an estimated total cost to the fund of $27,838,000; however, the new fee structure generates $29,772,000 in revenue, and the fund will continue to

meet minimum funding standards.

SB 288

Criminal History Record Information; automatic restriction; final disposition other than a conviction; provide
By: Sen. Tonya Anderson (43rd) Through the Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 288 expands the ability of individuals convicted of certain misdemeanors or convicted of non-serious or non-sexual felonies and are later pardoned to petition for the restriction and sealing of their criminal history record information. Specific misdemeanor offenses along with violent or sexual felonies are excluded. Exceptions are provided to allow for criminal history record information that was previously restricted and sealed to be unrestricted and unsealed for certain purposes.
A restriction or sealing may be used to disqualify an individual for employment in the same manner as a discharge under Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 42. Restricted and sealed criminal history record information shall always be available for inspection: for the purpose of imposing a sentence under Article 3 of Chapter 8 of Title 42; by the Judicial Qualifications Commission; by an attorney representing an accused individual who submits a sworn affidavit to the court attesting that such information is relevant to a criminal proceeding; by a prosecuting attorney or public defender; pursuant to a court order; and by an individual who is the subject of a restricted or sealed offense.

SB 294

Teachers Retirement System of Georgia; invest in alternative investments; permit

By: Sen. Ellis Black (8th)

Through the Retirement Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 294 includes the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia under the definition of an "eligible large retirement system" for the purpose of participating in alternative investments. The Department of

Audits and Accounts has certified SB 294 as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

SB 295

Courts and Revenue and Taxation; cost-of-living and general performance based increases; revise
By: Sen. John Wilkinson (50th) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 295 provides that the minimum salary schedules for specified constitutional officers will not be increased by state cost-of-living or performance-based raises that went into effect prior to January 1, 2020.

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SB 301

Detainers; inmates charged with subsequent felony offenses under sentence and in custody;

temporary custody provisions; revise

By: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 301 allows the sheriff to request an inmate in the state penal system to remain

in state custody when awaiting trial for an offense committed within the confines of the state correctional institution. The bill places authority to grant those requests with the commissioner of the Department of

Corrections and goes on to prohibit the transfer of such inmates to an institution outside of the county making

the request.

SB 303

'Georgia Right to Shop Act'; greater transparency of prices for nonemergency healthcare

services; provide

By: Sen. Ben Watson (1st)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 303 requires each insurer, except health maintenance organizations, to make available on its website an interactive mechanism for members of the public to: compare the payment amounts accepted by in-network providers for health care services; obtain an estimate of the average amount accepted by in-network providers for the health care services; obtain an estimate of the out-of-pocket costs that a person will owe his or her provider for a health care service; and compare quality metrics applicable to in-network providers for major diagnostic categories.

SB 304

White County; board of elections and registration; create

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 304 creates the White County Board of Elections and Registration.

SB 306

"Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact"; enter into compact;

licensing provisions; revise

By: Sen. Valencia Seay (34th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 306 establishes the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate

Compact. The compact allows Georgia to facilitate interstate practice of audiology and speech-language pathology.

SB 308

Abandoned Vessels; unattended vessels in public waters; remove certain redundant processes
By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 308 removes the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the National Crime Information Center Network from the Code relating to removal and storage of abandoned vessels, as well as the section relating to the requirement to notify the two of removal. The bill places all authority and notification back with the Department of Natural Resources.

SB 310

Professions; regulations; provide; certain boxing, wrestling, and martial arts associations and

federations; provisions

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Regulated Industries Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 310 provides for the profession and licensure of professional structural engineers governed by the Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The bill outlaws any persons other than professional structural engineers to practice or offer structural engineering in the state. To be eligible for a certificate of registration as a professional structural engineer, an applicant must meet the following requirements: obtain a certification by the board as an engineer-in-training; have no less than four years of experience in structural engineering that is satisfactory to the board; and pass a board-approved written exam.

Any applicant who seeks a certificate of registration as a professional structural engineer prior to January 1, 2021 and already: holds a valid board certificate as a professional engineer; has a record of primary practice of structural engineering; and is currently engaged in the practice of structural engineering, may submit a signed affidavit to the board to determine if their qualifications meet the requirements for this certificate.

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SB 313

Pharmacy Benefits Managers; regulation and licensure; extensive revisions; provide

By: Sen. Dean Burke (11th)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: House Bill 946 requires any physician employed or contracted with a pharmacy benefits

manager (PBM) that is advising or making determinations specific to an insured individual to: have actively

seen patients within the past five years; and has practiced in the same specialty area for which the physician is

providing advisement within the past five years. The Department of Community Health (DCH) is encouraged

to require the use of a licensed Georgia physician for prior authorization, step therapy appeals, or determination

reviews for contracts and amendments entered into with a PBM.

