GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE SOME FAMILIAR FACES AND SOME NEW FACES. 
 
THANK YOU TO SHARA FOR BRINGING A WARM WELCOME FROM THE JUNIOR LEAGUE OF DEKALB AND TO ALL THE LADIES OF JUNIOR LEAGUE WHO ARE SHOWING HEIR UNSTOPPABLE SUPPORT.
 
THANK YOU TO MR SLYVESTER FORD AS IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT ALL WOMEN GET IN THE WORLD OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BUSINESS IDEA NO PROBLEM THERE ARE PLENTY OF WAYS TO BECOME YOUR OWN BOSS.
 
THANK YOU TO MY TWIN SISTER SHE IS TRULY MY INSPRITAION, AND THE “WHY” IN WHY I DO
MANY OF THE THINGS I DO. SHE IS THE PERSON THAT SAYS LETS VOLUNTEER OR GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, HER HEART IS BIG ENOUGH FOR BOTH OF US AND I AM EXTREMLY HONORED TO BE HER SISTER AND EXTREMBLY HUMBLED FOR HER TO BE WITH US TODAY.
 
MY SISTER HAS MADE ME A BETTER LEADER IN MANY WAYS SO PLEASE HELP ME TO THANK HER BY PURCHASING HER BOOK TODAY AND GETTING IT AUTOGRAPHED. 
DO WE HAVE ANY ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICIALS WITH US TODAY? PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZED.
 
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS  
I AM VERY EXCITED TO DELIVER THE STATE OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS AS THE STATE OF WOMEN
 
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT THE WOLRD’S MOST FASINATING CREATION…WOMEN ENTREPRENUERS!!
 
FIRST I WANT TO START OFF WITH ONE STAT IN 5-10 YEARS ACCORDING TO THE ATLANTA REGIONAL COMMISSION 80% OF OUR WORKFORCE WILL WORK FOR A SMALL BUSINESS. LET’S BREAK DOWN WHAT A SMALL BUSINESS IS ACCORDING TO SIZE AND THE NUMBER OF
 
BUSINESSES REGISTERED IN GEORGIA. IN GEORGIA THERE ARE 795K BUSINESS REGSITERED AS OF JULY 1, 2018. OF THESE BUSINESSES 280K HAVE EMPLOYEES AS OF THE THIRD QUARTER IN 2017.

• 99.7% ARE CATEGORIZED AS SMALL (FEWER THAN 500 EMPLOYEES)
• 97.3% EMPLOYED FEWER THAN 100
• 94.1% EMPLOYED FEWER THAN 50
• 75.6% EMPLOYED FEWER THAN 10 

 
WOMEN ENTREPRENEUERS ARE CRITICAL TO GEORGIA’S ECOMONY, THIS COUNTRY’S ECONOMY AND GLOBALLY.  THESE NUMBERS EXPLAIN WHY WE NEED A SEAT AT THE TABLE AND WHY WE SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO GROW A BUSINESS ANYWHERE WE CHOOSE.
       
SO BEFORE WE GET INTO THE HEAVY STUFF I WANT TO SHARE A JOKE I HEARD, AND I WILL ACKNOWLEDGE UP FRONT THAT IT COULD BE OFFENSIVE TO MY 2 BROTHERS AND ALL OTHER PEOPLE OF THE SAME GENDER.
 
3 GENERATIONS OF A FAMILY ARE WAITING IN A HOSPITAL TALKING WITH THEIR DOCTOR ABOUT A BRAIN TRANSPLANT FOR THEIR GRANDFTHER.  IT WAS INEVITABLE AND THE DOCTOR SAID THAT GRANDPA WOULD NEED ONE RIGHT AWAY. HOWEVER, BRAINS WERE THE MOST EXPENSIVE ORGAN TO FIND AND TRANSPLANT.  THE DOCTOR TELLS THE FAMILY FOR A MALE BRAIN IT WILL COST YOU $500K DOLLARS AND FOR A FEMALE BRAIN IT WILL COST ONLY HALF OF THAT.  THE FIRST AND SECOND GENERATION OF MEN IN THE FAMILY LOOKED AROUND AND NODDED IN AGREEMENT, THE YOUNGEST GENERATION WASN’T QUITE SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF IT, BUT AGREED IT MADE SENSE.  THE LADIES IN THE FAMILY ASKED WHY THE DIFFERENCE IN VALUE FOR A MALE BRAIN VERSUS A FEMALE BRAIN?. THE DOCTOR STATED THE FEMALE BRAIN IS ACTUALLY USED AND MALE BRAINS ARE NOT USED AS MUCH SO THEY ARE ALMOST LIKE NEW WHEN WE TRANSPLANT THEM.
 
