Legislative Update 02.06.23

Last night I had a dream about the two-headed calf that is on display on the fourth floor of the state capitol. (For the record, that barely-bifurcated, baby bovine is pretty much the only thing that any third-grader ever remembers from a Capitol field trip.) One head was talking to the other head and they were arguing about a bill. Obviously, one was a Republican and one was a Democrat. Duh. Anyway, they were fighting about whether or not the squirrels in the painting to the lower right (the calves’ lower left) would support the sports betting bill (SB 57) or any other gambling bill since the squirrels were forever playing poker and pool (and, rudely, keeping all the other display animals awake all night). One head thought the squirrels would totally support it because they clearly liked gaming and probably had an acorn or five riding on anything from banking an 8-ball to a Royal Flush. The other head thought the squirrels would not support gambling bills because the squirrels 1. Have not been elected to serve in the General Assembly (yet), 2. Have extremely low literacy (limited only to card reading and card counting) and therefore cannot read gambling bills in the first place, and 3. Are not even real squirrels as they are simply pigment on paper. The calves argued, of course using all the appropriate parliamentary protocols (e.g. “my friend from the dairy district”, “the gentle-cow from the 182^nd”, etc.), and ultimately were shut down by the two-headed snake next door, who hissed (in stereo) “Suffering succotash sirs! Can’t a sleepless, slightly-segmented serpent secure a small semblance of shuteye around here?!?!” The calves subsequently moved to table the debate and everyone fell asleep to the sound of pool cues sinking stripes. I woke up with a start, and a strong craving for a glass of milk, which I had right after I called the exterminator. Clearly, I have been spending too much time at the Capitol.

But in my defense, there has been a lot going on there! The House passed their version of the Amended FY 2023 budget and scooted it over to the Senate. (Our family and child-focused summary is below). A gazillion bills were put in the hopper and assigned numbers and committees (many are summarized below). And, advocates, schoolkids, and other interested parties have descended upon the capitol giving the one metal detector, the two elevators, and the parking apps a run for their money. Most of all, House and Senate Committees are in full swing and vetting bills with fervor, so if you have an inclination, please check out the range of what they have before them below and if you have a fire in your belly – or at least a little ember – please act on our action alerts below as well.

And now I must be moooooooving along! See you next week.

~Polly

Amended Total: $32.56 Billion (increased from the governor’s FY23 estimate of $30.20 Billion)

House Changes = Denoted in pink

Juvenile Courts

$12,500 Added for grants to counties for the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit

District Attorneys

$107,065 Transferred to District Attorneys to reflect change in Department of Human Services Child Support Services contract

Dept. of Administrative Services

$3.5 Million of the Governor’s recommendation removed from DOAS and placed in GA Professional Standard Commission for modernizing the teacher certification and ethics applications at the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to improve security, efficiency, and customer service

Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities

$2.02 Million Added to support private psychiatric contract beds (Adult Mental Health Services)

$825,000 Added to coordinate outreach to address homelessness in the Atlanta area (Adult Mental Health Services)

$100,000 Reduced for delayed contract implementation (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

$600,000 Added for one-time gap funding for Georgia psychiatric residential treatment facilities receiving less than $500 per patient per day while under current cost report reimbursement methodology (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) – this gap funding was also recognized in the Dept. of Community Health section of the budget

$261,823 Eliminated from DBHDD departmental administration. These funds were originally appropriated to pay for administrative infrastructure necessary to implement the terms of the National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement, the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust funds, and the activities of the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund Advisory (ORRFA) Council. But the House version Adds $300,000 to support operations personnel for the administration of federal opioid settlement funds (Departmental Administration)

$100,000 Added for technology infrastructure and environmental adaptations for students enrolled in Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) programs (GA Council on Developmental Disabilities)

Dept. of Community Affairs

$750,000 Added in one-time funds for emergency communication infrastructure needs in South Georgia (State Community Development Programs)

$166.7 Million Added for the projected cost of large economic development projects receiving Regional Economic Business Assistance

$35.7 Million Reallocated from the FY 2022 broadband infrastructure grant program carryover ($21,500,000) and FY 2022 Rural Innovation Fund carryover ($14,203,211) to establish the Rural Workforce Housing Fund (Under Payments to OneGeorgia Authority)

Dept. of Community Health

Budget Note: “The Department shall submit a State Plan Amendment (SPA) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand the Express Lane Eligibility program to include Childcare and Parental Services (CAPS), Refugee Cash Assistance, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).”

Budget Note: “The Department shall change any rules, regulations, or policies necessary to include psychiatric hospitals as an eligible facility type to provide Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Services for persons under the age of 21 years enrolled in Fee-for-Service Medicaid.”

$6.5 Million Eliminated to replace the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS) with the Medicaid Enterprise System Transformation (MEST)

Budget Note: “The Department shall change any rules, regulations, or policies necessary to allow Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) to provide routine physical exams and preventative care for all Medicaid members.”

Budget Note: “The Department shall change any rules, regulations, or policies necessary to allow for coverage of blood pressure monitors, incontinence supplies, portable oxygen units, nutritional supplements, and specialized formula for all Medicaid members.”

$25,000 Added for a rural hospital study (Health Care Access and Improvement)

$184,000 Added to support existing housing with the Area Health Education Centers (Health Care Access and Improvement)

$778,000 Added to support the psychiatric and internal medicine resident learning and work centers at St. Francis Hospital (Health Care Access and Improvement)

$250,000 Added to implement and regulate the new licensure category for adult residential mental health programs as established by HB 1069 (2022 Session) (Healthcare Facility Regulation)

Transferred: $29,237,181 in prior year state general funds from the Medicaid: Aged, Blind and Disabled program and $5,006,960 in prior year state general funds from the Low-Income Medicaid program to DHS Departmental Administration. These funds are provided by the 10% increase of the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for home and community-based services (HCBS) pursuant to Section 9817 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and utilize funds as specified in the spending plan as approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). (Under DHS Departmental Administration) In addition this budget recommendation recognizes and plans to use $153,828,763 in prior year ABD Medicaid state funds (also provided by the 10% increase of the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for HCBS) in the above spending plan.

