This Week in the Senate: March 14 - 18, 2022

Crossover Day Over

Over the last few weeks, the Senate has worked around the clock to put the finishing touches on legislation before Crossover Day, which the occurred on Tuesday last week. In the lead up to this important deadline, our committee workload increased dramatically in order to have as many quality pieces of legislation available for a floor vote as possible. On Crossover Day itself, we considered over 45 measures over an 11 hour period, and entered into the home stretch of the 2022 session.

As the number one state in the nation in which to do business for eight consecutive years, Georgia has done an incredible job in attracting and growing business across all corners of the state. In order to maintain our competitive edge, however, we must continue to find innovative ways to grow our workforce and, specifically, target the growing need of workers in select high-demand career fields. SB 379 would create the High-Demand Career Initiatives program, to be administered through the Office of Workforce Development of the Technical College System of Georgia. This program would provide monetary awards to employers who have apprentices successfully complete their high-demand job program, granting students much needed on the job training and certification opportunities, while creating an efficient pipeline to connect these students with careers in in-demand industries.

Last Wednesday, Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 910, the amended budget for 2022, into law. This budget prioritizes investments in the areas of public safety, education and healthcare while also returning nearly $1 billion back to Georgia’s taxpayers through refundable tax credits. Additionally, the $30 billion midyear budget also ensures that our teachers and other state employees receive a $5,000 bonus for their critical work in maintaining our state’s most basic functions, even during a global pandemic. Work also continued throughout this week on the general budget for 2023, with Appropriations subcommittee hearings taking place. While work on these budgets is long and arduous, it is necessary to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent in a fiscally prudent manner.

Later in the week, the Senate passed House Bill 1302, a measure we previously discussed as being incorporated into the budget. HB 1302 provides a one-time tax credit for all eligible taxpayers while filed a return in both 2020 and 2021. Singer files Single filers would be eligible for a tax credit of $250, those filing jointly will be eligible for a credit of $500 and those filing as a head of household would be eligible for a $375 credit. Taxable nonresidents who would otherwise qualify for the credit would be prorated based on the ratio of taxable income to Georgia. This is another example of Georgia passing along our economic surplus back to the people of Georgia.

On Thursday, the Senate granted final passage to an urgently needed measure to bring relief to all Georgians. With skyrocketing gas prices from the lack of domestic oil suppliers and because of the ongoing conflict in the Ukraine, Georgians are in desperate need of financial relief just to travel to and from work, school or to receive medical care. In an effort to ease the financial pressure placed on our citizens, the Senate passed House Bill 304, which would suspend the collection on the state excise tax on gasoline until May 22, 2022. While this will not bring down gas prices overnight, it will provide some degree of relief for those impacted by the unacceptably high cost of gasoline.

We only have nine legislative days remaining and, with Crossover Day behind us, we have our work cut out for us over the next few weeks. While we can no longer introduce Senate Bills with the hope they become law this year, there are still countless pieces of legislation awaiting action in both the Senate and the House. If you have any questions or concerns about any of these bills, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

Senator Brian Strickland

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee

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TUESDAY, MARCH 14

Open Records Requirement for the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission

Sen. Jeff Mullis (R - Chickamauga) sponsored Senate Bill 609, which would require that any documents or information maintained by the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission is subject to Georgia’s open records laws. SB 609 would further require the Commission to reevaluate remaining license applications and create a queue for all proposals. SB 609 passed with a vote of 52 to 0. - SB 609

Ensuring Affordable Breast Cancer Prevention Healthcare

Senate Bill 487, sponsored by Sen. Sheila McNeill (R - Brunswick), would ensure equitable cost-sharing requirements between breast cancer examinations and mammography screenings. SB 487 passed with a vote of 52 to 1. - SB 487

Allowing Veterans Health I.D. Cards to Perform Notary Services

Sen. Lester Jackson (D - Savannah) sponsored Senate Bill 96, which would allow a valid Veterans Health Identification Card that has been issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to be an allowable form of identification to act as a notary. SB 96 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 96

