Senate first readers, 2024 February 21

SENATE FIRST READERS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2024 TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATIVE DAY

SB 529.

By Senators Jackson of the 41st, Hatchett of the 50th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Halpern of the 39th and Butler of the 55th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical practice relative to physicians, so as to provide for certain licensure for qualifying foreign medical graduates; to provide for a nonrenewable limited provisional license under certain conditions; to provide for a renewable restricted license under certain conditions; to provide for the application for full licensure under certain conditions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 530.

By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Hickman of the 4th, Burns of the 23rd and Dixon of the 45th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of employment under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for the placement of certificated professional personnel on the state minimum salary schedule; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 531.

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

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create and establish in DeKalb County, Georgia, districts from which the members of the County Board of Education of DeKalb County shall be elected, approved April 12, 1963 (Ga. L. 1963, p. 3424), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 29, 2007 (Ga. L. 2007, p. 4094), so as to change the compensation of the members of the board of education; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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SB 532.

By Senators Dixon of the 45th and Still of the 48th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to prohibit sex education for public school students in this state before fifth grade; to require the State Board of Education to approve age- and grade-appropriate content standards for sex education curricula; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to revise the "Parents Bill of Rights" to provide for parents to revocably opt-in to sex education for their children; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

SB 533.

By Senator Strickland of the 17th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 17-7-130 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to proceedings upon plea of mental incompetency to stand trial, so as to provide for jail-based competency restoration programs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 534.

By Senators Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 6th, Goodman of the 8th, Still of the 48th and Merritt of the 9th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Fair Business Practices Act of 1975," so as provide that the failure of a marketplace innkeeper to provide a consumer with an itemized receipt detailing certain taxes and fees is an unlawful business practice; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

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SB 535.

By Senators Jones II of the 22nd, Butler of the 55th, Rhett of the 33rd and Harbison of the 15th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 21-2-216 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to qualifications of electors generally, reregistration of electors purged from list, eligibility of nonresidents who vote in presidential elections, retention of qualification for standing as elector, evidence of citizenship, and check of convicted felons and deceased persons databases, so as to provide that convictions for offenses involving the purchase, possession, or control of certain controlled substances shall not prevent persons from registering, remaining registered, or voting; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 536.

By Senators Halpern of the 39th, Walker III of the 20th and Harbison of the 15th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11A of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dietitians, so as to enter into an interstate compact known as the "Dietitian Licensure Compact"; to authorize the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians to administer the compact in this state; to authorize the board to conduct national background checks; to provide for a short title; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 537.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 6th, Harrell of the 40th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to taxes on tobacco and vaping products, so as to increase the rate of the tax on consumable vapor products; to provide that the proceeds derived from such increase are intended to be appropriated for healthcare purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

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SB 538.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 6th, Lucas of the 26th, Harrell of the 40th 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 elections and primaries generally, so as to provide that interfering with poll workers shall be punished as a misdemeanor; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Ethics Committee.

SB 539.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 6th, Harrell of the 40th, Orrock of the 36th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to taxes on tobacco and vaping products, so as to increase the rate of the tax on each pack of cigarettes; to provide that the proceeds derived from such increase are intended to be appropriated for healthcare purposes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

SB 540.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 6th, Orrock of the 36th and Butler of the 55th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 8-3-202 and Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to unlawful practices in selling or renting dwellings and exceptions, and landlord and tenant in general, respectively, so as to require landlords or managers for certain apartment buildings or complexes to provide services when certain crimes have been reported or investigated on the property; to provide for an additional declared unlawful act relative to fair housing; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

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SB 541.

By Senator Merritt of the 9th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 7 of the O.C.G.A., relating to provisions applicable to the Department of Banking and Finance and financial institutions generally; to amend Title 10 of the O.C.G.A., relating to commerce and trade; to amend Part 2 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the O.C.G.A., relating to reports of business corporations; to amend Code Section 44-14-162 of the O.C.G.A., relating to sales made on foreclosure under power of sale, manner of advertisement and conduct necessary for validity, and filing, to amend Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to revenue and taxation, so as to provide for separate bidding for certain ad valorem tax foreclosure sales; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Judiciary Committee.

