We have the beginnings of a Transportation Bill, as the House Speaker and House Transportation Chairman, with others, hosted a press conference on Wednesday to unveil the "Transportation Funding Act of 2015," setting the stage for the funding debate to likely last until the final days of Session. House Bill 170 was dropped on Thursday morning by House Transportation Chairman Jay Roberts, with some of the key provisions including:

• Conversion of the Sales Tax on Motor Fuel to an Excise Tax, ajusted annual to keep pace with fuel efficiency of vehicles;
• Continuation of current SPLOSTS approved by voters until their planned expiration dates;
• Allows counties and cities to levy an excise tax up to 3 cents each (6 cents total) for local trnasportation projects, by approval of county commission of city council;
• Allows additional excise taxes on motor fuel beyond 3 cent limit woudl be subject to votor approval;
• Institute a user-fee of $200 for non-commercial alternative fuled vehicles and $300 for commernical alternative-fuled vehicles;
• Recapitalize the Georgia Tranpsortation Infrstructure Bank to create a revolving, self-susatining loan and grant fund is created to incentivize local governments, CID's. authorities, etc. to provide matching funds for local constrcution projects. 

This bill is a huge step in solving our transportation funding needs, by closing the funding gap needed with over $1 billion in new transportation funding, without a state tax increase.  By converting to an excise tax from a motor fuel tax, the state will have created the effect of reallocating the "fourth penny" that had been redirected from the motor fule tax to the general fund.   Additionally, the House leadership is committed to a bond package that will focus on critical bridge maintening, transit and other essential transportation projects.

Realistically, this legislation will see changes as it moves through the House and the Council will continue to remain engaged at the Capitol throughout the process.  It will be interesting to see if other pieces of transportaion focused legislation re-emerge , such as multi-county SPLOSTS and Fractional SPLOSTS.  You may recall, the Council actively engaged with support of House Bill 153 in the 2014 Session, which would allow counties, pending an intergovernmental agreement with local municipalities, to levy, pending voter approval, a special option sales tax of less than 1%.

Once concering piece of legislation was filed by Cherokee County State Representative Scott Turner (R), House Bill 97, which  prohibits local agencies from entering into non-disclosure agreements. According to the bill, all agenices shall fully disclose without delay, any communications regarding any terms and conditions of any agreement, incentive or offered made or entered into by the agency, directing the Attorney General to sanction any individual, on behalf of an agency who enters into a non-disclosure agreement in violation of this proposed law. Furthermore, it allows any citizen, in addition to the Attorney General, to intiate civil action to compel the disclosure of any matters covered in a non-disclosure 

The House and Senate have set a schedule that has them in Monday - Wednesday, for Days 9-11next week and Monday - Thursday the week after, putting the Session at Legislative Day 15 on Thursday, February 12.

Next Week's Spotlight: 

Senate Bill 59: Public-Private Partnerships (P3)

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Craft Breweries: Their Economic Impact in Georgia: Senate Bill 63 Dropped on Wednesday.
 

Craft breweries in Georgia, and in the Metro Atlanta Region specifically, have grown in popularity for many years now.

 

For many residents, the hope is that Georgia will become a popular destination for beer connoisseurs, similar to other states, such as Colorado and California. 

 

House Bill 314 was introduced in the Georgia General Assembly in the 2014 Session and a new piece of legislation was dropped this Session, Senate Bill 63, sponsored by State Senator Hunter Hill, allow GA breweries to manufacture malt beverages on their premises for off-premises consumption. 

House of Representatives Floor Notes

 

Each Session day the Georgia House publishes a recap of the legislative day that occurred in the House.  

 

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