2020 Legislative Session Wrap Up
Legislative Session Update
The Georgia General Assembly has just wrapped the end of the General Assembly’s 2020 Legislative Session. For the 2020 session, GSCPA closely monitored the following bills, as they were of high importance:
Revenue and Taxation
HB 105— The Hurricane Michael Disaster Relief Bill exempts from state income tax certain income received by taxpayers as payments from a federal disaster relief or assistance grant program administered by this state. This bill was amended in the Senate to include provisions that reduce taxes on rideshare companies and direct such dollars collected to transportation-related expenses. On June 18, the Senate agreed to the House substitute as amended. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
HB 793— The Fiscal Year 2021 budget. The House and Senate agreed to the Conference Committee report on Friday, June 26. The Conference Committee report can be found here. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
HB 846— This Bill updates the Georgia tax code to reflect changes made to the Internal Revenue Code. On Friday, June 26, the House agreed to the Senate substitute. It is important to note this bill is for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019 and conforms to changes made in Federal law on or before March 27, 2020. These conforming changes include the SECURE and CARES Acts, and as stated is retroactive back to 2019 returns. Each year, the Georgia Conformity Bill is passed with exceptions. New this year to the list of exceptions are any changes found in the CARES Act related to Section 172 and Section 461(1), which shall be treated as if these federal changes are not in affect as it relates to a Georgia return. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
HB 1037— This bill updates the Film Tax Credit Statute. The House agreed to the Senate Substitute on Friday, June 26. The main piece of this bill requires by statute that, “the Department of Revenue shall conduct or cause to be conducted an audit of each tax credit allowed by this Code section by either the department or an independent third party certified by the department.” The bill awaits action by the Governor.
Business and Industry
HB 879— This bill allows for the home delivery of alcohol; it passed out of the Senate as substituted on Tuesday, June 23. On Thursday, June 25, the House agreed to the Senate substitute. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
SB 359- The Safe Harbor Act serves to protect business and citizens from liability from injuries or illness resulting from COVID-19. SB 359 was amended by the House Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System on June 25, passed the House on June 26, and was agreed to in the Senate on the same day. This bill allows for:
“No healthcare facility, healthcare provider, entity, or individual, shall be held liable for damages in an action involving a COVID-19 liability claim against such healthcare facility, healthcare provider, entity, or individual, unless the claimant proves that the actions of the healthcare facility, healthcare provider, entity, or individual, showed: gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm.”
The bill awaits action by the Governor.
Telecommunications
HB 244— The Rural Broadband Expansion bill passed out of the Senate on Monday, June 22. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
Healthcare
HB 888— The Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act passed unanimously by the Senate on June 17. This bill provides for certain consumer protections against surprise billing and creates mechanisms to resolve payment disputes between insurers and out-of-network providers or facilities regarding the provision of healthcare services. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
SB 313— This bill provides extensive regulations and revisions regarding pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). The bill was agreed to as a substitute by the Senate on Wednesday, June 24. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
Education
HB 957— This bill works to ensure certain charter school employees will be included in the health insurance fund for public school teachers. HB 957 was passed out of the Senate on Saturday, June 20. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
Agriculture
HB 847— This bill enacts a plan for hemp farming in Georgia. Passed out of the Senate on Monday, June 22. The bill awaits action by the Governor.
Legal
HB 426— The Anti-Hate Crimes Act, which works impose punishment for crimes involving bias or prejudice against an individual, or groups, actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability or physical disability. The bill was signed by Governor Kemp, Friday, June 26, at the Georgia State Capitol during a press conference with Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and Speaker of the House David Ralston. The press conference can be seen here.
Stay Informed
Membership in the Georgia Society of CPAs is critical to ensuring that the CPA profession remains solid now and in the future. GSCPA will continue to monitor future legislation and keep the momentum moving in the right direction. With potential changes and challenges ahead, GSCPA will continue to actively participate in the process. We’re working for you!
For more on legislation and representation or to locate your local representatives, visit www.gscpa.org. If you have any questions on this year’s session contact Don Cook, vice president, legislative affairs at 404-877-2154 (mobile) or dcook@gscpa.org.