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Senator recaps bill passages

• State Sen. Michael Meyer von Bremen addressed Albany Rotary Club members Thursday.

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Albany’s soon-to-be former State Senator Michael Meyer von Bremen gave Albany Rotarians a General Assembly update Thursday, summarizing several prominent bills the legislature passed during its last session.

Meyer von Bremen, a Democrat who is leaving the state senate this year to run for a seat on the Georgia Court of Appeals, recapped several prominent bills passed during its last session, including the state water plan and funding for an Albany Technical College construction project, among others.

First on his legislative summary was the state water plan, passed by the House and Senate in January, which would create 11 regional water planning districts within the state. Those regional districts would be able to analyze and make recommendations on their water needs and plans for future water use and conservation, Meyer von Bremen said.

“We started out when water was a very, very big issue, as many of you know,” he said. “We were lucky that we did not have as bad a drought as Atlanta did, but we recognize it could happen.”

One concern he said Southwest Georgians had with the water plan was the implementation of interbasin transfers. By allowing the state Environmental Protection Division to create rules for interbasin transfers and giving the legislature oversight of those rules, though, legislators could keep a rein on the transfers, he said.

Meyer von Bremen discussed property foreclosures, a possibility that homeowners across the nation are having to deal because with because of a worsening economy. Under Senate Bill 355, Meyer von Bremen said, a 15-day period for homeowners to be notified of impending foreclosure would be extended to 30 days.

He also touted the $9 million in funding for Albany Technical College’s Building K, which would expand its logistics program and provide a new home for the school’s library and culinary arts and hotel and restaurant management programs.

“Be proud when you see that construction going up,” he said.

Other legislation Meyer von Bremen mentioned was:

• a “Michael Vick bill” that increases penalties against dog fighting and makes it easier for authorities to catch dog fighting rings because it does not require them to catch the animals fighting.

• an economic development bill that would allow “Made in Georgia” stickers to be placed on items produced in the state.

• bills to extend the annual sales tax holiday used by many to purchase computers or other high-priced items and the energy-efficient sales tax holiday. The sales tax holiday is set for July 31-Aug. 3 and the energy-efficient sales tax holiday is set for Oct. 2-5.

• changes to Certificate of Need laws removing regulations for ambulatory surgery centers, obstetrical care and cardiac catheterization services.

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