$505.9 Million Reduced in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) increase provided by the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) through June 30, 2023. ($276.7 Million in ABD Medicaid, $214.5 Million in LIM, and $14.7 Million Reduced in PeachCare)

$278 Million Added for Medicaid Enrollment Growth and Utilization as follows:

• $79.6 Million Added for growth in Aged Blind Disabled (ABD) Medicaid based on projected utilization
• $15.4 Million Added to reflect ABD Medicaid enrollment growth as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) extension (through June 30, 2023)
• $171.3 Million Added to reflect enrollment growth in Low Income Medicaid (LIM) as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) extension
• $11.74 Million Added to reflect enrollment growth in PeachCare for Kids as a result of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) extension

$4.5 Million Added to continue the PeachCare for Kids premium suspension through June 30, 2023

Budget Note: Increase employer contribution per-member, per-month (PMPM) rate in the State Health Benefits Plan for certified school employees to $1,580 effective January 1, 2023. The House added $100 Million to the DCH budget to reflect a three-year phase-in of an increase in employer contribution per-member per-month (PMPM) for non-certified school employees, effective January 1, 2024.

The additions of state dollars are as follows:

• $420.25 Million Added for certified school employees under QBE (GaDOE)
• $498,750 Added for RESAs. The governor asked for $158,912. (GaDOE)
• $1.34 Million of the governor’s ask reduced to $994,170 for GNETS (Georgia Network for Educational and Therapeutic Support) (GaDOE)
• $2.76 Million Added for Preschool Disability Services certified school employees. This is an increase from the $1.53 Million that the Governor recommended. (GaDOE)
• $305,850 Added for Georgia Military College Preparatory School certified school employees. The governor asked for $125,730. (USG)

Dept. of Corrections

$12.3 Million Added for physical health and pharmacy services contracts

$20.9 Million Reduced to reflect the closure of Georgia State Prison

$56.5 Million Added for 33 projects at 19 state prison facilities for emergency repairs ($4,050,000), upgrades to life safety and security systems ($19,955,000 – the House added $5,000,000 to the governor’s ask of $14,955,000), and major maintenance and renovations ($32,490,000)

Georgia Dept. of Early Care and Learning

Budget Note: Utilize existing funds to expand the Summer Transition Program

Georgia Dept. of Education

$5 Million Added for reimbursable grants in the amount of $3,000 each to paraprofessionals who earn certificates through the Georgia Teacher Academy for Preparation and Pedagogy (GaTAPP) program. The governor had asked for $15 Million but the House reduced it. (Non-QBE Formula Grants)

$138.84 Million Addedfor security grants in the amount of $60,000 per school to local school systems for school security enhancements. The governor had asked for $50,000 grants but the House increased it (Non-QBE Formula Grants)

$143,760 Added for Sparsity Grants to reflect a data correction for Glascock County. Reduced from the governor’s ask of $149,643 (Non-QBE Formula Grants)

$0 Added for learning loss grants to support student achievement and well-being to be distributed to local school systems based on the percentage of students performing below grade level on academic year 2022 standardized tests. Reduced from the governor’s ask of $25 Million (Non-QBE Formula Grants)

$1.25 Million Added for matching funds for school systems to implement character education programming (Non-QBE Formula Grants)

$942,638 Eliminated from Local Five Mill Share for four new State Commission Charter Schools and provide hold harmless for the local share of the SHBP rate increase in the midterm adjustment

$3.71 Million Added for a midterm adjustment to the State Commission Charter School supplement for training and experience. The governor asked for $4.14 Million.

$272,044 Added in formula funds for a midterm adjustment to the charter system grant

$128.24 Million Added in formula funds for a midterm adjustment based on enrollment growth

$16.8 Million Added in formula funds for the State Commission Charter School Supplement. The governor asked for $28.1 Million.

$7.42 Million Added to reflect growth in the Special Needs Scholarship. The governor asked for $6.36 Million.

$60,564 Added in formula funds for a midterm adjustment to the local charter school grant pursuant to SB 59 (2021 Session).

$3.34 Million Added to purchase equipment for construction industry certification programs, statewide (Technology/Career Education)

Dept. of Human Services (DFCS)

$1.97 Million Added for technology improvements and security upgrades to the Integrated Eligibility System in preparation for the Public Health Emergency (PHE) expiration

$662,433 Added for 80 additional Medicaid eligibility caseworkers to process Medicaid redetermination cases due to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) expiration

$5.77 Million Added for a management consultant to oversee and ensure quality assurance for Medicaid redeterminations due to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) expiration

$5 Million Added for alternative housing options for youth with complex needs

$500,000 Reduced for non-programmatic expenditures in the Out-of-School Care Services

Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia

$14.5 Million Added a one-time benefit adjustment to retired state employees.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

$4 Million Added for the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund.

$2.4 Million Added to upgrade security at domestic violence shelters

$2 Million Added in one-time funds for domestic violence shelters to off-set loss of federal funds

Office of the Commissioner of Insurance

$92 Million Added for the state reinsurance program

Dept. of Natural Resources

$4.2 Million Added to the DNR Law Enforcement Division for equipment and installation associated with a new statewide public safety radio network to achieve statewide interoperability

Georgia Building Authority

Budget Note: “Utilize existing funds to complete system wide assessments at Georgia Department of Corrections ($4,350,000) and Department of Juvenile Justice ($3,925,000).”

Dept. of Public Health

Budget Note: The Georgia Coordinating Center should utilize existing funds to procure a HIPAA-secure multimodal software communication and patient logistics platform to provide multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional all-hazards response for emergency rooms and other critical care services statewide.

$1.7 Million Reduced in one-time funds provided by the General Assembly for infrastructure and support disregarded and redirected to general grant-in-aid.

Dept. of Public Safety

$30.38 Million Added for equipment, installation, and training associated with a new statewide public safety radio network to achieve statewide interoperability

$128,815 Reduced for driver’s education and training in accordance with FY 2022 Joshua’s Law collections

University System of Georgia

$1 Million Added for repairs at the Georgia Military College Junior Military College

$105 Million Added to implement a state-of-the-art electronic medical records system to support medical education and training at the Medical College of Georgia (Total funds: $115,000,000)

$2.58 Million Reduced (“adjusted”) in formula funds for enrollment growth to reflect corrected credit hour data for Georgia Institute of Technology

$540,159 Transferred for the Fort Valley State University land-grant match requirements to the Teaching Program (the funds were transferred from Agricultural Experiment Station ($378,752) and from Cooperative Extension Service ($161,407))

Dept. of Revenue

$1 BILLION Added for one-time funds for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) program to allow for a $20,000 exemption on the assessed home value for each qualifying homestead for the tax year beginning January 1, 2023. The Governor had asked for $1.1 Billion.

