Feb. 12, 2024 – Issue 04

While the General Assembly took a break Monday, Feb. 5 to remember the late Rules Chairman Rep. Richard Smith, the rest of the week was accelerated by an increase in committee meetings, floor debate and visitors to the state capitol. The Gold Dome was packed daily from various groups celebrating their “day at the capitol” at near building capacity levels. The Cobb Chamber joined the Regional Business Coalition (RBC) Tuesday for its day, meeting with the Governor, and hearing from lawmakers and legislative staffers. The RBC is a nonpartisan organization of 17 local Chambers of Commerce throughout the metro Atlanta region. RBC member chambers represent over 10,000 businesses that collectively employ over 1 million metro Atlanta residents. The RBC’s primary goal is to represent the interests of RBC chamber members on public policy issues impacting our transportation, water, and air quality and to advocate for solutions that improve metro Atlanta’s quality of life and economic vitality.

Appropriations:

The House passed its version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget which includes some good news for our friends at Kennesaw State University. Their FY 2025 budget request has been moved into the amended budget, which speeds up the process for funding the $6.2 million in equipment funds to complete the Interdisciplinary STEM Building on the Marietta campus. Cobb Chamber CEO Sharon Mason joined elected officials and President Kat Schwaig on Friday, Feb. 2 for the groundbreaking of this new building.

The Senate immediately began its work on the amended budget Thursday and the expectation for it to pass that chamber is the week of Feb. 12, sending it to a conference committee for final agreements to be ironed out prior to being sent to the Governor.

To review the changes to the Amended FY 2024 Budget as it goes through the legislative process, click here for the Amended FY 2024 House Track Sheet (HB 915).

Tax Credit Legislation:

The highly anticipated tax credit legislation was introduced after House and Senate leadership held a press conference to roll out proposals following a year-long study. Both bills will begin the process in the House Ways and Means Committee:

House Bill 1180
By Rep. Kasey Carpenter
The legislation would increase the minimum spend requirement for a production to be eligible to receive the film tax credit from $500,000 to $1 million; defines nine criteria that production companies must meet at least four of to qualify for an additional 10% tax credit on top of the 20% base credit; raise the minimum companies would have to spend to earn the credit; and put new limits on the selling of credits. If passed, the bill would go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.

House Bill 1181
By Rep. Chuck Martin
This legislation reduces carryforward period for many of Georgia’s of tax credits, including qualified research expenses, high-impact aerospace defense projects, and alternative fuel, low-emission and zero-emission vehicles, and electric vehicle chargers, just to list a few in the bill. It would place a December 31, 2029 sunset on a number of tax credits. This act shall be applicable to all taxable years beginning Jan. 1, 2025 if passed.

House Bill 1192
By Rep. John Carson
If passed and signed by the Governor, the suspension of the sales tax exemption on equipment used in data centers due to concerns about electricity use. Georgia Power testified in regulatory hearings last month that 80% of a forecast jump in electricity demand would come from data centers.

These tax credit proposals are being reviewed by the Cobb Chamber.

If your business has a concern about any of the proposed changes, please contact Amanda Seals ASAP.

Cobb County Legislative Delegation

Members of the House and Senate Cobb legislative delegation met Friday to hear from Cobb & Douglas Public Health Deputy Director Lisa Crossman and Cobb County Board of Health Chair Pete Quinones, CEO of MetroAtlanta Ambulance Service. The duo reviewed 2024 strategic priorities of the agency, which include:

• Ability to recruit and retain qualified staff
• Address statewide cybersecurity and Georgia/Local Public Health IT Systems upgrades
• Support construction of S. Cobb Public Health Center

For the full list of strategic priorities, click here.

The delegation also heard from Vice President of Strategic Community Development Stephen Vault with Wellstar Health System, who hosted lunch for the delegation and fielded questions from the group. Chief of Staff Andrew Cox, Executive Vice President and Legal Counsel Leo Reichert, and Government Relations intern, Jennie Nguyen were also in attendance from Wellstar.

In other news, Sen. John Albers announced the creation of a bipartisan senate Cobb County delegation. The press release can be found here.

Legislation of Interest:

Senate Bill 26
By Sen. Greg Dozal
Supported by the Cobb Chamber in 2023, the legislation would allow for meetings and public hearings of development authorities and community improvement districts, along with other entities that have been amended into the underlying legislation, to be held via teleconference. The bill was finally agreed to by both Chambers this week and now moves to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

Senate Bill 362
By Sen. Mike Hodges
Supported by Gov. Brian Kemp, the bill incentivizing secret ballot elections in union organizing by barring businesses from receiving state economic incentives for new projects who do not utilize this method of unionization. The bill would not apply to companies where an existing employment contract states that future votes will be by card check.

SB 429
By Sen. Greg Dolezal
This legislation enables the general assembly to evaluate pending legislation and rules that may impact small business and creates a more direct path for reviewing agency regulations. The Small Business Protection Act of 2024 also requires each agency to work to engage in zero-base rulemaking and to a top-to-bottom review of all rules periodically.  Finally, it provides for a new definition of “small business” raising the employee threshold from 100 to 300.

Senate Bill 473
By Sen. John Albers
Dubbed the "Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act," the legislation is a comprehensive overhaul of protections for consumers and their personal data. The author has been working with the high-tech industry and business community on the bill prior to introduction.

Senate Bill 435 and Senate Resolution 533
Sen. Frank Ginn
Subject to approval of a constitutional amendment (SR 533), this bill creates the statutory framework for Community Development Districts (CDDs) to build and maintain public infrastructure and to levy ad valorem tax to bond and to pay for such infrastructure.

House Bill 883
By Representative Devan Seabaugh
Would authorize county boards of health to conduct meetings via teleconference.

House Bill 940
By Rep. Todd Jones
Legislation would require Georgia retail stores and restaurants to accept cash for purchases.

Which is Superior? Cornbread or Biscuit?

This week in both chambers, there was contentious debate on items such as cityhood, unions and setting cash bail for a list of crimes. However, Friday in the State House, as often happens at the State Capitol, lighthearted camaraderie returned for HB 1048 by Rep. Kasey Carpenter which designates cornbread as official state bread.

Enjoy this short video of the floor debate that kicked off the weekend with a bit of levity.

This Week at the Capitol

Almost to the halfway mark, the General Assembly will meet for four days this week, adjusting the calendar for the recess day they took on Mon., Feb. 5.

Mon., February 12 – legislative day 19  
Tues., February 13 – legislative day 20  
Thurs., February 15 – legislative day 21  
Fri., February 16 – legislative day 22 

Are you registered to vote?

Monday, Feb. 12 is the last day to register to vote in GA’s presidential primary, which will be held on March 12. Voters can check their registration status and view sample ballots through the state’s My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov.

If you have any questions about the Cobb Chamber Government Affairs Committee, the Cobb Chamber legislative priorities or legislative advocacy in general, please reach out to Amanda Seals, Executive Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations.