HB 1441: Trade Impact Transparency and Accountability Act; enact

House Bill 1441

By: Representatives Park of the 107th, Williams of the 168th, Gisler of the 121st, Reese of the 140th, Westbrook of the 163rd, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for a certain reporting framework; to provide a short title; to provide for a purpose; to provide for definitions; to provide for quarterly and annual public reports; to provide for public hearings; to provide for an advisory panel; to provide for confidentiality of taxpayer information and propriety business data; to provide for construction; to provide for a sunset date; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is amended by adding a new chapter to read as follows: "CHAPTER 41

50-41-1.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 'Trade Impact Transparency and Accountability Act.'

50-41-2.

The purpose of this chapter is to promote transparency, economic preparedness, and informed public understanding by requiring regular, nonpartisan reporting on the effects of federal trade actions on this state's economy, industries, workers, and communities.

50-41-3.

As used in this chapter, the term:

(1) 'Calendar quarter' means the period of three consecutive calendar months ending on the dates of March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year.

(2) 'Federal trade actions' means actions taken by the federal government regarding trade, which includes, but is not limited to:

(A) Tariffs and retaliatory measures;

(B) Quotas and trade agreements;

(C) Changes to federal de minimis thresholds; and

(D) Federal export controls and restricted entity lists.

50-41-4.

(a) There is established a coordinated trade impact reporting framework that shall consist of:

(1) Quarterly Georgia tariff impact reports; and

(2) An annual state trade impact report.

(b) The reports shall analyze the economic impacts of federal trade actions without advocating for or against specific policy outcomes.

50-41-5.

(a) The Department of Revenue, serving as the lead administrative agency, in collaboration with the Governor's Council of Economic Advisers and the Georgia Ports Authority, shall publish a quarterly Georgia tariff impact report no later than 45 days following the end of each calendar quarter.

(b) Each quarterly report shall analyze, to the extent practicable, at minimum:

(1) Price impacts, including consumer prices and producer input costs;

(2) Employment impacts across affected sectors;

(3) Export and import volumes, including port throughput;

(4) Industry-specific impacts; and

(5) Regional variations within the state.

(c) Quarterly reports may include trend analysis but shall not include policy recommendations unless expressly requested by the General Assembly.

50-41-6.

(a) The Department of Revenue, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Labor, the Governor's Council of Economic Advisers, and the Georgia Ports Authority, shall publish an annual state trade impact report.

(b) The annual report shall synthesize findings from the quarterly reports and include, at minimum:

(1) Comprehensive analyses of state-wide and sector-level impacts;

(2) Secondary and downstream economic effects;

(3) Case studies and summaries of stakeholder testimony; and

(4) Longer term trends affecting competitiveness and workforce stability.

(c) The annual report shall be submitted to the Governor and the General Assembly and made publicly available no later than December 31 of each year.

50-41-7.

(a) At least one public hearing shall be conducted annually to present findings from the state trade impact report.

(b) At least one such hearing shall be held in a location outside of the Atlanta metropolitan area to ensure participation from rural and export-dependent communities.

(c) Testimony shall be accepted from businesses, workers, agricultural producers, economic development officials, and other interested stakeholders, including written submissions.

50-41-8.

(a) There is created a nonpartisan trade impact advisory panel which shall be composed of nine members as follows:

(1) Three members appointed by the Governor;

(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(3) Three members appointed by the President of the Senate.

(b) Membership shall include representatives of trade-affected industries, labor, economists, and rural or export-dependent communities.

(c) The panel shall advise on methodology, data sources, and presentation but shall not direct findings or recommend policy outcomes.

(d) Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses.

50-41-9.

(a) All reports shall be publicly available in a searchable format.

(b) Confidential taxpayer information and proprietary business data shall not be disclosed.

(c) Information provided by private entities specifically for the purposes of these reports shall be exempt from disclosure under this state's open records laws and shall not be used by any state agency for audit or enforcement purposes as provided for in paragraph (34) of Code Section 50-18-72.

50-41-10.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to:

(1) Authorize the state to impose tariffs or trade restrictions; or

(2) Supersede federal trade authority.

50-41-11.

(a) This chapter shall stand repealed on July 1, 2031.

(b) An evaluation of the reporting framework shall be submitted to the General Assembly no later than one year prior to July 1, 2031."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law without such approval.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.