Georgia Student Finance Commission

$1.62 Million Reduced for administrative costs associated with service cancelable loan programs and utilize existing funds to implement loan repayment programs for mental health professionals

$1.7 Million Reduced funds associated with the Leo Scholarship Grant Service Cancelable Loans (HB 1319 of the 2022 Session, which was not enacted into law)

$405,716 moved from GSFC Administration to the Low Interest Loans section to support commission operations and student access to financial aid programs, including the implementation of the College Completion Grants program, HOPE High School Equivalency Exam program, additional HOPE Career Grant program areas, and the Behavioral Health Service Cancelable Loan program as established in HB 1013 (2022 Session)

$4 Million Reduced for Dual Enrollment based on projections

$3.5 Million Reduced in Tuition Equalization Grants based on updated projections and utilize reserves to increase award amount from $900 to $950 per year, effective July 1, 2023

Technical College System of Georgia

$56.25 Million Added for various allocations regarding Quick Start Training Centers to support the electric vehicle industry. The governor had asked for $129.4 Million.

HB 107 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires that certain procedures be followed by peace officers upon and after making contact with individuals for law enforcement purposes, including providing the peace officer’s business card to any person whom the peace officer has detained in a traffic stop but has not cited or arrested, wearing of body cameras, methods to file complaints, etc.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 112 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Provides for the creation, operation, and powers of certain citizen review boards and protocols for recording complaints alleging police misconduct and disciplinary actions, among other things.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 113 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires training on de-escalation techniques for peace officers.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 114 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires implicit bias training for law enforcement officers.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

HB 115 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Prohibits racial profiling by law enforcement officers and law enforcement agencies and requires collection of related data. The bill also requires certain actions by the Attorney General and revises the state waiver of sovereign immunity.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

HB 136 (Peatrea-166th)
Bill Link
Requires the commissioner of corrections to report certain information regarding the immigration status, offenses, and home countries of persons who are confined under the authority of the Department of Corrections.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 142 (Mainor-56th)
Bill Link
Provides for the establishment of unified campus police forces through agreements entered into by colleges and universities, whereby a campus policeman employed by any of the colleges or universities participating in the united police force agreement who is P.O.S.T. certified shall have the same law enforcement powers, including the power of arrest, as a law enforcement officer of any local government with police jurisdiction over such campuses.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 171 (Kennard-101st)
Bill Link
Revises the handling of arrest-only criminal history record information and provides for the automatic restriction of an individual’s criminal history record information upon arrest, and provides that such criminal history record information shall be made publicly available only upon the issuance of an indictment, accusation, or other charging instrument.
Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

HB 179 (Hutchinson-106th)
Bill Link
Provides that when an inmate is subjected to confinement in a correctional facility the department shall ensure that any such confinement is imposed only within the medical units of the facility, digitally record each incident from the initiation of the confinement for the duration of the incident, and document any de-escalation efforts implemented, the reason or reasons for which the use of confinement was implemented, and the duration of the confinement. The warden or facility administrator of each correctional facility shall furnish monthly reports to the department off that data.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 197 (McCollum-30th)
Bill Link
Creates the offense of drug-induced homicide and increases penalties for the distribution of fentanyl and for the distribution of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of any substance abuse treatment facility.
Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

HB 218 (Hilton-48th)
Bill Link
Provides for the use of hearsay as admissible evidence in sexual assault cases involving disabled adults and disabled 17 year olds.
Status: House Hopper

HB 227 (Leverett-123rd)
Bill Link
Provides for the offense of criminal interference with critical infrastructure.
Status: House Hopper

HB 231 (Gullett-19th)
Bill Link
Creates the Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission.
Status: House Hopper

HB 232 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires public disclosure of certain data pertaining to the health, safety, or other conditions of detention of inmates.
Status: House Hopper

SB 7 (Beach-21st)
Bill Link
Increases the mandatory minimum sentence for serious violent felonies committed with possession of a firearm or knife.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

SB 10 (Jones-10th)
Bill Link
Increases penalties for drag racing and also states that any person who is knowingly present and actively facilitating an exhibition of illegal drag racing shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by a fine of at least $250.00. Active facilitation may be evidenced by using a vehicle to block the portion of the roadway closest to exhibition participants allowing the event to take place.
Status: Senate Public Safety Committee

SB 11 (Albers-56th)
Bill Link
Provides for concurrent jurisdiction by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in cases involving the identification, investigation, arrest, and prosecution of an individual or groups of individuals for violation of state laws concerning domestic, cyber, biological, chemical, and nuclear terrorism.
Status: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to House Public Safety and Homeland Securty Committee

SB 12 (Albers-56th)
Bill Link
Provides for sentencing to minimum terms of imprisonment for persons convicted of possession of firearms by convicted felons and first offender probationers when the offense for which such person is on probation or has been previously convicted is a forcible felony, a domestic violence felony, or an act of family violence. Among other things, the bill also provides that a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a criminal gang activity offense shall stop the defendant in any related civil proceeding as to matters proved in the criminal proceeding.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

SB 30 (Jones II-22nd)
Bill Link
Lessens penalties for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

SB 44 (Hatchett-50th)
Bill Link
Increases mandatory minimum penalties for violations of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

SB 92 (Robertson-29th)
Bill Link
Creates the Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission.
Status: Senate Hopper

HB 121 (Anderson-10th)
Bill Link
Prohibits wakesurfing or wakeboarding between sunset and sunrise on a body of water that is less than 50 acres in size, on a portion of a body of water with a width of less than 400 feet, within 200 feet of a shoreline or a dock, pier, boathouse, or other structure located completely or partly on the water; or when surfing a wake or being towed on a board, without wearing a personal flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard.
Status: House Game, Fish & Parks Committee

HB 124 (Bruce-61st)
Bill Link
Allows first responders of a fire department of a municipality to be granted licenses for emergency medical transportation under certain circumstances and to then be able to transport patients under certain circumstances.
Status: House Health Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

