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Gold Dome Update 
Highlights from the House 
Monday, January 11th officially marked the beginning of our 2021 Legislative Session. The first order of business was for all elected members to be sworn into office.

Tuesday, January 19th brought the beginning of Budget Week. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we settled in, received our respective committee assignments, listened to Governor Kemp's agenda for the upcoming year and attended numerous budget hearings. All in all, it has been a productive start.

Before we jump into what occurred over the course of the last few weeks, we would like to say a huge thanks to Senator David Perdue and Senator Kelly Loeffler for their service to our state. As a native to our community, Senator Perdue went above and beyond for us throughout his time in service. He will be greatly missed. While Senator Loeffler was just beginning her service, we sincerely appreciate her efforts and conservative leadership during her time. Congratulations to the victors of these Senate seats and we look forward to a productive relationship between our Federal and State Representatives.

We would also like to congratulate Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald. Commissioner McDonald has proven to be an invaluable asset to our commission over the years and we look forward to his continued service.

Election Integrity
House Governmental Affairs Committee
Earlier this year, some of our Democratic friends had concerns about election processes and policies. To address those concerns, Speaker Ralston tasked our House Governmental Affairs committee with investigating our elections process to ensure that our state conducts fair and transparent elections. We did so and made a number of recommendations which we believe will yield positive results in our elections process moving forward.

The Speaker asked our Committee to re-open the elections investigation, from earlier in the year, in order to answer new questions and discrepancies in Georgia’s voting system that may have led to thousands of illegal votes being cast and counted in this year’s elections. Further, we were to propose any fixes required to close potentially glaring loopholes in the process.

The Speaker, along with my House colleagues, have made clear "Georgians deserve to trust and have confidence in their elections. Georgia must get it right," and I wholeheartedly agree. The 2020 elections – like all things 2020 – became a next level challenge. We raised concerns about the conduct of this election cycle early on and unfortunately, after the committee process played out, testimony from participants accurately showed us that some of our fears were realized.

Our purpose in holding these meetings was to gather information of what went wrong and how to fix it. That’s the job of the Legislative Branch: to look into evidence of problems that warrant changes to the law as we did this earlier this year. Perhaps our suggestions – old and possibly new -- will be better-received now.

It is clear that COVID-19, new equipment and mass absentee by mail voting led to many of the problems we witnessed back in the June primary. Similar and new irregularities emerged in November. Therefore we sought to hear from various experts and examine evidence presented from witnesses and other stakeholders. Anything criminal, was sent to the proper authorities following our hearings. Committee meetings are not a court room and no one was on trial aside from the integrity of our coming elections.

It is clear that something went wrong. Numerous reports of potential problems and failures in the November general election have been alleged--some of them quite serious. And as we move through the 2021 legislative session, we intend to remedy any laws in Georgia election procedures to prevent anything like this from ever happening again.


"When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear."
- Thomas Sowell


Click the links below to watch full
House Governmental Affairs Election Committee Hearings:
State of the State
Thursday, January 14, marked Governor Kemp's third State of the State address while in office. His message outlined what was accomplished over the last year, despite of the impacts brought by COVID-19. While the pandemic has impacted economic activity across the state, we are on track to bounce back and fully recover through our continued efforts of conservative spending and a balanced budget. Most importantly, no new budget cuts will be necessary, and Gov. Kemp has called for more than $647 million in the Amended Fiscal Year 2021 budget for K-12 education, which will fully fund enrollment growth.

Governor Kemp also elaborated his plans for increased broadband internet access; an enhanced freight transportation network; increased protections for human trafficking victims; PPE tax credits to pharmaceutical and medical companies; continued expansion of access to quality medical care across our state. He also highlighted the success of Georgia’s economy - with over 16,000 jobs created since July 1, 2020, and more than $6 billion invested in our state, over half which was invested outside of the metro Atlanta area. As the legislative session continues, I will update you all items in regards to the Governor’s agenda.

Keep Up with Capitol Hill

The Georgia General Assembly has unveiled a brand-new website! This site is easy to navigate and I encourage you to explore this great informational tool.
Check out the helpful links below. 
Budget Week Hearings

Over the last couple of weeks, House and Senate Appropriations Committees held a series of joint budget hearings, which gave us the chance to closely examine Governor Kemp's recommendations. As our state’s fiscal year begins July 1, we are in the first stages of crafting two budget bills: The full 2022 Fiscal Year budget and the 2021 Amended Fiscal Year budget. 


