ATLANTA – The Georgia House of Representatives today passed House Bills 887 and 951, measures aimed at spurring economic growth in rural Georgia and products of the House Rural Development Council. HB 887 would establish the Georgia Communications Services Tax Act, and HB 951 would create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation.
“Rural students, businesses and telemedicine all rely on broadband internet to succeed, but rural communities across the state lack access to this essential utility,” said State Representative Jay Powell (R-Camilla), who sponsored HB 887. “Rural Georgia depends on broadband access to thrive, and this measure aims to expand broadband access to all corners of the state, including our rural communities. I’m proud of the Rural Development Council for diligently studying this issue, and I’m thankful to my colleagues in the House for overwhelmingly passing this measure today.”
“The Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation would serve as a ‘think tank’ and policy center to study workable solutions to the challenges facing rural Georgia,” said State Representative Jason Shaw (R-Lakeland), who sponsored HB 951. “Georgia has seen tremendous growth in recent years, but this growth has not touched our rural areas. This center would allow various resources to coordinate their efforts for the good of our rural communities and citizens.”
HB 887 would establish the Georgia Communications Services Tax Act to facilitate and incentivize adequate and expanded broadband and other communications services throughout the state. This measure would permit municipal corporations and electrical membership corporations (EMCs) to provide broadband service; establish the Local Government Communication Services Fair Competition Act of 2018 to encompass all communication services; allow communities to apply to be certified as broadband ready through the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA); require GEMA’s director to develop the Georgia Broadband Deployment Initiative, a grant program that would award projects to qualified broadband providers who request the least amount of money to expand in unserved areas; and regulate an authority’s pole attachment rate.
HB 951 would create the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation to serve as a central information and research hub for rural leadership training and best practices. The center would assume the business and responsibilities of the Centers of Innovation Agribusiness administered by the Department of Economic Development, and the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation, the Department of Economic Development, and the Department of Agriculture would collaborate as necessary to achieve the mission and duties of the center. The center would include the Georgia Rural Development Council to offer guidance to the center and to study the conditions, needs, issues and problems affecting rural economic development and examine related policy areas as they deem necessary and appropriate. The bill would also designate a deputy commissioner for Rural Georgia under the Department of Economic Development.
HBs 887 and 951 are products of the House Rural Development Council, which was established by House Resolution 389 during the 2017 legislative session. This council worked with rural communities to find ways to encourage economic growth and held hearings across the state during the summer and fall of 2017. The council will continue its work through the remainder of 2018.
HBs 887 and 951 will now go to the Senate for consideration. If passed by the Senate, these bills would require the governor’s signature in order to take effect.
For more information on HB 887, please click here.
For more information on HB 951, please click here.
Representative Jay Powell represents the citizens of District 171, which includes portions of Colquitt, Decatur and Mitchell counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2008 and currently serves as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He also serves on the Governmental Affairs, Judiciary, MARTOC and Rules committees.
Representative Jason Shaw represents the citizens of District 176, which includes all of Atkinson and Lanier counties and portions of Lowndes and Ware counties. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and currently serves as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation. He also serves on the Economic Development & Tourism, Game, Fish & Parks, Industry and Labor, Insurance and Small Business Development committees.
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