ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 08: Republican Gov. Brian Kemp addresses his supporters with wife Marty at a watch party after winning re-election on November 8, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. Kemp defeated Democratic challenger Stacey Abrams in a rematch of their 2018 race. (Photo by Megan Varner/Getty Images)
Megan Varner/Getty ImagesAccording to Fox 5 Atlanta, Governor Brian Kemp signed some legislation this year that won't go into effect until January 1, 2023. Most of the laws were effective in July of this. But the General Assembly delayed effective dates on some. This results in the January 1, 2023, effective date. Below are the new laws in Georgia.
Inform Consumers Act
This legislation will establish financial and contact information requirements for online sellers. The goal is to prevent people from selling items stolen from retail stores. It will require online platforms to have a way for customers to report suspicious activity.
This law will require sellers with an annual revenue of $20,000 or more to share working contact information with their buyers.
Food Truck Permitting
This will allow mobile food service, including food trucks, to do business outside of their county of origin. They will not need additional permits. But the food truck must have an active permit.
Included in this law is the definition of "mobile food service establishments."
LESS Crime Act
Most of this law has been in effect for 6 months. It's the "Law Enforcement Strategic Support Act (LESS Crime Act)." This will give Georgia taxpayers dollar-for-dollar state tax credit to directly contribute to public safety initiatives. The law went into effect in July, but it will be applicable for taxable years starting in 2023.
Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan called this an "innovative approach to public safety."
Increased Tax Credit Limit for Contributions to Rural Hospitals
This law increases the limit to annual tax credits for those who contribute to rural hospitals in Georgia. The aggregate amount of tax credits allowed increased from $60 million to $75 million.
Kemp signed this bill to "further support our rural hospitals."
Public Utilities
This law will establish a one-time right of way permit fee, along with reducing annual right of way use fees that telephone companies pat to municipalities. They do this if they don't have retail space or customers in that area.
With this law, there is a civil penalty for those companies that don't comply with the compensation requirements.