NOW WHETHER YOU GOT THE JOKE OR NOT OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS WE HAVE USED SO MUCH OF OUR BRAIN POWER THAT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES INCREASED BY 114% COMPARED TO A 44% INCREASE AMONG ALL OTHER BUSINESSES. A GROWTH RATE 2.5 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.
 
 
AS OF JANUARY 2017 THERE IS AN ESTIMATED 11.6 MILLION WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS IN THE UNITED STATES THAT EMPLOY 9 MILLION PEOPLE AND GENERATE 1.7 TRILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUES.  HOW IS THAT FOR USING OUR BRAINS?
 
BY THE WAY MANY OF THE STATS I AM QUOTING TODAY ARE SOURCED FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS OPEN, THE GEORGIA OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE GEORGIA SECRETARY OF STATE OFFICE.
 
SINCE 1997 AN AVERAGE OF 849 NET NEW WOMEN OWNED FIRMS OPENED EVERYDAY. DURING THE RECESSION BETWEEN 2007 AND 2012 THERE WERE 1143 WOMEN OWNED FIRMS ADDED TO THE ECONOMY. DISPELLING THE MYTH THAT WOMEN DON’T TAKE CHANCES AND CONFIRMING THAT WE ARE INDEED THE MOST RESOURCEFUL BEINGS IN THE UNIVERSE.
 
SO LET’S DIG JUST A LITTLE DEEPER, AND TALK ABOUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE WOMEN WHO ARE RUNNING THE WORLD AND THEIR BUSINESSES.
 
FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS WOMEN OF COLOR HAVE DECIDED TO TAKE FATE INTO THEIR OWN HANDS AND JUMP FEET FIRST INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
 
EARLIER I MENTIONED WOMEN OWNED FIRMS GREW BY 114%, WELL FIRMS OWNED BY WOMEN OF COLOR GREW 4 TIMES AS MUCH AT A 467% RATE.
 
BY 2017 MINORITIES ACCOUNTED FOR 46% OF WOMEN OWNED FIRMS OR MORE THAN 5 MILLION FIRMS
THUS CREATING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OF MORE THAN 2 MILLION JOBS AND 360.4 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUES.
 
AS OF 2017
 
AFRICAN AMERICAN FIRMS ACCOUNTED FOR 19% OF ALL WOMEN OWNED FIRMS OR 2.2 MILLION BUSINESSES WITH 398K EMPLOYEES AND 56 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE.
 
LATINAS OWN 17% OF ALL WOMEN OWNED FIRMS OR 1.9 MILLION BUSINESSES, 600K EMPLOYEES AND $103 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUES
 
ASIAN AMERICANS OWN 9% OR ACOUNT FOR 1 MILLION FIRMS, AND ADDED JUST OVER 1 MILLION JOBS TO THE ECONOMY, GENERATING $188 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUES.
          
 
NATIVE AMERICANS AND ALASKAN NATIVES OWN 1.4% OR 161K OF ALL WOMEN LEAD FIRMS AND EMPLOYS 61K PEOPLE AND GENERATE 11 BILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUES, WHILE
 
 
 NATIVE HAWAIIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS OWN 34K BUSINESSES EMPLOYEE 15K WORKERS AND GENERATE 2.4 BILLION IN REVENUES.
 
LADIES WE ARE PUTTING IN WORK, IN OUR FAMILIES, OUR HOMES, IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR BUSINESSES
 
AND I AM SURE EACH OF YOUR HOMES ARE SPOTLESS, IF NOT THERE IS A WOMAN OWNED FIRM THAT CAN HELP YOU.
 
