2024 Legislative Session Report Week 3
January 26, 2024 |
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Photo Credits: House Media Services |
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After the conclusion of Budget Week, the General Assembly resumed normal business on Monday, January 22, 2024, with legislative day 6. The General Assembly met for five legislative days this week concluding with day 10 on Friday, January 26th. Coming off a week of hearings, legislators were eager to get to work and took up a host of issues on the floor and in committees. GFB staff have been working diligently with legislators to refine bill proposals, and we expect to see specific issues related to agriculture emerge in the coming days. The General Assembly will return on Monday, January 29th for legislative day 11. |
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Leadership Looks to Ease Tax Burden on Georgians
A priority issue for both chambers of the General Assembly and the Governor, legislation was introduced this week to help ease the tax burden on all Georgians. As announced back in December, the General Assembly will look to reduce the individual income tax at a faster rate than expected, increase the statewide homestead exemption from certain ad valorem taxes, and reduce the corporate income tax rate. We continue to see it be a priority of leadership to cut cost on taxpayers. This is all possible through years of conservative budgeting and large revenue surpluses year after year. |
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House Committees hear from Department of Natural Resources
On Thursday, January 25th, Chairlady Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) held the first meeting of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment. Chairlady Smith has served in the Georgia House of Representatives since 1997, chairing this committee since 2005. She has a long history handling important policy topics relevant to agriculture and has championed good water stewardship policy across multiple decades. The first meeting of Chairlady Smith's committee included introductions from the members and a presentation from the Department of Natural Resources, led by newly appointed Commissioner Walter Rabun. Commissioner Rabun gave each division within DNR the chance to speak about what their responsibilities and any specific challenges they are facing. The common struggle across all divisions was recruitment and retention. We expect the committee to explore ways they can better support DNR's efforts to remain adequately staffed.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, January 23rd, Chairman Trey Rhodes (R-Greensboro) held his first meeting of the House Committee on Game, Fish, and Parks. Chairman Rhodes is a friend of GFB and a strong advocate for agriculture. He also hosted DNR in his committee and heard a similar presentation from Commissioner Rabun. |
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Joint Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee Discusses Food Insecurity
On Wednesday, January 24th, Chairman Robert Dickey (R-Musella) and Chairman Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) hosted a joint hearing for the Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committees. Last session, Senate Minority Whip Harold Jones (D-Augusta) introduced SB 177. Known as the "Food Insecurity Eradication Act," Whip Jones' work has led both committees to learn more about food insecurity in Georgia. During Wednesday's committee meeting, members heard from food banks, the Georgia Food Industry Association, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture on the work each group is doing to address food insecurity across the state. SB 177 passed the Senate last year, and we expect to see this bill considered by the House this session. |
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Photo Credits: American Farm Bureau Federation |
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American Farm Bureau Convention
Last week American Farm Bureau Federation kicked off the 2024 National Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. The atmosphere was all agriculture as Farm Bureau members took over the streets and packed the convention center featuring more than 80 invited speakers and 4,500 attendees. American Farm Bureau's annual convention concluded Tuesday with a session on policy priorities for this year. President Duvall released a statement highlighting the policy priorities for 2024.
"We stressed the importance of getting a new farm bill done and how urgent it is to get it done now. Labor was another hot topic, especially around stabilizing the wage rate and ensuring that we can make progress on year-round labor workers. Another takeaway was artificial intelligence and the need to seize opportunities related to AI while ensuring farmers' data is protected. A fourth takeaway relates to contract poultry growers. Our delegates called for a fair pay structure and more transparency among poultry companies."
Tuesday's policy session was filled with lively discussion for many interests of Georgia, starting with a detailed walkthrough of the farm labor section. The delegates voted in favor of many policies our state has a keen interest in, including reforming the tournament style pay for poultry producers and fighting for a higher cotton marketing loan rate.
With a congressional review act poised to drop attacking the poultry transparency rule and a Senate letter to push for a wage freeze of AWER, these decisions are apropos for the fight on which Georgia's farmers and ranchers are preparing to embark.
