Ten Yeas and Ten Nays to recap Week 9 - Crossover Week
What a week! By my colleague Rep. Buzz Brockway's count, the House considered 119 bills last week including 57 on Friday - Crossover Day. I will briefly mention twenty - ten I voted in favor and ten I voted against on the House floor. Should you have a question about a particular bill and/or my vote, whether mentioned here or not, please send me an email at Brett@VoteHarrell.com or give me a ring on my cell at 404-966-5804.
Before I mention the bills, the best part of the week was a visit to the Capitol by my parents.
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| Bobby, Vivian, and Brett Harrell |
Yea! I voted YES on these bills:
HB 17 the Hidden Predator Act provides expanded ability for those suffering from sex abuse to confront their perpetrator. Passed 169 - 2.
HB 110 would expand the sale of fireworks in Georgia to include a significantly larger number of products. Passed 119 - 49.
HB 152 by Rep Geoff Duncan narrowly targets high alcohol service establishments by restricting employment and/or entry to those 21 or older. I sincerely appreciate Rep Duncan allowing me to participate in drafting a revised bill limiting unintended consequences and targeting just those that are most likely to serve underage patrons. Passed 157 - 12.
HB 209 provides additional information and notification to parents regarding Georgia's Special Needs Scholarships. Passed 168 - 4. Congrats to my seatmate, freshman Rep Wes Cantrell, on passage of his first bill.
HB 221 that I authored provides that tax assessors must consider rent limitations when valuing properties financed through low interest loan programs and targeting low-to-moderate income individuals. Passed 169 - 0.
HB 225 the Uber bill is a compromise supported by all parties - Uber, Lyft, Taxis, and Limos on insurance, taxation, background checks and more. Passed 160 - 10.
HB 268 provides for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse by medical, school, and law enforcement personnel. Passed 172 - 0.
HB 393 the Tesla bill is a compromise supported by all parties - Georgia's auto dealers and manufacturers to permit expanded sales within Georgia by the Tesla auto company. Passed 170 - 3.
HB 470 the Pharmacy Audit Bill of Rights provides protection for your local, independent pharmacy too often forced to sell below cost by nationwide pharmacy benefit management firms that set pricing and reimbursement rates. Passed 168 - 0.
HB 535 the Brunch Bill that I authored allows cities and counties that have already authorized Sunday sales at restaurants to extend serving hours to as early as 10:30 a.m. Nearly 4,000 Georgia restaurants sell beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday today. The additional two hours may generate nearly $100 million in additional taxable sales. Passed 121 - 47.
Nay! I voted NO on these bills:
HB 3 the Todd Gurley bill establishes penalties for private individuals that seek to profit from adults that know the rules. I voted NO, the bill passed 145 - 27.
HB 131 establishes an overly broad definition of Cyberbullying that will be difficult to enforce and I fear result in no measurable decrease in bullying activity. I voted NO, the bill passed 140 - 26.
HB 154 proposed to increase contempt fines in local Magistrate Courts from $200 to $500. I voted NO and the bill failed 76 - 90.
HB 238 provides a $750,000 sales tax refund for a construction project at the Georgia Aquarium. As introduced, the refund was unlimited; arguing against the measure in the Ways & Means Committee the cap of $750,000 became the compromise. I still voted NO on the floor, the bill passed 142 - 28.
HB 279 provides substantial raises for Judges. Gwinnett County does not qualify as local judges exceed the threshold established in the bill for additional compensation. That said, the raises are excessive not only in dollar amounts, but in putting Georgia among the highest paid in the nation for a number of positions. Just emerging from a recession with pay lagging for many is not the time to raise compensation for those well above the average household income. I voted NO, the bill passed 142 - 21.
HB 308 provides a $5 million income tax credit to a single hotel project in Savannah and up to $25 million income tax credits for historic rehabilitation projects across the state. As a member of the Ways & Means Committee, I worked to reduce the credit from the original $25 million requested for the hotel project and $60 million statewide to the lower values. I still voted NO on the floor as I believe the project is viable without the tax credits, the bill passed 147 - 22.
HB 338 establishing an additional tack-on fee to traffic citations to fund technology improvements for local law enforcement that would reduce costs. I have fought this measure for four years and the House soundly defeated it by a vote of 39 - 127.
HB 428 provides a $350,000 sales tax refund to the Atlanta Zoo for an expansion project. I worked in the Ways & Means Committee to place the cap on the refund, as the bill originally introduced was unlimited. I still voted NO on the floor as I believe the project is viable without the tax credits, the bill passed 147 - 22.
HB 439 established the New Market Tax Credit program in Georgia modeled after a Federal program that may provide up to $120 million in funds via the Insurance Premium Tax for projects targeting primarily rural Georgia. I voted NO. If our Insurance Premium Tax is generating that much surplus to invest elsewhere, we ought to cut the tax rather than incentivize private development. The bill passed 151 - 18.
HB 510 establishes the Georgia Sports Commission Fund creating a new Board and new revenues to invest in attracting sporting events to Georgia. Hey, I love sports too, but how does the proper role of government include sports? I voted NO, the bill passed 147 - 21. Expect a new board and more of your money going to wealthy sporting programs soon.
As always, I remain appreciative that you allow me to serve as your state Representative. I encourage you to contact me with any comments or questions you have about the legislation being considered at the state Capitol. You can reach me at my Capitol office at 404-656-0254 or on my cell at 404-966-5804 or via email at brett.harrell@house.ga.gov.
Thank you,
Brett Harrell