Constitutional Amendment to Allow Pari-Mutuel and Fixed Odds Betting

Senate Resolution 131, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R - Chickamauga), would propose an amendment to the Georgia Constitution which, if adopted by Georgia voters, would authorize pari-mutuel and fixed odds betting on horse racing in Georgia. SR 131 failed with a vote of 33 to 20. - SR 131

Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act

Sen. Dean Burke (R - Bainbridge) sponsored Senate Bill 566, which would ensure that mental health and substance abuse disorders are included under one’s right to know of financial coverage for both emergency and post-stabilization services. SB 566 passed with a vote of 53 to 0. - SB 566

Employment Security

Sponsored by Sen. Dean Burke (R - Bainbridge), Senate Bill 605 would grant certain nonprofits the option to make installment payments to an unemployment fund that would be paid to its employees for specific time periods relating to COVID-19 job interruptions. SB 605 passed with a vote of 52 to 0. - SB 605

Creating the Joint Study Committee on the Electrification of Transportation

Sen. Steve Gooch (R - Dahlonega) sponsored Senate Resolution 463, which would create the Joint Study Committee on the Electrification of Transportation. The Study Committee would be tasked with analyzing the current landscape of state-wide public charging stations and what changes may be necessary to improve the electric vehicle environment in Georgia. SR 463 passed with a vote of 53 to 0. - SR 463

Revising the Provisions for Operating a Water Vessel

Sen. Randy Robertson (R - Cataula) sponsored Senate Bill 553. SB 553 relates to revisions on the general provisions of registration, operation and sale of watercraft to authorize any individual who is at least 15 years of age to operate a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 vessel on any waters in Georgia so long as the individual meets the conditions of licensure and proper training. Additionally, even if the individual is at least 15 years of age, the person must be accompanied by an adult while operating the water vessel. SB 553 passed with a vote of 50 to 2. - SB 553

The Georgia Educational Freedom Act

Senate Bill 601, sponsored by Sen. Butch Miller (R - Gainesville), would establish promise scholarship accounts of $6,000 a year to be used for qualified education expenses, such as tuition, fees or required textbooks. SB 601 would further outline the eligibility requirements for students and participating schools, as well as responsibilities of parents who accept an account. SB 601 would also establish a review committee to assist in determining what may be considered a qualified education expense and create annual reporting and auditing requirements. SB 601 failed with a vote of 20 to 29. - SB 601

Georgia Department of Transportation Notification Requirements

Senate Bill 558, sponsored by Sen. Steve Gooch (R - Dahlonega), would require that notices for meetings of the board of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to elect board members be sent by email to all members of the General Assembly who would be affected. SB 558 would also allow negotiations related to public-private partnerships to include one-on-one meetings for proposal revisions and exempt certain records of the State Road and Tollway Authority or GDOT from public disclosure requirements. SB 558 passed with a vote of 53 to 0. - SB 558

Reducing the Age for Postretirement Benefits of Judges

Senate Bill 167, sponsored by Sen. Nan Orrock (D - Atlanta) and presented by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R - Chickamauga) would reduce the age at which a judge for the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals is eligible for retirement benefits from 65 to 60. SB 167 passed with a vote of 46 to 3. - SB 167

Judicial Power to Suspend Driver’s License

Senate Bill 353, sponsored by Sen. Bruce Thompson (R - White), would grant judges the power to use their discretion to suspend licenses for those convicted of certain traffic violations who fail to appear in court. SB 353 passed with a vote of 50 to 0. - SB 353

Revising the Issuance of Mortgage Lenders and Brokers Licenses to Previously Convicted Offenders