This bill grants the Department of Insurance regulatory authority of PBMs in Georgia. Any methodologies utilized by a PBM in connection with reimbursement must be filed with the department. A PBM must utilize the national average drug acquisition cost as a point of reference for the ingredient drug product component of a pharmacy's reimbursement for drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list. A report must be filed with the department every four months detailing all drugs appearing on the national average drug acquisition cost list reimbursed at 10 percent and below the national average drug acquisition cost, as well as all drugs reimbursed at 10 percent and above this national average. For each drug in the report, a PBM must include: the month the drug was dispensed; the quantity of the drug dispensed; the amount the pharmacy was reimbursed per unit or dosage; whether the dispensing pharmacy was an affiliate; whether the drug was dispensed pursuant to a state or local government health plan; and the national average drug acquisition cost on the day the drug was dispensed.

This bill requires that PBMs will not engage in any practice that: discriminates in reimbursement, assesses any fees or adjustments, or excludes a pharmacy from the PBM's network; in any way bases pharmacy reimbursement for a drug on the patient outcomes, scores, or metrics; includes imposing a point-of-sale fee or retroactive fee; or derives any revenue from a pharmacy or insured in connection with performing PBM services.

PBMs are required to pass on to the health plan 100 percent of all rebates it receives from pharmaceutical manufacturers and report annually to each health plan the aggregate amount of all rebates and other payments that the PBM received from pharmaceutical manufactures in connection with claims if administered on behalf of the health plan. PBMs must offer the option of charging a health plan the same price for a prescription drug as it pays a pharmacy for the prescription drug. A PBM must report in the aggregate to a health plan the difference between the amount the PBM reimburses a pharmacy and the amount the PBM charges a health plan. This information will be confidential and not subject to open records unless the health plan is administered by the DCH.

SB 315

Mechanics and Materialmen; waiver and release of lien and bond rights/other remedies under the law; provide
By: Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th) Through the Regulated Industries Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 315 increases the time requirement for payment of a lien from 45 to 90 days. Limited waivers and releases of liens do not affect other rights or remedies made by the claimant. The bill includes the appropriate updated forms to be used upon interim payments.

SB 321

Physician Assistants; relating to the number a physician can authorize and supervise at any one time; provisions; revise
By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Through the Regulated Industries Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 321 authorizes an advanced practice registered nurse to order radiographic imaging tests in non-life threatening situations if delegated to do so by a physician. The bill also brings parity to the number of advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistance that a physician may supervise in a nurse protocol agreement to four.

SB 328

Jackson, City of; levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the

O.C.G.A.; authorize the governing authority

By: Sen. Burt Jones (25th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 328 authorizes the governing authority of the city of Jackson to levy an

excise tax.

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SB 336

License Plates; eligibility for certain members of the military to receive special license plates;

expand

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Motor Vehicles Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 336 adds the Meritorious Service Medal to the list of military medals that are

available for special license plates. The bill creates a special and distinctive license plate for past or present members of United States Army Ranger units or graduates of the United States Army Ranger School. The bill

amends Code Sections 40-2-86 and 40-2-86.1 to add the option of specialty license plate designs for

motorcycle license plates.

The bill creates specialty license plates supporting the Georgia Tennis Foundation and the Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, Inc.

SB 337

Invasion of Privacy; prohibition against the transmission of photography depicting nudity; include falsely created videographic or still images
By: Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 337 amends Code Section 16-11-90, relating to invasion of privacy, to include falsely created videographic still images of other persons within the prohibition against the transmission of photography or videos depicting nudity or sexually explicit conduct of another person under certain circumstances.

SB 340

Childhood Cancer Awareness Day; September 1 of each year; provide

By: Sen. Brandon Beach (21st)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 340 establishes September 1st as the annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Day in Georgia.

SB 341

Peace Officers; re-employment of retired peace officers and correctional officers during disasters and emergencies; provide
By: Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 341 allows any law enforcement unit in the state to supplement its workforce as necessary with qualified, retired peace officers or correctional officers when a disaster or emergency has been declared by a county sheriff, a public safety director, or the governor or when there is a national emergency. Any retired officers must be in compliance with the annual training and qualification standards set for peace officers in Georgia law. Assisting officers have the same immunities and arrest powers in that location as the officers of the requesting entity only for the duration of the specific event. Any compensation is paid by the requesting entity and the officers assisting are deemed employees of the requesting entity during the event and therefore subject to the workers' compensation, overtime, and expense reimbursement provisions provided to him or her as an employee of the requesting agency.

SB 342

Local Fire Departments; procedures for organization, issuance and revocation of certificates of

compliance; provide

By: Sen. Burt Jones (25th)

Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 342 establishes the Georgia Volunteer Fire Service Council as a division of

the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council to govern and administer the requirements for

volunteer fire departments in the state.

SB 345

Standards, Labeling, and Adulteration of Food; nonprofit organizations to prepare in accordance with Department of Public Health requirements; provide
By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Health & Human Services Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 345 allows non-profit organizations to prepare and provide food in accordance with Department of Public Health requirements.

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SB 346

State Board of Veterinary Medicine; membership; increase; registered veterinary technician

member; authorize

By: Sen. Ellis Black (8th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 346 authorizes the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to operate a professional

health program to provide monitoring and rehabilitation services to impaired veterinarians in the state. A veterinarian is considered "impaired" if the individual is unable to practice due to illness, use of alcohol, drugs,

narcotics or chemicals, or any mental or physical condition. The bill allows for the office of the Secretary of

State, on behalf of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, to enter into a contract to provide the services. Any

impaired veterinarian who chooses to participate in the program must pay all associated costs. Information provided to the board regarding the monitoring or rehabilitation of veterinarians is to be considered privileged

and confidential.

