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2008 Georgia legislative session updates provided by BOMA-Atlanta lobbyist FiveashStanley (click on the dates below):
April 9, 2008
April 3, 2008
March 28, 2008
March 21, 2008
March 14, 2008
March 7, 2008
Feb. 29, 2008
Feb. 22, 2008
Feb. 15, 2008
Feb. 8, 2008
Feb. 1, 2008
Jan. 18, 2008
2007 Georgia Legislative Session
In 2007, BOMA-Atlanta had another successful year in working with
the state legislature, successfully advocating favorable legislation
while defending against onerous bills.
BOMA Day at the Capitol brought industry professionals face to face
with those who decide the fate of legislation. Representatives of
BOMA also participated in various coalitions, representing the voice
of commercial property owners and managers on various pieces of legislation.
BOMAs efforts were also vital in leading the industrys
fight against expensive mandates and dangerous anti-property
gun legislation.
Below is a summary of some of the key legislation at the state
level in which BOMA-Atlanta was active over the past two years. In addition to the legislation
below, BOMA-Atlanta also monitored several other bills and resolutions affecting
the commercial real estate industry.
House Bill 1230 - Impact Fees.
This was a positive bill that would have redefined impact fee
service areas to ensure that money collected for impact fees
is spent in the area impacted by the development that paid the
fees. Too often, impact fees collected in one part of a county
are dispersed in ways that provide no relief whatever to the
development project. BOMA developed a position statement to
support this legislation and lobbied for its passage; however,
the bill did not pass.
House Bill 1385 - Building Plan Reviews
and Inspections.
This bill provided for the employment of private professionals
to perform building plan reviews and inspections relating to
state building, plumbing and electrical codes when the local
jurisdiction cannot timely perform such services. BOMA supported
this legislation and lobbied for its passage. The bill did pass.
Senate Bill 575 - Retrofit of Low-Flow Plumbing
Fixtures. The legislation would have required metro-area
cities and counties to include within a water supply and conservation
plan a mandate that prohibits new water connections or accounts
to commercial or residential properties unless low-flow plumbing
fixtures are installed. This would have included all faucets,
shower heads and toilets.
The bill further required that in case the owner does not comply,
the local government must install the new devices and fixtures
and add the cost to the monthly water bills. BOMA developed
a position statement against this legislation and offered an
alternative voluntary, incentive-based approach. BOMAs
efforts, which were instrumental in stopping the bill from passing,
were highlighted in the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
House Resolution 162 - Ad Valorem Limits.
This resolution would have amended the Georgia Constitution
to place a 3% limit on the rate of increase in the value of
all property for ad valorem taxation. Although BOMA developed
a position statement in support of this resolution, the resolution
did not pass.
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House Resolution 1286 - Plumbing
Retrofit Legislation.
This resolution, although not binding, is similar to Senate
Bill 575. The resolution would have encouraged the North Georgia
Water Planning District to require toilets in all residential
properties to be retrofitted with low-flow devices at the point
of sale or lease. Instead of introducing a bill that would have
changed state law, rural legislators introduced this resolution.
BOMA opposed the resolution, and it did not pass.
House Bill 998 - Georgia Self Defense Act.
This bill would have required property owners to allow individuals
parking on their property to be able to store a gun in their
vehicle. BOMA saw this as a fundamental property rights issue
and developed a position statement strongly opposing the legislation.
Maria Figuerido, Government Affairs Committee co-chair, also
testified on behalf of BOMA at a committee hearing on the bill.
The bill did not pass.
House Bill 1107 - Conservation Tax Break.
This bill would allowed a state income tax credit against the
tax imposed for each qualified donation of real property for
conservation purposes. Such credit shall be limited to an amount
not to exceed the lesser of $500,000 or 25% of the fair market
value of the donated real property as fair market value is established
for the year in which the donation occurred. BOMA supported
this bill, and it passed.
Senate Bill 530 - Lien rights.
This bill permits a utility contractor to lien the property
of a property owner who contracted for service, even if the
work was done in the right-of- way, if done for the benefit
of the property owner. BOMA advocated for removal of language
that would have allowed unpaid services contracted by tenants
and subcontractors to be used as a lien on commercial property.
The legislation was amended in accordance with BOMAs position
and then passed. |
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