HR755: HR755 House Study Committee on Electric Franchise Fees for Unincorporated Areas; create

25 LC 47 3684 House Resolution 755 By: Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Gambill of the 15th, Kelley of the 16th, Cannon of the 172nd, Prince of the 132nd, and others A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Electric Franchise Fees for Unincorporated Areas;1 and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, substantial growth of large-load electricity customers is having an impact on3 unincorporated areas of this state; and4 WHEREAS, municipalities are authorized to lease their rights-of -way to electric utilities5 pursuant to franchise agreements that allow municipalities to r eceive significant6 compensation from such utilities that are ultimately paid by cu stomers located in both7 incorporated and unincorporated areas of this state; and8 WHEREAS, the right of electricity suppliers to utilize county r ights-of-way to reach their9 customers has a significant economic value that is not currentl y being recognized for the10 benefit of counties and the residents of the unincorporated areas of this state; and11 WHEREAS, for decades, residents of the unincorporated areas of this state have ultimately12 paid municipal franchise fees to cities in which they do not re side as a result of such fees13 being included in the base rate of their power bills; and14 H. R. 755 - 1 - 25 LC 47 3684 WHEREAS, the unprecedented growth of large-load electricity cus tomers necessitates a15 reconsideration of the assessment and allocation of franchise fees for electric services within16 this state; and17 WHEREAS, the state has a compelling governmental interest in en suring that large-load18 electricity customers are assessed franchise fees or other tariffs as a condition of conducting19 their operations in the unincorporated areas of this state.20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:21 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee22 on Electric Franchise Fees for Unincorporated Areas.23 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of:24 (A) Seven members of the House of Representatives;25 (B) Two county commissioners or chairpersons of a county board of commissioners;26 and27 (C) Two mayors or city council members,28 to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Speaker shall29 designate a member of the House of Representatives to serve as chairperson of the30 committee.31 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,32 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or33 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.34 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee35 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or36 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and37 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.38 H. R. 755 - 2 - 25 LC 47 3684 (5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive39 the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Offic ial Code of Georgia40 Annotated. The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any41 member of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. 42 Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds43 appropriated to the House of Representatives.44 (6) Report.45 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that46 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the47 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to48 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.49 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for50 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)51 of this paragraph.52 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of53 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.54 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with55 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.56 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the57 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu58 thereof.59 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.60 H. R. 755 - 3 -