# Georgia HB 1453: Jeff Davis County; levy an excise tax

Georgia HB 1453, Jeff Davis County; levy an excise tax, is a 2025-2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Bill Werkheiser (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-HB1453-2025-2026
- 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 1453
- State: Georgia
- Session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
- Title: Jeff Davis County; levy an excise tax
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-02-25
- Last action: 2026-05-12, House Date Signed by Governor
- Sponsor: Bill Werkheiser (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Intragovernmental Coordination, State and Local Governmental Operations, Local Bill
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (216 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Jeff Davis County reserves money for tourism: benefit, low. Each fiscal year, these spending rules apply to lodging-tax collections above what a 5 percent rate raises. At least 50 percent of that excess must fund promotion of tourism, conventions, and trade shows. The county-designated tourism marketing group or another authorized group under an existing co…
- Jeff Davis County can tax lodging charges: cost, low. The law authorizes Jeff Davis County to tax lodging charges at a rate no higher than 8 percent. It covers hotels, campgrounds, and similar providers licensed by the county or subject to its business or occupation taxes. Before imposing the tax, the county must pass a resolution naming the rate, tou…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Bill Werkheiser (Republican), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-18 | Senate | LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR | pass | 50 | 0 | 4 |
| 2026-03-04 | House | Local Calendar | pass | 166 | 1 | 12 |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-05-12: House Date Signed by Governor (House)
- 2026-05-12: Act 652
- 2026-05-12: Effective Date
- 2026-04-06: House Sent to Governor (House)
- 2026-03-18: Senate Committee Favorably Reported (Senate)
- 2026-03-18: Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
- 2026-03-04: House Committee Favorably Reported (House)
- 2026-03-04: House Third Readers (House)
- 2026-03-04: House Passed/Adopted (House)
- 2026-03-03: House Second Readers (House)
- 2026-02-26: House First Readers (House)
- 2026-02-25: House Hopper (House)

## Bill text

- HB 1453/AP* (v4): [PDF](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/246344)

## 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 1453/AP* (v4) (PDF)](https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/246344)

## 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)
- [Georgia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/georgia)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/GA-HB1453-2025-2026 (as of 2026-10-19).