With the 2009 session of the Georgia General Assembly now completed, I want to thank the people of House District 176 for allowing me to serve as your representative at the State Capitol. I pledge to continue fighting on your behalf on the issues that are important to us here in South Georgia and the entire state.



This week, I want to review the actions of the House of Representatives and the Senate on some of the major legislative proposals during this year’s session. The following measures were passed by both the House and the Senate and will become law if signed by the governor:



HB 119 proposes a fiscal year 2010 budget that includes $1.3 billion in federal stimulus funds and reflects deep spending cuts to address a $3 billion shortfall in state revenues. Lawmakers did add back funds to avoid Gov. Perdue's proposed 10 percent cut in Medicaid reimbursements to hospitals and 6 percent cut in repayments to physicians. The final version also added $140 million to the budget to take care of an expected financial deficit for Medicaid next year due to rising unemployment in the state. Legislative budget writers also rejected the governor's plan to eliminate school nurses, adding $30 million back to the budget for that program. Unfortunately, HB 119 fails to include funding for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grants the state provides to local governments. The result will be a $200-$300 property tax increase for the average Georgia homeowner later this year.



HB 120 renews Georgia's sales tax holiday periods. If the governor signs the bill, Georgians can shop for school supplies and clothing without paying a sales tax July 30-Aug. 2. The tax-free period for energy-efficient products would be Oct. 1-4.



HB 157 makes it easier for college students to continue using HOPE Scholarship funds for book purchases and related fees. HB 157 would modify the "trigger" mechanism that currently requires the state to cut back on using Georgia Lottery revenues for HOPE funding to reimburse college students for textbook purchases.



HB 160 adds a $200 fine against “super speeders,” motorists who are convicted of driving more than 85 mph on a four-lane highway or more than 75 on a two-lane road. According to the bill's sponsor, revenues raised by the extra fees would go toward trauma care funding.



HB 228 reorganizes the state Department of Human Resources.



HB 233 freezes property valuation reassessments for two years.



HB 251 allows students to transfer from one school to another within a school district, provided there is room to transfer.



HB 261 stimulates the housing industry by giving home buyers a one-time income tax credit of up to $3,600.



HB 388 authorizes the adoption of human embryos.



HB 481 provides a tax credit of $2,400 to businesses when they hire an unemployed worker, suspend the collection of $100 corporate filing fees, cuts the capital gains tax by 50 percent and eliminates corporate net worth taxes for businesses.



HB 482 eliminates the state’s inventory tax on businesses.



The following legislation passed the House but is still pending in the Senate:



HB 243 would cut the additional pay for educators who earn national board certification.



HR 206 and HB 277 would allow voters to decide on a statewide one-cent sales tax to generate $25 billion over 10 years for transportation improvements.



HB 480 would eliminate the yearly ad valorem tax on vehicle license plates and replace it with a one-time title fee.



These measures passed the Senate but are still pending in the House:



SB 67 would have required driver’s license examinations to be conducted in English only.



SB 169 would outlaw embryonic stem cell research in our state, even though many in the medical and scientific communities believe such research could lead to treatments for major diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and spinal injuries.



SR 277 calls for a constitutional amendment authorizing a $10 annual fee on motor vehicle registrations, with the proceeds going directly to the trauma trust fund.



The following proposals were defeated or failed to get out of either house this year:



HB 138 would have authorized local referendums on Sunday package sales of alcoholic beverages.



SB 83 would have raised the annual homestead exemption from $2,000 to $4,000.



SB 90 would have provided taxpayer-funded vouchers for parents to send their children to private schools.



Please contact me with your views on any state issue, or whenever I can be of service.

State Rep. Jay Shaw represents the 176th District (Berrien, Clinch, Lanier and Lowndes counties) in the Georgia House of Representatives. Contact him during the legislative session at 512 Coverdell Office Building, Atlanta, Ga., 30334; by phone at 404-656-7859; or by e-mail at jay.shaw@house.ga.gov.