[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6660853,"mediaKeyId","2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6","parentId",2431297,"title","Committee hears substitute to regulate private surface-water utilities; PSC warns of staffing needs","audioSeconds",1058,"startMs",3214000,"endMs",4272000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6&start=3214&end=4272","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6/thumbnail_3214000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6660853/Georgia/Committee-hears-substitute-to-regulate-private-surface-water-utilities-PSC-warns-of-staffing-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660853-d1169205f067e7d41a9a42f909e98fbf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197407&Signature=YHhUx5fG2jARvunE~gmj~XHN23ahV1do4uNhHeO6~aOBcp1g-TfH-5KUjCnpSXmH4wnOkavtexd4esz-cLR1ivkqUvPBMMzit4lkyE6ilzbvcOAwK7wdshkA1Lp8IwFBYF0x2btgR2~bcvNtL0mpCKs43zhSrA8alKWSjaQapIdz1c1WrsHbbPAYOgsscK0BZ0k8YhdLqHdHUoCz0vdMjMn6xijpV9dwNPvXkI9krp1zLrxF5zR53~II9wYQy-q4sqEIH9mLv6vzdXsWadJaLyVag~q8Sah05OkRPzI-KXajo1WBxuB7mjzVEV7G5FG3pljQ5sndorhpBZbs9ZaUqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-02-27T15:11:13.183Z","article","The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee held a hearing on a substitute to HB 449 (LC550562S) that would impose oversight on privately owned utilities that use surface water and would require justification to the Public Service Commission for rate increases above specified thresholds.

Sponsor Trey Rhodes told the committee the substitute targets private companies that supply surface water and would require a private utility to justify to the PSC any cumulative increase of 15% over a three-year period; tap fees and capital expenditures would be excluded from that calculation. Rhodes said the measure is intended to protect customers in areas served exclusively by private utilities and to constrain excessive increases when private equity or hedge funds acquire systems.

Tom Bond, director of utilities at the Georgia Public Service Commission, told the panel the commission is neutral on policy but warned that regulating water would require additional staff and resources. He estimated a unit similar in size to the commission's telecom unit (roughly six employees plus a unit director) would likely be needed to process water rate cases and carry out hearings.

Representatives of private water companies described substantial recent investments and urged careful design. Adam Schafer, president and CEO of Piedmont Water Company, said, “We have invested over $40,000,000 in the last 5 years” and described summer peak demands and recent construction of a surface-water treatment plant. He said added regulation would increase costs that ultimately pass to customers. Mark Smith of Water Utility Management described operating many small, rural systems and said the company consolidated multiple rates over time.

Members asked questions about tap fees and whether utilities require customers to buy pumps or grinders from the company; the sponsor said tap fees and accessory costs can drive the total hook-up cost to $25,000–$35,000 in some places when ancillary equipment is included, while at least one private operator said its stated tap fees are $5,000 for water and $6,000 for sewer with an additional pump cost around $8,000.

The hearing was for information only; no committee vote was taken. The committee adjoined with plans to take further testimony and draft language in a future session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Agriculture & Consumer Affairs 02.27.25","oneSentenceSummary","Members heard testimony on a substitute to HB 449 that would subject private surface-water utilities to public-service commission oversight for certain rate increases; the PSC said regulating water would require more staff and the industry warned of higher costs to customers.","taxTitle","Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Georgia","taxId",16936,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660858,"Committee amends subscription bill to delay implementation date and tighten long-term renewal consent",972,2146000,3118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6&start=2146&end=3118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6/thumbnail_2146000.jpg","/articles/6660858/Georgia/Committee-amends-subscription-bill-to-delay-implementation-date-and-tighten-long-term-renewal-consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660858-a9bb548a963477de6042a56abc656ffa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197407&Signature=VZCj7q80cArXaDIeIIROwOWPQAS3kR-1Em3fbaBV7VaNRLyBVZ1Dm0nbc4ybra3A02AdKEbfQEvEHZpr70XAIYjtQlTZ8UDxtsQ8Zp~ypvaWiv-u7OSZ2LTJfxHY0mzFJsZLupxxYlFZQQEH-EMUYGUCXq0dbbREjMzEszF5LItUF9VnJZTuvDEVqylqcps5nyn91VamUFvk-r4nOVeyOLXRjv0dAZW-iknq0hpu6g9fDct3dhgDCetAOgqjJIkrGbZ1C-wMvli9M6G14SidJDnxPzsWUTxcfJ36av-nkC~g2Pa95cylnpV-I2kKw1wKHkJ3GQBK~71gwDq~RI2LWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee took up a substitute (LC550558S) aimed at curbing surprise price increases in automatically renewing consumer contracts.