The bill adds a seventh member to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The member must be a registered veterinary technician who has practiced for at least five years. The initial term of the member is to expire on June 30 of the fifth calendar year following the effective date, with each successor serving five-year terms.

SB 358

State Symbols; muscadine grape as the official state grape; designate

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 358 designates the muscadine grape as the official Georgia grape.

SB 359

'Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act'; certain consumer protections against surprise billing; provide By: Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Through the Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 359, the "Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act," provides for certain immunities from liability claims regarding COVID-19. No healthcare facility, healthcare provider, entity, or individual shall be liable for damages in an action involving a COVID-19 liability claim, unless the claimant proves that the healthcare facility, healthcare provider, entity, or individual showed: gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm.
A rebuttable presumption of assumption of the risk by a claimant exists if signage containing certain language is posted at a point of entry on the premises of a healthcare facility, healthcare provider, entity, or individual. Entities or individuals may also establish such rebuttable presumption by providing certain language on tickets or wristbands issued to a claimant for entry on to the premises of the entity or individual.
This Act shall apply to causes of action accruing until July 14, 2021, and shall not apply to any causes of action accruing thereafter.

SB 362

Livestock Running at Large or Straying; impounding animals and disposing of impounded animals; change the fees
By: Sen. John Wilkinson (50th) Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 362 changes the allowable fees charged for impounding, service notice, care and feeding, advertising, and disposing of impounded animals running at large to the actual cost of the related services provided.

SB 367

Effectiveness of Educational Programs; number of student assessments; reduce; when

assessments must be administered; provide

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 367 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-281, relating to assessments, by reducing the

number of state assessments given to students. SB 367 eliminates the fifth grade end-of-grade social studies

assessment and reduces the number of end-of-course assessments in high school from eight to four. School

systems must administer the state required end-of-grade assessment for grades three through eight within 25

school days of the last day of school. The Department of Education is authorized to conduct an analysis of locally implemented assessments and provide guidance to eliminate redundant assessments to improve student

achievement.

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SB 370

Public Utilities and Public Transportation; compliance with certain safety and permit

requirements; electric easements are utilized for broadband services; provide

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 370 requires owners of electric easements located on, along, across, under, or

over property owned by a railroad company or state agency to comply with the application, review, safety, and permit requirements of the railroad company or state agency for projects where the easement is utilized for

broadband services.

SB 371

Department of Transportation Officers; state investment in railways and railroad facilities and

equipment; provide

By: Sen. Steve Gooch (51st)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 371 requires the Department of Transportation to administer the Georgia

Freight Railroad Program, subject to appropriations, in order to enhance the state's investment in freight rail

projects.

SB 372

Public Health; provisions; modernize, clarify, and update; certain councils and committees;

eliminate

By: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 372 modernizes various provisions relating to public health. The bill allows

first responders to purchase Naloxone, adds the duty of raising awareness of women's reproductive health issues for the Office of Women's Health, and increases the number of years before the records of a deceased

citizen are transferred to state archives from 100 to 125 years from the time of birth.

SB 373

Nonprofit Corporations; directors and officers of electric membership corporations and foreign

electric cooperatives; provisions; change

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 373 amends Title 14 and Title 46 of the O.C.G.A., relating to directors and

officers of non-profit corporations and directors and officers of electric membership corporations and foreign

electric corporations, to change provisions relating to the responsibilities and standard of care of directors and officers of certain corporations.

Unless a different standard is prescribed by law, a director or officer of a non-profit corporation or electric membership corporation shall perform his or her duties in good faith and with the degree of care an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances. While performing his or her duties, a director may rely upon officers, employees, or agents of the corporation the director believed to be reliable and competent, in addition to information or statements provided by officers, employees, or others. There is a presumption that the process followed by the director while arriving at decisions is done in good faith and exercised in ordinary care; however, this presumption may be rebutted by evidence that such process constitutes gross negligence by being a gross deviation from the standard care of a director in a like position under similar circumstances.

SB 375

Cigarettes and Tobacco Related Products; additional penalties regarding any person under 21

years of age; provide; definition of vapor product; revise

By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 375 amends Chapter 11 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to taxes on tobacco products, by raising the legal age to purchase and possess vapor and tobacco products, establishing licensing and regulatory requirements on vapor products, and establishing an excise tax on vapor products.

The bill raises the legal age to purchase tobacco and vapor products to 21 and makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to possess the products. The bill also makes it unlawful to use any vapor product within a school safety zone.

The bill also establishes excise taxes of five cents per milliliter on consumable vapor products in a closed system and seven percent of the wholesale cost price on vapor devices and vapor devices that contain any consumable vapor product at the time of sale and are not intended to be refilled.

