My Bills in Committees This Week |
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Last Monday, my bills HB 23, 24, and 66 received a hearing before the House Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on State and Local Government. I was glad to have testimony in favor of the bills from DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader (at right above), DeKalb County Board of Education member Marshall Orson, Kathleen Bowen of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, and Martha Gross, a citizen from Brookhaven.
The Georgia Economic Developers Association, Mayor John Ernst of Brookhaven, and the Georgia Municipal Association oppose the bills. But I have been in conversation with those groups and with Rep. Barry Fleming on the subcommittee. I remain hopeful that this open discussion will result in better bills that will provide the transparency people need in annexation and tax abatement proceedings.
We have another hearing tomorrow on HB 66. I am preparing new drafts of the bill and remain hopeful of passage.
If you want to watch the hearing TOMORROW at 3:30 p.m., you can do so HERE.
HB 272 Raise the Age. This bill likely will be on the agenda of the Juvenile Justice Committee this week, possibly tomorrow. I have fought for this for years and am hopeful Georgia will finally join the 47 other states that treat 17 year olds as juveniles instead of adults. To submit comments on the bill, contact Chair Mandi Ballinger at
HB 109 Childhood Victims Protection Act providing more protection for victims of childhood sexual abuse and extending the time for victims to bring claims. Will be heard in the Gunter Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow. To submit comments, contact Subcommittee Chair Stan Gunter at stan.gunter@house.ga.gov
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Your Voice Heard: Poll Results/New Poll |
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LAST POLL RESULTS: In answer to our last poll about whether to require photo ID to request an absentee ballot, 58.9% of you said NO, 26.3% of you said YES, and 14.7% of you said you were UNSURE.
NEW POLL QUESTION: Covid-19 is beginning to have legislative consequences. I want to hear how you would vote on one bill before the legislature now.
HB 290 would require hospitals and nursing homes to allow visits by family and friends even in a declared public health emergency (which means they would not have to comply with CDC procedures or Executive Orders) and exempts those institutions from liability for claims related to such visits.
How would you vote? Note: A YES vote would allow such visits.
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How would you vote on HB 290?
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The Bad News: Election Law Update |
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The state Republican Party Election Confidence Task Force issued a stunning report, full of recommendations that would turn back the clock on voting laws and access. Read the full REPORT. (Photo of State GOP Chair David Shafer above by Bob Andres for AJC.)
The AJC notes a split among Republicans over the details in the report. AJC
The report plays out in the legislature as my Republican colleagues have filed bill after bill trying to restrict voting. So far, only one of the many Republican sponsored election laws has passed out a House committee, HB 270.
That proposed law would change the last day for requesting an absentee by mail ballot from the Friday before Election Day Tuesday to the Friday a week prior—moving the date back by a week. Urged by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia it ostensibly would allow counties a reasonable time to fulfill a request for an absentee ballot. A county elections office would have three days to from the date of the request to fulfill it. Arguments against it concern limitations on shortening time for voters to seek absentee ballots. This legislation probably will reach the House floor for a vote this week, perhaps on Tuesday when the Session reconvenes. How would YOU vote?
Follow more of the election law bills, including those below, in the House by looking at the Special Committee on Election Integrity under the tab "Assigned Legislation". Of special interest are these:
- HB 227 and 228, which would require voter ID for absentee ballots.
- HB 325 which severely restricts the definition of an absentee voter.
- HB 366 which would remove automatic voter registration on application for a driver's license.
Make your views known:
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The Supplemental Budget -- Some Good News |
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On Thursday, February 11, House Appropriations Chair Terry England (left, House Media Services) presented the 2021 FY Supplemental Budget to the House, after it returned with Senate approval. We fulfilled our constitutional duty to pass a budget for the remainder of FY 2021 through June. The budget now goes to the Governor for signature. I voted yes, primarily because our economy has strengthened (revenues were up 7.5% in January), and this budget increased funding for public health and rural broadband.
As I have said before, there still is lack of clarity on the complex questions about how much CARES Act money has been moved to fund programs not otherwise fully funded, how much federal money has actually been received, and how much significant new money will be received in the Biden administration package.
But, I am glad to see funding in two areas with deficiencies exposed during the pandemic. The Supplemental Budget includes an increase of $43 million to the Department of Public Health to rebuild its old, outdated, and insufficient infrastructure and to staff additional positions necessary to administer the Covid-19 response.
