This is an informal rundown of the legislative happenings. These bills are from the most recent legislative day – 2/23/21, or Day 21.
The House of Representatives passed the following measures, all of which now head to the Senate:
HB 68 – Rep. Heath Clark
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58881
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Gives the respective state licensing board the discretion to award a license to a military service member up to two years after their discharge (from 180 days currently to 2 years)
- This is as it pertains to respective licenses based on certifications attained in the military
- Cites health,hospitalization, other exigent emergencies as incomplete list of examples the board may consider
ISSUES: None
PASSED: 163-0
HB 119 – Rep.Karen Mathiak
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/58987
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Changes the law to allow chiropractors to join/partner/organize with practicing physicians so long as both chiropractors and physicians are operating within their own individual scopes.
- Jointly owning a professional corporation is currently prohibited.
- Right now they use LLCs and Mathiak says that’s cumbersome for “them” but she means “us” because she is a chiropractor.
ISSUES:
PASSED: 163-0
HB 149 – Rep. Bruce Williamson
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59024
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Pertains to S corporations and partnerships
- Allows these entities to make a decision once per year to elect to pay income taxes at the entity level as opposed to the individual shareholder or partner level.
ISSUES: None
PASSED: 167-0
HB 161 – Rep. Jan Tankersley
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59074
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Deletes code section that allows Downtown Development Authorities to exist in perpetuity
- Current language says they shall/must exist in perpetuity
ISSUES: None
PASSED: 165-0
HB 210 – Rep. John Corbett
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59158
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- clarifies when vehicles are exempt from the requirement of disclosing odometer mileage on certificates of title
- Over 16,000 lbs
- Manufactured in 2010 or before AND is transferred at least 10 years after the model year of the vehicle
- Manufactured in or after 2011 AND is transferred at least 20 years after Jan 1 of the model year of the vehicle.
ISSUES: None
PASSED: 163-0
HB 241 – Rep. Matthew Gambill
LINK →https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59205
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Pertains to outliers of what is included in property insurance coverage
- Changes language to clarify that cosmetic repair to wheels on vehicle may include damage from road contact with potholes, rocks, wood debris, metal parts, plastic, curbs, or composite scraps
- allows the deduction of benefits paid from any cancellation refund of a service contract to the customer and done so within 20 days of cancellation
- allows contracts for the replacement of lost, stolen, or inoperable key fobs to cover excess wear and use charges at the end of a lease (how did we get to a point where this has to be legislated?)
ISSUES:
PASSED: 166-0
HB 245 – Rep. John LaHood
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59231
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Changes the code section to reflect that fingerprint checks are not required for license renewals
- Only applies to new applicants and reinstatements (After lapse, suspension, etc)
- Applies to fingerprints and criminal bakground checks amends a provision relating to fingerprint and criminal background checks used in podiatry
ISSUES: Allowing un-fingerprinted podiatrists to just walk amongst us? In all seriousness, this should apply to far more industries.
PASSED: 115-0
HB 305 – Rep. Lee Hawkins
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59346
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Adds code section that requires massage therapy license applications to be approved by either the state governing board or the national certifying organization
- Adds code section to require that the training courses for certification are conducted by a licensed person in good standing part of an organization that is licensed by the state
ISSUES: Additional regulations
PASSED: 161-2 (NOs= Gilligan & Singleton)
HB 342- Rep. Dale Washburn
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59409
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- prohibits any person from advertising as a master plumber or journeyman plumber without first obtaining a license from the Division of Master Plumbers and
ISSUES: So, to be clear, you’re only a master plumber or journeyman if you give the government a fee and the same government recognizes your license from an organization said government as endorsed.
PASSED: 167-0
HB 354 – Rep. Ricky Williams
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59426
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Sets a 30 day requirement for investigations when someone complains to the State Board of Cemeterians (from the day the complaint is received by the Board)
- Another 7 days is given following an investigation if there are possibilities of criminal wrongdoing
- This is for notifying the AG and the respective sheriff
- 7 days from AG notice to get it in front of the local prosecuting attorney
ISSUES: None, other than it doesn’t dictate what happens if the prosecuting attorney does or doesn’t act.
PASSED: 167-0
HB 367 – Rep. Butch Parrish
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59467
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Annual drug update
- Brings drugs schedules in compliance with what the feds are doing while including any new drugs that may have been added in the last year. (The problem is this bill is always reactive and adding to the list of what is illegal)
ISSUES: You may consider voting against this if you believe drug schedules are a state issue and not a federal issue. Or if you believe that if marijuana was decriminalized, other harder drugs would be used less widely. Otherwise, it’s merely procedural.
PASSED: 164-0
HB 374 – Rep. Houston Gaines
LINK → https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59507
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Adds another exemption to sales & use tax code
- Would apply if the sale is to any authority created by the legislature or local constitutional amendment if the authority provides water or sewer service
ISSUES: None.
PASSED: 164-0
The Senate passed the following measures:
SB 40 – Sen. Jen Jordan
LINK–> https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59064
PASSED: 53-0
SB 67 – Sen. Larry Walker
LINK–> https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59216
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Requires a copy of a driver’s license with an absentee ballot when it is mailed in.
PASSED: 35-18
SB 184 – Sen. Bill Cowsert
LINK–> https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59712
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Reduces the number of days from 60 to 30 days for the statewide list of qualified voters to be updated prior to an election
- $100 fine PER DAY by the State election board for every day past the deadline that the list is not updated
PASSED: 37-15
SB 188 – Sen. Bill Cowsert
LINK–> https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/59718
WHAT THE BILL DOES:
- Requires the SOS to maintain a database on a public website for ballots cast, by type, precinct, etc
- Requires that ‘as soon as possible after polls close,’ county election superintendents must enter into the database the number of absentee ballots issued and return, irrespective of vote count/tallies
- Prior to counting votes, requires that ballot totals and by precinct be entered into the database by county officials.
PASSED: 34-18