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"Consumable vapor product" is defined as any liquid solution that is intended to be heated into an aerosol state and inhaled by an individual. "Closed system" is defined as any disposable container which is pre-filled and sealed by the manufacturer and is intended or used to dispense consumable vapor products using a vapor device that is intended to be reused. "Open system" is defined as any method or manner used to contain a consumable vapor product that is not a closed system. "Vapor device" is defined as any system or device developed or intended to deliver a consumable vapor product to an individual who inhales from the device.
No person shall engage in or conduct business relating to alternative nicotine products and vapor products without first obtaining a license from the commissioner of the Department of Revenue. The commissioner may require a separate license for each business activity and product including alternative nicotine products, vapor products, and traditional tobacco products or may allow the license holder to participate in all business activities and products under one license. The license fees for vapor products is an additional $10 initial fee and an annual $10 fee. Vapor products are included in the current regulatory structure for tobacco products and all sales must be made in a face-to-face manner with the purchaser being at least 21 years of age as shown on a valid identification. Home delivery of vapor products is allowed, but requires that the recipient be at least 21 years of age as shown on a valid identification and provide a signature that matches that of the identification.
Alternative nicotine products and vapor products are incorporated into the Code section, which provides the department with the ability to regulate the tobacco industry.
The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2021.

SB 377

Inspections; number of required annual elevator inspections; reduce

By: Sen. Burt Jones (25th)

Through the Insurance Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 377 changes the requirement of elevator inspections from six months to 12 months.

SB 381

"Georgia Food Act"; certain information obtained by the Department of Agriculture from the federal Food and Drug Administration; confidential and not subject to disclosure; provide
By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 381 deems the following information confidential pursuant to a contract or agreement between the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: trade secrets; confidential commercial information; information under the federal deliberative process privilege; information compiled for law enforcement purposes; or information expressly required to be kept confidential by federal law.

SB 391

"Early Prescription Refills During Emergencies Act"; health insurers to provide coverage for early refills of a 30 day supply; require; enact
By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 391 requires health insurers to waive time restrictions for refills of a 30-day supply of certain prescription medications during emergencies.

SB 393

Law Enforcement Officers and Agencies; duties and powers; revise; campus policemen and other security personnel of the university system; arrests for felony offenses
By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 393 codifies the Legal Division of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Any attorneys employed by the Legal Division may serve at the request of a district attorney, a solicitor-general, or a United States attorney. When providing assistance to the requesting attorney, they have the same power as any attorney employed by the requesting attorneys.

SB 394

Attorney General; authority to investigate and prosecute certain crimes and offenses; provide

By: Sen. John Albers (56th)

Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 394 provides that the attorney general shall have the authority to employ peace officers during the investigation of human-trafficking cases and other investigations authorized by the attorney general's general powers under the Code. The bill allows the attorney general to investigate medical assistance fraud (Medicaid and Medicare).

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SB 395

County and Municipal Hospital Authorities; standard of indigency; proceeds from the sale or

lease of a hospital by a hospital authority; revise

By: Sen. Ben Watson (1st)

Through the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 395 allows hospital authorities that have paid off all bonded indebtedness and

outstanding short-term and long-term debt obligations, and hold an irrevocable trust wherein the corpus of the trust is $75 million or more, to invest a maximum of 30 percent of their funds into the following: shares of

mutual funds registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States; and commingled

funds and collective investment funds maintained by state chartered banks or trust companies.

SB 399

Macon County; board of elections and registration; expand the board from three to five

members

By: Sen. Ed Harbison (15th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 399 expands the Macon County Board of Elections and Registration from three to five members.

SB 402

Bonds and Recognizances; conditions for unsecured judicial release on a person's own recognizance; provide
By: Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 402 amends Code Section 17-6-12, relating to the discretion of courts to release a person charged with a crime on their own recognizance, to specify certain bail-restricted offenses. It renames the release of a person on his or her own recognizance without a purported dollar amount through secured means or property as an "unsecured judicial release." The bill specifies that a person charged with a bail-restricted offense shall not be released on bail on unsecured judicial release for pretrial release programs, release and diversion programs, or intervention and diversion programs. Additional references in the Code to the release of a person on "his or her own recognizance" are replaced with "unsecured judicial release."
Any bond issued by an elected judge or judge sitting by designation that purports a dollar amount shall be executed in the full-face amount of the bond through secured means or shall be executed by use of property. This shall not prohibit a sheriff from releasing an inmate from custody in cases of medical emergency with consent of the judge.

SB 408

Sick Leave for Care of Immediate Family Members; sunset provision relating to such sick leave requirements; repeal
By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Industry and Labor Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 408 extends the sunset provision on allowing an employee to use sick leave to care for an immediate family member. The bill allows the Department of Labor commissioner to set the amount for deductible earnings at an amount not less than $50 nor more than $300. The bill provides authority and guidelines for the commissioner to adopt emergency rules when the governor declares a statewide emergency. The bill adjusts the maximum benefit amount for claims filed after June 14, 2020, dependent on the state's average unemployment rate. The bill gives the commissioner the authority to establish a work-sharing program.

SB 410

Ad Valorem Tax Appeals; alternative means of recovering costs of litigation and attorney's fees;

provide

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Ways & Means Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 410 amends 48-5-311, relating to creation of county boards of equalization, duties, review of assessments, and appeals, to allow the taxpayer to recover costs of litigation and attorney's

fees for appeals made by the board of assessors to the superior court where the final determination of value is 85 percent or less of the value set by the board of assessors and to allow the appeal administrator to conduct

hearings by audio or video conference.