The Farm Bill was a topic of special interest as Georgia was one of four states requested to ask a question to the Farm Bill panel formed by Mike Schmidt (Senate Ag), Parish Braden (House Ag), John Newton (Senate Ag), and Clark Ogilvie (House Ag). The discussion centered around when a Farm Bill would arrive and how Congress plans to pay for the $1.5 trillion package. They agreed this would be a costly Farm Bill, and one that will not make all commodity groups feel included. Now more than ever we need to make our voices heard, advocating for industries which make Georgia a national leader.
This policy session was a great cap to the week as Georgia members Cole and Nicole Roper posted a top 10 finishing in the YF&R Excellence in Agriculture and Andy Paul finished in the Sweet Sixteen of Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Discussion Meet. |
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Please join us for GFB Day at the Capitol on Tuesday, February 13th as more than 600 members convene to advocate for agriculture! The event will begin at 9:30am with orientation and remarks from the House and Senate Ag Chairmen at the Georgia Freight Depot, followed by time at the capitol visiting with legislators. Attendees will then return to the Freight Depot for a complimentary lunch at noon. While the event is free to attend, please RSVP by Friday, January 19th so we may accurately plan for food and name badges.
For registration, hotel room block information, parking location, and other details, please click the link below. |
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Reps. Todd, Williams, Cannon, Horner, and Barrett This bill requires all retail stores to accept cash for purchases. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/22/2024
Reps. Burchett, Cannon, Dickey, Meeks, and Rhodes This bill would exempt all qualified producers from paying county or municipal permit fees greater than $500 on agricultural structures. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/23/2024
Reps. Gambill, Dubnik, Erwin, Martin, Hong, and others This bill establishes the State Workforce Development Board. This board will be responsible for publishing the High-Demand Career List for be used as guidance for supporting workforce development. Assigned to House Higher Education Committee 1/23/2024
Reps. McDonald, Blackmon, Jones, Hong, Wade, and others This is a priority bill of Governor Kemp and seeks to reduce the state income tax. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Seabaugh, Reeves, Burhcett, Crowe, Silcox, and others This bill is known as the Georgia Squatter Reform Act. It seeks to strengthen the definition of criminal trespass to address issues with squatters. Squatters occupy an abandoned or unoccupied property without consent from the owner. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Reeves, Burns, Blackmon, Jones, Knight, and others This bill is a priority of House Leadership. It increases the maximum for statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem tax from $2,000 to $4,000. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Daniel, Burns, Blackmon, Williamson, Silcox, and others This bill is a priority of House Leadership. It increases the personal exemption for each dependent claimed by a taxpayer from $3,000 to $4,000. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Williamson, Blackmon, Crowe, Silcox, Hilton, and others This bill decreases the corporate income tax rate. It matches the corporate income tax rate to the individual income tax rate applicable to all taxable years beginning January 1, 2024. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Blackmon, Williamson, Wade, Hong, Meeks, and others This bill eliminates the Revenue Shortfall Reserve limit. Currently, the state can only hold 15% of the previous year's net revenue in the reserve. This bill would eliminate that limitation. Assigned to House Appropriations Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Blackmon, Knight, Martin, and Crowe This bill requires all parcels to be reappraised in 2025. After 2025, every parcel must be reappraised every three years. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/25/2024
Reps. Franklin, Corbett, Hagan, Dickey, and Parrish This bill would establish the fourth Friday in November as National Sugarcane Day. Assigned to House Special Rules Committee 1/26/2024
Reps. Carpenter, Huddleston, Cameron, Hilton, and Vance This bill designates cornbread as the official Georgia state bread. Assigned to House Special Rules Committee 1/26/2024
Sens. Anderson, Albers, Robertson, Williams, Payne, and others This bill prohibits any motor vehicle from operating on any highway whose suspension has been elevated or lowered six inches above or below the manufacturer's recommendation for such vehicle. No motor vehicle may operate on any highway whose front frame is more than four inches above the rear of the vehicle. Passed Senate Public Safety Committee by Substitute 1/12/2024
Sens. Robertson, Burns, Williams, Anavitarte, and Dolezal This bill prohibits the use of rank choice voting in any elections in the state of Georgia. Passed Senate Ethics Committee 1/24/2025
Sens. Hufstetler, Tillery, Dolzeal, Albers, Still, and others This bill is known as the Tax Expenditures Act of 2024. This bill creates the Joint Committee on Taxation and Economic Development to meet every other year evaluating the tax climate in Georgia. It also provides measures to ensure greater transparency through the appropriations process. Passed Senate Finance Committee by Substitute 1/25/2024
