Legislative Updates

On behalf of the Public Affairs Team at the Georgia Chamber, we would like to extend congratulations to those candidates who secured victory in yesterday’s Primary Runoff Election. We would like to give special recognition to two Chamber-endorsed candidates, Paula Hastings (House District 102, Gwinnett county) and Donna Sheldon (House District 105, Gwinnett county) on their primary runoff victories. Both Paula and Donna face general…

House Bill 793, sponsored by Representative Dominic LaRiccia (Douglas)extends Georgia’s existing tax exemption on construction materials for the expansion of the Georgia Aquarium and creation of a new museum in Cartersville. How does House Bill 793 impact Georgia’s economy? House Bill 793 helps facilitate a $100 million expansion of the Georgia Aquarium through a tax incentive related to construction materials for a new marine life…

Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Senator Lindsey Tippins (Marietta) aims to identify critical workforce needs of emerging industries by creating a career pathway for students to earn industry certification and credentials. How does Senate Bill 3 impact Georgia’s economy? Senate Bill 3 also referred to as the Creating Opportunities Needed Now to Expand Credentialed Training (CONNECT) Act, allows for the creation of work-based learning programs…

House Bill 769, sponsored by Higher Education Chairman Rick Jasperse (Jasper) and Senator Dean Burke (Bainbridge) addresses several healthcare needs of Georgia’s less populated communities by implementing healthcare recommendations provided by the state House Rural Development Council. How does House Bill 769 impact Georgia’s economy? House Bill 769 provides funding for the creation of a “Rural Center for Health Care Innovation and Sustainability,” and incentivizes…

Senate Bill 395 , sponsored by Senate Veterans, Military, and Homeland Security Chairman Ben Watson (Savannah), and Representative Dave Belton (Madison) designates membership and funding for the creation of the “Georgia Joint Defense Commission.” How does Senate Bill 395 impact Georgia’s economy? The “Georgia Joint Defense Commission” will provide recommendations that promote the economic growth and expansion of Georgia’s military installations and support long-term sustainability for…

House Bill 696 modernizes the state’s existing tax statute to permit state sales and use tax exemptions for high-technology data centers. House Bill 696, sponsored by Representative Trey Kelley of Cedartown and Senate Majority Whip, Steve Gooch of Dahlonega incentivizes large investments by data centers. How does House Bill 696 impact Georgia’s economy? The three-tiered investment measure seeks to increase economic opportunities in Georgia’s rural…

House Bill 739, sponsored by Representative Al Williams (Midway) and Senator Ben Watson (Savannah), addresses an existing code in Georgia law regarding professional certification for military spouses as the “Tracey Rainey Act.” How does House Bill 739 impact Georgia’s economy? House Bill 739 creates licensure reciprocity for military spouses to qualify for temporary or expedited certificates upon moving to one of Georgia’s military installations. This legislation…

2018 Policy Briefs for Scorecard Bills With hundreds of bills debated each legislative session, it can be difficult to understand what happened – and more importantly how it impacts your business. That is why the Chamber produces a biennial voter guide, the Chamber Scorecard, which provides a concise final summary on the status of the bills most important to the business community. For 2018, policy…

The primary purpose of the Political Affairs Council is to guide the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in its involvement in Georgia’s political process both by managing current efforts and programs, as well as developing new opportunities for the business community to engage in the electoral process. Endorsement of a candidate allows the Political Affairs Council to support our business champions serving under the Gold Dome,…