The bill also amends 48-5-511, relating to returns of public utilities to the commissioner of the Department of Revenue, to require the annual property tax return of public utilities be transmitted to the commissioner electronically.

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SB 416

Office of College and Career Transitions; change the name to Office of College and Career

Academies

By: Sen. Jeff Mullis (53rd)

Through the Education Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 416 amends O.C.G.A. 45-7-4 relating to the annual salary of the lieutenant

governor and the members of the General Assembly. The lieutenant governor's salary will be reduced by 14 percent for the 2021 fiscal year and the members of the General Assembly's salary will be reduced 10 percent

for the 2021 fiscal year.

SB 426

Air Quality; reporting of any unpermitted release of ethylene oxide to the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources; provide
By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 426 requires any permittee of an operation that includes the emission of ethylene oxide to report a spill or release of any amount of ethylene oxide to the Environmental Protection Division within 24 hours of discovery. The division must make the report publicly available on the division's website.

SB 429

Code Revision Commission; statutory portion of said Code; revise, modernize, correct errors or omissions in, and reenact
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Code Revision Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 429 is the annual Code Revision clean-up bill. It amends the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to revise, modernize, and correct errors or omissions. The bill reflects the work of the Code Revision Commission to repeal portions of the Code that have become obsolete, unconstitutional, or preempted or superseded by subsequent laws. Lastly, the bill provides for other matters relating to revision, reenactment, and publication of the Code.

SB 430

"Quality Basic Education Act"; home study students and private school students to take courses at a college and career academy; authorize
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 430 creates O.C.G.A. 20-2-319.5, which allows home school or private school students to enroll in a college and career academy in the student's resident school system if space is available. The State Board of Education shall create rules and regulations to effectuate the provisions of the Code section. The local board of education will earn FTE funds for each student participating in one or more courses at a college and career academy under the Code section that has a charter with the local board of education.

SB 431

Annual Performance Evaluation; definition of "on-time graduation rate"; provide
By: Sen. John Wilkinson (50th) Through the Education Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 431 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-210, relating to annual performance evaluations, to allow for an on-time graduation rate. The on-time graduation rate will be a parallel graduate rate that only includes the four-year cohort of students that attend a school continuously the previous four years.

SB 435

"The Debbie Vance Act"; court imposing sentence may grant the relief of vacatur for convictions and sentences of defendants; provide By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 435, 'The First Survivors Act', provides relief to proven victims of human trafficking from sentencing and punishment for crimes committed while being trafficked.
A defendant convicted and sentenced for an offense as a direct result of being the victim of human trafficking may petition the court to vacate the conviction. The petition must be submitted on the appropriate form promulgated by the attorney general, along with a copy of the defendant's criminal history background check, no earlier than six months following the conviction and sentencing for a misdemeanor and one year following a completion of sentencing for a felony. The petition may include certain documentation of the defendant's status as a victim of an offense of human trafficking. Defendants with an outstanding warrant may not file a petition.
If the prosecuting attorney consents to set aside the conviction or fails to respond to the petition within 30 days, the court shall, without notice or hearing, issue an order vacating the convictions and sentence and restrict access to criminal history record information for the offense. If the prosecuting attorney objects, the court shall hold a hearing within 90 days of the filing of the petition. If the court finds, by a preponderance of the
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evidence, that the defendant committed an offense as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking, the court may issue an order vacating the conviction and sentence. If ordered, the court shall also issue an order restricting access to criminal history record information for the offense.
Finally, the bill amends the Georgia Crime Information Center to allow for the restriction of access to a defendant's criminal history record information in accordance with the intent of the bill.

SB 438

Appling County; ascertaining whether electors desire to reduce the size of the board of

commissioners; nonbinding advisory referendum; provide

By: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 438 provides a non-binding referendum to determine if the electors of Appling

County desire to reduce the size of the board of commissioners by eliminating the at-large commission

chairperson.

SB 439

Juvenile Code; enhanced notice to and improved participation of foster, preadoptive, and

relative caregivers in certain hearings; provide

By: Sen. Matt Brass (28th)

Through the Juvenile Justice Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 439 ensures that foster parents can be heard in court for hearings. The court must

record whether the foster parents accept or decline to testify. Moreover, notice must be given to the foster

parents, which may include email notification.

SB 442

Property; amendments to property owners' association instruments and covenants that restrict rental of residential lots and plots; prohibit
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Judiciary Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 442 provides that an instrument of a property owners' association may not be amended to prohibit or restrict a non-owner occupied lot from continuing to be leased or rented for an initial term of six months or longer pursuant to the pre-amended instrument. In the event such lot, or any interest in the lot, is transferred for consideration worth $100 or more, the lot must then conform to the instrument as amended.

SB 443

Garnishment Proceedings; revise; uniform procedures for garnishment actions; provide

By: Sen. Jesse Stone (23rd)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 443 amends Chapter 4 of Title 18 of the Code, relating to garnishment proceedings, to revise and provide uniform procedures for garnishment actions. The bill states that the 'Civil Practice Act' only applies automatically to garnishment proceedings in state and superior courts and that a person or entity not originally named as a garnishee in an action may not be added as a garnishee by any amended pleading absent a showing that such amended pleading was done to correct or clarify the identity of an intended garnishee.

