Monday marked a changing landscape for Georgia residents as new laws targeting hemp sales, rental property standards, and income tax structures came into effect. The array of legal shifts, passed earlier by the General Assembly, touches upon everyday aspects of Georgians' lives – from the business dealings of hemp to the sanctity of renters' rights. Notably, amidst these sweeping changes, a segment of the bail law challenging the scope of charitable bail funds has been frozen by a federal judge, as reported by WABE.
The Governor of Georgia is embracing a fast-tracked state income tax cut through House Bill 1015, instating a flat 5.39% rate that retroactively kicks in from January 1. According to WABE, this cut is part of a planned decrease reaching ultimately 4.99% if the state's revenues can bear the strain. Alongside, corporations witness their tax rate decline from 5.75% to 5.39%, with an intent to reduce it further in tandem with the personal tax rate.
Hemp products have also fallen under greater state scrutiny, with Senate Bill 494 mandating that consumers must be at least 21 to purchase, and that retailers need permits through the state Department of Agriculture. The products themselves, including testing labs, will come under strengthening oversight. "Hemp products must include results of testing and a warning sticker if they contain THC," as WABE details, in order to ensure that they adhere to legal levels of delta-9 THC.
On the home front, landlords must now contend with HB 404, which establishes a baseline of quality for habitable rental properties. This new regulatory framework, as per the legislation, adds air conditioning to the list of utilities that must stay on until eviction proceedings commence. Moreover, it sets a cap on security deposits and extends the notice period for eviction when a tenant is delinquent on payments. These provisions serve as an anchor, hopefully securing tenants against the whims of less scrupulous property owners and fluctuating market winds.
Changes extend to the state's bail system with Senate Bill 63 ushering in a cash bail requirement for 30 more crimes, including misdemeanors. While the intention is to ensure court attendance, opponents argue the potential for poor defendants to remain jailed for low-risk crimes. Reported by WABE, a federal judge has stayed a part of the new bail law pertaining to charity bail funds, preventing them from posting bail for more than three individuals annually unless they meet the criteria for bail bond companies.
