Happy Women's History Month! |
|
To go directly to issues you are interested in, click on the following links: |
|
There are three legislative days (March 8, 9 and 11) and two committee workdays (March 10 and 14) left before crossover day on March 15. Any bills that have not crossed over to the other chamber by midnight on March 15 will be dead and would need to be reintroduced as new bills in 2023.
Signed into law:
-
HB1028 and HB1154 redistricting the Cobb County Commission and School Board
-
SB457 and SB458 redistricting the Augusta Richmond County Board of Education and Board of Commissioners. There is continuing bitter division in the county over this legislation.
Passed and awaiting the Governor’s signature:
-
SB466 redistricting the DeKalb County Board of Education
|
|
The Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to add $2.6 billion to the state’s whopper of a mid-year budget. The budget now moves to the full Senate, which is expected to pass it quickly.
- $189.8 million in matching funds for the $1.2 trillion Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, signed by President Joe Biden in November. Georgia must match 20% of the federal government's allocation to the state.
- $1.6 billion in state income tax refunds
- $382 million restored to K-12 education
- $93 million to K-12 schools due to enrollment growth
- $188 million to replace 1,747 school buses over the next three years
- $500 million to give 100,000 or so state employees and University System of Georgia employees a $5,000 raise
- $250 million more for Medicaid
- $26 million in incentive payments to nursing homes
- $4 million to provide $2,000 bonuses to school nurse—proposed by the Senate vs. $1,000 proposed by the House
- $5 million to bolster nursing school programs
- $432 million to buy a new prison and construct a new 3,000-bed prison
- Replace more than 300 Department of Public Safety vehicles
- $9,000 pay increases for correction officers—vs. $5,000 proposed by the House
- $20 million in rural downtown development grants
- $45 million to relocate state agencies from a Peachtree St. building to Capitol Hill
- $150 million to pay state worker's compensation claims dating back to 1982
- $29 million on state parks improvements—double the $14.9 million proposed by the House
- $112.6 million to purchase and develop land east of Atlanta for the Rivian electric vehicle manufacturing plant
HR842 would amend the state Constitution to raise legislators’ income to 60% of the median household income in the state, beginning in 2025. The bipartisan resolution would take the issue out of the General Assembly’s hands where voting themselves a pay increase is always a touchy political subject, particularly in an election year. If passed, the amendment would be on the ballot in November. Currently, legislators earn $17,342 for what is considered a part-time job. However, serving comes with long hours and usually spills over into a year-round commitment. The proposal would raise legislative pay to about $36,000 and trigger automatic pay increases as median income rises.
|
|
HB1302 passed the House and now goes to the Senate. It would give income tax refunds of between $250 and $500 per household.
A new bill announced by Speaker David Ralston would give a major tax cut beginning in 2024. The Speaker’s office estimates that 95% of Georgians would pay less.
- The tax rate—currently progressive at a maximum of 5.75%—would become a flat rate of 5.25%
- Exemptions would rise to $12,000 for single filers and $24,000 per household
- Only charitable contributions would be deductible
- Current exemptions for those over 65 and older would remain
|
|
SB377 continues to divide education professionals from legislators over the teaching of “divisive concepts.” Teachers and students descended on the Capitol to voice opposition to the bill. Its sponsor, Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-50, Cornelia), promised a revised bill based on public comment.
SB226, the school library censorship bill, has made it halfway. It passed the Senate Committee on Judiciary.
|
|
SB456 passed the Senate. It outlaws ordering abortion-inducing medication by mail and requires in-person doctors visit and an ultrasound exam in order to access the drugs.
SB496 would require autopsies in cases of maternal deaths. This is an effort to improve the state’s dismal status as one of the lowest in maternal survival (49th out of 50 states). Sen. Dean Burke (R-11, Bainbridge), the bill’s sponsor and a retired gynecologist, called the ranking “the bane of my existence”.
HB937 passed to allow Medicaid coverage for annual mammograms. Insurers would be required to notify women in writing when they turn 40 to get a mammogram.
HB1400 passed to expand the number of licenses for medical marijuana.
SB403 passed unanimously to allow behavioral health professionals to accompany law enforcement when they respond to calls involving mental health issues. A follow-up for incarcerated individuals who could be better treated in a mental health facility is also included.
|
|
SB580 would prohibit political action committees affiliated with a member of the General Assembly from soliciting or accepting contributions during a legislative session. The bill, only four lines long, passed unanimously. Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-27, Cumming), the bill’s sponsor, laughed that this was the first time Common Cause supported one of his bills.
|
|
SB472 to redistrict the Public Service Commission (PSC) passed the Senate and the House. It will now be sent to the Governor. The PSC oversees the cost of electricity and other utilities. Georgia is one of the only states that does not have a regulatory agency overseeing utility pricing. If this map becomes law, it is expected to be challenged in court based on violation of the Voting Rights Act for racial discrimination.
SR564 was proposed by Sen. Sheikh Rahman (D-5, Lawrenceville) to require bills for redistricting county commissions and school boards to always be treated as local legislation. It was defeated in the Senate Rules Committee.
|
|
SB319, aka Constitutional Carry, moved closer to law with passage in the Senate. The bill removes the need for a permit to carry handguns.
|
|
HB1320 would allow the collection and analysis of DNA samples from certain individuals at the time of arrest. The bill has bipartisan support.
|
|
HB1274 would define antisemitism in state law. Proponents say it would help prosecutors in cases involving hate crimes. Opponents including the ACLU worry that it would prevent criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights.
|
|
SR53 wagers that Georgians want to bet on horse races. The measure passed the Senate Committee on Regulated Industries & Utilities with some long odds predicting $1.2 million in revenue to the state. If passed, a referendum would be on the November ballot. Sen. Brandon Beach (R-21, Alpharetta), the resolution’s sponsor, says that bringing a Breeder’s Cup-type event to Georgia could bring in $100 billion—this to a state without a racetrack. In a rather garbled argument against the idea, Michael Griffin of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, said that the measure could result in “money for marijuana, and God forbid one day pennies for prostitutes”.
|
|
Under the Gold Dome will be distributed to League members and partners each week that the Georgia General Assembly is in session. It is a product of our Education Fund, allowing us to report legislative facts and activities at the State Capitol. The UTGD Team is comprised of LWVGA staff and volunteers, who will be tracking and reporting on legislation and committee hearings throughout the legislative session.
|
|
UTGD Team
Editor: Rebecca Rolfes, LWVCGA
Volunteer legislative observers:
|
|
Mikayla Arciaga
Julie Bolen
Gail Buckner
Blake Caldwell
Mary Kay Clyburn
Daniel Eason
Ashleigh Ewald
Jessica Fields
Gina Hill
Sharon Hill
Keona Lynn Jones
|
|
Alan Kaufman
M Maguire
Rosemary Mackey
Margarita Moldovan
Renee Rubens
Jane Thimme
Laurie Tyson
Michelle Weston
Elizabeth Melville
Maxie Kirk Williams
|
|
League of Women Voters of Georgia | Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
