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2018 Georgia legislative session

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2018 legislative sessions coverage
Georgia General Assembly

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General information
Type:   State legislature
Term limits:   None
Session start:   January 8, 2018
Session end:   March 29, 2018
Website:   Official Legislature Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Casey Cagle (R)
House Speaker:  David Ralston (R)
Majority Leader:   Senate: Bill Cowsert (R)
House: Jon G. Burns (R)
Minority Leader:   Senate: Steve Henson (D)
House: Robert Trammell (D)
Structure
Members:  56 (Senate), 180 (House)
Length of term:   2 years (Senate), 2 years (House)
Authority:   Art III, Section 4, Georgia Constitution
Salary:   $17,342/year + per diem
Elections
Redistricting:  Georgia Legislature has control

This page provides an overview of the 2018 Georgia General Assembly and its general and special sessions. The timelines below contain noteworthy events from the sessions Ballotpedia curated throughout the year.

In 2018, the Georgia General Assembly was in session from January 8, 2018, through March 29, 2018. The General Assembly convened in a special session November 13.

Click on the links below to access relevant session information.

If you know of any additional events that should be added to this page, please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.

Overview

Partisan control

Georgia was one of 26 Republican state government trifectas in 2018. A state government trifecta occurs when one political party holds the governor's office, a majority in the state Senate, and a majority in the state House. For more information about state government trifectas, click here.

The following tables show the partisan breakdown of the Georgia General Assembly in the 2018 legislative session.

Senate

Party As of October 2018
     Democratic Party 19
     Republican Party 37
     Vacancies 0
Total 56

House

Party As of October 2018
     Democratic Party 64
     Republican Party 115
     Vacancies 1
Total 180

Leadership in 2018

Senate

House

Status of legislation

Status of legislation: Regular session
Legislation Subject area Actions Status
HJR 158 Constitutional amendment authorizing Georgia legislatue to dedicate revenue from taxes and fees to specific purposes Passed House
 Did not see further action
HB 918 Tax and revenue bill Passed General Assembly
 Governor signed
HB 683 Mid-year 2018 budget Passed General Assembly Governor signed
HB 684 Operating budget for fiscal year 2019 Passed General Assembly Governor signed
Status of legislation: Special session
Legislation Subject area Actions Status
HB 1EX Adds emergency response funds to 2019 fiscal year budget Passed House

Passed Senate 		Governor signed
HB 4EX Creates tax credit for timber owners Passed House

Passed Senate 		Governor signed
HB 5EX Ratifies executive order on jet fuel sales tax exemption Passed House

Passed Senate 		Governor signed

Regular session

Bill statistics

Introduced Passed Governor signed Governor vetoed
House bills 857 212 195 17
Senate bills 427 76 72 4
Total 1284 288 267 21

Numbers include bills pending from the 2017 session and bills introduced during the 2018 session.
Source: Georgia General Assembly, "Summary of general statutes enacted at the 2nd session of the 154th General Assembly of Georgia 2018," accessed July 9, 2018

February 14, 2018

Georgia House approves constitutional amendment to allow dedicated trust funds
The Georgia House of Representatives voted 166-1, with one vacancy and 12 excused or not voting, in favor of House Joint Resolution 158 (HJR 158). The amendment would have authorized the legislature, with a two-thirds (66.67 percent) supermajority vote, to pass laws earmarking revenue from certain taxes and fees for specific purposes through trust funds, provided the total earmarked revenue is no greater than 1 percent of the state's total revenue for the previous fiscal year. It was designed to allow laws preventing revenue in various trust funds, such as the Hazardous Waste and Solid Waste Trust Funds, from being diverted to other purposes. Proponents of the amendment called it the Trust Fund Honesty amendment. Read more here.

Update: HJR 158 was sent to the Georgia State Senate where it did not see further action in 2018.

February 15, 2018

Georgia State Senate approves mid-year budget
On February 15, 2018, the Georgia State Senate unanimously approved a $25.3 billion mid-year budget with few changes from that passed by the Georgia House of Representatives on February 6, 2018. The budget provided supplemental appropriations through the end of the 2018 fiscal year (June 30, 2018) for education, healthcare, human services, and initiatives recommended by the House Rural Development Council.[1][2]

The mid-year budget included:

  • $102.1 million for increased student enrollment, charter school grants, and charter school supplements.
  • $15.5 million for 200 new school buses.
  • $10 million towards graduate-level medical education at Augusta University.
  • $1 million for an electronic visit verification system for home- and community-based services.
  • Funds to create a program coordinator position in the state Department of Community Health and a program support coordinator position in the state Department of Public Health.
  • $10 million towards the state's emergency fund.
  • $25.2 million to lengthen rural airport runways.[2]
Update: Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed the budget bill on March 9, 2018.

