Legislation to Support Georgia Businesses Signed Thursday

During Georgia Small Business Week, Governor Kemp signed three bills into law,  SB 331, HB 1058, and HB 1443.

“As a small business owner for more than 35 years, I have always applied a pro-business approach to governing, helping to cut red tape and ensure we have an environment that allows good Georgia companies to thrive and serve their customers,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “To boil it down, my approach is all about ensuring that hardworking Georgians in every corner of the state have opportunities to build great careers and raise their families – like Marty and I had. I think these commonsense measures further our ability to keep Georgia a top state for business and support those who call the Peach State home.”

SB 331 supports businesses in managing local regulations. HB 1058 makes it easier for Georgia affiliated companies to file a consolidated income tax return. HB 1443 ensures mobile food service establishments, like food trucks, that have up-to-date permits can operate in multiple counties without having to acquire additional permitting for each one.

First Reader Summary SB 331 – A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minimum wage law, so as to prohibit the regulation of employee work hours, scheduling, and output by local government entities; to provide for exceptions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read more on SB 331 HERE.

First Reader Summary HB 1058 – A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-21, relating to income taxation of corporations, so as remove the requirement that affiliated corporations file separate income tax returns with this state unless the Department of Revenue has requested or preapproved the filing of consolidated returns; to authorize Georgia affiliated groups to elect to file separate or consolidated income tax returns; to provide for the effect of such elections; to provide for tax liability, allocation, and apportionment; to make such election irrevocable for five years; to authorize affiliated groups that have filed consolidated returns to continue under the current law; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read more on HB 1058 HERE.

First Reader Summary HB 1443 – A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 13 of Chapter 2 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to food service establishments, so as to provide that mobile food service establishments that have active permits may operate in the county of origin and in one or more counties other than its county of origin without obtaining an additional permit; to provide for definitions; to provide for notice to other counties prior to operation; to provide for communication between the county of origin and other counties; to provide for inspections of mobile food service establishments by other counties; to provide for written notice of remedial measures upon failure of an inspection; to provide for violation fines and penalties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Read more on HB 1443 HERE.

Governor Kemp, in addition to the many members of the House and Senate who voted in favor of these important measures, would like to thank the following bill sponsors of SB 331, Sen. John Albers and Rep. Mandi Ballinger, HB 1058, Rep. Bruce Williamson and Sen. Billy Hickman, and HB 1443, Rep. Houston Gaines and Sen. John Albers.