GFIA 
Legislative Update

March 2, 2015



Legislators will have another busy week, as everyone is trying to get their bills passed before Crossover Day (Day 30), currently scheduled for March 13th. This is the last day a bill can pass out of one of the chambers and have time to "crossover" to the other chamber and pass by the 40th day.

 

Last week had many events happen of interest to the food industry, starting with HB 445,a major tax reform bill that would increase the tax on cigarettes and eliminate the exemption on groceries while decreasing the income tax. Good news came on Thursday when the Senate passed SB 139, preventing local governments from passing a packaging ban.  

 

The language for the immunization legislation was finally revealed and several problem areas were discovered that we are working through.

 

This week will start off with today's packaging bill in the Senate Agriculture Committee. A House Regulated Industries Committee will take up the issue of whether retailers should self-report violations to the Department of Revenue.
LastLast week.......

 Preemption Bill Passes Senate 32-19  

Last Thursday, Senate Bill 139, introduced by Senator Tyler Harper (R-Ocilla) and a strong list of co-sponsors, passed the Senate after a lengthy debate. The bill would prohibit local city and county governments from banning, restricting, taxing or charging a fee for plastic bags, cans, bottles or other one-time use containers. As more retailers across the country have wrestled with a complex list of local regulations, SB 139 would allow these restrictions only at the state level. SB 139 is now headed to the House.

 

The same language will be heard in the House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee today, 3/2/15 by Chairman Tom McCall (R-Elberton). HB 444, would also protect the business community from the "regulatory mayhem" experienced in other states when a variety of packaging bans pass on the local level. Please contact the House Agriculture Committee members and ask them to vote YES on HB 444! The local governments and environmentalist groups are organized and are fighting the legislation. Legislators need to hear from you! 

 

immunizationImmunization Update

HB 504, introduced by Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) is the long awaited legislation that would give the pharmacists the ability to administer three additional immunizations with a doctor's protocol. We've worked with Chairman Cooper for many months on this bill. There are some concerns that we are hoping to get worked out before today's scheduled Health and Human Services Committee meeting.

Thank you to our members who have spent many hours working to perfect this legislation. 
ExemptionTax Exemption for Food Bank Donations
Clears House Committee 

HB 390, introduced by Geoff Duncan, (R-Cumming) reinstates the sales and use tax exemptions on the donation of food and food ingredients to a qualified nonprofit agency for hunger or disaster relief purposes. From July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2011, donations of prepared food to qualified nonprofits for the purpose of hunger relief and disaster relief were exempt from sales and use tax. These exemptions had broad support, but expired as the General Assembly contemplated changes in Georgia's tax system. Bills reinstating these exemptions overwhelmingly passed both the House and Senate in 2012 and 2013 but did not make it through the final legislative steps to become law. HB 390 clarifies these exemptions to apply to all food and food ingredients including prepared food through June 30, 2020. Heads to House Rules Committee.  

requirementRequirement to Self-Report Alcohol Violations
Sent to Sub-Committee

Representative Geoff Duncan (R- Cumming), introduced HB 152, which would require any alcohol licensee who experiences a disciplinary action to report that violation to the Department of Revenue within 15 days of receiving the action. A fine not to exceed $750 would be assessed for noncompliance. Two or more violations for noncompliance would result in the suspension, revocation or cancellation of a license. After emotional testimony from a father whose 18 year old son was beaten by a bouncer, the bill was referred to a House Regulated Industries Committee subcommittee.

 

Update: The GFIA is working with Rep. Duncan on language that would take care of our concerns. 

major Major Component in New Tax Reform Plan

A major tax reform bill was introduced last week that will affect the grocery industry and our customers. The More Take Home Pay Act, introduced by Representative John Carson (R-Marietta), would cut the state income tax from 6% to 4% by broadening the tax base to a more consumption-based model. To accomplish the income tax break, the 81 page bill would:

  • Raise the general state sales tax to 5% on January 1, 2017
  • Phase in a grocery tax over a four year period, beginning in 2017 (2017: 3%, 2018: 4%, 2019: 5%)
  • Increase the excise tax on cigarettes over a three year period (2017: 45 cents, 2018: 55 cents, 2019: 65 cents)
  • Begin taxing digitally-delivered items (downloads on software, e-books, music, videos, apps)
  • Begin taxing cable, satellite and local telecom
  • Eliminating many exemptions

House leadership explained that this is not a bill that will be passed in one year, but is a start for tax reform. 

PharmacyPharmacy Biosimilar Bill Remains in House Rules Committee

Chairman Sharon Cooper's HB 195 once again passed out of the Health and Human Services Committee with a few changes that the pharmacist association asked to include. The bill remains in the House Rules Committee.     

 

Senator Dean Burke's version passed the full Senate 47-1 and has been assigned to the House Health and Human Services Committee. Senate Bill 51

WICSave the Date-WIC Advisory Board Meeting   

When:
Friday, March 13, 2015

Location:
Bohan Auditorium located at DeKalb County Board of Health
445 Winn Way
Decatur, GA 30030
 
More information will be sent as we get closer to the date. A conference number will be provided for those who are unable to attend in person.
WashingtonJoin us for-Day in Washington- April 15-16 

Don't miss the chance to head to Washington with your peers for the Annual Supermarket Industry Fly-in!

When:
April 15-16, 2015

Location:
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
Washington, D.C.

Click Here for the Registration Form
Click Here for the Flyer
AnteroomHungry Senators Need Food for the Senate Anteroom!

The Georgia Food Industry Association has been providing food for the Senate anteroom for many years. As the days will be getting longer, more is needed! We need fruit, snacks, granola bars, bagels, and danish to get us through April 2nd. Please email or call Brenda Stone at (770) 438-7744 if you can be of assistance!

Thanks to Danny Dunbar with Snyder's-Lance, Inc. and Lynn Micale with Mondelez International/Nabisco & Cadbury, for their generous donations of goodies. The Senators have enjoyed snacking on BelVita and Gold-n-Chees Crackers.
ExpectedExpected This Week

Expected this week: Immunization language concerns are addressed; House Agriculture Committee considers packaging bag pre-emption; More discussions on how to raise transportation funding, tobacco tax increases, tax reform ideas including eliminating the state tax exemption on food...

As always, if GFIA can be of any assisstance, please reach out to us!