Senate first readers, 2024 February 13

SENATE FIRST READERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 TWENTIETH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 486.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Mallow of the 2nd, Robertson of the 29th, Walker III of the 20th and Esteves of the 6th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to funeral directors and establishments, embalmers, and crematories, so as to remove the requirement that funeral directors be licensed embalmers; to provide separate examination requirements for funeral directors and embalmers; to change certain provisions relating to the apprenticeship requirements of funeral directors and embalmers; to revise provisions concerning the licensure of funeral directors and embalmers by reciprocity; to make the provisions concerning the reinstatement of licenses applicable to embalmers; ws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 487.

By Senators Lucas of the 26th, Harbison of the 15th, Butler of the 55th, Parent of the 42nd, Merritt of the 9th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid expansion; to provide for definitions; to provide for submission of requests for waivers, amendments to waivers, and state plan amendments; to provide for Medicaid waiver expansion; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative notification and approval; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 488.

By Senators Summers of the 13th, Kennedy of the 18th, Goodman of the 8th, Walker III of the 20th, Anderson of the 24th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property tax exemptions, so as to provide for a state-wide exemption from all ad valorem taxes for aircraft used exclusively for the aerial application of fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, seeds, or other agricultural products; to provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates, applicability, and automatic repeal; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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SB 489.

By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Summers of the 13th, Hodges of the 3rd, Anderson of the 24th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other state symbols, so as to designate the blueberry as the official state berry; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

SB 490.

By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Albers of the 56th, Kennedy of the 18th, Robertson of the 29th, Gooch of the 51st and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to provide for the felony offense of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer; to provide for penalties; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

SB 491.

By Senators Brass of the 28th, Kennedy of the 18th, Setzler of the 37th, Dolezal of the 27th, Burns of the 23rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 26-4-82 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to duties requiring professional judgment and responsibilities of a licensed pharmacist, so as to authorize the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy to increase the maximum ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians in closed-door pharmacies that provide central prescription filling services to retail pharmacies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

SB 492.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Strickland of the 17th, Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 5 of Article 22 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to school buses for elementary and secondary education, so as to provide standards for the establishment of school bus routes; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

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SB 493.

By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Summers of the 13th, Strickland of the 17th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the sexual offender risk review board, so as to provide for additional penalties for registered sexual offenders convicted of photographing a minor without the consent of the minor's parent or guardian; to provide that such persons are prohibited from possessing, owning, or operating an unmanned aircraft system with the intent to photograph, observe, follow, or contact any person without his or her consent; to provide for criminal penalties; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SR 585.

By Senators Halpern of the 39th, Orrock of the 36th, McLaurin of the 14th, Esteves of the 6th and Parent of the 42nd:

A RESOLUTION honoring and commending Usher Raymond IV; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 586.

By Senators Butler of the 55th, Parent of the 42nd, Jackson of the 41st, Harrell of the 40th, Anderson of the 43rd and others:

A RESOLUTION commending Ashley Thomas, Stephenson High School's 2024 Teacher of the Year; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 587.

By Senators Dixon of the 45th, Still of the 48th, Payne of the 54th, Sims of the 12th, James of the 35th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 14, 2024, as Afterschool Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 588.

By Senators Harrell of the 40th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Payne of the 54th, Sims of the 12th and Echols of the 49th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Georgia's animal shelters and rescue staff and volunteers; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 589.

By Senators Esteves of the 6th, Merritt of the 9th, Goodman of the 8th, Summers of the 13th, Sims of the 12th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Building Owners and Managers Association of Georgia (BOMA Georgia) and recognizing February 20, 2024, as BOMA Georgia Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 590.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Mallow of the 2nd, Harbin of the 16th, Echols of the 49th, Brass of the 28th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Boy Scouts of America in Georgia upon the 2024 Scouts Day at the Capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 591.

By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in Georgia and recognizing February 13, 2024, as NFIB's Small Business Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 592.

