Yesterday In The Georgia Legislature – 03/09/21

This is an informal rundown of the legislative happenings. These bills are from the most recent legislative day – 03/08/21, or Day 28 – CROSSOVER DAY.

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The House of Representatives passed the following measures, all of which now head to the Senate:

HB 76 – Rep. John Carson

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58894
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Increase EMC net utility plan from 15% to 60%

PASSED: 157-11

HB 109 – Rep. Heath Clark 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58956 
Rules Committee Sub – LC 413083S 
Presented to Rules by Trey Kelley → Pertaining to victims of sexual assault when they’re minors, this bill ensures they have a pathway for redress. Passed almost unanimously in 2020, was held up in Senate
PASSED: 163-0

HB 114 – Rep.Bert Reeves

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58961 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Revising the income tax credit for adoption of foster children 
• Increases from $2,000 to $6,000 per qualified foster child for 5 years beginning in the taxable year in which the adoption is final
• Then reverts back to $2,000 per child per year after that

PASSED: 158-0

HB 117 – Rep. Mike Wilensky

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58964 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Adds ulcerative colitis to list of conditions for low THC CBD oil

PASSED: 170-2

HB 138- Rep. Mainor 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59009 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Requires law enforcement to post on public website 
• commission or  attempted commission of murder, assault, battery, aggravated assault, aggravated battery,  rape, peeping tom, gang related crimes, or felony drug crimes 
  • Only when a person as charged/arrested by LEO
  • If crime occurred in apartment complex leased with 10 or more residential units 
• Must keep reports online for 2 years
• Does not apply to county/local LE agencies that are not full-time 

PASSED: 128-34

HB 160- Rep. William Boddie 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59073 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Adds ‘A municipality that operates a waste-water system that interconnects with the  waste-water system of a municipality that has more than 85 million gallons per day’ into definition of municipality for the purposes of being subject to an audit 
• Gives state government the authority to order an audit to be performed on the above mentioned 

PASSED: 167-2

HB 173 – Rep. Tommy Benton

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59095 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• allows eligible large retirement systems to invest up to 10% in alternative investments. 
• Not permitted for this: ERS, TRS → both capped at 5%
• Requires the ex-officio members and the governor’s appointee of ERS’s Board of Trustee to consider any individuals nominated by any organization of state retirees consisting of at least 1,000 employees.
• Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts → non-fiscal retirement bill

PASSED: 171-0

HB 231 – Rep. Houston Gaines 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59195 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Expands the code section on TPOs and stalking as it pertains to relationships/dating/familial relationships, etc.
• Defines ‘dating relationship’ and ‘dating violence’
  • A felony OR simple battery, aggravated battery, aggravated  assault, or stalking
• Allows any person who is not a minor to seek restraint in superior court for acts of stalking/dating violence
• Allows for grant of ex parte order, subject to hearing within 30 days if person appeals 
• Allows Social service agency staff members (but still no one from Clerk’s office) to assist people with completing forms
• Allows the court to delay a petition for another 30 days if it believes a person is delaying being served to delay a hearing 
• Adds 7 standards for court to considering to establish dating violence occurred and the person is subject to a TPO
• Allows the order to be in effect for up to a year.
  • Further allows a judge to convert the temporary order to a 3 year order
• Outlines what the judge can include in the order – more limited than that of a couple that lives together/family/divorce etc. to include personal property, what parties may or may not do, attorneys fees, and order psych/mental evals 

PASSED: 174-0

HB 236- Rep. Yasmin Neal 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59200 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• After a TPO is filed/issued, allows an individual to request periodic security checks by law enforcement

PASSED: 166-0

HB 247 – Rep. John Carson

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59233 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Cleans up language re: text messages and emails
• Closes loophole by removing the provision that allows a person to show up to court and show that they purchased a wireless device/hands-free/bluetooth device and waive the points on their license and fine
• Raises minimum fine to firm $50 instead up ‘up to $50’ when code section read ‘not to exceed $50’ for the first offense, same for $100 on second offense and $150 for third offense

PASSED: 119-52 

HB 255 – Rep. Scott Holcomb

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59249 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Requires the CJCC notify the Governor, Lt Governor, the Speaker, and the Supreme Court justices of any non-compliance judicial circuits that do not properly report/maintain records for CJCC grant funding 
• Clarifies language re: the requirement to law enforcement entities to maintain sexual assault kits even when the victim chooses not to prosecute. (Not any different than practice previously passed…just clarifies language)
• Addresses ‘unreported sexual assault kits’ which are kits collected but not provided to law enforcement or are not reported with law enforcement 
• Requires CJCC to maintain a sexual assault database on these kits
  • They get hundreds of millions of dollars from the federal government every year so enforcement costs are not an issue.

