Regional Transportation Funding Advances; Car Tag Tax Eliminated
   The 2008 Session of the General Assembly is in its final stretch with nine days remaining. Lawmakers will reconvene for day 32 on Tuesday, March 18. Below are some highlights on bills being tracked by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce. 

Voters May Soon Decide Regional Transportation Solutions
   Senate Resolution 845, which calls for a Constitutional Amendment to allow voters in regions of the state to increase sales taxes by one penny to fund transportation projects, moved through the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday. The House had advocated their own funding mechanism, which would increase the state sales tax by one penny statewide, but that measure did not advance out of that chamber by crossover day in time to be considered viable this session. The Governor has indicated that until certain reforms are implemented in the Georgia Department of Transportation, he is not partial to any perceived tax increases and may veto the measure. The Cobb Chamber of Commerce strongly supports this bill along with the Regional Business Coalition and the Get Georgia Moving Coalition.

Tax on Car Tag Removed by House
   House Speaker Glenn Richardson gained passage by the House of a bill that would eliminate the ad valorem tax on automobiles. HR 1246 eliminates the car tax, ends the state’s collection of a .25 mill tax on property, and would place a two percent limit increase on residential property assessments and a three percent limit on non-residential. The measure will cost the state approximately $750 million in refunds that would go back to county government to make each whole from the revenue loss. Just last week Speaker Richardson had amended State Senator Chip Rogers’ bill to freeze property taxes with similar provisions but he failed to gain the 120 votes needed for passage.  

Bill to Allow Sunday Alcohol Sales Gets New Life
   A controversial measure that would allow Sunday alcohol retail sales has found a legislative vehicle to ride to the floor of the State House.  Senate Bill 454, which would allow beer sales at Sunday minor league baseball games in Gwinnett County, was amended in the House Regulated Industries Committee. The amended bill would allow local communities to decide by referendum whether retail sales of alcohol should be allowed in their communities on Sunday. The measure is supported by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Governor Perdue has indicated he is not in favor of the bill and may exercise his veto authority.

Constitutional Amendment to Restore TADs Passes Senate
   A bill that would restore the ability of local governments to use school property taxes to fund debt service on tax allocation bonds passed the Senate before the crossover day. Senate Resolution 996 passed overwhelmingly 46-3. The bill is in response to a recent Georgia Supreme Court ruling that says it is unconstitutional to use school property taxes for such purposes. If the House agrees with the measure, a referendum would be on General Election ballots this fall asking voters the following question: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize community redevelopment and authorize counties, municipalities, and local boards of education to use tax funds for redevelopment purposes and programs?"

Trauma Care
   Speaker Richardson’s push to fund a Georgia trauma care network also passed this week and it moves to the Senate. House Bill 1158 assesses a $10 fee to each vehicle registered in Georgia to fund existing and new trauma hospitals.

Sales Tax on Energy
   After many years of debate, legislation championed by Representative Jeff Lewis that would eliminate the state sales tax applied on energy used in the consumption of goods passed the House. The Cobb Chamber has supported this legislation for the last two years as Georgia is currently at a disadvantage when compared with the 39 states that exempt manufacturers from this tax. House Bill 272 now moves on to the Senate.