HB 135 (Oliver-82nd)
Bill Link
Establishes the offense of failure to adequately secure a firearm.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 144 (Lewis-Ward-115th)
Bill Link
Except to the extent determined by the court, allows a ward to retain and exercise all of the powers of a person without a disability, including the right to communicate, visit, or interact with other persons through visits, telephone calls, or personal mail.
Status: House Juvenile Justice Committee

HB 188 (Sainz-180th)
Bill Link
Revises the name of the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to “Sexual Offender Risk Review Board.” The bill also provides that punishment for certain sexual offenses shall be life imprisonment and shall require such persons to wear a device capable of tracking the location of the probationer by electronic means, including global positioning satellite systems.
Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

HB 194 (Hutchison-106th)
Bill Link
“Undocumented Persons Family Violence Protection Act” – provides that any undocumented person who in good faith seeks law enforcement assistance and who is a victim of family violence, or who seeks assistance on behalf of a victim of family violence, shall not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for being an undocumented person.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 195 (Marin-96th)
Bill Link
Requires a firearms safety training course for certain persons making application for a weapons carry license or renewal license.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

SB 36 (Robertson-29th)
Bill Link
Increases penalties for pimping and pandering.
Status: Recommended Do Pass by Senate Public Safety Committee. The bill now rests in Senate Rules Committee

SB 40 (Seay-34th)
Bill Link
Makes it unlawful to possess firearm parts in certain circumstances.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

SB 42 (Williams-25th)
Bill Link
Relating to posting model notice with human trafficking hotline information in businesses and on internet, so as to increase the fine for failure to comply with model notice requirements.
Status: Senate Public Safety Committee

SB 61 (Strickland-17th)
Bill Link
Makes permanent the ability to use of existing sick leave for care of immediate family members.
Status: Senate Insurance & Labor Committee

SB 71 (Jones-10th)
Bill Link
Requires that motorcycle passengers shall be no younger than 16 years of age.
Status: Senate Public Safety Committee

SB 75 (Parent-42nd)
Bill Link
Establishes the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child if such child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm under certain conditions.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

HB 4 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to create, operate, and maintain an electronic inpatient psychiatric bed registry.
Status: House Hopper

HB 5 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia to make menstrual hygiene products available at no cost to students in certain facilities or portions of facilities of institutions.
Status: House Hopper

HB 6 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Provides for the submission of a waiver request by the Department of Human Services to permit the recipients of certain public assistance benefits to use such benefits for the purpose of purchasing diapers or menstrual hygiene products if the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service makes such waiver available to states.
Status: House Hopper

HB 7 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Establishes a school-linked behavioral health grant program to provide early identification of and intervention for students with mental health or substance use disorder needs and to build the capacity of K-12 schools to support students with mental health or substance use disorder needs in the classroom.
Status: House Hopper

HB 9 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Statutorily requires DBHDD to create, operate, and maintain the Georgia Crisis and Access Line, collect certain data and requires any state-operated registry of available inpatient psychiatric beds, crisis residential beds, or substance use disorder beds to report data for purposes of the access line.
Status: House Hopper

HB 16 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
Extends the sunset provision relating to the use of sick leave for the care of immediate family members to July 1, 2026.
Status: House Industry and Labor Committee

HB 37 (Beverly-143rd)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Community Health to mitigate the potential loss of Medicaid coverage caused by the discontinuation of the continuous enrollment condition of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act by providing, continuing, and expanding services; and to improve training, processes, technology and communication to that end.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 38 (Beverly-143rd)
Bill Link
Expands Medicaid to cover eligibility up to a maximum of 138 percent of the federal poverty level.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 41 (Lim-98th)
Bill Link
Requires that when a person is committed involuntarily for emergency involuntary treatment for mental health and alcohol and drug dependency, the physician’s certificate or affidavits shall be affixed to the court order; Personally identifying the affiants shall be redacted and concealed in these instances.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 46 (Au-50th) Bill Link
Expands enhanced punishment for aggravated assault and aggravated battery committed upon emergency health workers to all healthcare workers in a hospital or healthcare facility.
Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HB 62 (Park-107th)

Bill Link
“Georgia Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership (HELP) Act” – Creates a public, premium formatted health insurance plan for eligible adults with low income.
Status: House Health Committee
HB 63 (Williams-148th)

Bill Link
Requires insurers providing policies for groups of 20 or more to timely furnish claims experience at the request of a group policyholder; to allow such insurers that use other methods to apply to the Commissioner for approval of the use of an alternative form of claims experience reporting.
Status: House Insurance Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.
HB 69 (Thomas-65th)

Bill Link
Creates a one-year pilot program to provide a monthly supplemental benefit of $75.00 for three months to federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients who have been diagnosed with high glucose, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. The supplemental benefit can only be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and cooperative marketing associations.
Status: House Public Health Committee
HB 70 (Thomas-65th)

Bill Link
“Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act” – Requires a nonparticipating provider, prior to performing any healthcare services, to notify a covered person if such services will require $100.00 or more in out-of-pocket costs.
Status: House Insurance Committee
HB 74 (Barnes-86th)

Bill Link
Would allow for Medicaid coverage for the prevention and treatment of lymphedema.
Status: House Public Health Committee
HB 76 (Powell-33rd)

Bill Link
Revises provisions relating to education, experience, and training requirements for licensure in marriage and family therapy.
Status: House Regulated Industries Committee
HB 82 (Jackson-128th)

Bill Link
Limits eligibility for the rural physician tax credit to persons qualifying as a rural physician on or before December 31, 2023; and creates a new tax credit for rural physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee
HB 85 (Cooper-45th)

Bill Link
Requires health benefit policy coverage for biomarker testing if supported by medical and scientific evidence.
Status: House Insurance Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.
HB 123 (Stephens-164th)

Bill Link
Creates an exemption from state sales and use tax for certain menstrual products.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee
HB 129 (Hong-103rd)

Bill Link
Expands Temporary Assistance for Needy Families eligibility criteria to pregnant women and repeals a provision relating to elimination of increment in benefits.
Status: House Public Health Committee
HB 140 (Hawkins-27th)