Sens. Echols, Albers, Walker, Esteves, Hickman, and others This bill seeks to encourage greater collaboration between the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia. It would require both systems to set up course with transferable credits and list all courses for students. Assigned to Senate Higher Education Committee 1/26/2024
Sens. Hickman, Goodman, Watson, Anderson, and Gooch This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on the Preservation of Georgia's Farmlands. Assigned to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on 1/26/2024
Sens. Walker, Goodman, Ginn, Watson, Hickman, and others This resolution recognizes February 14, 2024, as 4-H Day at the Capitol. Read and Adopted 1/25/2024 |
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Reps. Camp, Mathiak, Lim, Au, and Cameron This bill would establish the State Board of Veterinary Medicine as an independent agency attached to the Department of Agriculture for administrative purposes. The State Board of Veterinary Medicine serves as the licensing board for veterinarians in the state of Georgia. Currently, this board is administratively attached to the Secretary of State and is under the professional licensing boards division. Passed House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Corbett, Meeks, Pirkle, Dickey, and Williams This bill would establish the State Board of Registration for Foresters as an independent agency attached to the State Forestry Commission for administrative purposes. Currently the Board is under the professional licensing boards division of the Secretary of State's office. Passed House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/23/2023
Reps. Gullett, Parsons, Thomas, Anderson, Meeks, and others This bill deals with ensuring transparency between buyers and sellers of distributed energy generation systems, including solar energy procurement, and provides access to educational information surrounding contracts and agreements for such systems. It specifically looks to address deceptive business practices seen throughout the state by certain companies selling rooftop solar systems. Passed House on 2/22/2023 & Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities on 3/1/2023
Reps. Jackson, Hawkins, Cooper, Williams, Beverly, and others This bill would eliminate the current tax credit available for rural physicians and replace it with a new tax credit of up to $5,000 for each taxable year. The new tax credit would be available to a wider array of health care professionals including dentists, nurse practitioners, physical assistants and more. It also imposes certain restrictions such as a cap on the number of years it can be claimed (5 years) and restrictions on those who are already working in a rural area. Passed House on 3/6/2023 & Senate Tabled 3/27/2023
Reps. Momtahan, Parsons, Dickey, Tarvin, Pirkle, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of certain types of land or properties, including farms and agricultural land, by Chinese, Russian, Iranian, or North Korean governments, citizens, or companies. It would both prohibit direct ownership but also ownership through majority stock or other specified intertest. Assigned to House Judiciary Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Schofield, Drenner, Kennard, Evans and Hutchinson This bill would require the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations to gradually reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from every electric utility in Georgia, regardless of fuel type. It would require that by 2050 all electricity provided by an electric utility in Georgia be generated from energy sources that produce zero greenhouse gasses. Assigned to House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Lewis-Ward, Beverly, Jackson, and Gilliard This bill would establish the Office of Equity in Agriculture to support current members of socially disadvantaged groups and to encourage the growth of socially disadvantaged groups into the field of agriculture. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/7/2023
Reps. Thomas, Schofield, and Marin This bill would establish the ability to set up and operate a Microenterprise home kitchen. This would be a noncommercial kitchen facility located in a private home or on a farm where ready-to-eat food is handled, stored, prepared, or offered for sale for consumption off the premises. The kitchen must meet the criteria to be a microenterprise as established by the Department of Economic Development. This bill would exclude food sales establishments, any food production which requires a license by the Dept. of Agriculture, and more. Heard House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/14/2023
Reps. Smith, Kelley, Williamson, Stephens, and Blackmon This legislation would establish the Solar Technology Trust Fund and impose a fee of $15 per kilowatt of capacity on retail sales of solar equipment in Georgia. The fees collected would be used by the trust fund for remediation, decommissioning, and disposal of solar equipment, such as solar panels. Assigned to House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunication Committee 2/9/2023
