ATLANTA—The Georgia House of Representatives’ Small Business Development Committee will continue the Red Tape Watch Initiative by holding its next meeting in Valdosta. The mission of this initiative is to hear directly from Georgians about the regulatory challenges they face while evaluating the state’s overall regulatory environment. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Wiregrass Georgia Technical College from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., in the Auditorium of the Lowndes Hall Building. Area business owners are encouraged to attend.
Meeting Location (VALDOSTA)
Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
Lowndes Hall Building Auditorium
4089 Val Tech Road
Valdosta, GA 31602
“Regulatory challenges continue to be some of the leading issues that small businesses must contend with in their day to day operations as they seek to keep their doors open and grow,” said House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge). “I hope Georgians will use this opportunity to appear before this committee and share with its members their experiences in dealing with the regulatory environment in this state.”
In January 2012, Speaker Ralston charged the Small Business Development Committee with the Red Tape Watch Initiative. This effort initially called for the committee to hold a series of hearings at the state capitol to hear from Georgians about their experiences in dealing with the regulatory environment in the state of Georgia. The initiative led to the passage of legislation that eased the way for land reuse and development that would otherwise not have been possible due to a lack of options to address environmental concerns. Another measure provided an exemption for licensed real estate brokers assisting in short sale transactions from broker licensing requirements – helping ease the process of turning around the housing market.
“The committee’s goal now is to get out of the state capitol and hear directly from people and small businesses about the regulations they are confronted with and determine whether any of those that are on the books today are outdated or unnecessary,” said Rep. David Knight (R-Griffin), Chairman of the Small Business Development Committee. “As I have said before, I believe this process will help identify opportunities for the General Assembly to help create an economic environment that fosters job creation and is conducive to the growth of strong small businesses throughout the state.”
This committee will meet periodically throughout the remainder of the fall in a public hearing type format in cities throughout the state. Georgians who would like to participate in this process but who cannot attend a hearing can fill out a form to voice their concerns at www.house.ga.gov/redtapewatch.
As meetings are planned, notices will be provided; information will also be available on the House website.
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