ATLANTA (March 26, 2013) – The Georgia State Senate passed House Bill 361 today by a vote of 36-16. HB 361, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta), prohibits certain acts involving labor unions and collective bargaining. This was Sen. Beach’s first bill on the Senate floor, and as tradition he was given a hard time by colleagues during the introduction of the bill. Continue reading “Sen. Brandon Beach Sponsors Bill Revising Labor Laws to Protect Employees”
Sen. Hufstetler Carries Local and Healthcare Bills in Senate
ATLANTA (March 25, 2013) – The Georgia State Senate passed three bills carried by Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome)in the remaining five days of the 2013 legislative session. The healthcare bills modernize medical terms and requirements while the local legislation allows more options for counties and municipalities. Continue reading “Sen. Hufstetler Carries Local and Healthcare Bills in Senate”
Resolution to Correct Georgia’s Northern Boundary Line Passes Senate HR 4 validates claim to portion of the Tennessee River
ATLANTA (March 25, 2013) – A resolution calling for the correction of almost 200-year-old survey errors along Georgia’s northern border passed the Georgia State Senate today by a vote of 48 to 2. Sen. President Pro Tempore David Shafer (R – Duluth), who sponsored similar legislation in 2008, presented the resolution to the full Senate body. Continue reading “Resolution to Correct Georgia’s Northern Boundary Line Passes Senate HR 4 validates claim to portion of the Tennessee River”
Hope Eligibility Bill Passes Senate
ATLANTA (March 22, 2013) – The Georgia State Senate passed House Bill 131 today by a vote of 44 to 5. Carried in the Senate by Sen. Renee Unterman (R-Buford), this legislation would enable Georgia students taking dual credit courses to receive the same treatment as those taking advanced placement (AP) and international baccalaureate (IB) courses when determining HOPE eligibility. Continue reading “Hope Eligibility Bill Passes Senate”
Sen. Dean Burke Presents Bill to Revise Agriculture Definitions
ATLANTA (March 22, 2013) – House Bill 268, presented by Senator Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge), passed the State Senate by a vote of 46-3 on Thursday. HB 268 makes provisions to sections of the Georgia Code relating to the definition of an agricultural product, grain dealers licenses and bond requirements.
“Agriculture is crucial to the economy of Georgia therefore we must adjust to the rising prices to produce crops in order to protect our farmers,” said Sen. Burke. “This bill makes positive changes that provide farmers protection against economic harm from unscrupulous dealers. I look forward to continuing work on legislation that promotes fiscally sound and efficient agricultural practices.”
This bill modernizes Georgia’s Code to recognize changes in agricultural markets. HB 268 revises the Code to allow the Commissioner of Agriculture to license and monitor dealers in agricultural products. Licenses will be valid until revoked, suspended, or until the renewal fee is unpaid.
Presently the law allows the Commissioner to determine the amount of the required surety bond, however, he or she limits the bond to the maximum amount of products purchased or sold for Georgia producers. While the Commissioner will still have the discretion to set the surety bond amount, this bill allows for a minimum of $10,000 and a maximum of $230,000 for the bond; with the exception of pecans which may have a maximum amount of $500,000.
The grain industry will also receive revisions to the definition and surety bond amounts. First, the bill clarifies the term of “grain”, so it is not limited to wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, field peas, soybeans, clover and grain sorghum. Secondly, the bill also increases the maximum surety bond amount for grain dealers from $150,000 to $300,000.
Lastly, the bill modernizes laws related to the registration of pecan dealers and processors.
Warehouses that are in compliance with other license and bond requirements from the agricultural dealer requirements are exempt from the requirements to obtain an agricultural products dealer license and surety bond.
The bill will now go to Governor Nathan Deal’s desk for final approval.
RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
March 22, 2013
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Emily Williams, Communications Associate
Emily.Williams@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028