WHAT OTHER KIND OF BUSINESSES DO WE HAVE IN THE ROOM? TRAVEL, SELF DEFENSE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES?
 
THE POSSIBILITIES IN THIS ROOM ALONE ARE ENDLESS. DID YOU KNOW THAT 849 WOMEN ONWED BUSINESSES WERE OPENED EVERYDAY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS
609 OF THOSE BUSINESSES LAUNCHED WERE BY WOMEN OF COLOR,
AND 240 BY NON MINORITY WOMEN,

SO WE NEED TO STOP AND LADIES GIVE YOURSELVES AROUND OF APPLUASE!!!!
   
 
I’VE ALWAYS BEEN A DECENT WRITER AND VERY CREATIVE, AND WHEN I WAS IN THE 3RD GRADE A CLASSMATE ASKED ME TO WRITE SOME STORIES FOR HIM AND HE’D PAY ME A DIME
 
A STORY.  WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PAY HE GAVE ME THREE PIECES OF BUBBLE GUM. I LOOKED UP AT MY CLASSMATE WHO WAS MUCH TALLER BUT WE WERE BOTH 8 AND I SAID “ I DON’T WANT NO DAMN BUBBLE GUM” IT WAS THEN I KNEW MY OWN POWER AND MY ABILITY TO
 
 
CREATE A PRODUCT OR SERVICE THAT HAD VALUE.  AND I WOULD NOT SELL MY SELF SHORT BECAUSE I WAS A GIRL.
 
LADIES WE ARE WORTH MORE THAN BUBBLE GUM!
 
WE’VE BEEN TOLD FOR A LONG TIME THAT OUR BRAINS ARE LESS VALUABLE AND SO OUR PAY REFLECTS THE INEQUITY WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE FACE EACH AND EVERYDAY. BUT BECAUSE OUR BRAINS ARE AWESOMELY AMAZING WE’VE DECIDED TO CAPITALIZED ON THEM.
 
WE DIVED INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH THE FOCUS AND INTENSITY WE WERE ALL CREATED WITH.  FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SUPER INTENSE, I AM SURE THERE IS A WOMAN HERE THAT OWNS HER OWN YOGA STUDIO. SEE HER AFTER MY SPEECH!    
 
SPEAKING OF TYPES OF BUSINESSES WOMEN OPERATE….. WOMEN LEAD FIRMS DOMINATE 3 INDUSTRIES. SERVICE,… HEALTHCARE…… AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES….. 2.8 MILLION BUSINESSES ARE HAIR, NAIL OR PET CARE BUSINESS. 1.8 MILLION ARE HEALTHCARE AND
 
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE WHILE 1.5 MILLION INCLUDE LEGAL, ACCOUNTANT, ARCHITECTURAL PUBLIC RELATIONS, AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTING FIRMS.
 
IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF WOMEN FIRMS ENTERING INTO THE FOLLOWING MARKETS: CONSTRUCTION, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATION, AND OTHER SERVICES.
 
DR MARILYN CARROLL IS HERE AND HAS BEEN A MENTOR OF MINE FOR MANY YEARS.  SHE BID ON A SECURITY CONTRACT AND DIDN’T OWN A SECURITY FIRM, BUT SHE WON THE BID AND HIRED SOMEONE TO DO THE WORK.  WE HAVE TO EXPAND OUR MINDS ABOUT THE THINGS WE ARE CAPABLE OF. WE ALSO HAVE TO LEVERAGE PARTNERSHIPS AND RECOGNIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUTSOURCE.     
 
THIS SIMPLY ILLUSTRATES TO US THAT WOMEN HAVE DECIDED THAT WE WON’T LIMIT OURSELVES TO WHAT IS POSSIBLE
 
BUT LADIES….  THERE IS STILL ROOM TO GROW AND EARN HIGHER REVENUES. 
 
