SB436: SB436 Counties, Municipal Corporations; local governments and political subdivisions from entering into nondisclosure agreements regarding electricity usage or water usage of any entity; prohibit

26 LC 56 0498 Senate Bill 436 By: Senators Howard of the 35th, Jones II of the 22nd, Merritt of the 9th, Kemp of the 38th, Rhett of the 33rd and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 general provisions applicable to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental2 entities, so as to prohibit local governments and political sub divisions from entering into3 nondisclosure agreements regarding electricity usage or water usage of any entity; to amend4 Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from5 sales and use tax, so as to suspend the issuance of new certificates of exemption for certain6 high-technology data center equipment during a certain period; to provide for an exception;7 to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotate d, relating to general11 provisions applicable to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities,12 is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:13 "36-80-32.14 No county, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of this state shall enter into15 any nondisclosure agreement or other similar contract which pro hibits such county,16 municipal corporation, or other political subdivision from disclosing information related17 S. B. 436 - 1 - 26 LC 56 0498 to the electricity usage or water usage, either consumptive or nonconsumptive, of any18 entity."19 SECTION 2.20 Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from21 sales and use tax, is amended by adding a new subparagraph to paragraph (68.1) to read as22 follows:23 "(A.1) For the period commencing on July 1, 2026, and ending on June 30, 2027, the24 commissioner shall suspend the issuance of any new certificates of exemption pursuant25 to this paragraph, except for any high-technology data center customer that is subject26 to an ongoing contract that was entered into prior to July 1, 2 026, with a27 high-technology data center that has applied for a certificate of exemption pursuant to28 this paragraph prior to July 1, 2026."29 SECTION 3.30 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.31 S. B. 436 - 2 -