Through the years, the Georgia General Assembly has passed legislation requiring certain fees to go into specific trust funds. Examples include the Tire Disposal Fee which is designated to clean up landfills and surcharges on traffic fines which are designated to be used for drivers’ education. However, these funds are often diverted into other causes that are considered more urgent. So, in essence, the legislature has not kept its word. HR 164 fixes this problem. It proposes a constitutional amendment that would allow legislators to dedicate fee revenue for specific purposes for up to 10 years, at which time it can be renewed. But if there is a financial crisis, the legislature could suspend the fee allocation so fees would go into the general fund.

Government is generally protected by the doctrine of sovereign immunity, which says a citizen cannot sue the government. HR 1023 allows Georgia residents to sue state and local governments to stop unconstitutional (US or Georgia) laws or laws that violate state law. This constitutional amendment, if passed, reverses a 2017 Supreme Court ruling that required Georgians to seek permission from the government to sue the government. The amendment’s waiving of sovereign immunity is limited to situations in which governments are not following the law or constitution. It does not allow awarding of damages.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxes, so as to provide that the mission to advance arts in this state shall not be required to be an organization's primary mission in order to obtain an exemption for certain sales of tickets, fees, or charges for admission to fine arts performances or exhibitions; to extend the sunset date for such exemption; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

The Ethics Bill changes include:

-Three ethics board members appointed by the DeKalb County legislative delegation in the Georgia House of Representatives; three appointed by the DeKalb’s legislative delegation in the Georgia Senate; and one appointed by the DeKalb County tax commissioner.

– The appointment of two alternate members by the DeKalb County Superior Court Clerk to ensure a quorum when members of the board are absent, have a conflict of interest, or find it necessary to recuse themselves or while a vacancy exists on the board.

-Keeping the full-time ethics officer, who is also a member of the Georgia Bar Association. The ethics officer trains officials and employees on ethical conduct; monitors and acts upon information received through the ethics hotline; reports suspected ethical violations to the board; and would submit a monthly report to the ethics board and DeKalb commissioners.

-Adding a full-time ethics administrator position to receive complaints, maintain records of the ethics board, and notify the subjects and ethics board of complaints received.

– Complaints to be received through the ethics administrator