The Georgia House of Representatives kicked off the fifth week of the 2023 legislative session on Monday, February 6. With more than a month of session behind us, the pace certainly picked up. More bills made their way out of their respective committees and onto the House floor for a vote, and we saw the passage of several House bills that would impact Georgia’s infrastructure, roadways, and transportation laws.

My colleagues and I overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation to protect our critical infrastructure overseen by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), including the Port of Savannah.

Georgia’s Spencer Pass Law requires drivers to safely change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary emergency or service vehicles on our roadways so that drivers do not pass directly next to stopped emergency vehicles. This week, we passed House Bill 119 to update this law to also require drivers to move over for any disabled vehicle, such as another car or tow truck, that displays flashing hazard lights and/or yellow, amber, white or red lights if it is safe to do so.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, following a five-and-a-half hour hearing with a packed room of lobbyist, legislators and media, the House Transportation Committee passed House Bill 189, sponsored by Rep. Steven Meeks, by an 18-11 margin. The bill will now move to the House Rules Committee where members will decide when it is placed on the calendar for a floor vote in the full House of Representatives.

HB 189 establishes a 12.5% variance on the 80,000 lb limit, providing a total gross vehicle weight of 90,000 lbs. for all five-axle commercial trucks on state highways. This is the first time that the Transportation Committee has allowed truck weights legislation to come up for a vote since 2005.

By the end of theweek, we reached Legislative Day 16 and are almost halfway through the 40-day legislative session. We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, February 13 for another packed week of lawmaking as we get closer to the infamous “Crossover Day,” which is the last day a bill can pass out of the House or Senate for the first time and still remain eligible to become law this year.

I was honored to celebrate the 100th birthday of a World War II veteran who was in the room to witness the surrender of the German Army

Louis Graziano is a great American and a great Georgian

Georgia Forestry Day at the Capitol

Girl Scouts Day at the Capitol

Many of our Representatives are former Girl Scouts-

a testament to the leadership skills they teach

STOMP Day at the Capitol

Stop Taxing Our Menstrual Products

Library Legislative Day! Enjoyed spending time at our state Capitol celebrating the work of libraries across Georgia. With the Library Foundation Director Laura Ann Mann and

Chattahoochee Valley Libraries Director Alan Harkness

Troup county delegation recognizing Lagrange College team

I remain dedicated to serving your interests as your State Representative, and I hope that you will contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the legislative session or with any proposals or recommendations for future legislation.

You can also stay in touch by visiting our website to watch a live stream of the House in action, as well as archived committee meetings, and review legislation that we are considering.

Follow me on facebook for updates throughout the year.

I am honored to serve House District 137. Thank you for allowing me to be your Representative.

Sincerely,

Representative Debbie Buckner

Capitol Address

409-A Coverdell Legislative Office Building

18 Capitol Square SW

Atlanta, GA 30334

404.656.0116 - Office

District Address

780 Fielders Mill Road

Junction City, GA 31812

706.269.3630 - Office

My Committees

• Appropriations
• Natural Resources & Environment
• Retirement
• State Properties
• Technology and Infrastructure Innovation
• Ways & Means