SB 542.

By Senators Watson of the 11th, Kennedy of the 18th and Gooch of the 51st:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to water rights, so as to remove references to the public trust doctrine; to provide legislative findings relative to the public's right to use navigable streams; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.

SB 543.

By Senators Brass of the 28th and Hodges of the 3rd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 2 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to bingo, so as to change certain provisions relating to bingo games operated by nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations; to remove certain limitations regarding premises on which such bingo games may be held; to change certain provisions relating to the prizes and proceeds of such bingo games; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Economic Development and Tourism Committee.

SR 640.

By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Hodges of the 3rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Watson of the 1st and Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Kayla Hill; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 641.

By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Hodges of the 3rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Watson of the 1st and Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Janette Velez; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 642.

By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Hodges of the 3rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Watson of the 1st and Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Tara Jenkins; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 643.

By Senators Hickman of the 4th, Hodges of the 3rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Watson of the 1st and Gooch of the 51st:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Adrienne Baldwin; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 644.

By Senators Williams of the 25th, Anderson of the 24th, Hickman of the 4th, Setzler of the 37th, Summers of the 13th and others:

A RESOLUTION expressing support for the designation of February 27, 2024, as Georgia's All Funeral Professionals Recognition Day; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 645.

By Senators Watson of the 1st, Mallow of the 2nd, Hodges of the 3rd, Hickman of the 4th, Kennedy of the 18th and others:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Sgt. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 646.

By Senators Watson of the 1st, Hickman of the 4th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Hodges of the 3rd and others:

A RESOLUTION commending Hyundai Motor Group's dedication to the State of Georgia and recognizing February 26, 2024, as Hyundai Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 647.

By Senators Mallow of the 2nd, Harbison of the 15th, Esteves of the 6th and Islam Parkes of the 7th:

A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Evangelist Willie Bell Brack; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 648.

By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Anderson of the 43rd and Parent of the 42nd:

A RESOLUTION congratulating and commending Mrs. Peggy Wilson; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 649.

By Senators Payne of the 54th and Dixon of the 45th:

A RESOLUTION recognizing February 21, 2024, as Charter Schools Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 650.

By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Sims of the 12th, Rhett of the 33rd and Anderson of the 43rd:

A RESOLUTION recognizing the 80th anniversary of the United Negro College Fund; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

SR 651.

By Senators Brass of the 28th, Dixon of the 45th, Williams of the 25th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 24th and others:

A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending the Georgia Academy of Audiology; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

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SR 652.

By Senators Merritt of the 9th, McLaurin of the 14th, Esteves of the 6th, Islam Parkes of the 7th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd and others:

A RESOLUTION commending the Georgia residents who have type 1 diabetes and whose families continually educate and advocate and recognizing March 14, 2024, as Type 1 Diabetes Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes.

Read and Adopted.

HB 793.

By Representatives Barton of the 5th, Hatchett of the 155th, Hutchinson of the 106th, Cooper of the 45th and Dempsey of the 13th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10A of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to licensing provisions regarding professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, so as to authorize applicants for a license in social work enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing examination in their final semester of the program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.

HB 946.

By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Dunahoo of the 31st, McCollum of the 30th, Cox of the 28th, Erwin of the 32nd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 5A of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the special district mass transportation sales and use tax, so as to revise requirements for intergovernmental agreements between counties and qualified municipalities for collection of such tax; to provide for standards for disbursement of proceeds for municipalities absent from an intergovernmental agreement; to revise the maximum amount and time frame for the collection of such tax when an intergovernmental agreement has been entered into between a county and all qualified municipalities; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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HB 987.

By Representatives Cannon of the 172nd, Erwin of the 32nd, Burchett of the 176th, Yearta of the 152nd, Leverett of the 123rd and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-165 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to equalization grants, annual calculations, and allocation, so as to revise the definition of the term "qualified local school system school" by reducing the minimum required millage rate or equivalent millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Education and Youth Committee.