The bill clarifies what costs may be added to subsequent garnishment balances and that a secured creditor holding collateral, including funds, while any balance is still owed need not deliver the collateral to a garnishment, even if the entire balance is not then due.

Notably, the length of continuing garnishments is extended from six months to three years.

The definition of "private student loan" is established to differentiate these loans from federal student loans. The maximum amount to be deducted from disposable earnings when the garnishment is based on a judgment originating from a private student loan is reduced.

The bill provides when a garnishee may answer a summons without liability for lack of knowledge of a defendant's disposable earnings. If the summons of garnishment states that it is a garnishment based on a private student loan, the garnishee will be deemed to have knowledge of this and is responsible to adjust garnishment accordingly. A new form is created for a plaintiff and defendant to voluntarily lower the garnishment.

Regarding notice, the earliest time for service of notice of a garnishment is identified, return receipt requirements are removed, and statutory service of notice on a defendant is conditioned on a proper attempt to serve, as opposed to proof of completed service. A defendant's actual timely notice of a garnishment satisfies

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notice requirements. The bill clarifies that before being permitted to satisfy the notice requirement by regular mail, a plaintiff must state under oath that a defendant resides outside the state, has departed the state, cannot be found within the state, or has concealed his or her place of residence. Finally, the filing of a certificate of compliance with service methods now satisfies prerequisites for the disbursement of funds or possible judgment.
Exceptions to current time limits for an additional or renewed summons in a single garnishment are added to accommodate for the extended length of continuing garnishments. Procedures for the treatment of certain funds remaining in the registry of the court, and the subsequent distribution to a plaintiff, are provided.
The bill clarifies that an answer, which may be e-filed, may be sent to the court separately but concurrently with the sending of any funds disclosed in such answer to be owed. When a garnishee is a financial institution (i.e. when a defendant is a bank employee) and is served with a continuing garnishment, the accounts of the defendant are only subject to the length of a financial institution garnishment.
The bill provides that the amount a garnishee pays concurrently when filing an answer shall be, under certain circumstances, paid directly to the plaintiff. An exception is created to any mandatory e-filing requirements to allow garnishees to file, and courts to accept, paper answers of garnishment. Payroll providers are authorized to file an answer of garnishment on behalf of an entity garnishee. The bill specifies that statutory expenses/fees do not interfere with any contractual arrangement for a garnishee to reimburse itself for the costs of legal processing due to a garnishment.
Orders disbursing funds are included, along with judgments, as a bar to subsequent claims to funds by a defendant. Courts may decline to hear any defendant's claim that is filed after the dismissal of a garnishment action against such defendant. Except in a continuing garnishment, a court may decline to hear any claim by a defendant which comes after a judgment is entered an order to disburse funds is issued, or money or other property is distributed by the court. No claim by a defendant can succeed if it was capable of being raised and adjudicated in any clam previously made in the same garnishment action by the defendant.
Plaintiffs may file a traverse in response to a garnishee's motion to modify a default judgment, stating that the motion is untrue or legally insufficient. When doing so, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving that the motion was not timely, that the costs to accompany such motion were not paid or incorrect, or that the total of money or property identified within the garnishee's motion as belonging to the defendant was incorrect. If the court finds that a plaintiff's traverse lacked reasonable justification, the court shall award the garnishee a judgment against the plaintiff for the costs incurred in connection with the traverse.
Discretion is removed so a court may not disallow a summons of garnishment to be amended when amount show to be due on a plaintiff's affidavit is incorrect.
When considering whether a garnishee should be relieved from liability for failure to file an answer the court must now consider any information or circumstances. The bill distinguishes limited protections afforded to plaintiffs, who initiate garnishments, and broader protection for garnishees, who comply with garnishments. Protections for garnishees are expanded to include protection from liability when determining the validity of the form of the summons served compared to the garnishment sought.
The costs required for a garnishee to modify a default judgment in cases where garnishees were paying or repaying costs of appeal by other garnishees are clarified.
The bill expands the individuals against whom a plaintiff is entitled to the process of continuing garnishments, and continuing garnishments for support, to include any garnishee "who is under periodic obligations for payment to" a defendant (i.e. an independent contractor relationship). Answer requirements are clarified for garnishees when the employment relationship with a defendant is terminated or when obligations to the defendant are no longer anticipated.
Finally, the bill provides updated forms conforming to these amendments and changes.

SB 445

Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; water and sewer authorities to be designated as local issuing

authorities for land-disturbing activity permits; authorize

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 445 allows for a water or water and sewer authority to issue land disturbance

permits if the authority has been certified by the director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and

authorized by local law. All applicable counties or municipalities must approve an intergovernmental agreement to allow the authority to operate as a local issuing authority.

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SB 446

Cash Bonds; unclaimed cash bonds; provide
By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Through the Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 446 allows a posted cash bail to be paid into the general fund of an appropriate court when it is unclaimed by the surety on the bond after two years. The bill also provides that the time begins from the date of the surety's release from liability or the date of disposition of the case, whichever is earlier.

