July 2022

ACCG NEWS

Summer Policy Committee Meetings: Agendas Available Agendas for ACCG's policy committee meetings are now available. Review the draft agendas for an overview on the key topics that will be explored during each meeting. County officials are encouraged to attend the meeting(s) of their choice to discuss issues and recommend policy objectives for the ACCG's 2023 Policy Agenda. It is not required to attend every meeting. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the ACCG legislative staff and other policy experts on issues that directly impact Georgia's counties. More details, including registration, can be found here. Get Ready for the 2022 Legislative Leadership Conference ACCG's 2022 Legislative Leadership Conference will take place September 28-30 at the Jekyll Island Convention Center in Glynn County.  During the association’s fall policy conference, county leaders will hear firsthand from state legislators about hot topics and have the opportunity to voice county positions during the business session when they vote on the 2023 Proposed Policy Agenda and Legislative Priorities. The Business Session will be held on Thursday, September 29. The exact time of the Business Session and details about voting credentials pickup will be announced once the conference agenda is finalized. Please be sure to appoint your county voting delegate by Friday, August 26, to ensure your county is represented during this important session. Access the voting delegate form here. All forms should be scanned as an email attachment and sent to Tottianna Davis (tdavis@accg.org) or faxed to (678) 626 -9642 and addressed to Tottianna Davis. Regularly monitor the ACCG website as more conference details become available. ACCG Begins Presenting 2022 Legislative Service Awards Every year, ACCG presents ACCG Legislative Service Awards to select state legislators, recognizing their partnership with ACCG in helping craft sound public policy for the State of Georgia. Recipients of this award possess a strong commitment to working with ACCG, Georgia’s counties and, ultimately, the citizens of Georgia.

On June 28, ACCG Deputy Legislative Director Todd Edwards presented Rep. Victor Anderson an award at the Rabun County Board of Commissioners meeting. Rep. Anderson sponsored HB 1461, making many needed and favorable changes to Georgia’s annexation dispute resolution/arbitration law. A former Habersham County Chairman, Anderson is a member of the House Governmental Affairs Committee and works closely with ACCG on many bills impacting county government and home rule. (Picture 1)      On July 5, Todd Edwards presented Rep. Eddie Lumsden an award in Chattooga County with Sole Commissioner Blake Elsberry. Rep. Lumsden, a former Chairman of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners, authored HB 1195, a bill to clarify the ACCG insurance program’s accounting methods. He also cosponsored HB 1461, the annexation arbitration bill and also worked with ACCG on many issues directly impacting Georgia counites on the House Governmental Affairs Committee. (Picture 2)

On July 11, ACCG Associate Legislative Director Kathleen Bowen presented Rep. Rob Leverett with an award during an Elbert County Board of Commissioner’s meeting. Rep. Leverett served as the main sponsor for a 2022 ACCG legislative priority, HB 934, which maximizes the collection time for the Single County Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). TSPLOST allows individual counties to levy a sales tax solely dedicated for transportation purposes and, to date, 42 Georgia counties have one in place. Additionally, as a member of the House Governmental Affairs Committee, Rep. Leverett has many opportunities to influence legislation impacting county governments and ACCG appreciates his continued efforts to protect home rule. (Picture 3) More award presentations will be made in the coming months. Thanks again to all of these distinguished policymakers for their invaluable service to Georgia counties. ACCG Policy Committee Issues Survey Your Input Is Needed! As one session of the Georgia General Assembly ends, preparation for the next begins. ACCG would like to gauge what issues your county is facing that need state or federal assistance, a change to state or federal law, or a modification to state or federal agency rules and regulations. To capture the policy issues affecting your county, we ask that you take the brief survey found here.

State News

Bills that Went into Effect on July 1 House Bill 1390 – Georgia Safe Workplaces Act House Bill 1405 – Zoning Procedures: Revise Judicial Review and Multi-Family Housing Notification     House Bill 1461 – Annexation: Revise the Dispute Resolution/Arbitration Process  Senate Bill 337 – County Commissioners: Pay Suspended Following Felony Indictment Senate Bill 441 – Elections: Authorize GBI to Assist with Investigating Alleged Election Crimes  Note Changes to Georgia’s Annexation Arbitration/Dispute Resolution Process The passage of HB 1461 during the 2022 session of the Georgia General Assembly made several changes to Georgia’s annexation dispute resolution/arbitration process. ACCG supported this legislation, which became law on July 1, 2022. While ACCG and the Georgia Municipal Association will work together updating our joint “Arbitration Handbook for Annexation Land Use Disputes”, please be aware of the recent revisions to O.C.G.A. §§36-36-110 to 36-36-119, which can be found here. Georgia House Speaker Appoints Members of House Study Committee on Local Housing Regulations House Speaker David Ralston has appointed members of the House Study Committee on Regulation, Affordability and Access to Housing. This important study committee will look at factors impacting housing affordability, particularly the impact that local government ordinances have on home prices. It will most likely examine whether to prohibit Georgia’s counties and cities from regulating rental subdivisions any differently from for-sale subdivisions or from enacting design standards on residential and commercial properties. The committee’s recommendations may lead to legislation during the 2023 legislative session. To view members of the study committee, please click here.

Federal News

Grant Opportunity: Railroad Crossing Elimination Program The U.S. Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for the Railroad Crossing Elimination discretionary grant program. The Railroad Crossing Elimination program will provide funding for highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. More information can be found here. The USDOT will host an “Interested in Applying?” webinar for prospective applicants on Thursday, July 14 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM EDT. Click here to register for the webinar.  Bridge Investment Program The Bridge Investment Program (BIP) is a competitive, discretionary program that focuses on existing bridges to reduce the overall number of bridges in poor condition, or in fair condition at risk of falling into poor condition. BIP information can be found here, which includes a link to the notice of funding, a fact sheet, and Q&As.

Questions? Email the ACCG Legislative team: Clint Mueller Todd Edwards Kathleen Bowen Gabriel Carter Register today for the Summer Policy Committee Meetings! Click Here Follow us on social media! ‌ ‌

ACCG is YOUR county association. We are here to advance all 159 Georgia county governments. Please feel free to contact a member of the policy team if they can assist in any way.

Visit www.accg.org for more legislative news.