# Georgia HB 1404: Pooler, City of; levy an excise tax

Georgia HB 1404, Pooler, City of; levy an excise tax, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Carl Gilliard (Democrat), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Ron Stephens (Republican); status signed, last action 2026-05-12 (House Date Signed by Governor) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1404-2025-2026
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Georgia HB 1404
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Pooler, City of; levy an excise tax
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-20
- Last action: 2026-05-12, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsors: Carl Gilliard (Democrat), Bill Hitchens (Republican), Ron Stephens (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (202 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Pooler lodging taxes fund tourism projects: benefit, low. Each fiscal year, Pooler must use lodging tax collections above what a 5% rate collects for tourism. At least 50% of that excess must fund tourism, convention, and trade-show promotion. Pooler's designated destination marketing organization, or another entity authorized under existing contracts, mu…
- Pooler can charge up to 6%: cost, medium. The law lets Pooler charge a lodging tax of up to 6% of the lodging charge. Covered lodging includes hotels, motels, inns, campgrounds, and other places that regularly or periodically offer paid stays. Providers must be licensed by Pooler or required to pay its business or occupation taxes. The law…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Carl Gilliard (Democrat), House
- Sponsor: Bill Hitchens (Republican), House
- Sponsor: Ron Stephens (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-02 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 49 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-03-27 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 153 | 0 | 24 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-12: Act 651
- 2026-05-12: Effective Date
- 2026-04-10: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-04-02: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-04-02: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-27: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-03-27: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-27: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-27: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-24: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-20: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1404/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248705)

## Related bills

- SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckless stunt driving; replace the forfeiture penalty (signed)
- SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation for certain motor vehicles; provide (signed)
- SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; establish (signed)
- SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact (signed)
- HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish (signed)
- HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact (signed)

## Sources
- [HB 1404/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/248705)

## Related
- [SB 160: Reckless Stunt Driving; a motor vehicle involved in a second offense of reckles…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB160-2025-2026)
- [SB 384: Motor Vehicle; optional five-year motor vehicle registration and revalidation f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB384-2025-2026)
- [SB 76: License Plates; specialty license plate benefitting the Georgia Veterans Servic…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB76-2025-2026)
- [SB 406: "Georgia Property Owners' Bill of Rights Act"; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-SB406-2025-2026)
- [HB 1391: Specialty license plates; honor public safety officers; establish](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1391-2025-2026)
- [HB 1344: Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act; enact](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1344-2025-2026)
- [Georgia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia/bills)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1404-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).