This week marked the beginning of the 2020 legislative session.
This week marked the beginning of the 2020 legislative session. As the second year of a Biennium, there was business to take up right away. The Georgia General Assembly hit the ground running by approving HB 276, marketplace facilitator legislation. The bill is now before the Governor for his signature. A marketplace facilitator is an online or physical marketplace that contracts with third-party sellers to promote the sale of goods and services. This bill will help the state collect sales taxes that are currently going uncollected, estimated to bring in revenue to the state and local governments of $150 million per year.
Another piece of business taken up quickly was HB 444, a bill making changes to the state's dual enrollment program. This legislation passed out of the Senate Higher Education committee on Thursday. The measure ensures greater coordination between the state’s K-12 schools and the Technical College System of Georgia. It also places reasonable limits on the number of dual enrollment credit hours a student can take to 30 hours per year, with some exceptions, to ensure the long-term viability of this important effort.
Also announced this week was Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan's Georgia Innovates Taskforce. The panel will consist of 10 members, including MAC's 2020 board chair and Invesco president and CEO, Marty Flannigan. The goal of the taskforce is to drive innovation in technology in Georgia and fulfil Lt. Governor Duncan's vision of making Georgia the technology capitol of the East Coast.