PASSED: 174-0

HB 258 – Rep. Steven Sainz

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59252 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• In response to a Supreme Court decision – State v. Williams — 2020 Ga. LEXIS 85 (February 10, 2020)
• Explicitly stipulates that consent is irrelevant when the victim is under the age of 16 (as 16 is the age of consent in Georgia) and therefore, the crime is still sexual battery and/or aggravated sexual battery

PASSED: 173-0

HB 272 – Rep. Mandi Ballinger 

LINK →https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59281 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

PASSED: 113-51

HB 290 – Rep. Ed Setzler

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59302 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Patient Representation Act
• Clarifies consistent with federal regulations – the three 3 types of people who have contact with long term care and hospitals legal (decisionmaker on behalf of family, majority of people do not have this), essential caregivers (sitters) and visitors
• The bill does not govern visitors
• Establishes that legal representative under federal regulation has access to 1 hour with patients in hospitals and long term care facilities – entire structure of what a legal representative is under current legal structure of state law
• Essential care givers in long term caregivers would have access during Governor’s declared emergency 
• Physicians can delay this for 48 hours under emergency circumstances…in event of transplant, or event of compromised immune system
• Sharon Cooper wanted to know if the legal representative would be allowed in, required to be allowed in, after 48 hours even if it’s not in the best interest of the patient. Setzler said yes, because the legal representative would need to be in there to help make decisions 
• Cooper said it would bring about the patient’s death, but Setzler said contact and in-person viewing would be imperative over the iphone view…at the time, place and manner prescribed by the hospital. Emphasized that legal reps are not trying to do harm to the people who need care. 
• Setzler said it would not interrupt federal funding, it has been confirmed. 

PASSED: 113-57

HB 291 – Rep. Katie Dempsey 

LINK →https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59303 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• expand eligibility to receive tuition equalization grants to include higher education institutions with a current physical presence in Georgia for 5+ years and accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools OR a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 
• 4 year passing rate must be 85% or higher 
• Bible schools or colleges, or graduate schools or colleges of theology or divinity = not eligible 

PASSED: 169-0

HB 317 – Rep. Ron Stephens

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59359 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Excise tax on marketplace facilitators for AirBnB, VRBO, etc 
• Applies if the person offers a room for value and is required to obtain a business license/occupational license or pay an occupational tax
• Creates the definition of Marketplace Innkeeper under the marketplace facilitators code section
• $5.00 per night
• Requires it be paid to the state on a monthly basis
• Lodging or accommodations that do not provide shelter don’t count – so campgrounds. 

PASSED: 147-22

HB 327 – Rep. Martin Momtahan

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59392 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Deals with certain retail crimes as well as shoplifting offenses
• Requires that retailers that buy or sell (resell) ‘stored value cards’ to keep records of transactions in the manner that a pawnshop is required to do.
• Not doing so is a misdemeanor
• If someone pleads nolo contendere to shoplifting, it is considered a conviction if they’re arrested again and dealing with sentencing/adjudication in court
• Gives judicial discretion for mandatory minimums for shoplifting charges after 4 or more times.
•  If prosecutor and defense have agreed on a sentence below the mandatory minimum.
• Creates a new crime called ‘organized retail theft’
• Person takes property without paying for the property, from one or more stores over a period of 180 days with the intent to sell or for monetary gain and the amount is more than $20,000
• Punishable with a fine up to $50k, 120 years in prison – obviously a felony.

PASSED: 120-48

HB 343 – Rep. Trey Rhodes

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59410 
WHAT THE BILL DOES: 

• Address hunting on private property
• Upping fines for 2nd and 3rd fines hunting and fishing without permission
• Goal is to respect private property, with consideration that there are also safety concerns and there could be accidents

PASSED: 172-0

HB 346 – Rep. Dominic LaRiccia 

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59413 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• This is for individuals that suffer from rare disease – Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• They have to carry a medicine with them 24/7, they have a bracelet that denotes that they need it
• This bill allows paramedics to administer that shot for them
• The bill clarifies they must be in crisis and if they’re in crisis, it can be administered by someone other than themselves or a caregiver
• LaRiccia said the children/infants could die without it and without it administered in a timely manner. The instructions are in a care bag, it stays with the child, this just allows the EMT to administer the drug.