Sponsor Representative Barrett said the substitute would give consumers an option at the time of initial sale to decline automatic renewal, require affirmative consent for renewals that extend contracts 12 months or longer, and require consumers to acknowledge certain price increases rather than simply be notified.

The substitute narrows the existing statute that currently requires affirmative consent for contracts automatically renewing for more than 24 months; the proposal lowers that threshold to renewals of 12 months or more. The sponsor also said the committee could delete or modify the provision that would require affirmative consent for price increases if members preferred a lighter standard.

Committee members raised implementation questions for out-of-state vendors and the practicality of immediate effective dates. Representative Tyler asked how out-of-state companies would learn of the new law; members agreed delaying the effective date would give businesses time to comply.

Representative Taylor moved to amend the substitute to set the implementation deadline to Dec. 30, 2025; the motion was seconded and the amendment was adopted. Members also discussed whether price increases on shorter-term subscriptions should require affirmative consent; the sponsor said that language could be amended either way and that legislative council could prepare the technical change.

The committee did not complete further floor action on the substitute in this hearing; members said they expect further amendments and a return to committee to finalize language.","The committee considered LC550558S, a substitute that would require sellers to offer upfront opt-outs for automatic renewals and to secure affirmative consent for long-term renewals and certain price increases. Members voted to amend the substitute to push the effective date to Dec. 30, 2025.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660862,"Committee backs 15-minute \"cooling off\" window for peer-to-peer transfers in HB 576",370,1748000,2118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6&start=1748&end=2118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6/thumbnail_1748000.jpg","/articles/6660862/Georgia/Committee-backs-15-minute-cooling-off-window-for-peer-to-peer-transfers-in-HB-576","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660862-da77cd0988a606941ef0b54eb9f812c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197407&Signature=g2s56YApn-s2GYH1BzB8RX-HLG11WZMQbWRAdr01gw-Jcpa43KfvMGPKKGrbuRhLXj07DuqvtqcfoMdcd~1RS24PysmVufVBtTytgjhRGEq-EuObJb6huHc2yOgAhSitbNGckBPtHK1k2v~WMBLyb9Z7dbkV8hLlNHYnIZAr15tv2xtlyGkW84taWCcrjyDvY2-mRuCZOxuHKCpnDFUiYzeqq87YqEHbSdxZUcgMXPwP11ujqIw0MdT0dzJfPcZr-o0CQtYdWA3JGWBcBRqTuJtPw80FZk16QoqYDTBuu1r8eaUZjvgZRLcPocAOlk9lairug2eKcNEVOT5w3HCSAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee voted to advance HB 576, a consumer-protection bill that would require a short delay on peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers to let senders reverse mistaken payments.

The sponsor described the bill as a narrowly tailored remedy for consumers who lose money when instant-transfer platforms provide no effective recovery mechanism. The substitute, LC 550531, establishes a 15-minute cooling-off period after a P2P transfer, allowing most senders to cancel or correct an inadvertent transfer.

The sponsor said 15 minutes was chosen after discussions with affected consumers; the original draft proposed 30 minutes but the sponsor said most mistaken transfers are noticed within minutes. Representative Carter asked about penalties; the sponsor said enforcement and penalty determinations would be managed by Georgia's consumer division and that the text intentionally left penalty specifics to that agency.