Sen. Randy Robertson (R - Cataula) sponsored Senate Bill 470. SB 470 relates to reformed convicted felons and works in conjunction with the mortgage industry. More specifically, individuals who have been previously convicted of a felony and are trying to reenter the job force (more specifically the mortgage industry) shall have the ability to do so so long as they have not committed a crime related to money or fraud. However, if the individual has committed a crime relative to the above, the individual shall be excluded from working in the mortgage industry for the remainder of their lifetime. SB 470 passed with a vote of 47 to 1. - SB 470

Rules for Naming Beneficiaries under Teacher’s Retirement System

Senate Bill 267, sponsored by Sen. Sheikh Rahman (D - Tucker) and presented by Sen. Jeff Mullis (R - Chickamauga), would allow active members of the Georgia Judicial Retirement System the flexibility to transfer a limited number of years of creditable service from the appellate court judge’s plan of the Employees Retirement System to the Georgia Judicial Retirement System. SB 267 passed with a vote of 40 to 9. - SB 267

Replacing the Georgia Coordinate System

‍Sen. Larry Walker (R - Perry), sponsored Senate Bill 581, which would replace the Georgia Coordinate System of 1985 with the Georgia State Plane Coordinate System as the method used to determine boundaries and geographic locations in Georgia. SB 581 passed with a vote of 50 to 1. - SB 581

Issuance of Driver’s License to Officers Free of Charge

‍Senate Bill 556, sponsored by Sen. Bruce Thompson (R - White) would provide that current and retired peace officers may be issued or reissued a driver’s license at no charge. SB 556 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 556

Vacating Convictions of Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Sen. Brian Strickland (R - McDonough) sponsored Senate Bill 565, which would allow survivors of sex trafficking to petition the court for the vacation of their convictions at any time and would require the state to return fines paid by a defendant whose sentence is vacated. SB 565 passed with a vote of 49 to 0. - SB 565

Prohibiting the Recording of Patients

‍Sen. Bo Hatchett (R - Cornelia) sponsored Senate Bill 539, which would prohibit any person from knowingly photographing or recording patients in a facility operated by a county board of health, without the consent of all patients observed. SB 539 passed with a vote of 48 to 3. - SB 539

Creating a License Plate to Support Shriners Hospital

Senate Bill 76, sponsored by Sen. John Albers (R - Roswell), would create a special license plate to support the Shriners Hospital Foundation. SB 76 passed with a vote of 48 to 0. - SB 76

Reporting Requirements for Solid Waste Trust Fund

Sen. Randy Robertson (R - Cataula) sponsored Senate Bill 516, which would provide for the annual reporting of expenditures from the Solid Waste Trust Fund based on various categories. Additionally, SB 516 would add a representative of the tire industry to the Governor’s appointees to the Recycling Market Development Council and revise how the fees on a sale of new replacement tires are implemented and collected. SB 516 passed with a vote of 50 to 0. - SB 516

Dedicating the Isaiah “Coach” Berry Memorial Intersection

Sen. Frank Ginn (R - Danielsville) sponsored Senate Resolution 596, which would dedicate the Isaiah “Coach” Berry Memorial Intersection in Barrow County, Georgia. Additionally, SR 596 would rename and dedicate several other roads, bridges and intersections in Georgia. SR 596 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SR 596

Policies to Reduce Exposure to Surgical Smoke

Senate Bill 573, sponsored by Sen. Matt Brass (R - Newnan), would require each hospital and ambulatory surgical center in Georgia to adopt policies to reduce exposure to surgical smoke. SB 573 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 573

Exemption from Taxes for Aircraft Used for Agricultural Purposes

Senate Bill 474, sponsored by Sen. Carden Summers (R - Cordele), would provide for an exemption from ad valorem taxation for aircraft used exclusively for the aerial application of agricultural products. Senate Bill 474 passed with a vote of 51 to 2. - SB 474

Safe Communities Act of 2022

Sen. Randy Robertson (R - Cataula) sponsored Senate Bill 171, known as the “Safe Communities Act of 2022.” SB 171 would require municipalities to provide safe spaces for individuals and groups to peacefully protest and speak out against the government. Additionally, SB 171 would provide protection for citizens who may be trapped in traffic by individuals who are aggressively and violently obstructing vehicle traffic or individuals who choose to damage state property. SB 171 passed with a vote of 31 to 21. - SB 171