Bill Link
Provides for a three-year pilot program to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS) and pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) under the state health benefit plan.
Status: House Health Committee

HB 143 (Mathis-149th)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 150 (Mainor-56th)
Bill Link
Revises the definition of “physical therapy” to include ordering diagnostic imaging and using ultrasound.
Status: House Health Committee

HB 161 (Au-50th)
Bill Link
Establishes the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child. The bill also provide for exceptions and affirmative defenses, for criminal penalties and requires a notice by certain firearm dealers.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 172 (Mainor-56th)
Bill Link
Requires that notice of admission of an involuntary minor patient under 12 years of age to certain facilities for treatment of mental illness shall be given to his or her parent or legal guardian representative by telephone or in person as soon as possible. Any such facility shall provide such parent or legal guardian representative with at least one update per calendar day as to the minor patient’s state of health and well-being. The parent or legal guardian representative of a minor patient under 12 years of age may consult with the facility regarding the development of such minor patient’s individualized service plan and the minor patient’s treatment under such plan.
Status: House Juvenile Justice Committee

HB 181 (Townsend-179th)
Bill Link
Provide that mitragynine and hydroxymitragynine are Schedule I controlled substances and repeals provisions relating to the regulation of kratom.
Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

HB 184 (Lim-98th)
Bill Link
Includes a specific federal regulation under mental health parity requirements.
Status: House Insurance Committee

HB 191 (Stephens-164th)
Bill Link
Increases the rate of the tax on each pack of cigarettes from 37 cents per pack to 57 cents per pack and requires that the proceeds derived from such increase are intended to be appropriated for healthcare purposes.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 192 (Stephens-164th)
Bill Link
Increase the rate of the tax on consumable vapor products by 15% of the wholesale cost and requires that the proceeds derived from such increase are intended to be appropriated for healthcare purposes.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 201 (Schofield-63rd)
Bill Link
Authorizes the Department of Public Health to carry out projects to increase education, awareness, or diagnosis of valvular heart disease and to reduce the incidence of sudden cardiac death caused by valvular heart disease.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 213 (Dempsey-13th)
Bill Link
Revises provisions relating to required information given to parents of students in K-12 schools stating that if a local board of education provides information on immunizations, infectious diseases, medications, or other school health issues to parents and guardians, then certain information about influenza disease and its vaccine and the vaccine for meningococcal meningitis disease must be included.
Status: House Hopper

HB 214 (Powell-33rd)
Bill Link
Authorizes advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to execute affidavits certifying an individual is disabled for purposes of obtaining special vehicle decals for persons with disabilities, to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances under certain conditions and with certain training. The bill also provides for automatic approval of identical job descriptions under certain conditions.
Status: House Hopper

HB 215 (Powell-33rd)
Bill Link
Provides for a misdemeanor to practice advanced nursing practice without a license. The bill also clarifies certain roles under the definition of advanced practice medical nurse (APRN) and authorizes APRNs and physician assistants to execute affidavits certifying an individual is disabled for purposes of obtaining special vehicle decals for persons with disabilities.
Status: House Hopper

HB 216 (Lim-98th)
Bill Link
Allows for awards made from the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund to sexual assault survivors for medical treatment or counseling.
Status: House Hopper

HB 226 (Cooper-45th)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Community Health to submit a Section 1115 waiver request to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a demonstration project to provide treatment services under Medicaid to persons living with HIV. The demonstration project would work to provide more effective, early treatment of HIV to persons in this state by making available a package of services, including antiretrovirals. The eligibility criteria for recipients shall include having a diagnosis of HIV, an income of less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level, and no health insurance.
Status: House Hopper

HB 233 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Provides for mental health treatment alternatives to imprisonment and for mental health treatment options (while imprisoned) for a defendant who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to, or has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, and who currently is, or at any prior time was, eligible for public mental health services due to a diagnosed serious mental illness or who currently is, or at any prior time was, eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits due to a diagnosed serious mental illness.
Status: House Hopper

HB 234 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires that within 48 hours of taking custody of a person for or within a penal institution, and at any other time Thereafter, where there is reasonable cause to believe that such person has a mental illness, a custodian shall have a physician of a facility to evaluate such person for mental illness.
Status: House Hopper

HR 43 (Au-50th)
Bill Link
Creates the Costs and Effects of Smoking Joint Study Committee.
Status: House Health Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

SB 1 (Dolezal-27th)
Bill Link
Makes permanent (by removing the sunset provision) the prohibition on state and local governments from requiring proof of COVID vaccination for government services.
Status: Recommended Do Pass by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The bill rests in Senate Rules Committee

SB 8 (Davenport-44th)
Bill Link
Creates the Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired.
Status: Senate Health and Human Services Committee

SB 9 (Rhett-33rd)
Bill Link
“Kathleen Cominski Act” – Requires state office buildings to have at least one functional automated external defibrillator on site at all times.
Status: Senate Health and Human Services Committee

SB 16 (Albers-56th)
Bill Link
Authorizes local entities to establish boundaries for the provision of emergency medical services.
Status: Senate Health and Human Services Committee

SB 17 (Rhett-33rd)
Bill Link
Creates a public, premium formatted health insurance plan for eligible adults with income between 100-138% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Status: Senate Insurance & Labor Committee

SB 20 (Kirkpatrick-32nd)
Bill Link
“Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act” – Ensures consumer access to quality healthcare by setting adequacy standards for network plans offered by an insurer.
Status: Senate Insurance & Labor Committee

SB 22 (Kirkpatrick-32nd)
Bill Link
Prohibits the purchase of, sale of, and the offering of samples of hemp products by or to any individual under the age of 18 years old.
Status: Senate Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

SB 24 (Butler-55th)
Bill Link
Authorizes appropriations for the purposes of obtaining federal financial participation for medical assistance payments to providers on behalf of Medicaid recipients and funding the state’s portion of the cost to expand the Medicaid program.
Status: Senate Appropriations Committee

SB 47 (Hufstetler-52nd)
Bill Link
Provides that vaping in restricted areas is a misdemeanor punishable by fine.
Status: Senate Health and Human Services Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

SB 51 (Islam-7th)
Bill Link
Exempts the sale or use of certain menstrual products.
Status: Senate Finance Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

