Major bills and resolutions in the 2008 session
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Published on: 04/06/08

The 2008 Georgia General Assembly completed its 40-day legislative session late Friday night. A look at the disposition of major bills and resolutions taken up by the state Senate and state House of Representatives:

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TAXES

HR 1246: Eliminates property taxes on cars. Caps local government revenue from increases in assessed values of properties. Failed.

HB 1244: Extends the time period that companies can use tax credits for allowing employees to telework. Senate amended the bill to give Georgians a 10 percent income tax cut and a 0.25 mill rollback in property taxes. Failed.

HB 1100: Tax credits for filmmakers who make movies in Georgia. Passed.

EDUCATION

HB 881: Creates a state charter schools commission that can approve applications for charter school status that have been rejected by local school boards. Passed.

HB 1209: The measure allows public school systems to sidestep state laws governing class size, teacher salaries and curriculum, among others. In exchange, local boards of education must agree to meet specific academic improvement goals. Failures could be converted into charter schools or put under private management. Failed.

SB 458: Vouchers would be granted to children who are in schools that consistently underperform or lose their accreditation. Failed.

HEALTH

SB 404: The Georgia Health Marketplace Act creates a Web site for consumers and business owners to shop for health insurance policies they can purchase with pretax dollars. Failed.

HB 1158: Creates a statewide trauma care network. Failed.

SB 506: The Student Health and Physical Activity (SHAPE) bill would require schools to measure students’ height and weight confidentially twice a year, with results used to calculate overall school health. It also mandates that school systems comply with state requirements for offering physical education instruction. Failed.

HB 535: It would create a mental health patient advocacy board and the position of patient advocate general to investigate fatalities or allegations of abuse in state-funded facilities. Passed.

SB 433: Cancer Treatment Centers of America would be allowed to open facilities in Georgia. Passed.

HB 977: Expands the use of high-deductible savings account health plans to attract the uninsured. Passed.

CRIME AND COURTS

HB 301: Increases the prison sentences and fines for those convicted of dogfighting, and it makes betting on the illegal sport a crime. Passed.

HB 130: Requires credit reporting agencies to create an Internet-based system for consumers to block identity thieves from obtaining their credit histories. Passed.

SB 430: Gives law enforcement agencies more access to a national DNA database to find out whether a suspect is wanted for crimes in other states. Passed.

HB 1245: Puts the director of the Georgia Public Defender Standards Council under the control of the governor. Removes the authority of the Georgia Supreme Court and the state Court of Appeals to appoint council members. Passed.

WATER

SR 822: Undo a flawed 1818 survey that moved the Georgia border with Tennessee south of the southern banks of the Tennessee River so Georgia can tap into a massive supply of water. Passed.

SR 701: Creates a statewide water management plan to ensure the state has enough water in the future. Passed.

SB 342: Builds more public reservoirs to provide Georgians more drinking water. Passed.

HB 1226: Tax credits for homeowners and businesses that install water-saving equipment. Failed.

GUNS

HB 89: Gun owners with concealed-weapon permits may carry weapons into restaurants, state parks, MARTA trains and workplace parking lots with the company’s permission. Passed.

SB 449: Prevents landowners who hold hunts on their properties from getting sued if a guest gets killed. Failed.

GOVERNMENT

HB 919: Gives the General Assembly more oversight over the Georgia Lottery Corp. and reduces the number of appointments the governor can make to the GLC board. Failed.

HB 925: Creates the “township” form of government. Failed.

SB 82: Creates the city of Dunwoody by referendum. Passed.

SB 372: Would force the creation of hundreds of ethics boards to monitor every city and county government and every school board in the state. Failed.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

SR 996: Calls for a statewide referendum in November to allow cities and counties to tap school property taxes to help pay for redevelopment projects. Passed.

TECHNOLOGY/COMMUNICATIONS

SB 379: Bans “robo calls” — automated recorded telephone calls from political campaigns. Bill passed, but robo call ban removed.

SPORTS

HB 1165: Would stop making Florida Gator and Auburn Tigers specialty licenses plates for Georgia motorists if the legislatures in those states don’t make Georgia Bulldog tags. Failed.

SB 413: Would subject professional wrestlers to random drug testing and physical examinations before matches. Failed.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

HR 413: Would amend the state constitution to designate English as the official language of the state. Failed.

HB 1028: Funds statewide trauma care by placing a 2 percent fee on wire transfers. Allowed a transfer company to keep 20 percent of that fee to cover record-keeping costs. Failed.

HB 97: Makes it a misdemeanor for an illegal immigrant to drive in Georgia with a license from another state. Failed.

REAL ESTATE

SB 531: Prevents lenders, trustee banks and investment houses from hiding their involvement in foreclosures by requiring a public record naming the owner of a home loan. Passed.

SB 519: Extends the foreclosure notice requirement for homeowners from 15 to as much as 60 days. Failed.

SB 465: Extends the foreclosure notice period for high-risk adjustable-rate mortgages to 90 days. Failed.

MISCELLANEOUS

HB 1060: Would require animal shelters to use lethal injection, and not gas chambers, to euthanize animals. Failed.

HB 1318: Would make it harder for local governments to ban or restrict billboards. Failed.

TRANSPORTATION

SR 845: One of two resolutions introduced by Senate and House members for a constitutional amendment to allow referendums on transportation funding. Failed.

HR 1226: Would let regions vote on a sales tax for projects in that region. Failed.

ALCOHOL SALES

SB 454: Legalize Sunday package sales of alcohol in Georgia. Failed.

HB 1280: Allows alcohol to be served on Sundays at a Gwinnett County minor-league ballpark. Passed.

HB 1061: Georgians could order wine over the Internet or via telephone directly from wineries. Passed.

SB 385: Allows limousine drivers to sell alcohol to customers. Passed.

SB 55: Allows Georgians to take wine home from restaurants, as long as it is resealed and put in the trunk or locked glove compartment. Passed.