Reps. Dickey, Houston, Gilliard, and Carpenter Over the past few years there has been discussion over how to address issues with our state's Farmers Markets, some of which are in need of substantial capital repairs and improvements. Several of the markets have also suffered from profitability issues, leading to the temporary closing of certain markets. This bill seeks to establish the Georgia Farmers Market Authority, allowing the state's markets to be run more like a business by retaining the income it generates and using it to operate and improve the markets. Recommitted to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 3/1/2023
Reps. Scott, Schofield, and Davis Under this proposal, the Department of Human Services could establish the Healthy Food Development Program, to establish, support, facilitate, and expand access to healthy foods in eligible underserved areas, in coordination with Departments of Economic Development, Agriculture, and Natural Resources on an approved application basis. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee on 2/9/2023
Reps. LaHood, Parrish, Williams, Jackson, Burchett and others. This bill seeks to amend the tax credit limit for rural hospital contributions and redefines a rural hospital organization. It would increase the tax credit limit for contributions by corporate donors and increase the aggregate limit for tax credits for contributions to rural hospital organizations. This bill includes a sunset date of December 31, 2023. Assigned to House Ways and Means Committee 2/14/2023
Reps. Yearta, Corbett, Cannon, Jasperse, and Franklin This bill would make it unlawful for anyone other than a secondary metal recycler to sell, purchase, possess, or transport a catalytic convertor. The individual would be charged on a separate offense for every individual catalytic convertor. This, along with other similar pieces of proposed legislation, are in response to increasing frequency of catalytic converter theft in recent years. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 2/13/2023
Reps. Williams, Meeks, Rhodes, Dickey, Blackmon, and others This bill seeks to grant a second round of funding to the Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs program. This bill would also increase the application fee and provide an annual maintenance fee. Passed House Ways and Means Committee 3/2/2023
Reps. Anderson, Williamson, Parsons, Frazier, Jones and others This bill says no governmental entity of this state shall adopt any policy that restricts or prohibits, or has the effect of restricting or prohibiting, the type or source of energy or fuel to be delivered to a home or the appliance to be used. Passed House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunication Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Houston, Meeks, Dickey, Pirkle This bill would establish the Farmer's Market Trust Fund allowing for the state farmers markets to retain fees and utilize them to repair and maintain those farmers markets and for marketing and promotion of Georgia agricultural goods. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/16/2023
Reps. Knight, Corbett, Rhodes, Cannon, and Pirkle This bill would do away with an exemption provided in the Conservation Use Value Assessment (CUVA) program that allows for the installation of solar panels on land within a CUVA covenant, so long as that portion of the land is removed from the covenant and the specified breach penalty is paid. That penalty in current law is less than what must be paid for a normal breach on a property that is subject to a covenant. Under this proposal, installing solar panels on land enrolled in CUVA would constitute a breach of the covenant, and the full penalty would have to be paid. Passed House Ways and Means Committee 3/3/2023
Reps. Pirkle, Jasperse, Meeks, Rhodes, Knight, and others This bill would prohibit the foreign ownership of agricultural land by any non-resident alien, government, or business from a country considered to be foreign adversary as determined by the US Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict ownership by those individuals, governments, and businesses of any land that is within a 25 mile radius of a military facility. The bill does allow for possession in certain special circumstances such as through an inheritance or for the collection of debts, but the land must be dispersed after a specified period of time. Passed House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/28/2023
Reps. Pirkle, Corbett, Williams, and Rhodes This bill seeks to make changes to the current hemp law to ensure the safety of the products being sold and marketed here in Georgia by requiring certain labeling and testing requirements for all consumable hemp products. It defines hemp products, consumable hemp products, and industrial hemp products to distinguish between the different usages of hemp plants. It seeks make changes to the licensing and registration process and fee structure for growers, processors, and retailers. This bill also requires a person to be 21 years old to purchase consumable hemp products, be the target of certain marketing, or receive samples of consumable hemp products in stores. Passed House 3/6/2023 & Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee 3/7/2023