PASSED: 172-0

HB 383 – Rep. John Carson

LINK→http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20212022/HB/383 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Bars the state from entering into a contract over $100,000 if the company/person the state is contracting with does not sign a certification about whether or not that person/individual will boycott Israel
• So as to ensure the state will/won’t be impacted by a boycott of Israel

PASSED: 150-18

HB 411 – Rep. Joseph Gullett

Rules Committee Sub – LC 413085S

• Presented to Rules by Barry Fleming → provides for oversight commission for prosecutors in Georgia
• Line 69 – prosecutorial experience → consistent by other references in bill
• Line 222 and 226 – intent was for Commission to allow for further review in any decisions they made and those changes are in in the bill to effectuate that 

PASSED: 104-61

HB 435 – Rep. Victor Anderson

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59616 
Rules Substitute LC 470969S
Presented by Jan Jones → pertains to public works contracts that were publicly procured 
Adds lines and a half (14 &15) → that government entity shall approve work to be completed under this subject
PASSED:157-9

HB 469 – Rep. Ron Stephens 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59705 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Extends sunset one year for historic rehab project tax credit 
• Line 196 makes sure that after the sunset, it does not hurt other tax credit
• Adds another unrelated tax credit: One truck manufacturers might be looking at Georgia for site selection, so they added a tax credit as an incentive on Line 306 that if you build, domicile here, employ people here in Georgia, company would receive a $2500 per vehicle credit back to the company — expires July 2024
• PASSED: 167-2

HB 479 – Rep.Bert Reeves

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59726 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Repeals Citizen Arrest 
• Replaces with provisions including:
  • A “shopkeeper’s privilege” is created which would allow owners of businesses and their employees to detain offenders who the owner or employee has probable cause to believe is committing a theft on the premises of the owner’s establishment
  • A provision allowing restaurant owners and their employees to detain offenders whom the owner or employee has probable cause to believe are attempting to “dine and dash.”
  • A provision allowing weight inspectors to detain individuals when needed in the course of their duties
  • A provision remaining allowing licensed private security officers and private investigators to detain individuals when conducting their duties in the performance of their businesses
  • A detained offender must either be released, or the owner or employee must contact law enforcement within “A reasonable time” to remove the detained individual. If a law enforcement officer does not arrive within one hour of the initial detention, the detained individual must be released along with their personal belongings
  • A provision is included stating that nothing in this Code Section shall be construed to limit or alter any defense under Georgia’s defense of self and property statutes, or Georgia’s “stand your ground” statute
  • A provision is included prohibiting the use of force that is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to detain someone under this Code Section unless the detention is to protect self, others, ones’ habitation, or to prevent a forcible felony.
• Allows a police officer to detain/arrest when offense committed outside of their jurisdiction but in their presence and when aiding another agency 

PASSED: 173-0

HB 428 – Rep. Chuck Martin 

LINK→ http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20212022/HB/428 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Sales & Use taxes under OCGA 48-8-3
• NAICS code for computer equipment
• If the company is buying more than $15 million in equipment  
• If a sales and use tax exemption is claimed, that company must provide an annual report to the state re: which equipment specifically and the amount of taxes paid + exempted 

PASSED: 170-0

HB 454 – Rep. Mark Newton

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59649 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Pertaining to out of network insurance 
• Requires a plan to continue in-network coverage for the duration of the contract/year 
  • Unless the provider becomes out of network due to suspensions, revocations, expirations

PASSED: 173-0

HB 464 – Rep. Mitchell Scoggins

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59700 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

PASSED: 163-7

HB 495 – Rep. Clint Crowe

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59775 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Pertains to GBI sex offender review board
• Updates information transferred to Board — instead of itemized list, just goes to criminal history record as it is defined in OCGA 35-3-30(4)(A) “means information collected by criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, accusations, information, or other formal charges, and any disposition arising therefrom, sentencing, correctional supervision, and release. Such term also includes the age and sex of each victim as provided by criminal justice agencies. The term does not include identification information, such as fingerprint records, to the extent that such information does not indicate involvement of the individual in the criminal justice system.”

