Advocacy Update 2025 - Legislative Days 38-39

Boat Titling (HB 115)
Rep. Jesse Petrea, R-Savannah 
Scheduled for consideration in the Senate on Apr-2 or Apr-4 

HB 115 pertains to the registration, operation, and sale of watercraft.  It allows the Department of Natural Resources to remove, store, and dispose of abandoned vessels but does not denote how a lienholder is notified when a boat is removed. 

Self-Storage Facilities (HB 131)
Rep. Matt Reeves, R-Duluth
Scheduled for consideration in the Senate on Apr-2 or Apr-4 

HB 131 revises the advertisement requirements before the owner of a self-storage facility can enforce an owner’s lien and auction the contents of the storage unit.  CBA and members of the financial trades collaborated with the author to include language that preserves existing advertisement requirements for motor vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, watercraft, and recreational vehicles. 

Frivolous Mechanic Liens (HB 618)
Rep. Joe Campbell, R-Camilla
Eligible for consideration in the Senate on Apr-2 or Apr-4 

HB 676 establishes a fine for anyone who files a frivolous mechanics lien.  It ensures compliance with proper lien filing procedures and protects property owners from unjustified encumbrances.  This language was pulled from HB 676, which did not meet the Crossover Day deadline. 

Intangible Recording Tax (HB 586)
Rep. Bruce Williamson, R-Monroe
Adopted by the Senate on Apr-2 Returns to the House for agreement 

HB 586 revises the notes on which local governments collect the intangible recording tax.  As introduced, the bill changed the term of a long-term note secured by real estate from three to seven years from the date of the note.  To alleviate concerns raised by local government, the Senate Finance Committee revised the term to 62 months from the date of the note. 

Mortgage Trigger Leads (HB 240)
Rep. Noel Williams, R-Cordele
Adopted by the Senate on Mar-31 Eligible for enactment by the Governor 

HB 240 prohibits unfair or deceptive practices related to mortgage trigger leads.  Mortgage trigger leads occur when a consumer applies for a mortgage, prompting credit reporting agencies to sell the consumer's information to other lenders.  This often results in unsolicited communications from competing lenders, which can be misleading and invasive. 

Catastrophic Savings Accounts (HB 511)
Rep. Eddie Lumsden, R-Rome
Eligible for enactment by the Governor 

Model legislation from NCOIL, HB 511 creates an income tax deduction for contributions to “catastrophic savings accounts.”  This tax incentive is designed to encourage residential property owners to save funds designated for expenses related to natural disasters.  The House Ways and Means Committee added language to clarify how the account is managed upon the death of the account owner. 

Regulate Third-Party Litigation Funding (SB 69)
Sen. John Kennedy, R-Macon
Eligible for enactment by the Governor 

The Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act regulates third-party litigation financiers (TPLF) and requires the industry to submit to oversight by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance.  An amendment adopted in the Senate changes the effective date of the seatbelt admissibility portion of SB 68.  The House agreed to this revision on March 31, sending SB 69 to the Governor. 

Convenience Fees (HB 241)
Rep. Trey Rhodes, R-Greensboro
Eligible for enactment by the Governor 

HB 241 comes at the request of Chime, a financial technology company that offers an earned wage access service called MyPay, which provides advances without interest charges.  Under this proposal, Chime will submit to licensure under the Georgia Installment Loan Act and offer its MyPay product as a loan.  While Chime offers a no-fee “standard access” payout, it also offers an “instant access” option with a $2 fee.  To accommodate this fee structure, HB 241 increases the convenience fee allowed under the installment lender statute to the average actual cost incurred by the lender or $5, whichever is great.  The lender must offer a no-fee payment option, including check, cash, money order, or electronic payment.

Property

Sales Tax Exemption for Manufactured Homes (HB 134)
Rep. Beth Camp, R-Concord
Scheduled for consideration in the Senate on Apr-2 or Apr-4 

HB 134 revises and expands a sales tax exemption for manufactured homes.  The first retail sale or retail purchase in this state of a new manufactured single-family structure shall be subject to the sales and use taxes that would otherwise be levied on such retail purchase or retail sale, but only upon 60 percent of the manufacturer’s invoice amount. 

Judicial

Issuance of Temporary Operating Permits (HB 551)
Rep. Jason Ridley, R-Chatsworth
Adopted by the Senate on Mar-27 Needs agreement in the Senate 

For the last several years, the House has focused on the illegitimate use of temporary operating permits (TOPs).  HB 511 establishes conditions for issuing TOPs and modifies licensing requirements for used motor vehicle dealers and used motor vehicle parts dealers.  An amendment made in the House on Mar-31 clarifies the definition of the term “dealer” as it relates to TOPs. 

Consumable Hemp Products (SB 254)
Sen. Bill Cowsert, R-Athens
Pending in the House Rules Cmte 

SB 254 amends Georgia’s Hemp Farming Act to establish limits on the delta-9-THC content in consumable hemp products.  The Senate also banned THC-infused beverages; further revisions now allow certain retailers to sell consumable hemp products.  The House may consider studying this issue in more depth over the interim as part of a study committee authorized by HR 368. 

Georgia Consumer Privacy Protection Act (SB 111)
Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell
Pending in the House Judiciary Cmte 

SB 111 purports to protect the privacy of consumer personal data in Georgia.  It exempts financial institutions and affiliates subject to the federal Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.  In an unusual move, the bill was routed to the House Judiciary Committee after receiving a do-pass recommendation from its original committee; the Judiciary Committee promptly tabled the bill.