Reps. Leverett, Petrea, Prince, and Jackson This bill seeks to address issues with bad actors improperly applying soil amendments through increased notification requirements and delegation of enforcement authority to certain local governments. GFB is actively monitoring this bill and has been in discussions with the sponsor to work towards an appropriate and balanced solution to the issue. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/21/2023
Reps. Drenner, Carter, Evans, Davis, and Thomas This bill creates a definition for what is an overburdened community and seeks to establish a special permitting process and environmental justice considerations that must be followed for an individual or entity to build or expand certain types of facilities in an overburdened community. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Drenner, Carter, Evans, Davis, and Thomas This bill is titled Georgia Environmental Justice Act of 2023. It establishes the Environmental Justice Commission to oversee the permitting of certain projects in low-income and minority neighborhoods. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Barnes, Beverly, Clark, Au, Oliver, and others. This bill seeks to provide free school meals to all public-school students who qualify for the reduced-price meals under federal and state guidelines. It encourages the use of Georgia Grown products in school breakfast and lunch programs to promote Georgia agriculture and healthy eating. Assigned to House Education Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Washburn, Bazemore, Reeves, Lim, Ridley, and others. This bill is known as the "Housing Regulation Transparency Act." It seeks to limit the duration of time that a local government may enact a temporary housing moratorium on properties being developed for residential purposes to 180 days. It also requires that a local government must wait another 180 days before enacting any new temporary housing moratorium once the initial 180-day moratorium is expired. The bill allows for exemptions under certain circumstances including a declared state of emergency, when safety is of concern, a court order, or while a studied is being conducted investigating future development. This bill also grants local governments the power to collect fees associated with their zoning powers and issuance of permits. This is to create an equitable program for governments to finance the development and creation of local planning, land use, and zoning ordinances for orderly growth. Assigned to Conference Committee 3/29/2023
Reps. Gilliard, Stephens, Willis, and Thomas This bill, titled the "Georgia Hemp Industry Growth and Business Partnership Tax Credit Act," provides for a tax credit for costs of doing business with Georgia Grown hemp owners and suppliers. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 2/23/2023
Reps. Lewis-Ward, Beverly, Bentley, Jackson, and Schofield This bill would require the Department of Agriculture to spend no less than 5% of the entire marketing and promotion budget on minority or women owned agricultural enterprises. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cheokas, Collins, Hitchens, Yearta, and Washburn This bill would allow a county to establish a trespass enforcement program to provide any participating owner or rightful occupant of property with a method for designating any peace officer with the local law enforcement agency as his or her authorized representative for purposes of enforcing criminal trespass. Assigned to House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cameron, Camp, Campbell, Hagan, and Huddleston This bill is tilted the Healthy Food Development Program Act. It allows for the Department of Human Services to coordinate with the Department of Economic Development to create the Healthy Food Development Program. They could provide grants, loans, state tax credits, equipment, other financial assistance or technical assistance to grocery stores, corner stores, farmers' markets, or other retailers. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Hagan, Gaines, Camp, and Clark This bill creates the cottage food operator license for a person who produces homemade food items at a residential property for sale to a consumer. They will be permitted to only sell non-potentially hazardous foods - foods that do not require temperature control for safety. A license must be obtained through the Department of Agriculture for $100 per year to obtain this license. This bill exempts cottage food operators from inspection but grants the Department the power to conduct an inspection upon complaint. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/27/2023
Reps. Cheokas, Yearta, Mathiak, Ridley, Powell, and others This bill would increase a statewide ad valorem tax exemption limit for tangible personal property from $7,500 to $50,000. It also provides for a statewide referendum and a question to be placed on the ballot for the voters of Georgia to decide on making this change. Assigned to House Ways and Means Committee 3/23/2023
Reps. Smith, Dickey, Pirkle, Leverett, Hagan, and others This bill increases the punishment for livestock theft by increasing both the penalty fines and the years of imprisonment. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 3/29/2023
Reps. Taylor, Lumsden, Collins, Hitchens, and Dunahoo This bill would allow any law enforcement to enforce excess vehicle weight limitations using automated vehicle weight detection system. This would allow the use of weight detecting technology and cameras capable of determining the gross vehicle weight and individual axle weights of a passing motor vehicle and producing recorded images of such vehicle located outside of a fixed scales facility. The technology could be implemented by third party agents. Assigned to House Motor Vehicles Committee 1/09/2024
