All Roll Calls
Yes: 221 • No: 1
GeorgiaHB 4982025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Garden City Charm and Tourism Act; enact
Sponsored By: Sheila Nelson (Democrat), Karlton Howard (Democrat), L.C. Myles (Democrat), Mark Newton (Republican), Brian Prince (Democrat)
Signed by Governor
Intragovernmental CoordinationState and Local Governmental OperationsLocal Bill
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Extra lodging tax funds for tourism
Each year the tax is collected, the county must split the money collected above what a 5% rate would raise. At least half of that extra money must fund tourism promotion, conventions, and trade shows through the county’s designated marketing group or an authorized entity. The rest of that extra money must pay for tourism product development.
Up to 8% lodging tax in Augusta-Richmond
Augusta-Richmond County can charge up to an 8% tax on room charges for hotels, motels, short-term rentals, and campgrounds. Lodging providers licensed by the county, or that owe county business taxes, must collect and pay this tax. A county resolution adopted January 13, 2022 sets the rate and how the money is used. Conflicting prior laws are repealed, so these rules now control.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Sheila Nelson
Democrat • House
Karlton Howard
Democrat • House
L.C. Myles
Democrat • House
Mark Newton
Republican • House
Brian Prince
Democrat • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 2/28/2025
LOCAL CONSENT CALENDAR
Yes: 51 • No: 1
House vote • 2/21/2025
Local Calendar
Yes: 170 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
House Date Signed by Governor
5/13/2025HouseAct 144
5/13/2025Effective Date
5/13/2025House Sent to Governor
4/7/2025HouseSenate Committee Favorably Reported
2/28/2025SenateSenate Passed/Adopted
2/28/2025SenateSenate Read and Referred
2/24/2025SenateHouse Committee Favorably Reported
2/21/2025HouseHouse Third Readers
2/21/2025HouseHouse Passed/Adopted
2/21/2025HouseHouse Second Readers
2/20/2025HouseHouse First Readers
2/19/2025HouseHouse Hopper
2/18/2025House
Bill Text
HB 498/AP* (v4)
Related Bills
HB 90 — Revenue and taxation; increase maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property
HB 739 — Lawrenceville, City of; annexation of certain territory; provide
HB 579 — Professions and businesses; licensure to engage in trade; provisions
SB 566 — Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; the acceptance of tax digests in the event of a publication error made by a newspaper; provide
SB 284 — "Georgia Uniform Securities Act of 2008,"; issuance of orders by the Commissioner of Securities directing persons who have violated certain securities provisions to return; authorize
HB 413 — Agriculture; prohibit local ordinances that prohibit operation of mobile sawmills on agricultural land