March 1, 2018

Georgia General Assembly eliminates jet fuel sales tax provision
The Georgia General Assembly eliminated a provision that would have provided a jet fuel sales tax exemption to companies like Delta Airlines from a larger tax measure, HB 918. The state Senate passed HB 918 without the tax exemption provision by a 44 to 10 vote. Democrats accounted for all the "no" votes. The state House, which had already passed the tax measure with the jet fuel sales tax provision intact on February 26, agreed to the Senate's amended version, 135 to 24. Gov. Nathan Deal (R) said he would sign the measure.[3] Read more here.

Update: The governor signed the tax bill on March 2, 2018.
Click here for more information about the controversy surrounding the jet fuel sales tax exemption.

March 2, 2018

Governor signs tax and revenue bill without sales tax exemption for airlines
Gov. Nathan Deal (R) signed HB 918, a tax bill that aligned the state tax code with the federal tax code following the President Donald Trump's approval of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in December 2017. The legislation would have allowed a $50 million sales tax exemption for jet fuel to companies like Delta. The provision was removed on #March 1, 2018, after Delta stopped providing group discounts to National Rifle Association (NRA) members. Deal said he would try to get the company tax cuts another way.[4] Click here for more information.

Special session

Gov. Deal called for a special session beginning November 13.[5]

In a proclamation, Deal specified two purposes for the session. The governor proposed amending the state budget for the 2019 fiscal year to include $270 million in emergency funding for state agencies and local government in response to Hurricane Michael. Hurricane Michael reached Georgia October 10, becoming the first Category 3 hurricane to reach the state since 1898.[6]

The governor also proposed ratifying an executive order suspending the collection of a sales and use tax on jet fuel after state legislators removed a tax exemption, which would have provided a tax break to Delta Airlines, in February. Click here for more information.

November 15, 2018

State House approves $470 million for hurricane relief and $40 million in jet fuel tax exemption
The Georgia House approved $470 million in funds and tax credits to assist with Hurricane Michael response efforts.

The House voted 162-1 in favor of HB 1EX, a bill to amend the state's 2019 fiscal year budget by adding $270 million to help with cleanup and repair efforts. The bill allocated $55 million to farmers with destroyed crops and $20 million for commercial timber owners.[7]

The House also approved a second bill, HB 4EX, providing $200 million in tax credits to help commercial timber owners replant trees in areas the storm hit. The bill passed by a 157-2 vote.[7][8]

State Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black (R) estimated the hurricane caused $1.6 billion in damage to crops.[7] The Georgia Forestry Commission also estimated the storm caused $762 million in timber losses.[9]

The House also approved, by a vote of141-18, HB 5EX, a bill providing a $40 million tax exemption on jet fuel sales. The legislation proposed a tax exemption expiring June 30, 2019, the end of the state's fiscal year.[10]

November 17, 2018

Governor signs three special session bills
Gov. Deal signed HB 1EX, HB 4EX, and HB 5EX.[11] Earlier November 17, the state Senate unanimously approved HB 1EX and HB 4EX. Senators passed HB 5EX by a 43-9 vote. The state House approved the legislation November 15.

HB 1EX added $270 million to the 2019 fiscal year budget to assist state agencies and local governments impacted by Hurricane Michael. HB 4EX creates a tax credit to encourage commercial timber growers and pecan farmers to replant trees. A press release from the governor's office estimated that the storm caused $2.5 billion in damages to the agriculture and timber industries in southwest Georgia.[11][12]

HB 5EX ratified an executive order the governor signed in July suspending a jet fuel sales tax through the end of the 2019 fiscal year.[11]

Budget

2018

On March 29, 2018, the Georgia General Assembly approved a $26 billion budget for the 2019 fiscal year and Gov Nathan Deal (R) signed it on May 2, 2018.[13][14]

The budget included:

  • $510 million in new funds for K-12 education.
    • $115 million for enrollment growth.
    • $167 million to fully fund the state's education formula.
  • $365 million for the Teacher Retirement System.
  • $31.6 million in motor fuel funds for the state's highway system.
  • $100 million in bonds to invest in bridge infrastructure.[14]

Process

See also: Georgia state budget and finances
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The state operates on an annual budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[15]

  1. In July of the year preceding the start of the new fiscal year, the governor sends budget instructions to state agencies.
  2. In September, agencies submit their budget requests to the governor.
  3. Budget hearings are held with the public in January through February.
  4. In January, the governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature.
  5. The legislature adopts a budget in March or April, effective for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.

