OVERDRAFT FEES HB 824 asserts that overdraft fees are not subject to usury laws and are not considered interest. By Rep. Richard Smith (R-Columbus) Did it pass? YES. This bill was heavily lobbied by GCUA to move it forward. PATENT TROLLS HB 809 will help protect against entities that use low-quality patents to extract money from credit unions and others. By Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) Did it pass? YES. GCUA testified in favor of this legislation to make Georgia less attractive to those that sue credit unions for the use of ATM technologies, check applications, and mobile payment options. SQUATTERS HB 985 to address a growing issue of foreclosed homes falling victim to “organized” trespassers who set up false liens on property that deter them from being evicted. By Rep. Tom Kirby (R-Loganville) Did it pass? YES. GCUA helped promote the legislation. IDENTITY THEFT HB 915 to provide a procedure to place credit freezes on minors to help protect against identity theft. By Rep. Josh Clark (R-Buford) Did it pass? YES. It was not altered in the process to impact credit unions, and will help prevent against fraud to the individual and institution. SB 386 will provide an avenue to redact information (such as social security or financial account numbers) in court documents. By Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell) Did it pass? YES, but after it was amended to have full information on garnishment notices. MORTGAGE LICENSING EXEMPTION HB 750 to add Habitat for Humanity to those entities (which include credit unions) exempted from mortgage licensing requirements. By Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) Did it pass? YES. GCUA worked to prevent unwanted amendments that cast uncertainty on the current mortgage licensing exemption for credit unions. DBF HOUSEKEEPING HB 982 rewrote regulations for check cashers (but no changes for credit unions). By Rep. Bruce Williamson (R-Monroe) Did it pass? YES, with no changes to impact credit unions. HB 883 made technical changes to the Merchant Acquirer Limited Special Purpose Bank code. By Rep. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) Did it pass? YES, with no changes to impact credit unions. PAYMENT CARDS HB 138 sought to reign in the misuse of state issued EBT (electronic benefits) cards. Versions of the bill would have prohibited ATM use and/ or gift card purchase, signage and penalties for noncompliance. By Rep. Andy Welch (R-McDonough) Did it pass? NO. It was also added to another bill in the last hours of the Session, which did not pass either. The bill was amended multiple times to address credit union concerns to limit compliance burdens, and in the end carried a “sign only” provision for any entity that sells prohibited items (including gift cards). HB 947 would allow businesses the option to pay employees with prepaid debit cards, and was monitored to protect against card and/or interchange attempts. By Rep. Josh Clark (R-Buford) Did it pass? NO. It was bogged down in amendments on the final day. GCUA worked to prevent onerous language on fees, and to ensure that credit unions were not blocked from being an individual’s primary financial institution. Including resolutions, there were over 4,900 pieces of legislation introduced and reviewed for potential credit union implication for the 2013-2014 Session, with almost 250 that required close monitoring and work in the process. But as challenging as the Session was, it ended well for credit unions. A rundown of the top 20 issues for credit unions: