Legislation is headed to the Georgia House that would revamp the tax credit process in Georgia.  State Senator Chuck Hufstetler of Rome has been a major proponent of reviewing the lucrative tax credits that are passed out by the state.

Senator Hufstetler said of the pending legislation, “This doesn’t actually affect any tax credits in and of itself, but it sets forward a process that we think will be better”.

The legislation would mean that once a proposed tax break has passed out of a House or Senate committee with a recommendation for approval, the full chamber must have at least 24 hours to review it before it can come up for a vote.  Then, targeted tax breaks would have to be listed prominently in the budget.  Also, it calls for a preliminary analysis to be posted within six months to allow for public comments, which will be included in the final analysis due by December 15th of that year.  The bill also establishes a standing Joint Committee on Taxation and Economic Development.

Hufstetler says that Georgia has gone twelve years without reviewing tax credits and believes that needs to change.