SB 76 (Merritt-9th)
Bill Link
Requires state health benefit plans to cover insulin medication at an amount not to exceed $35.00 per 30 day supply.
Status: Senate Hopper

HB 1 (Kendrick-95th)
Bill Link
Provides for the compensation of pregnant women who but for a fetal heartbeat law could choose to terminate the pregnancy but are compelled to carry the pregnancy to term and give birth to a child.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 75 (Roberts-52nd)
Bill Link
Provides that natural persons do not include an unborn child and shall not be included in certain population-based determinations.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 211 (Stephens-164th)
Bill Link
Creates a tax exemption for certain absorbent diapers, undergarments, and pads.
Status: House Hopper

HB 235 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Provides for policies for breast milk storage and the breast feeding of a child of an inmate.
Status: House Hopper

HB 236 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Exempts from licensure early care and education programs that operate on a military installation or are licensed as a family child care provider by a branch of the armed services of the United States.
Status: House Hopper

SB 15 (Harrell-40th)
Bill Link
Provides that natural persons do not include an unborn child and shall not be included in certain population based determinations.
Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

SB 46 (Hufstetler-52nd)
Bill Link
Requires physicians and healthcare providers to test all pregnant women for HIV and syphilis at the first prenatal visit, at 28–32 weeks’ gestation, and at delivery.
Status: Senate Health and Human Services Committee

SB 81 (Anderson-43rd)
Bill Link
Creates the State Board of Community Midwifery and defines roles, responsibilities, and licensure requirements relating to community midwifery.
Status: Senate Hopper

SB 89 (Merritt-9th)
Bill Link
Allows child care and other caregiving services associated with a candidate’s campaign to constitute ordinary and necessary expenses of a campaign.
Status: Senate Hopper

HB 3 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Provides for grants by the State Board of Education to local units of administration to support students living in poverty.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 8 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Requires school attendance policies regarding excused absences take into consideration mental and behavioral health.
Status: House Hopper

HB 14 (Kendrick-95th)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Labor to establish criteria for the certification of workforce readiness programs and the certification of workforce-ready graduates. The bill allows that on and after January 1, 2024, an employer that employs a workforce-ready graduate in a full-time job for at least 40 weeks during a 12-month period shall be eligible for an income tax credit in the amount of $9,600.00 for each workforce-ready graduate.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 39 (Lim-98th)
Bill Link
Provides that no institution of higher education shall refuse to provide an unofficial transcript to a current or former student on the grounds that the student owes a debt, condition the provision of an unofficial transcript on the payment of a debt, or charge a higher fee for obtaining an unofficial transcript or provide less favorable treatment for such a request because a current or former student owes a debt.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 51 (Pirkle-169th)
Bill Link
Authorizes local boards of education to use vehicles other than school buses for the transport of all students to and from school and school related activities.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 54 (Carson-46th)
Bill Link
Increases the annual aggregate limit of tax credits available for the qualified education tax credit from $120 million to $200 million per year starting in 2024.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 56 (Petrea-166th)
Bill Link
Provides for undergraduate full tuition grants to children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and prison guards who were killed in the line of duty who attend institutions of the University System of Georgia, so long as the eligible student is under 22 years of age and maintains a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or greater.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 65 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
“Building Resourceful Individuals to Develop Georgia’s Economy Act” – Provides for a pilot program to provide grants for up to six local school systems to develop learning recovery programs for at-risk students to mitigate COVID-19 related lost instructional time.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 81 (Corbett-174th)
Bill Link
Revises the eligibility criteria for certain capital outlay grants for low-wealth school systems to include systems which achieved a low-wealth ranking during any of the three most recently completed school years.
Status: House Education Committee. This bill will be heard in subcommittee this MONDAY.

HB 87 (Erwin-32nd)
Bill Link
Revises and repeals certain provisions for alternative charter schools; provides for the continued operation of state chartered special schools until no later than the expiration of each such school’s current charter with the State Board of Education.
Status: House Education Committee. This bill will be heard in subcommittee this MONDAY.

HB 111 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Creates a pilot program with 6 school systems to implement the student based funding recommendations of the 2015 Education Reform Commission, mandates pre-kindergarten and kindergarten for all children prior to entering first grade and includes funding for mandatory Pre-K programs.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 122 (Hawkins-27th)
Bill Link
Provides for the governance of the Georgia ABLE program by the board of directors of the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan and revises the composition and chairperson of the board of directors of the Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan. The bill also removes the maximum amount of contributions currently allowed per beneficiary and authorizes the board to establish such maximum amount.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 127 (Mainor-56th)
Bill Link
Requires the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations for local school system outreach efforts regarding the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs, and to engage in such community outreach efforts. The bill also provides for standards for foreign language interpreters providing services to students in educational settings and requires local school systems to provide certain notices concerning interpretation services.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 130 (Gambill-15th)
Bill Link
Provides for student loan repayment for peace officers.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 131 (Carpenter-4th)
Bill Link
Provides that certain students shall be deemed opportunity students and shall be classified for opportunity tuition, subject to certain conditions. The bill also provides for priority consideration for students classified for in-state tuition.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 141 (Mainor-56th)
Bill Link
Requires local school systems to conduct suicide screenings on all students age eight through 18.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 147 (Wade-9th)
Bill Link
Provides for a school safety and anti-gang endorsement for eligible certificated professional personnel issued by the Professional Standards Commission, requires school safety plans to be submitted to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA), requires intruder alert drills in all public schools, requires that public schools to report completion of such drills to GEMA, and allows parents and guardians to opt their children out of such drills.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 148 (Hugley-141st)
Bill Link
Establishes grant funds to be paid by public schools to student teachers who successfully complete their student teaching requirements and requires the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations to implement the program.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 152 (Scott-76th)
Bill Link
Adopts the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, which expedites and enhances the ability of teachers to move across state lines.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 157 (Evans-57th)
Bill Link
Provides that students may receive HOPE grants for remedial and developmental courses within the Technical College System of Georgia that are required for seeking an associate degree there.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 173 (Kennard-101st)
Bill Link
Establishes mandatory pre-kindergarten and kindergarten for all children prior to entering into first grade and lowers the age of compulsory school attendance from six years old to four years old.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 174 (Bentley-150th)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Education to provide to parents and guardians of students entering the sixth grade information regarding recommended adolescent vaccinations in print and electronic form.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 177 (Clark-108th)
Bill Link
Requires that the prescribed course of study in sex education and HIV prevention instruction under QBE is age appropriate; to include the subject of consent in such course of study.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 185 (Gaines-120th)
Bill Link
Provides for HOPE Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE) grants for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 202 (Schofield-63rd)
Bill Link
Provides that student performers shall not be counted absent from school due to performing in certain productions and requires the instruction and related services provided by a studio teacher to a student performer are aligned with the curriculum and content standards being delivered at the student performer’s school. The bill also authorizes the Department of Labor, in consultation with the Department of Education, to develop certification forms and promulgate rules and regulations and provides for authorizations by parents or guardians relating to the education records of student performers.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 228 (Dempsey-13th)
Bill Link
Expands the definition of “approved school” relating to definitions regarding tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities, so as to include certain nursing schools.
Status: House Hopper

