ATLANTA (November 17, 2018) | Senate President Pro Tempore Butch Miller (R – Gainesville) announced the accomplishments of the 2018 Special Legislative Session called by Governor Nathan Deal for relief for victims of Hurricane Michael.
“The number one priority going in to this past week’s Special Legislative Session was to help our neighbors in Southwest Georgia who suffered severely from the devastating destruction of Hurricane Michael,” said Sen. Miller. “I can’t even begin to imagine what these individuals and families are going through, but I know that the citizens of Georgia are strong and together will be able to heal from this tragedy. Though our funding is only a small step in helping Southwest Georgia rebuild, seeing the time and devotion first responders and volunteers have already given to the victims of this storm reinforces the confidence I have in the community of our state as a whole as we continue to help our friends keep their heads held high during this hard time.”
The Georgia General Assembly passed three bills during this week’s Special Legislative Session. House Bill 1EX amends the Fiscal Year 2019 budget to include an appropriation of $270 million for Hurricane Michael disaster relief. These funds will be utilized in Southwest Georgia where an approximate $2.5 billion loss to the timber and agriculture industries occurred. House Bill 4EX allows timberland owners in the given 28 counties to apply for an income tax credit worth 100 percent of timberland’s value lost to Hurricane Michael. The income tax credit has a cap of $200 million and the credit would be capped at $400 per eligible acre of qualified timberland. Lastly, House Bill 5EX approves and extends the jet fuel sales and use tax suspension, ordered by Governor Nathan Deal, until June 30, 2019. Additionally, it would prevent the governor from suspending the sales and use tax on jet fuel unless a state of emergency is declared.
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For Immediate Release:
Nov. 17, 2018
Ines Owens, Director
ines.owens@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028