PASSED: 172-0

HB 498 – Rep. Sam Watson 

LINK→  legis.ga.gov/legislation/59778  
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Farm equipment sales tax exemption 
• Adds dairy products and unfertilized eggs unfertilized eggs of poultry to the list of qualified farm products and by modifying the definition of
• “family owned farm entity.”

PASSED: 169-1

HB 517 – Rep. John Carson

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59811 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Rules Committee Substitute: LC 49 0502S
• Qualified education expense program 
• Re: recent audit released in January on the program
• Includes disclosures, making clear to DOR to post audits and in a timely manner with regard to the audits of the Student Scholarship Organizations
• More like the rural hospital program, no increases in the cap – remains $100 mill thru 2028
• Increases in per family credit, individual credit, but no increase in the cap for the overall program
• This is recommendations of dept of audits otherwise for transparency and disclosures 

PASSED: 98-71

HB 520 – Rep. Philip Singleton 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59814 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Revises definition for broadband internet 

FAILED: 51-108

HB 532 –  Bill Werkheiser

LINK→  https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59832 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Annual agency bill from Department of Labor
• Prescribes a different address at which documents served to DOL must be presented
• Stipulates that waivers for state-level benefits during an emergency may not be administered when they would conflict with federal law
• Strikes substantial language for determining ‘eligibility’ of an individual
• Further defines ‘extended benefit period’

ISSUES: Likely all of these things are either federal purse string matters OR practices that are already in place and need to be codified to match. 

PASSED: 165-5

HB 534 – Rep. Josh Bonner

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59834 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Makes illegal street racing more illegal
• If you promote street/drag racing, you are guilty of a high & agg. Misdemeanor
• Stunt driving individuals will have their license suspended (brilliant! Make it so people can’t work)
  • No offense in the last 5 years, up to 12 month suspension with a $200 reinstatement fee
  • Second in 5 years, 18 month suspension with $300 reinstatement fee
  • 3rd and subsequent = habitual violator (this puts them on the same playing field of a drunk driver)
    • Only allowed probationary permit after subject to OCGA 40-5-58
  • Driving while suspended is subject to $750 to $5,000 fine
• Drag racing definition is : whenever drag racing “in reckless disregard for the safety of persons on a highway or upon private property without express authorization from the owner of such property”
  • 1st offense in 10 years – nolo or guilty, $300-$750, mandatory jail time 10 days to 6 months
  • 2nd offense in 10 years – nolo or guilty, $600 to $1,000 fine, mandatory jail time 90 days to 12 months
  • 3rd offense in 10 years – nolo or guilty, $1,000 to $5,000 fine, 120 days to 12 months…also makes a habitual violator 
  • 4th offense is a felony – 1-5 years, $1000 to $5000 fine
• Also gives municipalities the authority to enforce these misdemeanor (high and agg) and felony offenses (which they are otherwise not permitted to do, must go to state court)

PASSED: 130-39

HB 544 – Rep. Alan Powell 

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59852
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Changes the State Lottery System 
• Adds members to the Lottery Board 
• Caps the per-play machine award at $50 
• New license holders/new locations are subject to on-site inspections within 6 months and prohibits the state/agency from keeping a person from obtaining a license simply because they’re new 
• $125 for Class A licenses and $1,000 for Class B licenses 
• If a license expires but they seek to renew within 90 days, they can still do that without a new application but must pay a late fee of $2,000 
• Limits how master licenses are sold to public auction – same for location licenses, master license contracts, and coin operated amusement machines 
• Adds a stipulation that requires the CEO of the Georgia Lottery Corporation to make a decision on a hearing within 30 days and if they do not, it can go to the Business Court of the Superior Court of Fulton County
• Creates a pool of 14 people for Governor to select from to oversee/serve as hearing officers

PASSED: 110-54

HB 562 – Rep. Kasey Carpenter

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59891 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Moves DFCS case workers into probate court from magistrate court in the event that warrants are being issued within the course of their work of duty
  • Contempt of court/juvenile orders – would not be included
• Carpenter told Rules that this allow DFCS workers to do their jobs “without the fear of non-evidential warrants being issued”
• This is coming before the legislature because of a Whitfield County case in which case workers were called to the scene of an incident by police. Case workers conducted all of their work/investigations in front of police and ultimately removed the children from the home. A month later, an estranged mother and her boyfriend returned to magistrate court and took out warrants against the case workers. The magistrate judge had no opportunity to research the cases or circumstance and just issued a warrant for the arrest of the caseworkers. The case workers then had to pay to defend themselves against the criminal acts, miss time from work, and a number of other things. 
• By moving it to Probate Court, evidence would be required prior to the issuance of a warrant

