2017 Georgia Legislative Update Week 3 – January 30, 2017

What's Happening Under the Gold Dome?
 
The General Assembly completed the third week of the 2017 Session on Thursday, January 26, marking day 8 of the 40 day legislative session.  The legislature will reconvene on Monday, January 30 and will be in session through Thursday, February 2 for days 9 - 12.  A number of bills were introduced this week.
 
Budget
 
The House passed the amended State Fiscal Year 2017 budget on Thursday.  HB 43 sponsored by Speaker David Ralston (R – Blue Ridge). The House continues to work on HB 44 also sponsored by Ralston - the budget for State Fiscal Year July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018.
 
Business & Industry
 
SB 60 sponsored by Sen. Horacena Tate (D – Atlanta), the “Georgia Equal Pay Act” seeks to have all employees paid at the same rate for equal work on a job which requires equal skill level regardless of sex.  The bill was first read on January 25 and assigned to the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee.
 
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” seeks to reduce regulations and licensing requirements on small businesses.  The bill was first read on January 12 and assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
 
SB 67 sponsored by Sen. John Albers (R – Roswell), the “Bring Small Businesses Back to Georgia Regulatory Reform Act” seeks to reduce regulations and costs to businesses.  The bill was first read on January 26 and assigned to the Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee.
 
SB 79 sponsored by Sen. Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta) and HB 158 sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens (R – Savannah) are similar casino bills which aim to allow two “destination resorts” in Georgia and create the Georgia Gaming Commission. The legislation requires the two billion dollar minimum investment in Atlanta with 450 million dollars required for the unspecified second location.  Both bills were filed on Thursday, January 26 and have not yet been read or assigned to committee.
 
Healthcare
 
SB 70 sponsored by Sen. Butch Miller (R – Gainesville), would renew the Hospital Provider Payment Program also known as the hospital Medicaid financing program and extend the program until June 30, 2020.  The current Hospital Provider Payment Program is set to sunset on June 30, 2017.
 
Transportation
 
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 was first read on January 25 and assigned to the Senate Transportation Committee.
 
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 was filed on Thursday, January 26 and has not yet been read or assigned to committee.
 
 
For detailed information on specific legislation visit:  http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/Search.aspx
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