Legislators

House Bill 930 creates the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (ATL), a new structure for coordinated and integrated transit planning for the 13-County Metro Atlanta region. The bill establishes the governance and accountability of the ATL, as well as outlining new and enhanced transit funding through optional local taxes (TSPLOST) which counties may apply to raise transit funds. House Bill 930 also a new regional governance and funding structure for transit in Metro Atlanta. Metro Atlanta is defined as the 13-County region currently under GRTA’s jurisdiction, namely: Cherokee, Cobb, Clayton, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, and Rockdale Counties. The bill intends to improve the coordination, integration, and efficiency of transit in the region to promote a seamless and high-quality transit system for Metro Atlanta.

House Bill 696 allows for state sales and use tax exemptions for certain computer equipment sold or leased for use in high-technology data centers.  This is a modernization of existing tax law relative to data centers.  The new proposal incentivizes large investments by data centers in the state that will ultimately serve businesses across various industry sectors among other entities.

House Resolution 993 proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution that would establish a business court with statewide jurisdiction. If enacted and approved by voters in November, this court would provide specialized resolution of complex business litigation matters. The creation of a statewide business court in Georgia would promote specialized resolution of complex business cases. The business court will enhance predictability, increase speed, improve case management, lower costs, and provide judicial expertise in complex commercial litigation. The establishment of such a court will make us a more attractive and competitive state, particularly since a number of other states, including North Carolina and South Carolina, have such a specialized court. The business court will benefit all Georgians: by removing complex, time-consuming business cases from the general docket, non-business cases will also be resolved more quickly. As the state’s largest business advocate, the Georgia Chamber understands the importance of reforming the state’s current civil justice system.

House Bill 918 provides for the annual Internal Revenue Code update for the tax years 2017 and 2018 and includes a reduction of both the personal and corporate income tax rate to 5.75% in 2019 and 5.5% in 2020 upon approval by the legislature. The Chamber recognizes the impact of global competition on businesses and supports tax proposals that encourage job creation and retention in Georgia. We recognize that businesses are a key component to economic development and an improved quality of life for all Georgians. The Chamber supports changes to tax policy that reduce income tax rates to the extent of fiscal responsibility and believe the proposed changes to the tax code are a useful step forward in advancing economic mobility and prosperity.

House bill 338, sponsored by Representative Kevin Tanner, gives low performing schools the tools to help all students reach their full potential.  It is a long-standing Chamber position to support any education initiative that supports students in their pursuit of a quality education and academic success.  HB 338 allows all students to prepare for post-secondary and career success and will help build a strong workforce and ensure employers have the talent they need to keep Georgia competitive.

House bill 134 allows for greater flexibility in the administration of single county T-SPLOST, including allowing a county to levy multiple T-SPLOST as long as the total amount levied does not exceed 1%. HB 134 also grants cities the authority to bond their T-SPLOST projects, an option currently available only to counties. Legislation such as HB 134 provides local officials, working with their constituents, the tools necessary to build and maintain a transportation network necessary to attract business growth and address their citizens’ needs.

House bill 73 will help incentivize economic growth and investment in some of Georgia’s most economically disadvantaged rural areas. This legislation is an important piece in a larger conversation surrounding the opportunities for economic growth in rural communities throughout Georgia. HB 73 creates innovative tax incentives, tied to sustainable and responsible job creation, to encourage the revitalization of downtown centers across rural Georgia.

House bill 245 requires professional licensing boards and other boards to adopt rules and regulations that allow military spouses and transitioning service members to qualify for certain licenses. This legislation will assist in Georgia’s compliance with the Base Realignment and Closure Committee (BRACC) and help better serve our state’s military families, personnel, and institutions.

House bill 192 fixes an issue by returning Georgia to a standard that existed prior to a 2014 Georgia Supreme Court decision, which has placed business at a greater risk of losing qualified directors and officers who serve on corporate boards. The bill brings the standard of care for officers and directors in Georgia back in line with the standard in 35 other states. Passage of HB 192 would create a more predictable legal climate that is attractive to companies considering Georgia as a potential corporate headquarters and to businesses of all sizes who care deeply that the civil justice system remain fair and equitable to all parties.

Senate bill 3, also referred to as the Creating Opportunities Needed Now to Expand Credentialed Training (CONNECT) Act, aims to identify critical workforce needs and provide students with opportunities to earn industry credentials in those fields. The bill, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta), links education and workforce development by embedding skills-based learning into academic instruction. These efforts align with the Georgia Chamber’s priority to enhance workforce readiness in order to improve lives and promote economic mobility and prosperity.

Senate bill 70 is a critical measure aimed at ensuring Georgia’s hospitals receive much-needed financial support. The bill is sponsored by Senator Butch Miller, R-Gainesville, and reauthorizes much needed payments to hospitals to obtain federal financial assistance for the state’s Medicaid program. Reauthorization of this financing program returns hundreds of millions in federal tax dollars to Georgia in order to provide financial stability and ensure our hospitals are able to continue providing quality care.