Friday, March 25, 2011
Legislative Calendar
The General Assembly will meet Monday through Friday next week, taking them through day 38. They will be in recess the week of April 4, and are currently scheduled to meet on April 12 and 14 for the final two days of this year’s legislative session.
Bills of Interest
Sunday Sales
SB 10, which will allow local communities to decide for themselves whether to allow Sunday sales of beer, wine and spirits, has passed House committee and is expected to be voted on by the full chamber early next week. The Georgia Chamber supports this bill as it would remove an unfair restriction on commerce and afford local communities throughout the state a viable new source of much-needed tax revenue.
Health Insurance Mandates
SB 17, which would create a state commission to review proposed and existing health insurance mandates, passed House committee this week. The commission would make recommendations on existing mandates by the end of 2012. The Georgia Chamber supports this bill as a way to control the rising cost of health insurance.
Water
SB 122passed House committee this week. This bill would allow the formation of public-private partnerships to fund certain water supply and treatment projects, providing a new, optional funding mechanism to address identified water needs. The bill makes no changes to current environmental regulations or provisions within the State Water Plan. The Georgia Chamber supports this bill.
Economic Development
HB 292 passed Senate committee this week. This bill would reduce the pending surcharge increase on employer-paid unemployment insurance taxes. The current rate of 35% is scheduled to increase to 100% on January 1, 2012, and this bill would cap that increase at 50%. In addition, HB 292 extends the current rate at which newly covered employers pay UI taxes until a rate is calculated based on employment experience. The Georgia Chamber supports this bill.
Tax Reform
The Special Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure is expected to introduce a tax reform proposal next week which will likely include a reduction in the personal income tax and continuation of the existing system of job creation and economic investment tax credits and incentives for the current year. It is not expected to include a state sales tax on groceries or an increase in the cigarette tax. Information about this proposal will be provided as it is available.
2011 Georgia Chamber Scorecard Issues
The following bills have all been designated scorecard issues this year:
