Tour de Georgia organizers are scrambling to find $1 million in sponsorships to keep the professional bicycle race on track for next month, but they remain hopeful the event will happen...

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HB 374 - Hotel motel tax; definitions; change certain provisions
- This bill was introduced by Reps. James Mills, Ron Stephens, Jay Shaw and Butch Parrish as a first step in that process. HB 374 moves all of the definitions related to appropriate uses of the funds to the front of the code section. Currently, the most important definitions are difficult to find.

HB 291 - Georgia Council for the Arts; Georgia Arts Alliance; create
- This bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Wilkinson creates the Georgia Arts Alliance. The alliance would create a centralized office for oversight and funding of the arts related to education, economic development and tourism.

HB 302 - Excise tax; public accommodation furnishings; change certain provisions
- This bill sponsored by Rep. Robert Mumford increases hotel motel tax from 6 percent to 8 percent for Paragraph 3.7 of the hotel motel tax code. Currently, the only communities reporting under this code section are Conyers, Elberton and Fort Oglethorpe. This bill has been assigned to the Public Finance Sub Committee of Ways and Means.

HB 351 - Georgia Council for the Arts; Georgia Arts Trust; create; provide tax credit
- This bill sponsored by our Chairman Ron Stephens is similar to HB 291; however it provides credit for taxpayers for their contribution to the trust.

HB 393 - Farm wineries; licensing; change certain provisions

HB 439 - Income tax credits; film, video, or digital productions; increase amount
- This bill sponsored by Chairman Larry O'Neal of the Ways and Means Committee amends the law that was sponsored by Rep. Parrish in 2004 to allow Tier 3 and Tier 4 communities to participate in the credits currently offered for Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties.

HB 451 - Georgia Tourism Development Act; enact
- This bill sponsored by Reps. Jeff Lewis, Stephens and Parrish is essentially the Kentucky Model that we detailed in our Nov. 6, 2006 newsletter.

HB 453 - Farm owners; agritourism activities; provide limited liability
- This bill sponsored by Rep. Calvin Hill limits liability for agritourism activities, similar to laws in place for equestrian activities, snow skiing and general recreation.

HB 462 - Malt beverages; brewery tours; free tasting; food; change provisions
- This bill authored by Rep. Matt Dollar allows breweries to provide free food on such tours.

HB 464 - War of 1812 Bicentennial Commission Act; enact
- This bill authored by Rep. Cecily Hill passed the House last year, but it failed to get out of Senate Rules due to the late date. It allows Georgia to participate in this federal program.

HB 468 - Alcoholic beverages; local authorization; Sunday sales; provisions
SB 137 - Alcoholic Beverages; regulation of sales on Sunday; county/municipality
SB 138 - Alcoholic Beverages; regulation of sales on Sunday; county/municipality
- These bills by Chairman Roger Williams of the Regulated Industries Committee and Senator Seth Harp allow for a local referendums to consider retail and package Sunday sales of malt beverages, wine & distilled spirits.

HR 182 - Jekyll Island Authority; urge to exercise restraint in the redevelopment of resort and other facilities on island

HR 195 - Hospitality Highway; dedicate GA 400
- This resolution is the result of the partnership between Dahlonega, Cumming, Dawsonville, Roswell, Alpharetta and Sandy Springs to regionally promote the GA 400 corridor. It authorizes the Department of Transportation to develop and maintain appropriate signage for the corridor.

SB 82 - Dunwoody, City of; incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city
- This bill by Sen. Dan Weber is unusual for a city charter in that it creates the Dunwoody Convention and Visitors Bureau as part of the charter.

SB 87 - Highway System; Dept. of Transportation; RV friendly markers on specific service signs for business establishments
- This bill authored by Chairman Chip Pearson has passed the Senate.

HB 148 - State sales and use tax; aquariums; provide exemption
- With over 3 million visitors since opening in November of 2005, the Georgia Aquarium is already expanding their facilities. Rep. Mark Burkhalter has introduced this bill to allow the aquarium an exemption on sales tax for construction materials.

HB 159 & SB 56 - Wine; state license requirements; direct shipment to Ga. residents; provisions
- This bill was introduce by Rep. Wendell Willard in the House and Senator Renee Unterman in the Senate. It would allow any licensed winery, wholesaler or retailer to ship up to 24 cases of wine per Georgia resident per year.

HB 162 - Sales and use tax; performing arts amphitheater facilities; provide exemption
- This bill, also sponsored by Rep. Burkhalter provides a sales tax exemption for performing arts centers that begin construction after July 1, 2007 and have costs in excess of $30 million, more than 60,000 square feet of space and associated facilities, including, but not limited to, parking.

HB 169 - Sales and use tax; certain prepared food and beverage donations; provide exemption
- Under Georgia law, if a restaurant donates food to charity, they are required to pay sales tax at the full retail value. This bill would exempt those donations from sales tax.

HB 214 - Jekyll Island - State Park Authority; renewal of property lease; provisions
- There has been much passionate debate over the years regarding the future of Jekyll Island. There is a definite need for investment in the convention center and redevelopment of some of the existing hotels. Any changes at Jekyll must also be consistent with the mission of preserving this great natural resource. HB 214 extends the lease for another 99 years. It also provides for the creation of a legislative oversight committee.

HB 262 - Flexibility for Excellence in Education Act; enact
- Georgia law mandates 180 days of instruction for elementary and secondary education. This bill by Rep. Chuck Martin and Rep. Ron Stephens would allow local school boards to move to a 170 day school year. It is not a mandatory change.

SB 55 - Alcoholic Beverages; resealed partially consumed bottle of wine; uniform rules of the road
- This bill sponsored by Senator Unterman would allow you to brown bag a partially consumed bottle of wine from a restaurant. This bill was introduced last year by Rep. Bob Smith. It passed the House and Senate, but was vetoed by the Governor due to concerns regarding federal transportation laws.

ü The Tour de Georgia, an annual, multi-day, professional cycling stage race that draws the most elite cyclists and showcases one-of-a-kind towns and terrain in Georgia, will cover over 600 miles in seven days, from April 16 to April 22. The 2007 host cities are: Peachtree City, Macon, Thomaston, Rome, Chattanooga, Tenn., Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Brasstown Bald Mountain, Dalton, Lake Lanier Islands, Stone Mountain Park and Atlanta. To view part of the tour near you, please click here to find more information on the tour route and dates.

This is just a sample of tourism events across Georgia. Please keep us informed of upcoming tourism-related events, and we will include those in future newsletters.