Requiring All Meetings of Local Boards of Education to be Public

Sen. Butch Miller (R - Gainesville) sponsored Senate Bill 588, which would require that all meetings of local boards of education to be open to the public and that no member of the public may be removed from a meeting of a local board of education, unless such person causes actual disruption, as prescribed by the meeting’s rules of conduct. Additionally, SB 588 would permit audio and video recording of all public local board of education meetings and grant the superior courts authority to enforce compliance with this bill. SB 588 passed with a vote of 32 to 20. - SB 588

Granting Visitation Rights for Grandparents

Senate Bill 576, sponsored by Sen. Brian Strickland, would grant visitation rights to grandparents of a minor child whose parent is deceased. SB 576 passed with a vote of 49 to 0. - SB 576

Requirements for Local School Boards to Review Financial Status

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R - Marietta) sponsored Senate Bill 575, which would change the requirement for local school boards to review the financial status of the local school system every month to at least once every quarter. SB 575 passed with a vote of 41 to 11. - SB 575

Prohibition of Game Cock Fighting

Senate Bill 512, sponsored by Sen. Chuck Payne (R - Dalton), would make it illegal to own, train or sell a game cock or knowingly charge admission for a dog or game cock fight. SB 512 passed with a vote of 49 to 2. - SB 512

Parental Power to Recover from Homicide of a Child

‍Senate Bill 543, sponsored by Sen. Sonya Halpern (D - Atlanta), would require that the right to recover against the value of a child’s life takes into account wrongdoing. Any parent determined to be responsible for the murder of his or her child would forfeit their right to the decedent’s estate. SB 543 passed with a vote of 52 to 0. - SB 543

Accrediting Secondary and Local School Systems

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R - Marietta) sponsored Senate Bill 498, which would require the State Board of Education to create criteria by which to evaluate accrediting agencies of school systems and give exclusive authority to the Georgia Department of Education to accredit elementary and middle schools. SB 498 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 498

NOW and COMP Waivers

Sen. Sally Harrell (D - Atlanta) sponsored Senate Bill 610, which would essentially require that beginning in the 2024 Fiscal Year and at least every three years thereafter, the Department of Community Health would be required to conduct a detailed analysis of provider reimbursement rates for home and community based services under the New Options Waiver (NOW), the Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP), the Independent Care Waiver Program (ICWP), and the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). Additionally, based on the results of the analysis, SB 610 would require the various departments to report any policy changes, and fiscal impacts to the board, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and the General Assembly. SB 610 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 610

Adjusting Regulations for Secondary Metals Recyclers

Senate Bill 591, sponsored by Sen. Bo Hatchett (R - Cornelia), would prohibit any person from purchasing, selling or transporting any utility wire, communications copper or used, detached catalytic converters, unless such person is a registered secondary metals recycler, a lawful provider of a communications or electric service or any other person working under a contract of a lawful communications or electric service. SB 591 passed with a vote of 46 to 3. - SB 591

Compensation for Family Members of Officers Who Die by Suicide

Senate Bill 468, sponsored by Sen. Kim Jackson (D - Stone Mountain), would allow family members of public safety officers to receive the same compensation in the event of death by suicide as death by line of work, through the Georgia Idemnification Fund. SB 468 passed with a vote of 48 to 3. - SB 468

Removing Restrictions on New Drivers

Sen. Frank Ginn (R - Danielsville) sponsored Senate Bill 510 which would remove certain restrictions on motorists who hold a Class D license. More specifically, SB 510 would remove the restriction that during the six month period following issuance of the license, Class D license holders are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle with any other passenger that is not an immediate family member of the driver. Additionally, SB 510 will remove the restriction that during the 12 month period following issuance, there cannot be more than one non-family passenger under the age of 21 in the vehicle. SB 510 passed with a vote of 38 to 13. - SB 510

