Environmental issues aren’t silenced by headline noise. Roy Taylor, chair of the Cherokee Democrats Environment Committee, is tracking the environmental bills moving through the Georgia Legislature. Stay informed and reach out to your representatives to show support or opposition. To join the CCDC Environment Committee sign up HERE
SB408 (The “Speed Up” Bill)
This Bipartisan bill focuses on the sunset date (the expiration date) of current tax breaks to data centers. Right now, data centers get a huge sales tax exemption on the expensive equipment they buy (like servers and cooling systems).
SB410 (The “Repeal” Bill)
This Republican bill seeks to completely repeal (cancel) the sales and use tax exemption for data center equipment.
SB94 (Consumer Utility Counsel)
Think of this as hiring a public defender for your utility bills. Right now, big power companies have high-priced lawyers fighting to raise your rates; this bill creates a team to fight for you instead. We’re meeting with leadership this week to refine the details.
SB34 (Plug In, Pay Up)
Currently, when a giant data center (the buildings that house the “cloud” and AI) plugs into the grid, it requires a massive amount of electricity. To provide that power, the utility company often has to build new power plants or upgrade transmission lines. This bill changes who gets stuck with the bill for those upgrades.
HB644 (The “Bad Actor” Bill)
Allows the EPD (Environmental Protection Division) Director to look at a company’s entire regulatory history across the country. If they have been bad actors (like have a history of illegal dumping or massive spills) elsewhere, Georgia can say no before they even start.
HB812 (The “Dirty Water” Bill)
This bill creates a strict 14-day “timer” for local governments to review resubmitted land-disturbing permits while simultaneously stripping local control by requiring a difficult state approval process for any community that wants to implement building codes or environmental standards stricter than the state’s minimums. An associate of mine with Third Act Georgia’s Clean Energy Committee add’s: HB559 which is like the repeal bill, SB410, and would sunset the sales and use tax exemptions for data centers in 2026, 5 years before it is supposed to run out in 2031.
SB203
HB507 In the House and Senate are two companion Bills for improving access to community solar power “The Georgia Homegrown Solar Act” – SB203 and HB507.
SB394 would remove the annual $235 fee that electric vehicles pay because they don’t pay gas taxes, and another (HB653) would change the name of the Public Service Commission to the Public Utility Commission.
HB446 that would allow consumer advocates and intervenors at PSC hearings to have access to the relevant “trade secret” information so they could understand how much Georgia Power is spending and that we will have to pay them back.
2026 State of Sustainability in America. Research America, through its Natural Marketing Institute (NMI) division, a leader in market research for sustainable health and wellness, announces the release of the 24th Annual Consumer Report, “2026 State of Sustainability in America.” Building on decades of research, this report offers critical insights into the evolving landscape of consumer values, environmental responsibility, and corporate sustainability.
Introduction: 24 Years of Sustainability Insights
The 2026 State of Sustainability in America report explores consumer attitudes, behaviors, and challenges related to sustainability. It highlights the growing importance of eco-conscious actions in addressing global issues such as economic instability, climate change, and social inequities, and provides actionable guidance to help businesses align with consumer expectations and deliver on sustainability goals.
Key Highlights of the 2026 Report:
- Consumer perceptions shaping today’s sustainability landscape
- Value drivers increasingly influencing purchase decisions
- How different population segments view sustainability and what motivates them
- Consumer interest in the specific sustainability initiatives companies pursue
- The environmental and societal concerns most important to today’s consumers
- Much more, including trends, segment profiles, and implications for brands
The 2026 report is an essential resource for organizations navigating the intersection of sustainability, consumer behavior, and corporate responsibility. It also underscores the influence of LOHAS consumers, who continue to drive sustainability into the mainstream.
