Ways and Means committee advances multiple tax, property and consumer measures; several bills amended and passed

The House Ways and Means Committee and its subcommittees on Tuesday advanced a slate of bills covering tax credits, historic property abatements, vehicle ad valorem taxation, small-employer health reimbursement accounts and consumer protections for nicotine vapor products. Most measures received unanimous or near-unanimous support and were recommended to move forward.

Key outcomes (motions and final posture at the meeting):

• HB7 (workforce development tax credit): The committee advanced a substitute to HB7 (LC501191S). The measure, presented as a $4,000 Georgia income tax credit for graduates of approved workforce-development programs who take high-tech jobs in rural communities and payable up to three years, was given a due-pass recommendation and reported favorably out of subcommittee and full committee.

• HB341 (small-business individual coverage reimbursement): House Bill 341 (LC501189S) was discussed and amended on the floor. The measure, described by its author as an expansion of a small-employer coverage program with a multi-year cap and a sunset, received a friendly amendment on the House floor (a technical line insertion) and passed as amended. The committee recorded the…