SB 450

Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority; membership; change

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 450 changes the membership of the Ocilla-Irwin County Industrial Development Authority.

SB 451

Deficiencies Connected with Improvements to Realty and Resulting Injuries; actions that may

be brought pursuant to Code Section 9-3-51; clarify

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Judiciary Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 451 clarifies that the statute of repose for actions to recover damages for deficiencies connected with improvements to realty does not apply to actions for breach of contract, including, but not limited to, actions for breach of express contractual warranties.

SB 462

Banking and Finance; duties, powers, and responsibilities relative to industrial loans from the

Industrial Loans Commissioner to Department of Banking and Finance; transfer

By: Sen. John Kennedy (18th)

Through the Banks & Banking Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 462 transfers the powers, functions, and duties related to industrial loans,

renamed in the bill as "installment loans," from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner to the Department of

Banking and Finance; effective July 1, 2020. "Installment loans" are defined as any contract or agreement to make a loan to an individual in an amount of $3,000 or less, including the renewal or refinancing of any such

loan.

The bill provides procedures for the application, maintenance, and renewal of licenses to engage in the business of making installment loans. Detailed authorities of the department are also established and clarified relating to: the investigation and examination of any applicant or licensee; the issuance, suspension, or revocation of any license; and the department's participation in, and utilization of, the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System and Registry.

In the event that a licensee fails to remit the required tax payable to the department on the total amount of interest on any loan collected by a licensee, already required under the Code, the tax will now bear interest at the rate of one percent per month and begin accruing from the date the tax is due until the date the tax is paid.

When applying for a license, applicants are required to provide a corporate surety bond issued by a bonding company or insurance company in the aggregate amount of $25,000 for the primary location to be operated plus $5,000 for each additional location, provided that no licensee is required to have a bond in excess of $100,000. Additional requirements for the corporate surety bond are also provided.

SB 473

Conservation and Natural Resources; duties, powers, and responsibilities relative to historic

preservation; from Department of Natural Resources to the Department of Community Affairs;

transfer

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 473 transfers the Historic Preservation Program, including all grant, tax credit, and

site designation responsibilities, to the Department of Community Affairs.

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SB 474

Department of Natural Resources; construct, operate, maintain, and supply informational

materials at welcome centers assigned to it by the Governor; provide

By: Sen. Tyler Harper (7th)

Through the Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Final Bill Summary: SB 474 extends the ability to construct and operate welcome centers to the Department

of Natural Resources. The agency may also operate vending machines and install automated teller machines in assigned welcome centers.

SB 475

City of Grayson; terms of the mayor and city council; revise

By: Sen. P. K. Martin (9th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 475 revises the terms of the mayor and the city council of the city of

Grayson.

SB 477

Investigation of Family Violence; terminology used in determining whom to arrest; revise
By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Through the Juvenile Justice Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 477 allows for arresting officers to make a decision regarding mutual combat about which party caused the violence and is the predominate aggressor in domestic violence situations requiring arrest.

SB 482

Office of Health Strategy and Coordination; state all-payer claims database; establishment of

an advisory committee; provide

By: Sen. Dean Burke (11th)

Through the Health & Human Services Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 482 establishes the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database (GAPCD). Claims data is the information included in an institutional, professional, or pharmacy claim for a covered individual,

including the amount paid to a provider of health care services, plus any amount owed by the covered

individual.

Additionally, the bill creates an advisory committee to make recommendations regarding the creation of the framework and implementation plan for the GAPCD to facilitate the reporting of health care data. The committee will make initial recommendations to the director of the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination no later than March 1, 2021. The objective of the GAPCD is to facilitate data-driven and evidence-based improvements in access, quality, and cost of health care in order to understand health care expenditure patterns. The committee will conduct an evaluation of the GAPCD at least every five years to ensure these purposes are met.

The director will seek funding for the creation of the all-payer health claims database and report to the governor and General Assembly on the status of the funding effort and final data elements recommended by the advisory committee no later than March 15, 2021. The GAPCD will be created if sufficient funding is received through gifts, grants, donations, or appropriations on or before January 1, 2022.

SB 490

City of Cartersville; ad valorem taxes for educational purposes; increase the amount
By: Sen. Bruce Thompson (14th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 490 increases a $28,000 homestead exemption to $60,000 from city of Cartersville ad valorem taxes for education purposes for each resident who is 65 or older or who is totally disabled. The act is automatically repealed on December 31, 2027.

SB 504

Electors of Glynn County; nonbinding advisory referendum; provide
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: SB 504 provides for a nonbinding advisory referendum for the residents of Glynn County to vote on whether the Glynn County Board of Commissioners should abolish the Glynn County Police Department.

SB 506

City of Buford; ad valorem taxes for municipal purposes; homestead exemption; provide By: Sen. Renee Unterman (45th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 506 provides a homestead exemption, which has the effect of a valuation freeze, for the city of Buford.
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SB 508

State Court of Rockdale County; additional judge for such court; provide By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 508 provides for an additional judge for the Rockdale County State Court.

