2019-2020 Legislative Agenda (Proposed)

Pictured: 12.06 Rep. Jeff Jones presents Dr. Arthur L. Cyphers, Senior Pastor of Norwich Baptist Church, the Georgia House of Representatives proclamation in recognition of the church's 100-year anniversary of serving Brunswick and Glynn County communities.

"On behalf of greater Brunswick and Glynn County, Thank you Norwich Baptist Church and congratulations on one-hundred years of service to our community..." ~Rep. Jeff Jones

Photo Courtesy: NASA - NASA images show the polution impact Florence had on coast.

1. Coal Ash Pond Dewatering; require public notice prior to dewatering; 2018’s bill – HB879 voted out of House 169-3; passed out of Senate NR&E committee; Senate never brought bill for vote.
2. Coal Ash Solid Waste Landfill storage - minimum siting standards and prior public notice for new MSW coal ash storage; 2018’s bill – HB880; never granted a House NR&E sub or full committee vote
3. Stop issuing GA “Drivers Licenses” to individuals without “lawful status” to be in US or GA; per DDS, 50,000 such licenses have been issued in GA; replace with “Driver Courtesy Card”; 2018’s bill – HB484; never granted a House hearing.
4. Out of State Cash Wire Transfer Fees - collect a fee for out-of-state cash wire transfers targeting drug dealers, gamblers, human traffickers and others who hide cash; $100 million projected net revenue, with no cost to Georgia taxpayers; propose dedicating revenue to supplement local law enforcement pay; 2018’s bill – HB66; never granted a House committee hearing.
5. Georgia’s Open Meeting Act - strengthen to clearly define that the “final” meeting agenda must be posted one full week prior to the meeting; establish clear provisions on adding “emergency items” to the agenda; 2018’s bill – HB1040.
6. State Owned Property in McIntosh & Long Counties; significant loss of tax revenue; counties not being properly remunerated; working to increase DNR budget to replace lost revenue to counties or find other avenues to replace lost local property tax revenue.
7. Teacher Out-of-Pocket School Supplies Tax Credit– change current tax deduction of $250 to a tax credit of $250; estimated impact of $25 million to Georgia budget; 2017’s bill – HB13
8. GA Oyster Aquaculture Production - Promote growth of commercial oyster production; currently, commercially sold oysters must be wild grown & harvested; change code/regulations to allow farm grown oyster aquaculture and to allow out-of-state importation of Oyster Spat; DNR Commissioner Williams & Department of Ag Commissioner Gary Black are fully behind the initiative; legislation is currently being drafted.

Revised September 19, 2018 - Download PDF Copy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, September 17, 2018

Contact: Betsy Theroux
(404) 656-3996
betsy.theroux@house.ga.gov

Rep. Jeff Jones to Reintroduce Legislation to Protect State’s Water Supply, Issues Statement on Collapse of Coal Ash Landfill

ATLANTA – State Representative Jeff Jones (R-Brunswick) today announced that he will reintroduce legislation in the 2019 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly that will focus on protecting the state’s water supplies from heavy metal toxicity that exists in coal ash. 

Pictured: Representative Jeff Jones and "Hairy Dawg" of the Georgia Bulldogs.

On Thursday, February 15, we completed the 22^nd day of the 40-day 2018 session. “Crossover Day”, which this year is on February 28^th, is also the 28^th of the 2018 session. This date, which can vary from session to session, is the cut-off date for legislation that has any chance of being signed into law by Governor Deal.  For bills to move ahead in the legislative process, they must have passed out of each respective legislative body – the House of Representatives, in my case, or the Senate - by the end of the session day on “Crossover Day.”

For several challenging bills I am sponsoring (HB-66-Cash Wire Transfers; HB-484-Changing Driver’s License for Certain Persons; HB-879-Coal Ash Dewatering Public Notice; HB-880-Coal Ash Landfill Storage Public Notice) it means I have seven legislative days left to: 1) get the bills voted out of sub-committee, then 2) voted out of full committee. Next, 3) I have to work on the surviving bills to get them added to what we call the “Rules Calendar” by the Rules Committee; the Rules Calendar is the calendar of bills that have a chance of being voted on by the full House of Representatives. Whew! Makes me tired thinking of all the work still to be done. But I do not give up easily on legislative matters that I, and many others in our state, believe are important.

For Immediate Release:
February 8, 2018
For More Information: Jennette Gayer
o-404-370-1764, c-703-475-3228
jennette@environmentgeorgia.org

Bills to Protect Communities from Coal Waste Introduced

Georgia Water Coalition applauds legislators for taking steps to protect communities and waterways

Atlanta, GA—The Georgia Water Coalition (GWC) applauds state Representative Jeff Jones (R-Brunswick) and a bipartisan list of cosponsors for their work to protect communities around Georgia from the toxic contaminants found in coal ash. After working to address concerns from Georgia Power and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division regarding legislation filed last year, Representative Jones introduced two bills that will help keep coal ash out of the water in which we swim and from which we drink, and people informed about coal ash present in their communities.

Welcome constituents, friends and supporters to our first newsletter of the 2018 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly - House of Representatives, which convened on January 8^th. Thanks for taking a few minutes to let me catch you up on Georgia law-making activities. The first two weeks (6 session days) were primarily ceremonial, “session opening” activities, including Governor Deal’s State of the State address. Georgia’s economy continues to grow, and our state was once again named the number-one state in which to do business. Governor’s Deal education initiatives continue to reap great rewards. We are a state on the move.

On Monday, January 22, 2018, we convened week three and as of January 29, we completed over one-fourth of the way through our 40-day session.  This session week was considerably busier and productive, and the pace has noticeably picked up as House committees met more frequently to consider and vet proposed legislation.  Remember, the majority of debate and discussion about legislation occurs in committee hearings well before bills reach the House floor for a vote.

By Dusty Nix | dnix@ledger-enquirer.com

November 06, 2017 5:39 PM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Betsy Lynch
Thursday, May 18, 2017
(404) 656-3996
betsy.lynch@house.ga.gov

Rep. Jeff Jones Presents Shawn Williams with House Resolution

ATLANTA – State Representative Jeff Jones (R-Brunswick) recently presented Shawn Williams, executive director of the Coastal Outreach Soccer (COS) program, with House Resolution 322 during a ceremony at the Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce. This resolution commends and congratulates Williams for being named the Georgia State Soccer Association’s 2016 Administrator of the Year.