THE AVERAGE REVENUE FOR A WOMEN OWNED FIRM IN MANAGEMENT CONSULTING IS 3 MILLION BUT ONLY .02% OF WOMEN ENGAGE IN THIS INDUSTRY
 
WOMEN FIRMS COULD MAKE 1.8 MILLION IN WHOLESALE TRADE BUT ONLY 1.4% OF WOMEN ARE IN THIS INDUSTRY
 
A WOMEN OWNED FIRM COULD MAKE 1 MILLION IN A MINING FIRM BUT ONLY 0.2% WOMEN ENGAGE THIS INDUSTRY
 
AND FINALLY A 900K PURSE IS ON THE TABLE FOR WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING BUT ONLY 1.2% WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES ARE IN THIS INDUSTRY.
 
THESE INDUSTRIES ARE OPEN WE JUST NEED TO KICK IN THE DOOR! ITS ALSO A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH ANOTHER DYNAMIC WOMAN.   
 
WE HAVE PROGRESSED IN AREAS THAT OUR GRANDMOTHERS AND GREAT GRAND- MOTHERS MIGHT NOT HAVE IMAGINED POSSIBLE, BUT WE… DID IMAGINE.  OUT OF NECESSITY, INNOVATION, OR JUST PLAIN OLD HUSTLE… WOMEN HAVE IMPACTED THE WORLD’S ECONOMY THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
 
I HAVE ONE LAST STORY I WANT TO SHARE. WHEN I FIRST BECAME THE INTERIM PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER, I HAD NEVER HAD TO SOLEY ADDRESS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT WAS NOT A NON-PROFIT. MY FIRST MEETING I TOTALLY BOMBED! THE NEXT MEETING I BOUGHT A NEW DRESS AND WAS UP EARLY TO BE READY THIS TIME, BUT WHEN I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR
 
SOMETHING WAS STILL MISSING. I HAD A BRAND NEW TUBE OF RED LIPSTICK, AND BEFORE THEN I HAD NEVER WORN RED LIPSTICK, BUT IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE AMOUR I NEEDED. I WALKED IN THAT BOARDROOM AS IF I HAD ARRIVED AND SOMEHOW THAT RED LIP COLOR BOOSTED MY CONFIDENCE.  IT WAS 3 YEARS LATER I DECIDED TO START CEO LIPSTICK.  I HAVE A COLOR FOR EVERY SITUATION AN EXCEUTIVE FINDS HERSELF IN. I HAVE 16 COLORS FROM BOARDROOM READY RED, TO POWER PLAY PURPLE, THE VIEW FROM UP HERE, CORNER OFFICE, 14 HOUR DAY, MADAM PRESIDENT AND COLORS LIKE SHE SAID SO SHE DID. FOR YEARS ITS BEEN MY ARMOUR AND NOW I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD.
NOW I THINKING OF OTHER THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY HOW I CAN JOIN WOMEN ALL OVER THE WORLD IN BEING ENTREPRENUERS.
I ENCOURAGE MY STAFF TO BE EMPLOYPRENUERS, WORK A J O B AND FOR YOURSELF! RACHEA IS A GRAPHIC ARTIST AND WEBSITE DESIGNER, EMILY MAKES CUSTOM DOGGIE BOWTIES, KIM’S HUSBAND RAISED BEES SO IM HOPING A NEW LOCAL HONEY COMPANY WILL BE VREATED SOON.                    
DON’T WAIT UNTIL THINGS ARE PERFECT, DO IT NOW.
 
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE I WANT TO UNPACK HERE BUT FOR THE SAKE OF TIME I WILL ASK YOU TO GO TO MY WEBSITE AT WWW.KATERINATAYLOR.COM OR FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @KATCONSULTS TO SEE A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF MY SPEECH.   
 
 
 FINALLY AS I END TODAY I LEAVE YOU WITH THIS CHALLENGE. AS OF NOVEMBER 2017 GEORGIA RANKED #5 FOR GREATEST NUMBER OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
 
 
THERE IS A WOMAN SOMEWHERE USING HER BRAIN TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DOMINATE A NEW OR EXSISITING INDUSTRY. WILL YOU HELP HER ….WILL YOU SUPPORT HER ….
 
WILL YOU BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT SPENDING YOUR MONEY WITH HER.
 
