The 2024 Legislative Toolkit is now available on the ACCG website. The Toolkit includes policy briefs on ACCG's Top Three Legislative Priorities as well as the Association's Guiding Principles and Policy Objectives. The Top Three Legislative Priorities for 2024 include Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Funding, Mental Health Reform, and Property Tax Assessment and Appeal Reform.

Access the 2024 Legislative Toolkit by clicking here.  

Questions regarding any issues outlined in the Toolkit should be directed to a member of the Governmental Affairs Team.

Over 120 of Georgia's counties have adopted the mental health resolution. ACCG is encouraging every county to adopt the resolution urging the Governor and General Assembly to continue efforts to reform and improve mental health services for the citizens of Georgia. This resolution will demonstrate to the General Assembly how important mental health reform is to counties. Click here to download the model resolution.

ACCG asks for this to be adopted by Friday, December 22, 2023, prior to the start of the 2024 legislative session. Once your county has adopted the resolution, please send a signed copy to your local legislative delegation and Administrative and Policy Coordinator Tottianna Davis by emailing (tdavis@accg.org).

Click here for a special message from ACCG President & Baldwin County Commissioner Henry Craig on the importance of this effort.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Annual Transportation Summit was held on November 30 in Athens-Clarke County. ACCG and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) gave a joint presentation on the various types of TSPLOST (Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax), along with a sales tax overview.

In preparation for the 2024 legislative session, the ACCG Governmental Affairs Team is meeting with state leaders to discuss the association's 2024 Policy Agenda. Members of the team recently met with Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

On Tuesday, December 5, the House Governmental Affairs State & Local Government Subcommittee held a hearing on House Bill 813, introduced during the 2023 regular session. This legislation, sponsored by Rep. Victor Anderson, makes many beneficial changes to the process governing the creation of new cities in Georgia. Among its provisions are setting many current practices in law rather than only existing in the House committee rules; incorporating service delivery and other considerations in the cityhood feasibility study; requiring a petition among registered voters before a cityhood bill is introduced; prohibiting unincorporated islands and the creation of “city lites”; and subjecting the cityhood initiative committee to open meetings and open records laws, among other measures. ACCG’s Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs Todd Edwards testified in support of this this legislation.     

To watch the Subcommittee’s meeting, click here and scroll to the 19:13 mark.

To watch the Study Committee’s final meeting, click here.

It is time for counties to update their County Legislative Coordinator (CLC). The CLC’s primary responsibilities are to relay pertinent information about current legislation to county commissioners and county management and to maintain an open line of communication with ACCG to ensure county-specific information is readily available for legislators. ACCG encourages all counties to participate in this network and designate a CLC prior to the legislative session. To confirm, update, or appoint your county’s CLC, please contact Tottianna Davis at tdavis@accg.org or 404-522-5022.

Click here to review your county's CLC from the 2023 session and if any changes are needed.

The Senate Study Committee on Truck Driver Shortages was established by Senate Resolution 155 during the 2023 legislative session in response to the growing truck driver shortages affecting industries across Georgia. The Senate Study Committee facilitated hearings and discussions with stakeholders, industry leaders, and educators to better understand the needs, conditions, and issues impacting truck driver shortages. Subsequently, the Senate Study Committee created recommendations aimed to bridge the gap between industry needs and workforce development. On November 29, the final meeting was held, and the Committee's final report and recommendations were.

The final report and policy recommendations are available to the public here.

The Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce was established by Senate Resolution 275 during the 2023 legislative session to examine Georgia’s current workforce practices, pilot programs, public-private partnerships, and initiatives regarding workforce development across the state. The objective was to identify opportunities to strengthen and sustain Georgia’s workforce. The Senate Study Committee heard extensive testimonies from stakeholders, representatives, and industries across the state including ACCG’s Director of Governmental Affairs Clint Mueller. On November 14, the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce adopted the final report and policy recommendations.

The final report and policy recommendations are available to the public here.

The final report and policy recommendations are available here.

Georgia counties are authorized, on an optional basis, to utilize the state Department of Administrative Services' (DOAS) contracts for needed goods, services, and technology. ACCG has been asked to remind counties that, while they are also eligible to utilize the state’s exIQC contract for the repair, maintenance, and minor new construction projects, counties must still abide by state law relating to contracting and bidding requirements for public works construction projects.

Please see DOAS’s memorandum outlining this notice to local governments here. 

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) has asked ACCG for volunteers to participate in a Mileage-Based User Fee (MBUF) Pilot Program. GDOT is currently looking for county officials and staff to experience and understand how a mileage-based fee would work in Georgia if authorized by the General Assembly in the future. ACCG has been selected as one of the participating stakeholder groups because counties benefit directly from taxes that fund roads and would be engaged in any future policy discussions around transportation funding. GDOT is considering all potential funding sources to replace excise and sales tax on motor fuel as vehicles become more fuel-efficient and transition to more electric and hybrid vehicles. Please join the Pilot by visiting the website at GeorgiaMBUFpilot.org. It’s free to participate and there are strict privacy protection measures to safeguard your data (privacy details are available in the FAQ document on the website).

All questions should be directed to the Pilot team at 229 -391-1990 and/or info@GeorgiaMBUFpilot.org. 

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division has released a draft Guidance for Requests to Disturb 50 Acres or more under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction Stormwater Permits. Please find the draft Guidance for Requests document here. This notice is to inform the public that the Division held a virtual stakeholder meeting on the draft guidance on December 7, 2023. The Division is accepting public comments on the draft guidance until December 15, 2023.

The Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) is a low-interest loan and grant program administered by the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA). SRTA is pleased to announce that funding will be available in 2024. Loan and grant applications will be accepted until January 25, 2024. View the application and program requirements here. When applying please keep in mind that loans will receive priority for funding as will projects for which both a loan and grant are requested. When applying for both a loan and a grant, preference will be given for projects requesting a loan that is larger than the grant. 

If you have any questions please contact David Cassell, Strategic Programs Administrator at dcassell@srta.ga.gov.  

GTA BEAD Program 

The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) recently submitted Initial Proposal Volume 1 (IPV1) for approval by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). A key piece of IPV1 is how the state will administer the challenge process for the BEAD Program. GTA will be accepting challenges from local governments, internet service providers, tribal governments, and non-profits.

In order to challenge locations, entities must have an agreement in place with the federal mapping vendor CostQuest. It is of utmost importance that eligible entities planning to challenge locations obtain a Tier E agreement as soon as possible.

Click here to obtain a Tier E agreement. A video on how to obtain a Tier E license can be viewed here.

Help the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) map out the digital resources and support networks available in your community by participating in the Community Connections Map Survey. Your input will contribute to a more inclusive and connected community, ensuring everyone has access to the digital tools and support they need.

NACo Accepting Interim Policy Resolutions

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is now accepting interim policy resolutions for its 2024 Legislative Conference, in Washington, D.C. on February 10-13, 2024.

Click here for more information.