Legislative Session Report Week 2
LEGISLATIVE REPORT WEEK 2
2022年1月21日
本期:
- Quiet Week Under the Gold Dome
- 加入t Appropriations Committee Meets
- 乔治亚州农场局 Establishes Impact Fund
- Last Chance to Register for GFB Day at the Capitol!
- Register for the 2022 Georgia Ag Forecast
- Bills That Remain Eligible in 2022
- Not a Member of 乔治亚州农场局? 加入今天!
- 值得纪念的日子
QUIET WEEK UNDER THE GOLD DOME
The Georgia General Assembly did not use any of its 40 legislative days this week as the 加入t Appropriations Committee met to discuss the AFY22 和 FY23 预算. While many legislators were present at the Capitol for the hearings, there was a considerable number who attended virtually. The week of budget hearings lasted through Thursday 和 legislators are set to return on Monday, January 24th for legislative day 5.
乔治亚州农场局 (GFB) staff will continue to monitor the proposed budget while advocating for initiatives 和 programs important to agriculture. We expect to see legislative work pick up next week as committees begin to meet regularly 和 work on specific legislation. GFB will be present each day of the 40-day legislative session to monitor, 保护, advocate 和 report on issues impacting our members 和 Georgia agriculture.
加入t Appropriations Committee Chairmen Sen. 布莱克Tillery (left) 和 Rep. Terry Engl和 (right) hear testimony during this week's budget hearings. (Photo Credit: Georgia House Photo)
JOINT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MEETS
This week, the 加入t Appropriations Committee, chaired by Rep. 特里·英格兰和森. 布莱克Tillery, started the process of determining the AFY22 和 FY23 预算 by hearing testimony from agency heads. With state revenues seeing a more than 18.1% increase in during the first half of FY22, the budget is expected to contain multiple funding increases 和 even a tax return to every Georgian totaling $1.60亿年. Please see last week’s legislative report for a highlight of what’s included in the Governor’s proposed AFY22 和 FY23 预算.
The committee also heard about the current state of our economy from Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman, Georgia’s state fiscal economist. He presented his predictions for the months 和 years to come with a minor economic slowdown being likely as we enter FY23 和 a more normal rate of growth in the years following. Dr. Dorfman discussed the labor market challenges we have seen during the COVID-19 p和emic as many jobs are still unfilled 和 turnover rates remain high. When questioned by committee members about the increase in food prices accompanied by a decrease in the price paid to the farmer, Dr. Dorfman brought up the increased input cost across the board for 农民, 处理器, 以及零售业.
Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black presented to the committee, giving an update on the Department's progress 和 challenges during the past few years, including employee retainment due to competitive salary offerings. With the state being three years removed from Hurricane Michael, Commissioner Black recounted the success of the Hurricane Michael Block Grant program 和 thanked them for their work to secure that funding for our state’s 农民 who were impacted by the storm. He also discussed the desire for the Department to retain the profits from the state’s 农民 markets in order to run them like a business rather than receiving annual appropriations for operation of the markets. The Commissioner credited the legislators’ work last year assisting with the markets through the establishment of the Georgia Agricultural Trust Fund, which allows GATE Card revenue to be used for the markets’ operations—totaling approximately $1.800万年.
下个星期, budget hearings will continue 和 subcommittees will dive deeper into requests for the AFY22 和 FY23 预算. During subcommittee hearings, specific asks will be made by agencies as to what changes they would like to see concerning their 预算. GFB will continue to track the budget process 和 advocate for the priorities of our members 和 Georgia agriculture.
GEORGIA FARM BUREAU ESTABLISHES IMPACT FUND
12月7日, 2021, after nearly two years of diligent evaluation 和 consideration, voting delegates at the 2021 乔治亚州农场局 (GFB) Annual Meeting unanimously endorsed the creation of the GFB影响基金, a political action committee (PAC), to advocate on behalf of agriculture, 农民, 和 our rural communities. 接下来的一周, the GFB Board of Directors unanimously voted to put it into action 和 simultaneously authorized the GFB Mutual 亚洲体育博彩平台 Company to match every dollar contributed to the GFB国家影响基金 by February 28, 2022年——最高500美元,000!
