Tom’s accomplishments include being involved in many positive policy changes brought about through
the legislative process.
Since founding Civic Forward Strategies, clients served include:
Current and Past Clients, Projects & Accomplishments
Case Study on
Nuisance Law Changes with SB 443
Civic Forward Strategies was asked by the City of Tybee Island to help provide a legislative tool for the city to use in dealing with unpermitted events which pose public safety threats, cause major traffic congestion and incur high costs the city’s taxpayers.
After drafting two legislative approaches which were deemed politically unfeasible, Civic Forward Strategies was able to gain consensus and support for a change in the state statute regarding public nuisances. The resulting legislation was Senate Bill 443, which passed the Senate 47-1.
When SB 443 was heard in the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee the legislation’s sponsor Senator Watson asks the chair if he can “phone a friend” and calls Civic Forward Strategies Principal Tom Gehl up to assist in answering questions from a House member:
The bill was subsequently passed unanimously in committee and received a vote of 163 – 4 when it was heard on the House floor on March 5 and later was signed into law on April 8, 2024.
Samples of news coverage on SB 443:
WJCL: Orange Crush promoter says he's canceling event after Georgia lawmakers pass unpermitted events bill
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — Orange Crush 2024 has been tentatively scheduled for April. But a looming unpermitted events bill that's about to become law is making one promoter back out.
WJCL: Bill that gives Tybee Island power to sue Orange Crush promoters is officially law
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — After sitting on his desk for only 10 days, Gov. Brian Kemp officially signed Senate Bill 443, the unpermitted events bill, into law Monday afternoon.
WCTV: New Georgia law could significantly impact Orange Crush on Tybee Island
TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (Atlanta News First/WTOC) - A new Georgia law could help handle unpermitted events in the state. Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 443 Monday allowing local governments to hold promoters accountable for costs related to unpermitted events. This includes covering damages and public services.
The City of Hartwell requested that Civic Forward Strategies devise a plan to gain traction for an expansion of the rural zone tax credit law and an extension on the law’s sunset, scheduled for 2027.
The strategy was to ask the House Rural Development Council (RDC) to consider endorsing the expansion of this tax which benefits rural downtowns in the state. Civic Forward Strategies Principal Tom Gehl secured a spot on the House RDC agenda to hear testimony on the merits of expanding the tax credit by two Georgia Downtown Association members, one from Hartwell and the other from Thomaston. The RDC subsequently endorsed this proposal in one of its ten recommendations contained in the House RDC’s 2023 Final Recommendations.
Civic Forward Strategies drafted the initial proposal with input from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and Georgia Downtown Association. After consultation with the Office of Legislative Counsel on specific wording, House Bill 1147 was introduced and heard in the House Ways & Means (W&M) Committee on February 22.
Tom Gehl was recognized by Chairman Shaw Blackmon to answer a question from a committee member about a key element related to Housing in the proposal. The legislation passed the W&M Committee unanimously and was adopted on the House floor by a vote of 163 – 1.
The Senate Finance Committee held HB 1197, but working with the sponsor and W&M chair, Civic Forward Strategies was successful in advocating for the insertion of the language to extend the sunset on this tax from 2027 to 2032 into SB 496 which passed both chambers overwhelmingly on March 21.
Among the highlights of Tom’s 22 legislative sessions with the Georgia Municipal Association were the following battles of ideas, successes, and achievements:
Defeating a former House Speaker’s so-called “GREAT Plan” which would have removed the ability of local governments to levy ad valorem taxes, which would have had a negative fiscal impact in the tens of billions over time had it passed.
Led GMA’s legislative team effort in defeating municipal broadband Internet preemption legislation on the House floor, earning the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors’ 2013 “Member of the Year” award for GMA.
Negotiating passage of an improved version of the “Transportation Funding Act of 2015,” which as introduced would have eliminated local sales taxes on motor fuel, a fiscal impact of more than $500 million per year, such that the legislation as passed did not remove local sales taxes and instead created a new taxing option, the single-county T-SPLOST, shared between municipal and county governments.
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Originating the concept of providing firefighters with cancer insurance benefits using an insurance platform, which led to Georgia becoming the first state in the nation to enact a law to prescribe firefighter cancer benefits in this fiscally conservative fashion.
Supporting the passage of the Marketplace Facilitator Act, requiring remittance of state and local sales tax by internet companies to facilitate sales into Georgia.
Shepherding legislation each session through a complex and continuously changing political environment, including securing millions of dollars in appropriations, shielding city taxpayers from onerous state mandates, collaborating with stakeholder groups and preparing and delivering testimony before legislative and administrative bodies.
Member of the Georgia Professional Lobbyists Association and adheres to the Association’s Code of Conduct for professional lobbyists.
Current member of the Georgia State University (GSU) College of Arts & Sciences Board of Visitors and past member of the Advisory Board for GSU Department of Political Science.
Graduate of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership and the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute. Participant in the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute and the Georgia Association of Water Professionals’ Leadership Academy.
Presenter on various legislative and policy topics for the National League of Cities, the Southern Municipal Conference, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (CVIOG), the Georgia City- County Managers Association, and other professional forums.
Contributing author to the Environmental Management chapter of the CVIOG Handbook for Georgia Mayors and Councilmembers (Fourth Edition).
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