House committee to hold 'red tape' hearing

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) Members of a state House committee will be holding a hearing Tuesday in Augusta as part of its "Red Tape Watch Initiative."

The House Small Business Development Committee has been holding meetings across the state to hear about regulatory challenges people and businesses face. The meeting in Augusta at The Snelling Center will be the group's third. The meeting starts at 5 p.m.

House Speaker David Ralston says regulatory challenges continue to be some of the leading issues facing small businesses.

Ralston launched the initiative in January 2012 and credits it with leading to legislation easing the way for some land reuse and development and another measure that provided an exemption for licensed real estate brokers assisting in short sale transactions.