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Senate Bill 340, which would amend current law related to the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption to extend the sales and use exemption to diesel exhaust fluid used for agricultural purposes.
Senate Bill 362, which would prohibit companies that receive economic development incentives from the state from using labor organization authorization cards instead of a secret ballot. These employers would also be prohibited from voluntarily disclosing an employee’s personal contact information to a labor union without prior consent or requiring a subcontractor to engage in these activities. Any employer who receives economic incentives and engages in prohibited conduct would be required to repay all economic incentives received over the life of the project.
Senate Bill 368, which would prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions to a political candidate or political action committee. The bill requires that whenever an agent of foreign principal appears before an elected official, agency, officer, or General Assembly committee to advocate for the interests of the foreign principal, the agent must affirmatively disclose such.
Senate Bill 420 prohibits a noncitizen or nonlegal resident of the United States from purchasing agricultural land or land within a 10-mile radius of a military base if they are a citizen of a country considered a foreign adversary, like China. Any possessory interest in agricultural land acquired by a nonresident alien through inheritance would be disposed of within one year after acquisition. A broker would timely disclose to their client the requirements regarding relevant land acquisition.
Senate Bill 480, which focuses on improving and expanding mental health services across our state. This legislation would provide student loan repayment assistance to mental health and substance use providers who practice in geographic areas of the state lacking adequate services. To be eligible, applicants must be legal residents of Georgia with non-defaulted student debt. We know there is a pressing need for increased mental health and substance use providers in Georgia, particularly in rural and underserved areas where access is limited.
Senate Bill 496, which would extend the sunset date of tax credits for historic structures rehabilitation to 2029 and clarify the definition of a historic building or structure to require the structure to be certified by the Department of Community Affairs as having met certain criteria. The bill would amend current law relating to revitalization zone tax credits to extend the sunset date of the program to 2032.
Senate Bill 533, which would allow the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), in an appropriate facility within a jail, to restore an accused person back to mental competency so that they could stand trial. To use these facilities, DBHDD would have to have a mutual agreement with the local sheriff’s office.
Conclusion
By the time you read this article, this year’s legislative session will be down to only one more day, Sine Die. With the session coming to a close, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support, encouragement, and participation in the 2024 session. It is an honor to serve and represent you in Atlanta. Once session ends, I’ll provide a more comprehensive update of all the big bills that received final passage this year. Then, members of the General Assembly will turn towards focusing on constituent services and campaigning for re-election!
