Happy Almost Spring, Fellow Realtors and Affiliates,
This week's monthly meeting via Zoom (on Thursday, March 18 at 1 pm) may be our last all virtual meeting, as we will return to a hybrid meeting in April (in person and available via Zoom). I am looking forward to seeing your faces in person! Katie will send an email with a Zoom link Thursday morning. I hope that you will join, especially if you are an affiliate member, as we will shout out to you, expressing appreciation, at the end of meeting, allowing you to speak a minute or two to Realtor members.
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| Keith Hatcher |
Our March guest speaker is Keith Hatcher.
Keith Hatcher is a contract lobbyist with thirty years experience working with the Georgia General Assembly. Keith spent twenty nine years as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Georgia Association of Realtors(GAR) before starting his own consulting firm.
Keith is proud to have spent years working to protect private property rights and the free enterprise system. He ran a statewide campaign to defeat a ballot initiative which would have doubled the real estate transfer tax and oversaw a Realtor independent campaign to elect Casey Cagle Lt. Governor. He has twice served as Chairman of the Real Estate Trade Group, a coalition of real estate related business groups.
Keith has received the GAR President's award and was recognized and honored on the U.S. Senate floor by Johnny Isakson on his twenty fifth anniversary with GAR.
Despite his total devotion to the “game” of golf he remains a twelve handicap but he did manage to work his way through college with a pool cue.
I know Keith will have some informative news for us and a great presentation.
Tadmore Elementary Check Presented
This past year under President Judy Presley's leadership and Community Outreach Chair Jamie Bishop, the successful virtual golf tournament allowed for a check presentation to our Partner in Education, Tadmore Elementary School. We presented a check for $10,000 to Tadmore Elementary School Principal Robin Gower.
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| Presenting the check to some students and Principal Robin Gower on right were (L to R) Treasurer and Past President Sue Gross, Public Image Chair Pat Harrell, Immediate Past President Judy Presley, AE Katie South and President-Elect Chris Simmons. |
REALTOR DAYS AT THE DOME
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Association Executive 615 Oak St. Gainesville GA 770.534.1564 |
2020 GAR Advocacy Victories
What we were able to regather and get passed once we reconvened:
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● “Right to Rent” addresses private property rights and housing affordability. SB 442 grandfathers rental properties when an HOA, through the approval of its members, places new restrictions on rental properties. It does not bring in new rentals, but preserves current owners and their renters.
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● “Construction Materials” has been a primary focal-point since the 2018 Session. HB 777 advances the greater use of mass timber, a cost-effective alternative construction material.
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● Waiver of Sovereign Immunity for local governments in civil actions will now appear on the ballot this November. If it passes, it will allow citizens to more easily sue local governments for zoning decisions that adversely impact their private property rights.
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● HB 857 bans the burning of creosote in biomass plants. This issue has become a problem in the northeast corner of the state.
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● “Lien Waiver and Contract Enforceability” became a concern following a recent court ruling. SB 315 fixes a loophole in Georgia law that has been exploited to not pay subcontractors for work they had performed.
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● Condominium owners will now have the right to request insurance information from the HOA related to water, or potential water damage, under HB 1070.
What we were able to block:
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● The freezing of rental rates and stymying of development in areas defined as “naturally occurring affordable housing.”
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● The repeal of a 2018 victory protecting the use of wood as a construction material
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● Language that would have allowed HOA management companies to charge up to $350 for a closing letter
and removed the waiver of lien rights for failing to provide such a letter within 5 days.
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● A requirement of consent by all heirs and beneficiaries for a benefiting party to be able to receive compensation, or a referral fee in the settling of an estate.
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● The granting of chiropractors the ability to lien real property for unpaid services.
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● A tax exemption for multi-family properties owned by a nonprofit entity, but used as income producing
investments.
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● The ability of out-of-state licensees to practice real estate in Georgia without a Georgia license.
What did not exist until the June portion of Session, but in shifting gears, we got done:
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● SB 359 provides liability protections for responsible licensees, businesses and HOAs from lawsuits related to COVID-19. This bill does not provide protections when there is gross negligence, or reckless behavior.
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● HB 426 removes Georgia from the (very) short list of states without a hate crimes law. This bill has already been signed by the Governor and is active Georgia law adding additional penalties to bias-motivated crimes based on race, gender, sexual orientation, sex, national origin, religion, or physical or mental disability.
What kept the industry alive amidst the State of Emergency:
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● Working with the Governor’s Office, Georgia REALTORS® were considered critical infrastructure. So too were the related industries that support real estate. Thus, Georgia REALTORS® were able to legally transact business during the mandatory shelter-in-place.
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● In a dual effort working with the Office of the Governor and the Georgia Supreme Court, Georgia REALTORS® were able to conduct virtual closings and use remote online notarization.
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● The Federal CARES Act brought some additional financial resources to support small businesses and contractors. We worked closely with the Labor Commissioner, the Governor and other state entities to ensure Georgia REALTORS® were able to benefit from these resources.