 IT IS UP TO US TO HELP AND ENSURE THAT WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES STAY IN BUSINESS.
 
I WISH YOU ALL MUCH SUCCESS IN YOUR BUSINESSES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING YOUR BUSINESSES. 

see event photos here:  https://viewmyimages.smugmug.com/VISIONS-HD/Corporate-Clients/DEKALB-CHAMBER-OF-COMMERCE/Women-in-Business-Luncheon
                 

 I had the honor and oppotunity to be interviewed by a hot new publication in Atlanta, who's beautiful founder and publisher are equally as hot.  PaperGlass Media is the new online magazine where fashion, and style meets leadership and empowerment.  The brain child of Maryan Aiken, Founder of PaperGlass, has taken branding to another level. 
Read my speech and full interview at www.paperglassmedia.com 

Read my full Beyond Beauty Speech below as given May 23, 2017 :
 
I was 35 when I decided to leave my career in banking and go find myself. Well maybe not find myself more than go into hiding from my blackberry that had been my conjoined twin for the last 5 years. I was over worked, undervalued, underpaid, under fed and under loved. More importantly while I was still passionate about people I wasn’t passionate about my job any longer.

So just 5 years from turning 40 and I am about to do the unthinkable!!! Cash out my 401K, my savings and retirement and travel across country. Who does that unless you live with your parents or have a rich spouse to support you? Along my travels I discovered a teahouse in Chicago and danced in the dark at Buckingham Fountain, I went to a Burlesque show in Denver, and joined a stranger for lunch. I went to the Empire State Building like Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr in the movie An Affair to Remember, had lunch at Chelsea Market and made a curious visit to the famous Museum of Sex on 5th Ave. I ate a cream cheese Danish in front of Tiffany’s just to say I had breakfast there. I rode the train in Montreal and every sign was in French and I walked their cobblestone streets in the middle of a hot day in July. I ate the best Canadian cuisine and listened to the most beautiful jazz. I went to Dallas because of course everything is bigger in Texas, I went to Orlando to see New Edition perform, and ended my rendezvous in the heartland for some Kansas City BBQ and to take a nap in the gazebo under the Kansas sky. I agree with Dorothy “There’s No Place Like Home”

The only thing that I would allow to interrupt these 7 months of beautiful madness was community service and my volunteerism at United Way. Almost every day when I wasn’t traveling I would go to United Way set up my personal laptop and try and figure how to create a better life for everyone living here in metro Atlanta. Beyond beauty to me is the interactions and experiences you have with people, and my goal is to try to be as good to them as they have been to me.

I won’t bore you with the details, but I will quote the late great Prince!!

"Paint a perfect picture Bring to life a vision in one’s mind The beautiful ones Always smash the picture Always everytime"
​
During that 7 months of chaotic bliss I stopped trying to meet everyone’s expectations I took the pressure off myself to bring to life a perfect vision and I just lived….. Simply and authentically.
Beyond Beauty is the most imperfect interpretation of myself.
So when I start to create this perfect picture I SMASH it, because true beauty is about discovery.

An unearthing..... A breakthrough & SELF Innovation

-Kat Taylor

As the days are being counted down by lawmakers, lobbyist, advocates, and Georgians alike, we pray the final decisions of our elected body put all Georgians first with innovative and caring thoughts.  As organizations are wrapping up their  "Day at the Capitol" the DeKalb Chamber along with many other chambers in DeKalb joined together to deliver one collboartive Day down at the Gold Dome.  Thanks to Dunwoody Perimeter Chamber, and the Lithonia Chamber.      


The General Assembly completed Legislative Day 35 of the 40 Day Session on Thursday, March 16.  The legislature was in session Monday through Thursday of this week.   They will reconvene today Monday, March 20 for Legislative Day 36.  The Legislature will be in session Monday, Wednesday and Friday of next week with committee days on Tuesday and Thursday.
 
Budget
 
HB 44, the 2018 Budget, is sponsored by Rep. David Ralston (R- Blue Ridge).  The House disagreed with the Senate version of the bill and a conference committee has been appointed to work out the differences between the two chambers.
 