2021 Amended Fiscal Year Budget

Our House Appropriations Committee was hard at work as each subcommittee passed their respective portions of the Amended Fiscal Year 2021 (AFY 2021) budget. Once finalized, the supplemental budget was sent to the House Rules Committee, the bill’s final stop prior to a full House floor vote. Thursday, January 28, brought passage to House Bill 80, the AFY 2021 budget, which has now been sent to the Senate for review. Below please find details of the AFY 2021 budget.

During the 2020 legislative session, the original Fiscal Year 2021 budget was set using a revenue estimate of $25.9 billion, which reduced funding for all state agencies in preparation for pandemic revenue decline. Fortunately, our state’s economic outlook greatly improved given that state businesses were allowed the option to safely reopen. Subsequently, the House’s version of the AFY 2021 budget was increased by $654.3 million, or 2.4 percent, compared to original projections.

K- 12 Education
Like past years, the largest expenditure in the state budget goes towards K-12 education, designating 43.4 percent, of the state’s general funds to educating our children.
  • Restores 60 percent of the reduction made in the original projections to the QBE formula.
  • $41 million for a midterm adjustment to the QBE formula despite a 2 percent, decline in student enrollment due to the pandemic.
  • $144.6 million in federal funds for the Department of Early Care and Learning for the Child Care and Development Block Grants.

Higher Education
  • $70.1 million to the University System of Georgia (USG) that was not included in the original 2021 budget.
  • Restores $8.1 million, or 60 percent, to the USG programs, such as the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Medical College of Georgia Hospital/Clinic, among others.
  • $3.5 million in new funding for enrollment growth at the Technical College System of Georgia.
 
Health
As the state continues the fight against COVID-19, the House has prioritized funding to support our public health agency as well as other health-focused initiatives.
  •  $18 million for the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to replace and modernize its outdated equipment and improve overall infrastructure.
  • $285,997 for DPH to hire essential leaders to help navigate the agency’s COVID-19 response.
  • $1 billion from federal relief packages to support the DPH in laboratory capacity, COVID-19 vaccine preparedness and public health crisis response.
  • $19.3 million to increase the Medicaid growth allowance for skilled nursing centers.
  • $1.8 million for the Patients First Act and the state’s 1115 Medicaid waiver, effective July 1, 2021.
  • $15.4 million to support the increased utilization of the AIDS Drug Assistance Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human Services
  • $130 million in federal relief funds for human service agencies used for a variety of pandemic response-related grants.
  • $1.7 million in FMAP savings for a new 10-bed behavioral health crisis center to specifically serve Georgians with a mental health diagnosis and/or an intellectual or developmental disability.
  • $4.7 million to the DHS to anticipate an increase in Medicaid services resulting from the Patients First Act.
  • $176,500 for the Georgia Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) to provide educational services to more than 80 foster children, in addition to the more than 1,700 children already served through this program.

Criminal Justice & Public Safety
  • $427,000 to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) for recruitment and retention of medical examiners.
  • $223,600 for the GBI to expand the state’s gang database.
  • $100 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act for public safety agencies to assist in response to the pandemic.
 
Economic Development & Transportation
  • $20 million for the OneGeorgia which will greatly assist rural areas to address broadband needs that are specific to each rural community.
  • $25.7 million in CARES Act payments to the Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority.
  • $410.8 million in CARES Act funding for the Georgia Department of Transportation’s Airport Aid program.

Georgia Department of Labor
Sadly, many Georgians have experienced unemployment since the start of the pandemic which has greatly overwhelmed resources within the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL). There for, we are glad to report an allocation of $60 million in federal funding for GDOL to address workforce issues resulting from increased workloads.

While we are pleased the AFY 2021 successfully passed the House, we now turn towards the Senate and await their changes and recommendations. In the meantime, we will now begin to further delve into the “Big Budget,” also known as the full 2022 Fiscal Year budget. 