Representative Osteen and other committee members said they supported the measure and suggested it could be extended to other bad actors in the P2P market. The sponsor noted a recent federal requirement forcing some platforms to provide live agents to field complaints but said consumer experience with such agents remains uneven.

By voice vote the committee recorded a do-pass recommendation for HB 576 (LC 550531). The committee discussion emphasized consumer recovery and left civil penalties and enforcement details to the state consumer protection division.","The committee approved HB 576, which would require a brief delay on peer-to-peer transfers to allow senders to reverse mistaken payments; penalties and enforcement will be handled by the state consumer division.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6660867,"Panel advances bill to let local governments block fireworks within 100 yards of some equine facilities",614,932000,1546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6&start=932&end=1546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2431297-a30d5b415a32685f4b1738775202bcc6/thumbnail_932000.jpg","/articles/6660867/Georgia/Panel-advances-bill-to-let-local-governments-block-fireworks-within-100-yards-of-some-equine-facilities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6660867-ab91fe5ad4301db9fff63863622174d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197407&Signature=a9UvbAgWrIY0~9N1F5Lx-l7xhrqH1R24MCozW6QqJPnJnZmf1QrS71L22Q6rPh-KNCQUHlALTZc1y5hjDEZ0wDka8IPZRTRn-tnmoNw3yUmd83FYsQBhT6sCDC0YGBh0BEmO~ysSNrC-Vs6dGtwO14TCCgbXevv32IQXjhQNcV0GLqNT-uWGPfFy5jl8WoTnjwcGV7CxtpoBbODcdgsiM3rZ1v1bebGZXUdblLnUEov5Wsj32S4HU1hOeRhn5pcdNyXpOdy0bODInTutsydn639YKaB-Ah68uyJ2VmOEza6977rGWURpQsHOtTQHoky6-rk-y4p1ptyjsGaaN9BLcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee advanced legislation that would add certain commercial equine facilities to the list of properties eligible for a 100-yard exclusion from fireworks discharges.

The substitute for HB 614, LC C443088, would add “a commercial facility housing equines in a confined area” to the statute’s existing list of uses that can qualify for the 100-yard buffer around fireworks displays. The bill also requires a local governing authority to adopt an ordinance before the exclusion applies in that jurisdiction.

The bill’s sponsor told the committee the measure is meant to narrow mitigation for suburban horse farms that face noise, fire and other safety risks as subdivisions move closer to longtime equine properties. The sponsor said the change is focused on narrowly protecting operations that run as facilities, not individual owners with a single horse.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on the scope of the buffer and local implementation. Chairman Meeks asked whether 100 yards (roughly 300 feet) is sufficient; the sponsor acknowledged it may not fully resolve all noise concerns but said the requirement for a local ordinance and special-use permit authority will allow community-tailored solutions.

Representative Cora confirmed that local governments must adopt an ordinance before issuing a permit inside the 100-yard zone. Representative Osteen and other members described common local practices such as agritourism, 4‑H programs and riding lessons and said local officials usually can identify which operations are commercial and which are small-scale.

By voice vote, the committee recorded a do-pass recommendation for HB 614. The committee discussion and vote focused on limiting the change to facilities that local governments designate and preserving local control over special-use permits.

Supporters emphasized the measure is a targeted, local-option protection for animal welfare and fire risk around barns and equine facilities; opponents were not recorded in the hearing.","The House Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee advanced HB 614 to add certain commercial equine facilities to the list of properties eligible for a 100-yard fireworks exclusion, provided the local government adopts an implementing ordinance.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears substitute to regulate private surface-water utilities; PSC warns of staffing needs

Committee amends subscription bill to delay implementation date and tighten long-term renewal consent

Committee backs 15-minute "cooling off" window for peer-to-peer transfers in HB 576

Panel advances bill to let local governments block fireworks within 100 yards of some equine facilities