Reps. Washburn, Au, Stephens, Anulewicz, Hitchens, and others This bill would exempt Georgia from the advancement of standard time, known as daylight savings upon the exemption from daylight savings by North and South Carolina and the portions of Florida and Tennessee that observe eastern standard time. Assigned to House State Planning & Community Affairs Committee 1/10/2024
Rep. Thomas This bill would provide for a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes for the full value of a homestead used for agricultural purposes under certain parameters. The farmer must be engaged in production agriculture for no more than 5 years and operate on no more than 5 acres. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/10/2024
Reps. Ridley, Ridley, Jasperse, Fleming, Persinger, and others This bill would require all food service establishments in the state that serve food products containing cell cultured meat or plant-based meat alternatives to display on their menus, or on placards visible to the public, disclosures stating that such food products contain cell cultured meat or plant based meat alternatives. Assigned to House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 1/11/2024
Reps. Anderson, Rhodes, Burchett, Smith, Williams, and others This bill defines a multipurpose off-highway vehicle and ensures no multipurpose off-highway vehicle shall be returned for or subject to ad valorem taxation. Assigned to House Ways & Means Committee 1/12/2024
Reps. Vance, Tarvin, Lumsden, Collins, and Hitchens This bill would add to what is considered criminal trespass and make entrance upon property of another without consent shall be an offense of criminal trespass. Assigned to House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee 1/12/2024
Reps. Williams, Petrea, Dickey, Corbett, Rhodes, and others This resolution proposes an amendment to the state constitution that would reduce the rate of ad-valorem tax assessment on timber at the time of sale or harvest. The proposal would require that the state appropriate funds annually to each county or municipality to compensate for any loss in revenue. Passed House 3/2/2023 & Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 3/6/2023
Reps. Bennett, Jenkins, Dempsey, Lewis-Ward, Newton, and others This resolution establishes the House Healthy Food Retail Study Committee to investigate the lack of access to healthy foods in both rural and urban areas. Assigned to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 2/15/2023
Reps. Drenner and Thomas This is a resolution creating the House Study Committee on Environmental Justice. This committee will study the impact of pollution and hazardous materials on low-income neighborhoods or neighborhoods consisting primarily of minorities. Assigned to House Natural Resources and Environment Committee 2/22/2023
Reps. Mathiak, Gunter, Hatchett This resolution would create the House Study Committee on Rural Medical Personnel Recruitment. This study would look to raise awareness of the challenges rural hospitals face to recruit personnel and retain surgical support personnel. Recommitted to House Special Rules Committee 3/29/2023
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Robertson, Hufstetler, Payne, Butler, and others This bill seeks to address licensing, testing, and retail sales of consumable hemp products. It puts in place certain testing requirements for consumable hemp products, establishes a licensing structure with the associated fees, and addresses certain issues surrounding the offering of hemp samples to anyone under 21 years of age. The bill also puts in place specific labeling requirements for retail consumable hemp products. Recommitted to Senate Rules Committee 2/22/2023
Sens. Jackson, Goodman, Summers and Butler This bill, called the "Georgia Hemp Farming Act," would change the limitations for individuals seeking a license or permit to grow hemp. It would change current law to allow individuals who are convicted of a misdemeanor involving the sale of a controlled substance, to apply for and be given a license or permit to grow industrial hemp. It would also allow someone convicted of a felony to apply for and receive a license or permit after 10 years has passed from said felony. Recommitted to Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee 2/28/2023
Sens. Beach, Dolezal, Goodman, Summers, Anderson, and others This bill would prohibit the purchase of agricultural land by a non-resident foreign alien who is subject to a government that is considered a foreign adversary as defined by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. It would also restrict the purchase of agricultural land by any government of, or business domiciled in a country subject to a government that is considered a foreign adversary. There are provisions within the bill that would also limit the foreign ownership of land near certain military instillations. Passed Senate 3/2/2023 & Recommitted to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 3/29/2023