Business & Industry
 
HB 61 sponsored by Rep. Jay Powell (R- Camilla) allows the state to collect sales tax on online purchases through either direct collection by the retailer or by notification of the tax amount to the consumer and the state. The bill was heard in the Sales Tax subcommittee on Tuesday, March 14th and has been called up to the full Senate Finance Committee to be heard next week.
 
HB 192 sponsored by Rep. Beth Beskin (R-Atlanta), aims to return Georgia to an environment that facilitates reasonable decisions by corporate directors and officers. It also encourages companies to incorporate in Georgia, thereby creating opportunities for further economic growth. HB 192 passed out of the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee on Thursday, March 15th and awaits action in Senate Rules.
 
HB 199 sponsored by Rep. Trey Rhodes (R- Greensboro), is an income tax credit incentive for video game development and post production work. The bill is intended to jumpstart emerging companies by making capital more readily available when they need it most. The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, March 15 and now moves on to Senate Rules.
 
SB 85 sponsored by Sen. Rick Jeffares (R – McDonough) is a compromise reached between the Georgia Beer Wholesalers and the craft beer industry which will allow breweries in Georgia to make limited direct sales of their product to their customers. The bill caps the total amount of direct sales by each brewer to 3000 barrels per year and allows a customer to purchase a case of beer per day directly from the brewery for take-out from the premises. The bill was amended in the House to include a provision allowing distilleries to sell their products in a similar manner.  The bill passed out of the House on Monday, March 13 by a vote of 147-14. It will now go back to the Senate for an Agree/Disagree motion.
 
Economic Development
 
HB 265 sponsored by Rep. Chuck Efstration (R – Dacula) amends the existing Quality Jobs Tax Credit by allowing qualified projects which have at least $2.5 million investment to receive a subsequent quality jobs tax credit.  The bill also allows for a sales tax exemption of property used for or in the renovation or expansion of certain theaters and provides a sales tax exemption on certain tickets for arts and educational programming.  HB 265 passed the Senate on Tuesday, March 14 with a vote of 34-18.
 
Education and Workforce Development
 
HB 338 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Tanner (R- Dawsonville), provides for a system of supports and assistance for low-performing schools identified as in the greatest need of assistance. The bill also looks to provide for and create an Education Turnaround Advisory Council and a Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process.  The bill continues to be worked on in the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is scheduled for a hearing on Monday, March 20th.
 
SB 3 sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R- Marietta), known as the CONNECT Act, expands credentialing for vocational and skilled labor education in secondary schools. The bill passed out of the House Education subcommittee on Education, Innovation and Workforce Development on Monday, March 13th and will be heard in full committee next week.
 
Transportation
 
HB 160 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Tanner (R – Dawsonville), creates the Georgia Commission on Transit Governance and Funding to study and address the needs of mass transportation. The bill passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday, March 15th and awaits action in Senate Rules.
 
SB 6 sponsored by Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega), creates a statewide regional transit council to address regional solutions to issues of infrastructure for transportation.  The bill passed out of the House Transportation Committee on Thursday, March 16th and is now in House Rules.
 
For detailed information on specific legislation visit: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Search.aspx

Credit Georgia Link for policy info

2017 Legislative Update
Weeks 8 & 9 – Crossover Report
 
The General Assembly completed Crossover Day (Legislative Day 28) around 10:30 pm on Friday, March 3 and today, Friday, March 10 marked legislative day 31.   The legislature was in session on Monday, Thursday and Friday of this week.  They spent Tuesday and Wednesday holding committee hearings on bills that crossed over. 
 
Bills that made the crossover deadline and passed over to the other chamber are slowly getting hearings in committees.  Bills that did not crossover are technically dead for this session however bills can still be amended onto other bills and advance within that bill.   The last day of session or Sine Die remains set for March 30.
 
Budget
 
HB 44 sponsored by Rep. David Ralston (R- Blue Ridge) is the 2018 Budget.  The Senate continues to work on the budget, which will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Monday, March 13.
 