The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget to the legislature. In turn, the legislature must pass a balanced budget, and any budget signed into law by the governor must be balanced.[15]

Georgia is one of 44 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[15][16]

Noteworthy events

Republican senators remove jet fuel sales tax exemption from tax bill

On February 26, 2018, Republican members of the Georgia State Senate removed a jet fuel sales tax exemption provision, which would have provided a tax break to Delta Airlines, after Delta stopped providing discounted fares to National Rifle Association (NRA) members. Delta was estimated to receive $40 million of the $50 million in projected savings from the provision.[17] The tax bill (HB 918) also reduced the top individual and corporate tax rate from 6 percent to 5.5 percent by 2020 and doubled standard deductions for taxpayers. It passed the state House on February 22 in a 134-36 vote.

Gov. Nathan Deal signed HB 918 without the jet fuel sales tax exemption on March 2.[4] On July 30, he signed an executive order suspending the jet fuel tax collection effective August 1.[18] Click here to read the full order.

According to Delta, the company was the state's largest private employer, with 33,000 employees statewide in 2015, and contributed $300 million per year to state and local governments through taxes and fees. The company established its base in Atlanta in 1941.[19]

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, tweeted after Delta's announcement that he would "kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back."[4]

Delta sent an internal memo to employees on March 2, 2018, saying their "objective in removing any implied affiliation with the NRA was to remove Delta from this debate," referring to debates surrounding firearms policies following a shooting in Parkland, Florida that resulted in 17 fatalities. The company also said it was reviewing an end to group discounts for "any group of a politically divisive nature."[4]

Legislatively referred constitutional amendments

In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

The methods by which the Georgia Constitution can be amended:

See also: Article X of the Georgia Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Georgia

The Georgia Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution— a legislative process and a state constitutional convention. Georgia requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments.

Legislature

See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the Georgia State Legislature to place an amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 120 votes in the Georgia House of Representatives and 38 votes in the Georgia State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

Convention

See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

Georgia: According to Paragraph IV of Article X of the Georgia Constitution, a constitutional convention can occur in Georgia if a two-thirds majority of the members of both houses of the Georgia General Assembly agree to hold it. That agreement does not need to be put to a vote of the people.[20]


See also

Elections Georgia State Government State Legislatures State Politics
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External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Policy Soapbox, "Ga. House OK’s 2018 'Little Budget,'" February 12, 2018
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Times-Georgian, "Amended state budget to fund key initiatives," February 15, 2018
  3. ↑ Q13Fox.com, "Delta Air Lines subjected to retribution in Georgia Legislature for crossing NRA," March 1, 2018
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Fox 5, "Georgia Gov. Deal signs tax bill sans Delta cuts," March 2, 2018
  5. ↑ Office of the Governor, "Deal to call for special legislative session," October 23, 2018
  6. ↑ CNN, "Hurricane Michael slammed the Florida Panhandle. It also socked Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia," October 12, 2018
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The News Tribune, "Georgia House approves $470M to fund hurricane relief," November 15, 2018
  8. ↑ Fox5Atlanta.com, "Georgia House approves hurricane relief measures," November 15, 2018
  9. ↑ Georgia Department of Agriculture, "Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black Issues Statement on Latest Georgia Forestry Commission’s Estimation of $762,683,909 in Losses from Hurricane Michael," October 30, 2018
  10. ↑ U.S. News & World Report, "The Latest: House Gives Jet Fuel Tax Break Another Chance," November 15, 2018
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Governor Nathan Deal, Office of the Governor, "Deal signs hurricane relief package," November 17, 2018
  12. ↑ The State, "Georgia legislature passes hurricane aid, $40M airline perk," November 17, 2018
  13. ↑ WTOC.com, "Georgia state lawmakers approve historic budget," March 29, 2018
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Governor Nathan Deal, Office of the Governor, "Deal signs FY 2019 budget," May 2, 2018
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
  16. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Separation of Powers: Executive Veto Powers," accessed January 26, 2024
  17. ↑ Business Insider, "Georgia Republicans are stuck in a philosophical crisis on taxes amid the battle between Delta and the NRA," February 27, 2018
  18. ↑ The State of Georgia, "Executive Order 07.30.18.01," accessed November 14, 2018
  19. ↑ Delta, "Delta's economic impact in metro Atlanta, Georgia," October 26, 2015
  20. ↑ Georgia constitutional convention provisions
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