Sens. Anderson, Brass, Burns, Anavitarte, Robertson and others This bill changes the definition of what is considered a dangerous or vicious dog. This bill revises the definition to include the following: a dog who is unprovoked barking, growling, or snarling, aggressively running along fence lines, or escaping confinement when people are present. It requires the owner of a dangerous dog as defined by the bill to maintain a $500,000 insurance policy covering any damage or bodily harm caused by the dog. Assigned to Senate Insurance and Labor Committee 2/13/2023
Sens. Still, Dolezal, Robertson, Anavitarte, Payne, and others This bill which at one time would have only prohibited local regulations that create differing standards for gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment, now includes an additional 33 pages of language that addresses numerous other issues. Senate Disagreed to House Amendment 3/29/2023 & House Insisted 3/29/2023
Sens. Goodman, Sims, Walker, Brass, Mallow, and others This bill is a companion bill to HB 189. The current state law sets the gross vehicle weight (GVW) of any 5-axle truck at 80,000lbs. Agriculture and forestry receives a 5% variance exemption to allow them to haul 84,000lbs. The bill would allow for these industries and a few additional ones to haul using a 12.5% variance, setting allowable weights at 90,000lbs. This bill only pertains to state roads. Due to federal regulations, trucks traveling on interstates are only allowed to haul at 80,000lbs with no variances. Heard by Senate Transportation Committee 2/27/2023
Sens. Jones, Goodman, Butler, Hickman, and Sims This bill is entitled the "Food Insecurity Eradication Act." It establishes the Georgia Food Security Advisory Council under the Georgia Department of Agriculture to advise the General Assembly on ways to alleviate food insecurity in the state. Passed Senate 3/6/2023 & Recommitted to House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee 3/29/2023
Sens. Dolezal, Still, Gooch, Kennedy, Watson and others This legislation deals with premises liability action and seeks to make changes to tort law provisions that are significant to landowners. It states no landowner shall be liable in a premises liability action to anyone who is injured on the landowner's property as the result of the willful, wanton, or intentionally tortious conduct of any third party who is not a director, officer, employee, or agent of the landowner unless the invitee can prove specific items as laid out by the legislation. Senate Tabled 3/6/2023
Sens. Jones, Harbison, Rahman, Merrit, Butler and others This bill is entitled the Right to Repair Act. It seeks to require manufactures of digital and electronic products to provide diagnostic and repair information, parts, and tools to independent repair providers. Assigned to Senate Science and Technology Committee 2/27/2023
Sens. Anavitarte, Gooch, Anderson, Summers, Cowsert and others. This resolution will form the Senate Study Committee on the Benefits of Solar Energy in Georgia. It will report on the pros and cons of solar generated energy in the state of Georgia. Passed Senate Rules Committee on 3/23/2023
Sens. Kirkpatrick, Hufstetler, Payne, Echols, Dugan, and others. This bill is known as the Outdoor Dog Protection Act. It would make it unlawful to leave a dog outdoors or unattended for more than 24 hours under the defined circumstances within the bill. It provides an exemption for livestock herding dogs, dogs sued within production agriculture, and hunting or field training dogs. Assigned to Senate Public Safety Committee 3/27/2023
Sens. Hufstetler, Albers, Esteves, Echols, Anavitarte, and others. This bill is an omnibus tax bill. It deals with ad valorem taxation of property. It revises the limitations on setting mileage rates and provides a statewide homestead tax exemption from ad valorem taxes if the current year assessed value of a homestead is more than 3 percent from the adjusted base year value. Assigned to Senate Finance Committee 1/11/2024 |
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We are looking for the best cooks and recipes in Georgia! The Public Policy Department is putting together a cookbook with recipes from those who know Georgians best...YOU!
We need your help gathering some of the most mouthwatering, delicious, treasured recipes you and your family gather around the table to enjoy. We invite you to submit your favorite and best recipes to be featured in the newest Georgia Farm Bureau cookbook. Click the button below to find out more information on how to submit your recipe, as well as how this cookbook will directly benefit the Georgia Farm Bureau Federal PAC. All submissions are due by January 26, 2024. |
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Save the Date January 31 - GA Cotton Commission Annual Meeting/Workshop February 5-6 - GFA Day at the Capitol February 6-7 - GAC Annual Meeting & Legislative Breakfast February 13 - GFB Day at the Capitol February 14 - 4-H Day at the Capitol February 27 - GA Citrus Association Annual Conference February 29 - GCA Steak Biscuit Day at the Capitol March 13-15 - GA Cattlemen's Association Annual Convention March 15 - FFA 17th Annual Blue & Gold Gala
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Thank you for taking an active role in staying up-to-date and informed on the developments at our State Capitol. If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to any of our Public Policy Department Staff and we will be happy to assist you.
Alex Bradford, Director Ben Parker, National Affairs Coordinator |