HB 238 (Bruce-61st)
Bill Link
Establishes a five-year pilot program to incentivize qualified local units of administration to utilize school bus monitors to promote and enhance student safety and appropriate student conduct as part of the local unit of administration’s transportation program.
Status: House Hopper

HR 42 (Scoggins-14th)
Bill Link
Constitutional Amendment – Authorizes the General Assembly to provide by law that local school superintendents shall be elected by voters as an alternative to being appointed by local boards of education, if approved by local referendum.
Status: House Education Committee

SB 4 (Davenport-44th)
Bill Link
Enacts the “Blind Persons’ Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act”. Among other things, the bill requires an evaluation of a blind or visually impaired student to determine such student’s need for Braille instruction; and requires Braille instruction in the individualized education program of a blind or visually impaired student as appropriate.
Status: Senate Education & Youth Committee

SB 18 (James-35th)
Bill Link
Allows students and their siblings to attend the same schools so long as they continue to reside in the same resident school system.
Status: Senate Education & Youth Committee

SB 32 (Anavitarte-31st)
Bill Link
“Alyssa’s Law” – Requires local education agencies to implement a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting disparate emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between multiple state and local first responder agencies in the event of a school security emergency.
Status: Senate Education & Youth Committee

SB 45 (Anavitarte-45)
Bill Link
Allows a parent or guardian of a student being treated for epilepsy or a seizure disorder to seek support and services for the student’s seizures while the student is at school or participating in a school related function by submitting to the local school system or school at which the student is enrolled a copy of a seizure action plan.
Status: Senate Children and Families Committee

SB 50 (Burns-23rd)
Bill Link
Allows that local boards of education which operate a school with grades nine through 12 may provide instruction in lifeguarding and aquatic safety.
Status: Senate Education & Youth Committee

SB 52 (Parent-42nd)
Bill Link
Requires the Georgia Student Finance Commission to establish participation and performance targets for the Dual Enrollment program and to annually measure and evaluate the program and report certain data analyses related to the program to the Governor and the General Assembly.
Status: Senate Higher Education Committee

SB 58 (Hickman-4th)
Bill Link
Revises and repeals certain provisions for alternative charter schools; provides for the continued operation of state chartered special schools until no later than the expiration of each such school’s current charter with the State Board of Education.
Status: Senate Education & Youth Committee

SB 86 (Brass-28th)
Bill Link
Allows eligible students participating in the Dual Enrollment program to access HOPE career grant funds for certain CTAE courses irrespective of whether they have reached maximum credit hour caps.
Status: Senate Hopper

SB 88 (Summers-13th)
Bill Link
Prevents an adult acting in loco parentis from providing to or obtain from a child information of a sensitive nature (meaning sex ed or information regarding a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity, other than the child’s biological sex) without the express written permission of the child’s parent or legal guardian, including if a child indicates a desire to discuss information of a sensitive nature with an adult acting in loco parentis. The bill also prohibits an adult acting in loco parentis from engaging in instruction, education, or training of a child while dressed in a sexually provocative manner, applying current community standards, as determined by the school, social services agency, library, camp, or similar facility or program, without the express written permission of the child’s parent or legal guardian. In addition, any request to change a student’s official school record to reflect a change in the student’s gender shall be in writing and accompanied by a copy of the student’s amended birth certificate reflecting the change in gender and a written consent form signed by all of the child’s parents or legal guardians.
Status: Senate Hopper

HB 15 (Kendrick-95th)
Bill Link
Requires the state to establish a task force to evaluate and monitor the broadband equity of state-funded broadband network projects.
Status: House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee

HB 24 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
Provides for the placement of a digital monument within the state capitol building or upon the capitol grounds to memorialize the Georgians who have died from COVID-19.
Status: House Special Rules Committee

HB 25 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
Allows each toy manufacturer that increases its expenditures incurred in this state for materials or labor used directly in the manufacture of wooden toys for children by at least 30 percent from its preceding taxable year to claim a tax credit in the amount of 20 percent of the increase in such expenditures.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 26 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
Requires the Department of Community affairs to include certain indoor air quality provisions in applicable state minimum standard codes to require the installation of indoor air quality equipment and utilization of best practices in new construction permitted on or after July 1, 2024. These provisions include (but are not limited to) HVAC systems that can utilize a MERV 13 filter; adequate humidity control to maintain the humidity near or below 50 percent at room temperature; and fresh air ventilation through HVAC systems.
Status: House Public Health Committee

HB 30 (Carson-46th)
Bill Link
Defines the term ‘antisemitism’ has the same meaning as provided for in the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016. The bill also requires state agencies and departments to consider such definition when determining whether an alleged act was motivated by discriminatory antisemitic intent.
Status: House Judiciary Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this TUESDAY.