By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Goodman of the 8th, Orrock of the 36th, Still of the 48th, Echols of the 49th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Ashley Fielding on her outstanding public service in numerous capacities with the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 593.

By Senators Rahman of the 5th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 42nd, Brass of the 28th, Goodman of the 8th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 13, 2024, as New Americans Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 594.

By Senators Payne of the 54th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the 4th, Kennedy of the 18th, Parent of the 42nd and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 2024 as Career and Technical Education Month and February 22, 2024, as Georgia Career and Technical Student Organizations Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 595.

By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Summers of the 13th, Echols of the 49th and Hodges of the 3rd:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Georgia Green Industry Association; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 596.

By Senators Echols of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Still of the 48th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the 4th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Georgia Center for Civic Engagement and Engage Club programs, which sponsor Youth Assembly among other programs that cultivate youth civic engagement; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 597.

By Senators James of the 35th and Rhett of the 33rd:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Queen Ahneva Ahneva; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 598.

By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Watson of the 1st, Robertson of the 29th, Summers of the 13th, Payne of the 54th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Broughton "Bo" Chappell Mullins; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 599.

By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Butler of the 55th, Brass of the 28th, Jackson of the 41st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Dr. Roland A. Pattillo; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 600.

By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Halpern of the 39th, Butler of the 55th, James of the 35th, Davenport of the 44th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 20, 2024, as Clark Atlanta University Day (CAU) at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

HB 300.

By Representatives Kelley of the 16th, Williamson of the 112th, Stephens of the 164th and Blackmon of the 146th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to solar power free-market financing, so as to provide for the establishment of the Solar Technology Trust Fund as a fund within the state treasury; to impose a fee on the retail sale of new solar technology and to dedicate such fees to such fund as authorized and subject to the conditions imposed by Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(r) of the Constitution of Georgia; to provide for reports and forms; to provide for authorization; to provide for annual appropriations and reporting; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

HB 461.

By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Momtahan of the 17th, Washburn of the 144th, Smith of the 138th and Crowe of the 118th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding specific, business, and occupation taxes, so as to require that the proceeds of local government regulatory fees be used to pay for regulatory activity and not general operations; to revise the list of professions which may be subject to such regulatory fees; to remove certain provisions authorizing calculation of regulatory fees for renovation and other construction projects; to provide for refunds in certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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HB 516.

By Representatives McCollum of the 30th, Jasperse of the 11th, Ballinger of the 23rd, Carpenter of the 4th and Hagan of the 156th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exercise of the power to contract by the Department of Transportation, so as to increase the minimum amount for a public road construction or maintenance contract that prohibits negotiation; to provide for exceptions to public comment and hearing on projects involving public-private partnerships in certain instances; to provide for an exception to vote approval for such projects; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Transportation Committee.

HB 576.

By Representatives Gullett of the 19th, Scoggins of the 14th, Wiedower of the 121st, Mathiak of the 74th and Clark of the 100th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding health, so as to prohibit certain health care providers and facilities from discriminating against potential organ transplant recipients due solely to the vaccine status of the potential recipient; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

HB 809.

By Representative Powell of the 33rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 28 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to occupational therapists, so as to authorize occupational therapists to perform dry needling as a physical agent modality if certain training and education requirements are met; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

HB 977.

By Representatives LaHood of the 175th, Anderson of the 10th, Leverett of the 123rd, Blackmon of the 146th, Jones of the 25th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to expand the number of contests subject to risk-limiting audits; to provide for percentages of risk limits; to provide procedures for selection of contests subject to risk-limiting audits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

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HB 984.

By Representatives Lumsden of the 12th, Tarvin of the 2nd, Taylor of the 173rd, Williams of the 148th and Gullett of the 19th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 25 and 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and safety and insurance, respectively, so as to update the practices of the Department of Insurance and the office of the Safety Fire Commissioner; to provide for the off-duty use of motor vehicles by certain law enforcement officers; to repeal a life insurance reserves requirement for small companies for accreditation purposes; to allow for the continuation of coverage of a developmentally disabled or physically disabled dependent child under certain policies; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Insurance and Labor Committee.