2022 Fiscal Year Budget

In his State of the State Address, Governor Kemp announced that the 2022 fiscal year budget proposal is set for an estimated $27.2 billion. The governor listed his funding recommendations, and as expected, education and healthcare remain at the forefront of budget funding, receiving approximately 74% of the state’s overall budget. Public safety, transportation and general government round out the top spends collectively taking most of the remaining budget allocations. Below is a highlight of Governor Kemp's 2022 FY budget proposals:
 
Education
  • $567 million to restore the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program.
  • $9 million to restore various programs directly supporting K-12 instruction.
  • $143.5 million to cover student enrollment growth and adjustment to teachers’ salaries through the Quality Basic Education.
  • $71 million for the equalization program; provides funds to districts with low property wealth.
  • $6 million for technical education enrollment growth.
  • $36 million for the State Charter Schools.
Healthcare
  • $239 million for Medicaid and PeachCare
  • $76 million to implement the Patients First Act, to identify innovative health insurance coverage for low-income Georgians.
  • $1.9 million to add slots for the New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP) for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Public Safety
  • $15.6 million in bond funds for safety and security enhancements.
  • $3.1 million to support trooper school.
  • $270,320 to expand the GBI Gang Taskforce.
  • $700,000 for grants to local domestic violence shelters and sexual assault centers.
Rural Initiatives
  • $40 million for the OneGeorgia Authority to establish a Rural Innovation Fund, which would offer resources for public-private partnerships tailored to meet the specific needs of every rural community.
  • $30 million to continue building high-speed broadband connectivity in rural areas.
Transportation
  • $200 million allocated to the GA Department of Transportation
  • $100 million to repair and replace bridges.
  • $10 million to upgrade our more than 1,000 miles of short-line rail

What’s Next?
Although budget week has technically come to an end, our work is far from over. House Appropriation subcommittees will further study budget proposals, eventually passing portions of the suggested budget out of their respective committees. Following this process, those individually passed budgets will then go before the full House Appropriations Committee. Soon after, the budget will receive a full vote on the House floor.
 
When passed by the House, it then moves over to the Senate, where the process begins all over again. During Senate budget hearings, they will either approve or change House recommendations. When both Chambers agree on the budget, it goes to the Governor’s desk for his approval and signature. We will keep you updated on anything specific to our region. 
Committee Assignments

Committees within the General Assembly are incredibly important as this is where the legislative rubber meets the road. All bills introduced must be properly vetted through the committee process before making it to the House floor for a full vote. If passed, the legislation then moves to the Senate side to begin their committee process. 
Committee meetings are live streamed through the General Assembly website. we encourage you to follow along with any issue of which you find of interest. Click here for a full listing of House Committees.

Humbled and honored to have been entrusted by Speaker Ralston and the Committee on Assignments for the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. We would also like to welcome the newest Ways and Means Committee members from our middle Georgia region, Representatives Noel Williams and Dale Washburn, who will serve alongside current members, Representatives Robert Dickey and Patti Bentley. In addition to Ways & Means, I look forward to serving the following committees:

COVID-19 Vaccinations

Many have been reaching out in regard to the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations. Please find below a quick overview of the state’s COVID vaccination distribution process and some helpful FAQ's to help you in this process.

All of the information regarding Georgia's COVID Vaccine Distribution can be found at: https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine. This page, which is updated daily at 6 PM allows you to view the following:

  • Number of doses that have been allocated to the state.
  • Number of doses ordered
  • Number of doses administered
  • Where vaccines have been allocated by enrolled provider
  
Currently, Georgia is vaccinating in the Phase 1a+ population - which includes health care workers, long-term care residents and staff, law enforcement and other first responders, and seniors 65+. We expect that this eligible population will take several weeks to vaccinate, as there are more than 1.3M seniors in Georgia. 
 
"Who is next?" and "When?" At this time, the state is currently reviewing our limited supply and planning for Phase 1b. DPH expects that the next phase will likely include essential workers - including teachers and other critical areas. We are hopeful that we can begin vaccinating in this phase in the coming weeks but are dependent on the federal government's supply to states. More information on this will be forthcoming. 
 
DPH has added a vaccine locator and scheduling information for the 1a+ population - and we are encouraging folks to reach out to their local health department if they are in the 1a+ population to schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine. Very soon, the DPH will have a centralized scheduling system for all county public health departments. We will continue to update you on COVID-19 vaccinations as the information becomes available.
Please be on the lookout for weekly newsletters as we make our way through the remainder of our 2021 Legislative Session. As always, thank you for the honor of allowing us to serve you under the Gold Dome as we continue our efforts towards ensuring simple, smart and effective government within our great state of Georgia. 

Respectfully,
Shaw Blackmon
Representative of Georgia's 146th House District
Representative Shaw Blackmon
District 146

Phone: 404-463-7583
Address: 401-K State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334