HB 32 (Douglas-78th)
Bill Link
Provides that no high school which receives funding under Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, the “Quality Basic Education Act,” shall participate in or sponsor interscholastic sports events conducted by any athletic association that does not utilize instant replay for high school football championship games.
Status: House Education Committee

HB 44 (Au-50th)
Bill Link
Requires universal background checks in all manner of firearm transfers and purchases.
Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

HB 68 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
Increases the tax credit available to employers that offer certain child care services for employees from 50% to 90% of the taxpayers liability.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 78 (Alexander-66th)
Bill Link
Requires all employers to implement paid sick leave for employees. Requires an employee to be compensated at the same rate of pay and with the same benefits, including, but not limited to, healthcare benefits, as the employee earns from the employer at the time the employee uses the sick time.
Status: House Industry & Labor Committee

HB 79 (Park-107th)
Bill Link
Revises a state income tax credit based to provide for a state income tax credit equal to 25% of the federal child tax credit, and for an income tax credit equal to 20% of the federal earned income tax credit.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 83 (Gunther-8th)
Bill Link
Allows owners, operators, lessees, or tenants of the property at which an athletic contest, entertainment event, or performing arts event is being held, or the sponsor of such a contest or event, may restrict access to such property and may reserve the right to revoke the license granted by a ticket at any time and for any lawful reason, including without limitation for safety and security reasons or due to any other lawful purpose.
Status: House Regulated Industries Committee

HB 88 (Gaines-120th)
Bill Link
Establishes protocols for review of cold case murder files by law enforcement agencies.
Status: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

HB 89 (Bruce-61st)
Bill Link
Establishes the Georgia Equity and Fairness Commission for examining the impact of slavery on the descendants of slaves and recommending appropriate remedies.
Status: House Governmental Affairs Committee

HB 163 (McDonald-26th)
Bill Link
Provides for student loan repayment for medical examiners employed by the Division of Forensic Sciences of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Status: House Higher Education Committee

HB 167 (Momtahan-17th)
Bill Link
Allows individuals who have lost their drivers license due to failure to pay child support to apply for a limited drivers license.
Status: House Motor Vehicles Committee

HB 180 (Martinez-111th)
Bill Link
Exempts from taxes equipment sold to and used by a qualified food bank for their primary purposes.
Status: House Ways & Means Committee

HB 237 (Hagan-156th)
Bill Link
Designates the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby as the official soap box derby of the State of Georgia.
Status: House Hopper

HR 10 (Thomas-65th)
Bill Link
Creates the House Study Committee on Public Water Systems Serving Disadvantaged Communities.
Status: House Energy, Utilities, & Telecommunications Committee. This bill will be heard in subcommittee this MONDAY.

SB 3 (Albers-56th)
Bill Link
“Reducing Barriers to State Employment Act of 2023” – Requires every state department, agency, board, bureau, office, commission, public corporation, and authority to regularly assess the educational, experiential, and training requirements necessary for each position of employment within the entity and Identify positions where the educational, experiential, and training requirements could be reduced from their present level; and when practicable, reduce the number of positions for which a four-year college degree is required as a condition of employment.
Status: Senate Government Oversight Committee. This bill will be heard in committee this MONDAY.

SB 25 (Butler-55th)
Bill Link
Increases the Georgia minimum wage to reflect cost of living increases.
Status: Senate Insurance & Labor Committee

SB 38 (Robertson-29th)
Bill Link
Removes schools from signing off on cameras that enforce speed limits in school safety zones.
Status: Senate Public Safety Committee

SB 48 (James-35th)
Bill Link
Creates the Equity and Reconciliation Commission of Georgia.
Status: Senate Government Oversight Committee

SB 55 (Parent-42nd)
Bill Link
Prohibits the regulation of businesses of persons under 18 years of age which are located on private property with the permission of the property owner and generate gross receipts of $3,000.00 or less in a calendar year per business.
Status: Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee

SB 57 (Hickman-4th)
Bill Link
Authorizes and provides for the regulation and taxation of sports betting and for additional powers and duties of the Georgia Lottery Corporation.
Status: Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee

SB 62 (Summers-13th)
Bill Link
Prohibits certain local ordinances or policies relating to public camping or sleeping; requires a performance audit by the state auditor on public spending on homeless programs; provides for sanctioned camping areas for the homeless; and among other things, requires the use of certain federal funds for supportive services in transitional housing for the homeless.
Status: Senate State and Local Government Operations Committee

SB 64 (Robertson-64th)
Bill Link
Allows for the issuance of a copy of the original birth certificate to persons 18 years old or older who were adopted.
Status: Senate Children and Families Committee

SB 67 (Moore-53rd)
Bill Link
Provides for protections against the infringements on the right to keep and bear arms and prohibits the enforcement or assistance in the enforcement of certain federal laws or actions relative to firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition.
Status: Senate Interstate Cooperation Committee

SB 77 (Robertson-29th)
Bill Link
Establishes protocols for review of cold case murder files by law enforcement agencies.
Status: Senate Hopper

SB 82 (Anderson-43rd)
Bill Link
Prohibits discrimination based on protective hairstyles associated with race, color, or national origin.
Status: Senate Hopper

SR 6 (Gooch-51st)
Bill Link
Agreed upon adjournment resolution (schedule) for the General Assembly through Sine Die (the last day of the 2023 legislative session).
Status: ADOPTED by both chambers

The 2 Minute Advocacy Ask: Vape Free Air

The Ask:

Call members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee THIS MORNING, and ask them to vote YES on Senate Bill 47 today in committee. This bill prohibits vaping in the same places where smoking is currently prohibited.

The Why:

Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Smoking and vaping can also lead to various long-term, negative health outcomes such as cancer and emphysema. According to the CDC, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

In recent years

• 4% were daily e-cigarette smokers
• 1 in 4 believed e-cigarettes were more acceptable in society than cigarettes
• 6% reported that they believed e-cigarettes are less addictive than cigarettes
• 44% believed that there is little to no risk in smoking one or more packs of cigarettes a day
• See our Teen Vaping Fact Sheet here

The Message:

Dear Senator ______________,

Please vote YES on Senate Bill 47 when it comes before you today in committee. This bill prohibits vaping in the same places where smoking is currently prohibited. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, and also lead to various long-term, negative health outcomes such as cancer and emphysema. Thank you for your consideration of this issue and your work on behalf of all of Georgia’s children.

The How:

Click here for the Senate Health and Human Services Committee Members

Calendar Highlights

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for these events:

Tuesday, Feb. 7: 2023 Strolling Thunder: A Storm of Advocacy for GA’s Young Child (GEEARS), CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Wednesday, Feb. 15: Reception in Celebration of Children (5-7PM)

Tuesday’s starting Jan. 24: Talk Justice Tuesdays, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Wednesday, Feb. 22: Georgia ACT Housing Day at the Capitol, CLICK HERE TO REGISTER