ISSUES: None. This passed last year but stalled in the Senate. Here’s the vote: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/55632 

PASSED: 170-0

HB 567 – Rep. Sharon Cooper 

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59896 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Creates a newborn screening system for “the prevention” of serious illness, severe physical or developmental disability, and death caused by inherited metabolic and genetic disorders.
• Newborn Screening and Genetics Advisory Committee that with 11 to 21 members, all appoint by DPH commissioner

PASSED: 166-2

HB 579 – Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59927  
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Georgia legislature created the Public Public Safety and Judicial Facilities Act created in 2003
• Only county that used this was DeKalb County
• Based on internal issues in 2007, General Assembly imposed referendum on this authority
• DeKalb has asked that the referendum be removed
• This practice of a referendum is not used on any hospital authorities or water authorities in the state
• DeKalb is the only one that is subject to it 

PASSED: 169-0

HB 582 – Rep. Mandi Ballinger

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59943 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Makes Probate COurt Judge in Cherokee County a ‘nonpartisan election’
• “Judicial practices encourage nonpartisan judicial positions“

PASSED: 119-46

HB 611 – Rep. Mike Cheokas

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59986 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Takes Title 50 definition for small business and adds 3 subdivisions
• Tier 1 – 10 employees or less or 1 million in sales or less 
• Tier 2 100 employees and $10 million in sales annually 
• Tier 3 is 300 employees or less and $30 million in sales  (current definition)
• Reason is to enable state of Georgia to focus more specifically state procurement dollars on small business and also in the future offer incentives to enhance job creation 
• Trey Kelley said we’re just adding tiers to be able to help different tiers at different levels in the future 

PASSED: 169-3

HB 617 – Rep. Chuck Martin

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59992 

WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Students at post-secondary institutions can receive compensation 
• This is conditional upon other approval by entities
• Education requirement included
• Ensures student athletes will be treated fairly if they are ever permitted to receive compensation

PASSED: 171-0

HB 619 – Rep. Penny Houston

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60018 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Department of Natural Resources bill re: Berrien County pertaining to 900 acres in the fishing paradise in the Heritage Trust
• Specifically 8 acres on other side of on abandoned railroad bed
• Heritage trust focuses on fishing operation and not wildlife management
• Would like to lease or sell and not keep it up
• Description of property in the bill because do not want to disturb Heritage Trust or have people thinking they can take things out of the Trust without going through the process.
• Sale & lease would have to go through DNR Committee and then through the General Assembly committee again
• Conveying 8 acres 

PASSED: 174-0

HB 631 – Rep. Mike Cheokas

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60033 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Adds duty to Georgia Emergency Communications Authority
• Requires authority to provide standards for a system by for 911 systems that supports collection, storage, retrieval, sharing of voluntarily submitted info if a person has a physical, mental, neurological condition that impedes their ability to communicate with any law enforcement officer or first responder
• PASSED: 169-1

HB 653 – Rep. Rick Jasperse

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60121
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• “Georgia Pharmacy Practice Act”
• Address covid tests and other FDA-approved tests subject to home use as a provision of ‘care’ for pharmacists 
• Only permitted to perform said test at the facility at which the pharmacist works 

PASSED: 171-0

HB 676 – Rep. Penny Houston

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60221 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• The Georgia Farmers’ Market and Produce Terminal Development Authority Act
• Creates the Georgia Farmers’ Market and Produce Terminal Development Authority
  • Charged with operations, administration, supervision of the farmers’ markets across the state
  • Help facilitate activities to promote ag products to ag entities and the general public 
• 10-person authority – 3 appointees each from the gov, lt gov, Speaker + the Commission of the Dept of Ag will serve
  • 2 must be for business interests & ag interests and one must be for consumer from each group of appointees → all will serve four year terms after first round of terms 
• All of this will operate under the Georgia Department of Agriculture 
• Put the state/the authority in the landlord business by allowing it to find, operate, lease, build property 
• Gives the authority the ….authority…to issue bonds
• Places venue for action against the Authority in Tift County (Tifton) and the Attorney General is charged with representing them on any matter even though they are not elected by The People 