SB 509

Glynn County Police Department; abolish; transfer of assets and property of such police department; provide
By: Sen. William Ligon, Jr. (3rd) Through the Governmental Affairs Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 509 abolishes the Glynn County Police Department, subject to voter approval of a binding referendum. If the referendum passes, the police department will be abolished on May 2, 2021.

SB 510

Wheeler County; board of elections and registration; create

By: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 510 creates the Wheeler County Board of Elections and Registration.

SB 511

Board of Commissioners of Twiggs County; compensation and expenses of the members; provisions; change

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 511 changes the provisions regarding the compensation and expenses of the members of the Twiggs County Board of Commissioners. The chairperson of the board shall receive $11,250 annually, while each member of the board other than the chairperson shall receive $9,000.

SB 512

Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment Authority; members of the authority are

appointed; revise

By: Sen. Burt Jones (25th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 512 revises how members of the Central State Hospital Local Redevelopment

Authority are appointed.

SB 517

City of Jeffersonville; new charter; provide

By: Sen. David Lucas (26th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 517 provides a new charter for the city of Jeffersonville.

SB 518

Magistrate Court of Henry County; assessment and collection of a technology fee; authorize By: Sen. Brian Strickland (17th) Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 518 authorizes the Henry County Magistrate Court to assess and collect a technology fee.

SB 527

Unified Government of Cusseta-Chattahoochee County; levy an excise tax pursuant to

subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A.

By: Sen. Ed Harbison (15th)

Through the Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee

Final Bill Summary: Senate Bill 527 authorizes the governing authority of the Unified Government of

Cusseta-Chattahoochee County to levy an excise tax.

SR 844

Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon Memorial Bridge; Hall County; dedicate

By: Sen. Butch Miller (49th)

Through the Transportation Committee

Final Bill Summary: The House substitute to SR 844 includes the following dedications:

Senate Resolution 844, dedicating the bridge on State Route 11/Cleveland Highway in Hall County as the Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon Memorial Bridge;

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Senate Resolution 862, dedicating the intersection of State Route 92 and State Route 9/State Route 120 in Fulton County as the Tom Price Intersection;
Senate Resolution 858, dedicating the bridge on 17th Street over I-75 in Fulton County as the Calvin McLarin Memorial Bridge;
Senate Resolution 889, dedicating the overpass bridge on State Route 38/U.S. 221 in Lowndes County as the Joseph "Sonny" Vickers Overpass;
House Resolution 1326, dedicating the portion of State Route 139 from Campbellton Road to Donnelly Avenue in Fulton County as the Vivien Harmon Memorial Highway;
House Resolution 1328, dedicating the overpass bridge on 701 West Highway 80 in Chatham County as the Kicklighter Overpass;
House Resolution 1366, dedicating the portion of State Route 41 from mile marker 6 to mile marker 7 in Marion County, Georgia, as the Wesley Frank Weaver Memorial Mile;
House Resolution 1387, dedicating the portion of State Route 17 from Rocky Ford to Scarboro in Screven County as the C. Arthur Howard, Jr., Highway;
House Resolution 1388, dedicating the bridge on State Route 85 over Railroad Ave/Railroad Street in Muscogee County as the Albert W. Thompson Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 1389, dedicating the interchange at the U.S. 80/State Route 22 Connector in Muscogee County as the Congressman Jack T. Brinkley Memorial Interchange;
House Resolution 1392, dedicating the intersection of Brown Road and State Route 56 in Augusta-Richmond County as the James "Jimmy" Smith, Jr., Intersection;
House Resolution 1431, dedicating the bridge on State Route 88 over Brier Creek in Keysville, Georgia, as the Maggie Bell Cheatham Cartwright Bridge;
House Resolution 1444, dedicating the interchange between Interstate 20 and Washington Road in Richmond County as the Jessye Norman Memorial Interchange;
House Resolution 1472, dedicating the overpass bridge at the overpass on State Route 169 in Wayne County as the William "Billie" E. Clanton Bridge;
House Resolution 1522, dedicating the bridge on State Route 515/State Route 5 over Talona Road in Gilmer County as the Billy Burnette Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 1523, dedicating the bridge on State Route 338 over I-16 near the city limits of Dudley in Laurens County as the Johnnie B. Hall Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 1524, dedicating the intersection between State Route 31/US 319/ US 441 and State Route 117/ US 441 Bypass in Laurens County as the Kipley "Kip" Allen Brown Memorial Intersection;
House Resolution 1548, dedicating the interchange at Interstate 75 and Union Grove in Gordon County as the Johnny Meadows Memorial Interchange;
House Resolution 1589, dedicating the intersection of State Route 1 and Veterans Memorial Highway in Floyd County as the Carl Evans Memorial Intersection;
House Resolution 1597, dedicating the bridge on SR 38/US 84 over SR 3/SR 300/US 19 in Thomas County as the Major Henry Talmage Elrod Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Bridge;
House Resolution 1598, dedicating the bridge on State Route 93 between 1st and 2nd Avenue in the city limits of Cairo in Grady County as the Veterans Memorial Bridge; and
Senate Resolution 792, dedicating the interchange between Old Milton Parkway/SR 120 and SR 400 in Fulton County as the Richard L. Jackson Interchange.

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