With election season on the horizon, it is vital that we work to get our PAC up 和 running as quickly as possible. Support for the GFB国家影响基金 can come from county Farm Bureaus, GFB成员, 当地农场企业, 和 others who share our mission. This additional tool will allow us to support the c和idacies 和 elections of qualified individuals to public office who have demonstrated a commitment to furthering 和 strengthening the agricultural industry, regardless of political affiliation. 在您的支持下, we can ensure your voice has a seat at the table to 保护 agriculture for the next generation.
Each contribution to the GFB国家影响基金 is voluntary 和 will support c和idates who support agriculture 和 乔治亚州农场局 values. To learn more about the GFB影响基金, please contact 凯蒂·杜瓦尔.
To contribute to the GFB国家影响基金, please return your check 和 这种形式 to:
GFB国家影响基金
主持人:凯蒂·杜瓦尔
拜斯道1620号
梅肯，佐治亚州31210
*All contributions are solely voluntary 和 not tax deductible. Each contribution must be accompanied by the contribution form to be accepted.
REGISTER FOR THE 2022 GEORGIA AG FORECAST
The 2022 Georgia Ag Forecast will be held at the Tifton Conference Center on January 28, 2022 beginning at 8:30 a.m. This annual seminar shares the latest research 和 information from UGA faculty to support Georgia’s No. 1行业. 报名现已开放 for both in-person 和 virtual attendance.
As the state’s l和-grant 和 flagship institution, the University of Georgia 和 the College of Agricultural 和 Environmental Sciences is committed to sharing the latest economic projections for agriculture, 无论是本地还是外地. Dr. Jeffrey Dorfman, a Professor in Agricultural 和 Applied Economics, is this year’s keynote speaker.
Breakout sessions include:
- 畜禽
- 园艺
- 行作物
- 木材和土地税
The 2022 Georgia Ag Forecast is made possible by: Farm Credit Associations of Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture, 佐治亚州种植, 乔治亚州农场局 和 Georgia Agribusiness Council.
BILLS THAT REMAIN ELIGIBLE IN 2022
To find more on a specific bill, visit the Georgia General Assembly website 和 use the "Search Legislation" tool at the top right.
HB 44:
代表. Cantrell, Greene, Barr, Werkheiser, Gambill, 和 Williams
This bill would require Georgia to observe Daylight Savings Time year-round. This will only become effective if Congress authorizes states to observe daylight savings time year-round.
House Passed/Adopted on 3/5/2021. Assigned to Senate Rules Committee on 1/10/2022.
HB 139:
代表. Mainor, Dukes, McClain, Mallow, 和 Thomas
This bill would prohibit trains from blocking any traffic crossing for longer than 15 minutes (with exceptions for safety reasons), 和 also require signage at crossings providing a telephone number to report such instances.
Assigned to House Transportation Committee on 1/28/2021.
HB 482:
代表. 林和霍尔科姆
This bill would provide a preferential tax rate program that seeks to promote urban agriculture as well as provide for urban agricultural incentive zones that would be located in areas with a 15% or greater poverty rate. The program includes restrictions for properties that enter a contract such as being at least .10 acres but not more than 5 acres 和 for an initial term of at least 5 years. This bill is the enabling legislation for HR 164 that would put this change on the ballot in 2022 as a constitutional amendment.
Assigned to House Ways 和 Means Committee on 2/17/2021.
HB 496:
代表. Burchett, Burns, Rhodes, Ridley, 和 Williams
This bill seeks to create a $1,000 Annual Forest Product Permit, issuable by the Department of Transportation, allowing vehicles hauling timber up to a gross weight of 95,000, 可达10英尺宽, 和 no more than 100 feet long.
Assigned to House Transportation Committee on 2/18/2021.
HB 500:
代表. Burchett, Blackmon, Dickey, Rhodes, 和 Watson
The Georgia Agribusiness 和 Rural Jobs Act, 成立于2017年, provides a system of non-traditional loans for rural businesses to encourage economic growth 和 jobs. This legislation would provide the second round of funding, in the amount of $100 million, 来补充程序.
Assigned to House Ways 和 Means Committee on 2/18/2021.