PASSED: 166-3

HB 681 – Rep. Bill Yearta 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60181 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Requires course on financial literacy in 10th or 11th grade, per the State Board of Education

HB 693 – Rep. Steven Meeks 

LINK→ https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60221 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• prohibits farm tractors from being driven on any highway in the state unless deemed necessary by the Department of Public Safety for travel in certain geographic areas of the state. 
• Operators must take reasonable steps to reduce the width of farm tractors. 
• If the width of a farm tractor is more than a roadway or more than half the width of a roadway without marked lanes, the operator is required to move the tractor as far to the right-hand side of the roadway as possible.
• If a farm tractor or implement of husbandry cannot be moved to the far right-hand side of a roadway, drivers of other vehicles must yield the right-of-way to the tractor or implement of husbandry.

PASSED: 173-0

HB 697 – Rep. Mark Newton

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60225 
WHAT THE BILL DOES:

• Updates already existing annual hospital questionnaire
• Include information from hospitals electronic record vendor to tell if vendors system allows access by other hospitals or specialists when they’re caring for patients, are there barriers, is there a timeline would be added to existing questionnaire 

PASSED: 172-0

HR 24 – Rep. Derek Mallow

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58928 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Compensating Dominic Brian Lucci for a 1992 wrongful conviction based upon the testimony of a “reluctant partial eyewitness who was unduly pressured to provide false testimony and identify Lucci” for which he spent over 25 years in a prison for a crime he did not commit. 
• Authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to pay the sum of $1 million after a lump sum of $50,000

That’s $40,000/year
PASSED: 154-12

HR 25 – Rep. Derek Mallow

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58929 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Compensating Mark Jason Jones 
• Authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to pay the sum of $1 million after a lump sum of $50,000
• Equal monthly payments over 20 years

PASSED: 149-9

HR 26 – Rep. Derek Mallow

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58930 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Compensating Kenneth Eric Gardiner
• Authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to pay the sum of $1 million after a lump sum of $50,000
• Equal monthly payments over 20 years

PASSED: 150-12

HR 29 – Rep. Carolyn Hugley

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58965 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Compensating Jakeith Bendray Robinson, Sr. 
• Authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to pay the sum of $560,000 after a lump sum of $50,000
• Equal monthly payments over 20 years

PASSED: 133-29

HR 183 – Rep. David Knight 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59845 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES: 

• Urges Congress to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

PASSED: 171-0

HR 144 –  Rep. Rick Williams 

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59654 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Names 6 bridges/intersections 
• the intersection at US 27 and Commerce Street in Chattooga County as Probate Judge Jon Payne Memorial Intersection
• the intersection at State Route 49 and Blandy Road in Baldwin County is dedicated as the Kathryn Poff Memorial Intersection;
• the interchange at SR81 and SR316/US29 in Barrow County is dedicated as the Judy Hill Loftin, LPC Memorial Interchange;
• State Route 515 at Turniptown Creek in Gilmer County is dedicated as the Cecil Mathews Memorial Bridge;
• the portion of State Route 8 from the Gwinnett/Barrow County line to Cedars Road in Gwinnett County is dedicated as the Jimmy Wilbanks Highway
• the bridge on State Route 22 adjacent to 603 West Montgomery Street in Baldwin County is dedicated as the Dennette Odum Jackson Memorial Bridge.

PASSED: 165-0

HR 204 – Rep. Carl Gilliard

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59957 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Dedicates the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center for the Department of Juvenile Justice as the Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr., Juvenile Justice Center

PASSED: 171-0

HR 248 – Rep. Ron Stephens

LINK →https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60126 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES: 

• This was HR 239 in 2019 -2020
• Designating the Savannah Logistics Technology Innovation Corridor as an official technology innovation corridor in Georgia
• Claim is that it is helpful for state and federal grants

PASSED: 172-0

HR 282 – Rep. Stan Gunter

LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/60216 
WHAT THE RESOLUTION DOES:

• Dedicates the intersection of State Route 515 and State Route 325 in Union County as the ‘Sydnie Grace Jones Memorial Intersection’

PASSED: 169-0