HB 995.

By Representatives Bonner of the 73rd, Cannon of the 172nd, Ballard of the 147th, Sainz of the 180th and Wade of the 9th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 12 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to effectiveness of educational programs, so as to require the administration of a nationally recognized multiple-aptitude battery assessment that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military to public school students in grades 11 and 12 who choose to participate; to prohibit the use of assessment results in education accountability programs; to provide for parents and guardians to opt their children out of participating in such assessments; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Veterans, Military and Homeland Security Committee.

HB 1020.

By Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Ballard of the 147th, Burchett of the 176th, LaHood of the 175th and Blackmon of the 146th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax credits for business enterprises in less developed areas, so as to revise the military zones that qualify for designation as less developed areas; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to Finance Committee.

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HB 1229. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th and Tarvin of the 2nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Dalton in Whitfield County, Georgia; to provide for incorporation, boundaries, and powers of the city; to provide for a municipal court and the judge or judges thereof; to provide for practices and procedures; to provide for taxation and fees; to provide for franchises, service charges, and assessments; to provide for bonded and other indebtedness; to provide for accounting and budgeting; to provide for the sale of property; to provide for penalties; to provide for an independent school system; to provide for public utilities; to provide for definitions and construction; to provide for fire and police departments and chiefs thereof; to provide for related matters; to provide for prior ordinances and pending matters; to repeal specific Acts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1230. By Representative Greene of the 154th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a new charter for the City of Edison, approved May 3, 2021 (Ga. L. 2021, p. 3751), so as to authorize the municipal court to collect a technology fee; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1236.

By Representatives New of the 64th, Alexander of the 66th, Bruce of the 61st and Thomas of the 65th:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Douglas County, approved April 1, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 3606), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 13, 2008 (Ga. L. 2008, p. 3847), and an Act approved May 6, 2009 (Ga. L. 2009, p. 3863), so as to add a third judge for the State Court of Douglas County; to provide for the appointment of the initial additional judge and the election of successors; to provide for terms of office of said additional judge and successors to such judge; to update certain provisions to account for additional judges; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

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HB 1241.

By Representatives Stoner of the 40th, Cummings of the 39th and Anulewicz of the 42nd:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Smyrna, approved August 27, 1931 (Ga. L. 1931, p. 955), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 18, 1986 (Ga. L. 1986, p. 3951), so as to revise the compensation of the mayor and councilmembers; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1242.

By Representatives Neal of the 79th, Douglas of the 78th, Bell of the 75th, Holly of the 116th, Burnough of the 77th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to create the Clayton County Public Facilities Authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1243.

By Representatives Anulewicz of the 42nd, Stoner of the 40th, Campbell of the 35th, Cummings of the 39th, Williams of the 37th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act changing the compensation of the clerk of the superior court, the sheriff, and the judge of the Probate Court of Cobb County from the fee system to the salary system, approved February 9, 1949 (Ga. L. 1949, p. 427), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 2, 2017 (Ga. L. 2017, p. 3675), so as to change the compensation of the clerk of the probate court; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.

HB 1246.

By Representatives Anulewicz of the 42nd, Stoner of the 40th, Campbell of the 35th, Cummings of the 39th, Williams of the 37th and others:

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the State Court of Cobb County, approved March 26, 1964 (Ga. L. 1964, p. 3211), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 3, 2023 (Ga. L. 2023, p. 4317), so as to change the compensation of judges of the State Court of Cobb County; 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 1248. By Representative Leverett of the 123rd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Elbert County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for certain senior citizens; 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 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
HB 1249. By Representative Leverett of the 123rd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Elbert County ad valorem taxes for county purposes for certain senior citizens 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; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability and eligibility; 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 1250. By Representative Leverett of the 123rd:
A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Elbert County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes for certain senior citizens 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; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability and eligibility; 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.
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