Establishing an Outdoor Learning Spaces Pilot Program

Sen. Sheikh Rahman (D - Lawrenceville) sponsored Senate Bill 603, which would authorize the Georgia Department of Education to establish an outdoor learning spaces pilot program to study outdoor learning spaces on elementary and secondary school property for the purpose of determining whether and how to implement minimum statewide standards and funding for these spaces. SB 603 passed with a vote of 48 to 2. - SB 603

Amending Term Length for State Senators

Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R - Marietta) sponsored Senate Resolution 623, which would propose a constitutional amendment that, if adopted by voters, would increase the term length for State Senators from two to four years. SR 623 would also create staggered election cycles for Senate members. SR 623 passed with a vote of 49 to 3. - SR 623

Creating a Stand Alone Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Sen. Gail Davenport (D - Jonesboro) sponsored Senate Bill 108 related to the blind and visually impaired communities. Under the current law, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired does not stand alone as its own commission. Under SB 108, the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired would assume the duties, powers and functions for the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency. SB 108 passed with a vote of 41 to 12. - SB 108

Establishing a Monument to Honor the Original 33

Senate Bill 279, sponsored by Sen. Tonya Anderson (D - Lithonia), would provide for the establishment of a monument to honor the pioneering work of the Original 33 African Americans elected to the General Assembly in 1868. Senate Bill 279 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 279

Expanding Vapor Product Regulations

Sen. Jeff Mullis (R - Chickamauga) sponsored Senate Bill 572, which would require that all vapor product manufacturers that sell their products in Georgia to provide an attestation to the Attorney General if the vapor manufacturer was available in the U.S. in 2016 and if the vapor product manufacturer received a marketing granted order from the Food and Drug Administration. SB 572 would further require the Attorney General to maintain a database of licensed vapor product sellers or distributors and would prohibit the sale or distribution of illicit vapor products. SB 572 passed with a vote of 32 to 19. - SB 572

Condemning Blighted Properties

Sen. Harold Jones II (D - Augusta) sponsored Senate Bill 227, which would provide a mechanism to allow local governments to condemn certain blighted properties. SB 227 passed with a vote of 35 to 17. - SB 277

Georgia Food Insecurity Eradication Act

Sen. Harold Jones II (D - Augusta) sponsored Senate Bill 537, which would establish the Georgia Food Security Advisory Council within the Department of Agriculture, which will be tasked with recommending changes to improve food security in Georgia including alterations to the WIC program, methods to utilize the New Market Tax Credit, promoting educational programs on purchasing healthy foods, and other policies to encourage the use of food co-ops and community gardens in Georgia. SB 537 passed with a vote of 51 to 0. - SB 537

Urging to Make the Georgia State Capitol More Accessible to Disabled Individuals

Sen. Donzella James (D - Atlanta) sponsored Senate Resolution 613, which urges the Georgia Building Authority and the State of Georgia Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator’s Office to develop a plan to make the Georgia State Capitol more accessible to those with disabilities.. SR 613 passed with a vote of 49 to 0. - SR 613

First Aid Training Requirements in Schools

Sen. Sonya Halpern (D - Atlanta) sponsored Senate Bill 545, which would require local boards of education to provide training in first aid at schools as part of the core curriculum for students in grades 9 or 10. SB 545 passed with a vote of 52 to 0. - SB 545

American Dream Downpayment Savings Act

Sen. Gail Davenport (D - Jonesboro) sponsored Senate Bill 491. Known as the American Dream Downpayment Savings Act, SB 491 would work in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance to enable families to establish a qualified down payment savings plan that could include pre-tax contributions up to roughly $12,000 per year. Those contributions could be put towards a qualified account so long as the funds are used solely for the purpose of providing a downpayment on a new home. SB 491 passed with a vote of 49 to 2. - SB 491