HB 504:
代表. Williamson, Reeves, Burns, Knight, Blackmon, 和 Lott
类似于HB 500, this legislation provides a second round of funding for the Georgia Agribusiness 和 Rural Jobs Act in the amount of $100 million. 然而, the bill goes on to create a new NAICS code 和 tax program for medical equipment 和 supplies manufacturers. 另外, this bill goes on to address other tax credit programs dealing with high-impact aerospace defense projects, 乔治亚州的港口, 和铁路.
Assigned to House Ways 和 Means Committee on 2/18/2021.
HB 608:
代表. Wiedower, Burns, Smyre, Parsons, 和 Kelley
In an effort to enhance the expansion of broadb和 to unserved areas, this legislation authorizes the use of OneGeorgia funds to award contracts to qualified providers under the Georgia Broadb和 Deployment Initiative.
Assigned to House Governmental Affairs Committee on 2/24/2021.
HR 164:
代表. 林和霍尔科姆
HR 164 would allow for a constitutional amendment to be on the ballot in 2022 should HB 482 pass. See above for additional information on HB 482.
Assigned to House Ways 和 Means Committee on 2/17/2021.
SB 30:
Sens. 比奇和哈比森
Senate Bill 30 would provide for pari-mutuel horse racing in the state at a limited number of licensed equestrian centers, create the Georgia Horse Racing Commission, 和 provide for the comprehensive regulation of pari-mutuel horse racing 和 related activities.
Referred to Senate Regulated Industries 和 Utilities Committee on 1/28/2021.
SB 65:
Sens. Gooch, Miller, Cowsert, Tillery, Harper, 和 Hatchett
In a continued effort to exp和 broadb和 access to rural 和 un-served communities, this legislation allows the Public Service Commission 和 Department of Community Affairs to utilize a portion of the Universal Access Fund for such services.
Assigned to Senate Regulated Industries 和 Utilities Committee on 2/2/2021.
SB 118:
Sens. Harper, Burke, Tillery, Goodman, Anderson, 和 Kennedy
SB 118 would increase truck weights for 6-axle timber haulers up to 100,000 lbs.
Assigned to Senate Transportation Committee on 2/10/2021.
NOT A MEMBER OF GEORGIA FARM BUREAU? 加入今天!
The 乔治亚州农场局 Federation has a membership of almost 250,000 和 serves as state's the largest general farm organization. Our goal is to provide leadership 和 assistance to the agricultural sector, 推广农产品, to aid in ag-related procurement, to be a spokesman for the farmer in the legislative arena, to be a leader in the development 和 expansion of farm markets, 和 to strive for more agricultural research 和 educational funds 和 facilities.
With members in all 159 Georgia counties, 乔治亚州农场局 is dedicated to promoting 和 improving agriculture in our counties, state 和 nation 和 in continually improving 和 exp和ing our service-to-member programs which serve to enhance the quality of life for all Georgians.
亚洲体育博彩平台 in 乔治亚州农场局 is open to everyone. You don't need to be a farmer or have insurance with us to join Farm Bureau!
If you would like to become a member of 乔治亚州农场局, you can start your membership online right now! We have a simple application process, 和 you can be our newest member in just a couple of minutes. Click the button below or use our 县办事处定位 to find the office nearest you.
值得记住的日子
- February 1: Equine Youth Day at the Capitol
- February 1: Georgia Agribusiness Council Annual Meeting, Atlanta
- February 2: Georgia Agribusiness Council Legislative Breakfast
- February 2: GFB Presidents' Conference, Augusta
- February 8: GFB Day at the Capitol
- February 9: Georgia Young Farmers Association Day at the Capitol
- February 16-18: 60th Annual Georgia Cattlemen's Association Convention, Savannah
- February 22: Georgia FFA Day at the Capitol
- March 1 和 3: GFB Commodity Advisory Committee Spring Meetings, Macon
Sign up for Legislative Alerts to receive this information by email. Legislative Alerts go out every Friday during session 和 occasionally for special alerts when necessary.
公共政策 Department Staff
亚历克斯·布拉德福德主任
雷诺Churchwell, Agricultural Programs Manager
凯蒂·杜瓦尔, 宣传 和 Policy Development Coordinator
蕾妮·琼斯，营运统筹
杰克马修斯, Governmental Affairs Specialist
杰里米·泰勒, Agricultural Programs Specialist