And, we may finally be serious about funding rural broadband. No community can survive, much less thrive, in the 2020’s without access to high speed internet. We are making progress and leveraging the $20 million in state funds committed now to the OneGeorgia Authority to establish a grant program for rural areas to leverage federal, local, and private resources to meet broadband needs in their areas.
It will be another one to two months before we finalize the FY 2022 budget. I hope we will get answers to some of the questions about the CARES money.
Find budget highlights HERE under the “News and Highlights” tab.
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We now know that we will not receive the federal Census information before September. Thus we are unlikely to meet in Special Session about reapportionment before October or even November. That may mean a delay in the 2022 election qualifying deadlines. |
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COVID-19: Vaccine Rollout Still Slow |
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The Latest from the Department of Public Health
As of 12:00PM EST 02/12/2021
Providers Enrolled 2,186
Total Allocated 1,835,775
Total Vaccines Ordered 1,835,775
Total Vaccines Shipped 1,835,775
Total Vaccines Administered 1,376,546
Updated CDC Quarantine Guidance
The CDC released updated guidance regarding quarantine of individuals exposed to COVID-19. That guidance is available here. This updated guidance states that vaccinated persons with an exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Are fully vaccinated (i.e., ≥2 weeks following receipt of the second dose in a 2-dose series, or ≥2 weeks following receipt of one dose of a single-dose vaccine)
- Are within 3 months following receipt of the last dose in the series
- Have remained asymptomatic since the current COVID-19 exposure
According to the CDC, “while mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy at preventing severe and symptomatic COVID-19, there is currently limited information on how much the vaccines might reduce transmission and how long protection lasts.” For that reason, strict adherence to the tried-and-true mitigation measures are necessary for everyone, regardless of vaccination status, including mask usage, social distancing, hand washing, etc.
How can I find out where to get a vaccine?
A full listing of vaccine locations accepting members of the public is available HERE. Check your local pharmacy and your local hospital and medical provider as well.
Volunteer? To volunteer to help administer vaccines, start HERE. If you are a registered nurse or LPN with an out-of-state or lapsed license, try starting HERE.
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My Team and Other Resources for You |
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Sydney Cleland
Sydney practiced law at Alston & Bird and Waste Management, Inc. for ten years, parented two children, and then taught elementary and middle school at Paideia School for thirteen years. Now an empty nester, Sydney and her attorney husband Craig Cleland devote their spare time to Basset Hound Peaches at home in House District 83.
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Olivia Sims
Administrative Assistant
404-656-0265
Olivia has worked with me for twelve years, following a career with a property and casualty insurance company. She also holds a real estate license. A loving mother and grandmother she is now pet parent to Titan the chihuahua. She lives in House District 113.
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I also have a graduate school intern from Emory University's Center for Ethics, Jacob Yudin. Jacob is watching hearings and helping with social media. Welcome, Jacob!
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Other Resources for You
You can search for pending bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:
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Since I cannot greet you at the rope line this year or attend your events in person, I have had a lot of Zoom meetings with groups.
On Political Rewind on Tuesday Feb. 9, we had a good discussion, despite Henry voicing his opinion throughout the broadcast! Political Rewind
Last Thursday night, I met by Zoom with the United Advanced Practice Nurses of Georgia about their legislative concerns.
I also Zoomed with Emory Internal Medicine Primary Care Resident Physicians to learn their legislative priorities, including equitable access to the Covid-19 vaccine.
And Rep. Evans, Sen. Parent, and I (pictured below) were on a panel for Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church members in our districts.
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I miss seeing you at the Capitol. With the strangeness of our Covid protocols and against the backdrop of the contentious post-presidential election and national impeachment trial, the absence of Scouting troops, school groups, advocacy groups of all sorts, and individual constituents stands out. I look forward to returning to “business as usual” as I’m sure you do, too. |
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As you know, I enjoy retreating to my Fightingtown Creek cabin on weekends. The ever-changing view never fails to disappoint and refresh me. |
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Unburdened by and unaware of Covid restrictions, Henry makes his sniffing rounds. |
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Coverdell Legislative Office Building
18 Capitol Square, Suite 604
Atlanta, GA 30334
404-656-0265
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