Deal reached on cell towers
Telecoms and city and county governments have reached a compromise to a bill that would ensure proposed cell towers get a prompt review.
The compromise appears to have cleared House Bill 176 for passage this legislative session. The House Energy, Utilities & Telecommunication Committee approved the bill early Thursday. The next step would be the House floor, which could come next week.
HB 176, which local governments successfully blocked last year, would limit cities and counties to charging no more than $500 for review of an application for a new cell tower and limit rental and lease fees.
It also would create a 150-day “shot clock” for a local government to review an application. If no action is taken during that period, the application would be considered automatically approved.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
Immigration a hot issue with legislatures
Georgia was among 45 states and the District of Columbia that enacted 437 laws and resolutions related to immigration last year, according to a new report by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
That is up 64 percent from the 267 laws and resolutions passed in 2012.
Last year, Gov. Nathan Deal signed into law Senate Bill 160, which is aimed at blocking illegal immigrants from obtaining state driver’s licenses and other public benefits.
The state’s Republican legislative leaders have not announced plans to take up any major immigration-related bills this year.
— Jeremy Redmon
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