Business & Industry
 
HB 61 sponsored by Rep. Jay Powell (R- Camilla) allows the state to collect sales tax on online purchases through either direct collection by the retailer or by notification of the tax amount to the consumer and the state. The bill awaits action in the Senate Finance Committee.
 
HB 192 sponsored by Rep. Beth Beskin (R-Atlanta), aims to return Georgia to an environment that facilitates reasonable decisions by corporate directors and officers. It also encourages companies to incorporate in Georgia, thereby creating opportunities for further economic growth. HB 192 will be heard in the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee on Wednesday, March 15.
 
HB 199 sponsored by Rep. Trey Rhodes (R- Greensboro), is an income tax credit incentive to entertainment companies such as video game and postproduction. The bill is intended to jumpstart emerging companies by making capital more readily available when they may need it most. The bill will be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on Monday, March 13.
 
SB 85 sponsored by Sen. Rick Jeffares (R – McDonough) is a compromise reached between the Georgia Beer Wholesalers and the craft beer industry which will allow breweries in Georgia to make limited direct sales of their product to their customers. The bill caps the total amount of direct sales by each brewer to 3000 barrels per year and allows a customer to purchase a case of beer per day directly from the brewery for take-out from the premises. On-site sales of beer are allowed as well. This effort is designed to help the craft beer industry to continue to grow in Georgia and should be beneficial to both the wholesalers and brewers. The bill awaits action in the House Rules Committee. The bill went to the House floor for a vote on Monday, March 13.
 
Economic Development
 
HB155 sponsored by Rep. Amy Carter (R - Valdosta), called the “Georgia Musical Investment Act”, offers a 20 – 25% income tax credit for projects that are recorded in Georgia or for tours that invest in the state above a threshold dollar amount. The bill awaits action in the Senate Finance Committee.
 
HB 158 sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens (R – Savannah) aims to allow two “destination resorts” with casinos in Georgia and create the Georgia Gaming Commission. The legislation requires a two billion dollar minimum investment in Atlanta with 450 million dollars required for the unspecified second location.  The bill did not make it out of the House Regulated Industries Committee and is therefore dead for this session.
 
HB 265 sponsored by Rep. Chuck Efstration (R – Dacula) amends the existing Quality Jobs Tax Credit by allowing qualified projects which have at least $2.5 million investment to receive a subsequent quality jobs tax credit.  The bill also allows for a sales tax exemption of property used for or in the renovation or expansion of certain theaters and provides a sales tax exemption on certain tickets for arts and educational programming.  HB 265 passed the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, March 8.
 
HB 336 sponsored by Rep. Don Parsons (R - Marietta), known as the Broadband Strategy for All of Georgia Act, creates broadband deployment incentives to expand internet access in rural Georgia.  The bill did not make it to the House floor for a vote and is therefore dead for this session. 
 
SB 2 sponsored by Sen. Mike Dugan (R – Carrollton), the FAST Act - Fairness, Accountability, Simplification and Transparency - empowering our small businesses to succeed, aims to reduce regulations and licensing requirements on small businesses.  The bill awaits action in the House Small Business Development Committee.
 
SB 79 sponsored by Sen. Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta), titled the “Destination Resort Act,”  pertains to casinos and requires a two billion dollar minimum investment in Atlanta with 450 million dollars required for an unspecified second location.  The bill did not make it out of the Senate Regulated Industries Committee and is therefore dead for this session.
 
SB 116 sponsored by Sen. Frank Ginn (R- Danielsville) relates to provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations prohibiting the assessment of storm-water utility fees on water-neutral properties. The bill did not pass the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee and is therefore dead for this session.
 
Education and Workforce Development
 
HB 338 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Tanner (R- Dawsonville), provides for a system of supports and assistance for low-performing schools identified as in the greatest need of assistance. The bill also looks to provide for and create an Education Turnaround Advisory Council and a Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process.  The bill was heard in the Senate Education and Youth Committee on Friday, March 10.
 
SB 3 sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R- Marietta), known as the CONNECT Act, expands credentialing for vocational and skilled labor education in secondary schools. The bill will be heard in the House Education Sub-Committee on Monday, March 13.
 
