Important Topics on Your November 3 Ballot

Friends,

I know that many of you have already received your absentee ballots in the mail, and this week I would like to share some information about some topics you may find on your ballot. In Georgia, certain bills passed by the legislature require the approval of the citizens of Georgia. This ensures transparency and accountability for the legislature and that Georgians have a voice when additions are made to the Georgia Constitution and, this year, to determine whether the state should grant a property tax exemption.

To view a sample ballot, visit your “My Voter Page” on the Secretary of State’s website. You can also find the status of absentee ballot applications, early voting and poll locations, and your voter registration information by visiting this site.

This year Georgia voters will decide whether to add two amendments to our Georgia Constitution and whether a piece of legislation passed by the Georgia House and Senate will go into law. The two amendments that propose additions to the Georgia Constitution that passed this year are House Resolution 164 and House Resolution 1023. The legislature also passed House Bill 344, which provides a specific property tax exemption if approved by Georgia voters. These three items are Republican-led initiatives that you will be voting on this year. I am proud to have voted “yes” on each of these items when they came to the floor.

House Resolution 164

HR164 came as a result of many years of work by the late Representative Jay Powell. HR164 is a measure aimed at improving transparency and accountability for funds spent by the Georgia General Assembly. HR164 allows the Georgia General Assembly to dedicate funds from fees or taxes for the purpose for which they are imposed. The total amount of funds dedicated under this provision cannot exceed one percent of the total state revenues for the prior fiscal year. Fee dedication laws must reference this provision; provide the specific purpose for which the fee will be used; identify the agency to administer the funds; require annual reporting of the revenue and expenditures by the department administering the funds; and include sunset provision not to exceed 10 years.

House Resolution 1023

Chairman Andy Welch sponsored House Resolution 1023 in his final legislative session before retiring from the legislature. HR 1023 allows Georgians to maintain a lawsuit seeking relief from acts taken by state or local governments that are outside of the government’s lawful authority or violate the Georgia or United States Constitution.

Typically, state and local governments are entitled to “sovereign immunity,” making it more difficult for citizens to bring lawsuits against governments. This amendment to the Georgia Constitution would remove that “sovereign immunity” in these particular circumstances. No damages, attorney’s fees, or litigation costs can be awarded in a lawsuit authorized by this amendment.

House Bill 344

Finally, House Bill 344, sponsored by Representative Matthew Gambill, establishes a property tax exemption for real property owned by a public charity that is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The charity must hold the real property exclusively to build or repair single-family homes that will be financed by the charity with no-interest loans. An example of this type of tax-exempt organization is Habitat for Humanity.