Revising What Constitutes a Bail Restricted Offense

Sen. Randy Robertson (R - Cataula) sponsored Senate Bill 504, which would redefine the term “bail restricted offenses” to include all felonies as bail restricted offenses. SB 504 passed with a vote of 30 to 22. - SB 504

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16

Annual Banking Updates

Sen. John Kennedy (R - Macon) carried House Bill 891, which would make annual updates to the Georgia Code on bank credit unions and other financial institutions. HB 891 passed with a vote of 50 to 0. - HB 891

Controlled Substances Schedule Update -Schedules I and IV

House Bill 963, carried by Sen. Dean Burke (R - Bainbridge), would add and remove a number of drugs and substances on the state’s Drug Schedules. HB 936 passed with a vote of 48 to 0. - HB 963

Department of Natural Resources Updates

Sen. Tyler Harper (R - Ocilla) carried House Bill 1233, which would change the earliest effective date for certain responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Division and rules and regulations of the Board of Natural Resources to January 1, 2022. Additionally, HB 1233 would specify that those hunting migratory game birds with a shotgun would be limited to a shotgun with a capacity of three shells and would remove the maximum daily creel and possession limits for certain species of Bass. HB 1233 passed with a vote of 42 to 6. - HB 1233

One-Time Income Tax Credit

House Bill 1302, carried by Sen. Clint Dixon (R - Buford), would create a one-time tax credit for taxpayers who filed a return for both 2020 and 2021 taxable years. Single filers would be eligible for a tax credit of $250, those filing jointly will be eligible for a credit of $500 and those filing as a head of household would be eligible for a $375 credit. Taxable nonresidents who would otherwise qualify for the credit would be prorated based on the ratio of taxable income to Georgia. HB 1302 passed with a vote of 47 to 4. - HB 1302

Annual IRS Updates

Sen. Billy Hickman (R - Statesboro) carried House Bill 1320, which would incorporate annual Internal Revenue Service updates into Georgia law. HB 1320 passed with a vote of 48 to 0. - HB 1320

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THURSDAY, MARCH 17

Commending the World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce

Senate Resolution 544, sponsored by Sen. Michael Rhett (D - Marietta) honors and recognizes the achievements and business successes of the World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce, which will have their 28th Annual Conference in Atlanta on March 26, 2022 SR 544 passed with a vote of 55 to 0. - SR 544

Suspending the Motor Fuel Tax

House Bill 304, carried by Sen. Chuck Hufsteter (R - Rome) would suspend the state excise gasoline tax of $0.29 per gallon on all motor fuel sales until May 31, 2022. HB 304 passed with a vote of 55 to 0. - HB 304

Open Season on Racoons and Opossums

Sen. Tyler Harper (R - Ocilla) carried House Bill 1147, which would permit the hunting and trapping of raccoons and opossums with no season limits and would allow raccoons and opossums to be trapped on private land within 200 yards of a residence for the protection of livestock. HB 1147 passed with a vote of 44 to 10. - HB 1147

Authorizing Easements for State-Owned Property

House Resolution 683, carried by Sen. Ed Harbison (D - Columbus), would grant easements to state-owned facilities for the purpose of maintenance and construction in Bartow, Douglas, Emanuel, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Haralson, Paulding, Sumter, and Thomas Counties. HR 683 passed with a vote of 53 to 0. - HR 683

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FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Recognizing Olympian Elana Meyers Taylor

Sen. Donzellla James (D - Atlanta) sponsored Senate Resolution 683, recognizing and coommending Elana Meyers Taylor for her accomplishments in the Olympics Games and Bobsled World Championships. Elana Meyers Taylor grew up in Douglassville, Georgia and is a 2022 Women’s Monobob Silver Medalist, 2018 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2017 World Champion, 2014 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2010 Olympic Bronze Medalist, 2015 World Champion, 2015 World Cup Champion, six-time World Championship Medalist, and women’s bobsled pioneer. - SR 683

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