HB 997.

By Representatives Corbett of the 174th, Ridley of the 6th, Hitchens of the 161st, Prince of the 132nd and Powell of the 33rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-5-151 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disqualification from driving and action required after suspending, revoking, or canceling license or nonresident privileges, so as to require disqualification to operate a commercial motor vehicle upon receipt of notification from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration of a positive drug test, an adulterated or substituted drug test, or a report of a refusal to submit to such test; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Public Safety Committee.

HB 1022.

By Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Smith of the 18th, Dempsey of the 13th, Mainor of the 56th and Townsend of the 179th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 5 of Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to cruelty to children, so as to enact the "Colton-McNeill Act"; to provide for sentencing of a person convicted of cruelty to children in the first or second degree against a disabled minor; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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HB 1025.

By Representatives Ridley of the 22nd, Thomas of the 21st, Jasperse of the 11th, Ballinger of the 23rd, Jones of the 47th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a homestead exemption from Cherokee County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for the full value of the homestead for certain residents of that school district who have annual incomes not exceeding $16,000.00 and who are 62 years of age or over, approved March 10, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 3677), as amended, so as to provide for a full value exemption for senior and disabled residents; to provide for a residency requirement and grandfathering of certain residents; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1033.

By Representatives Leverett of the 123rd, Smith of the 18th, Anderson of the 10th, Williamson of the 112th, Huddleston of the 72nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes against the person, so as to provide for protections for utility workers; to provide for a definition; to provide for enhanced penalties for simple assault, aggravated assault, simple battery, and aggravated battery committed upon utility workers in certain circumstances; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

HB 1044.

By Representatives Anderson of the 10th, Lumsden of the 12th, Hawkins of the 27th, Yearta of the 152nd, Leverett of the 123rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 13 of the O.C.G.A., relating to contracts for public works, so as to increase the dollar value of certain public works contracts exempt from provisions relating to retention of contractual payments; to amend Article 10 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, relating to contracts and purchases by public schools, so as to increase the dollar value trigger of certain considerations related to in-state purchasing preferences for certain contracts and purchases; to amend Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, relating to public school property and facilities, so as to increase the dollar value related to when certain school construction contracts must be subject to competitive bidding; to amend Chapter 91 of Title 36 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public works bidding; to amend Part 1 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50, relating to general authority, duties, and procedure for state purchasing; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Government Oversight Committee.

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HB 1135. By Representative Hatchett of the 155th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a new charter for the Town of Dexter; to provide for other matters relative to the foregoing; to repeal a specific Act; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1140. By Representative Smith of the 18th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Haralson County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $8,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for certain residents of that school district who have annual incomes not exceeding $10,000.00 and who are 65 years of age or over, approved April 9, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 4087), as amended, so as to increase the amount of the exemption and repeal a maximum income restriction; to provide for a definition; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1141. By Representatives Hagan of the 156th and Mathis of the 149th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Telfair County School District ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year assessed value of such homestead up to a maximum amount; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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HB 1143. By Representatives Hagan of the 156th and Mathis of the 149th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Telfair County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in an amount equal to the amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year assessed value of such homestead up to a maximum amount; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1145. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th and Gambill of the 15th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a homestead exemption from certain Bartow County School District ad valorem taxes for education purposes in the amount of $28,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for certain residents of that school district who are disabled and who do not have a gross income from all sources, including Social Security and any other retirement or disability income and including the income of all members of the family residing within said homestead, exceeding $20,000.00 per annum for the immediately preceding year, approved April 5, 1994 (Ga. L. 1994, p. 4900), so as to increase the income cap to $36,000.00; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1174. By Representative Smith of the 138th:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create the Harris County Public Improvements Authority and to provide for the appointment of members of the Authority, approved April 5, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 4052), so as to revise the purpose of the authority; to revise a definition; to provide for the acquisition of property through condemnation; to provide for reversion of assets upon dissolution; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
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