Transportation
 
HB 160 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Tanner (R – Dawsonville), creates the Georgia Commission on Transit Governance and Funding to study and address the needs of mass transportation. The bill awaits action in the Senate Transportation Committee.
 
SB 6 sponsored by Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega), creates a statewide regional transit council to address regional solutions to issues of infrastructure for transit.  The bill awaits action in the House Transportation Committee. 
 
For detailed information on specific legislation visit: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Search.aspx
 
Credit info to GeorgiaLink 

2017 Legislative Update
Week 7 – February 21-24, 2017
 
The General Assembly completed Day 24 of the 2017 Legislative Session on Friday, February 24.  The legislature re-convened on Monday, February 27 for Legislative Day 25. The legislature will be in session Monday through Wednesday, off Thursday, and reconvene on Friday, March 3 for Crossover Day.  Crossover Day is the last day a bill can pass the chamber it originated in to still be eligible for passage this session.
 
Business & Industry
 
HB 199 sponsored by Rep. Trey Rhodes (R-Greensboro), is an income tax credit incentive to entertainment companies such as video game and postproduction. The bill is intended to jumpstart emerging companies by making capital more readily available when they may need it most.  HB 199 passed the House on February 24 and is now in the Senate.
 
HB 336 sponsored by Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta), known as the Broadband Strategy for All of Georgia Act, creates broadband deployment incentives to expand internet access in rural Georgia.  The bill passed out of the House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee on February 21 and awaits action in House Rules Committee.
 
HB 372 sponsored by Rep. Don Parsons (R-Marietta) creates a sales tax exemption for certain equipment used in the deployment of broadband technology.  The bill was heard in the Sales Tax Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee on February 24.
 
SB 232 sponsored by Sen. Steve Gooch (R-Dahlonega), the Facilitating Internet Broadband Rural Expansion (FIBRE) Act aims to provide broadband service throughout the state through planning, deployment and incentives.  SB 232 was introduced on February 22 and was referred to the Senate Regulated Industries & Utilities Committee where it will be heard on February 27.
 
Economic Development
  
SB 2 sponsored by Sen. Mike Dugan (R–Carrollton), the FAST Act - Fairness, Accountability, Simplification and Transparency - empowering our small businesses to succeed, aims to reduce regulations and licensing requirements on small businesses.  SB 2 passed the Senate and was referred to the House Small Business Development Committee on February 21.
 
Education and Workforce Development
 
HB 338 sponsored by Rep. Kevin Tanner (R- Dawsonville), provides for a system of supports and assistance for low-performing schools identified as being in the greatest need of assistance. The bill also looks to provide for and create an Education Turnaround Advisory Council and a Joint Study Committee on the Establishment of a State Accreditation Process.  HB 338 passed the House Education Committee on February 23 and awaits action in the House Rules Committee.
 
SB 3 sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R- Marietta), known as the CONNECT Act, expands credentialing for vocational and skilled labor education in secondary schools.  SB 3 bill was read in the House on February 21 and assigned to the House Education Committee.
 
Healthcare
 
SB 8 sponsored by Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford) aims to help consumers against surprise billing by providers, hospitals and insurers for out-of-network services. Under this legislation, surprise bills for emergency services would be disputed through a resolution process within the Department of Insurance.  It also requires that a database with usual and customary cost of services be created and maintained by the Department of Community Health.  SB 8 passed the Senate on February 24 by a vote of 52-0.
 
Transportation
 
SB 6 sponsored by Sen. Steve Gooch (R – Dahlonega), would form the Georgia Regional Transit Council.  The Council will work to create plans to reduce travel times, road congestion, improve access to highways and develop ideas for transportation innovations.  The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 48 - 0 on February 22 and has been referred to the House Transportation Committee.
  
HB 134 sponsored by Rep. Bubber Epps (R-Dry Branch) allows for greater flexibility in the administration of single county T-SPLOSTs and grants cities the authority to bond their T-SPLOST projects, which will aid local officials in developing a transportation network necessary to attract business growth and support their citizens’ needs.  HB 134 passed the House on February 23 by a vote of 106-58.
 
For detailed information on specific legislation visit: http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Search.aspx