First readers in House, 2024 February 8

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024 SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 1170. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Mathiak of the 74th, Gaines of the 120th, Gambill of the 15th, and Kennard of the 101st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Public Health, so as to require that certain state government buildings, courthouses, and university buildings maintain and make accessible opioid antagonists; to provide for definitions; to provide for the identification, development, and dissemination of educational materials and for the development of a model policy for training individuals on emergency opioid antagonist administration by the department; to provide that certain government entities shall establish and implement an internal policy; to provide for immunity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
HB 1171. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Corbett of the 174th, Tarvin of the 2nd, Erwin of the 32nd, and Ballard of the 147th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, so as to exempt sales of clothing and school related supplies during the last two weeks of July each year; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1172. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Rhodes of the 124th, Leverett of the 123rd, Smith of the 70th, and Williams of the 168th: 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 that members of the public have the right to use all navigable streams as highways and for hunting and fishing; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
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HB 1173. By Representatives Ridley of the 6th, Rhodes of the 124th, Ridley of the 22nd, Cannon of the 172nd, and Corbett of the 174th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 27-4-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fishing with bow and arrow, so as to authorize taking channel catfish and flathead catfish by bow and arrow state wide; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GAME, FISH, & PARKS
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 the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1175. By Representatives Cannon of the 172nd, Stinson of the 150th, Hawkins of the 27th, Bennett of the 94th, Mathiak of the 74th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 33 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physical therapists, so as to revise provisions regarding granting licenses and disciplining licensees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 1176. By Representatives Kelley of the 16th, Ballinger of the 23rd, Cooper of the 45th, Dunahoo of the 31st, and Buckner of the 137th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 31, 33, 45, and 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, insurance, public officers and employees, and social services, respectively, so as to provide for coverage of infant formula when a woman is medically unable to breastfeed; to provide for definitions; to provide for the compilation and posting of information; to provide for coverage under private insurance
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policies; to provide for coverage under the state health benefit plan; to provide for coverage under the state Medicaid program; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
HB 1177. By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Washburn of the 144th, and Blackmon of the 146th: 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 tax exemption, so as to provide for a statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to any amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year 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; to provide for approval by local governing authorities and referenda; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for contingent repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1178. By Representatives Evans of the 89th, Drenner of the 85th, Gullett of the 19th, Buckner of the 137th, Camp of the 135th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 46 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public utilities and public transportation, so as to provide for the quality of services to low-income customers to be examined by the Public Service Commission when determining just and reasonable rates and charges of utilities; to require utilities to make certain quarterly filings concerning their residential customers; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 1179. By Representatives Cooper of the 45th, Hawkins of the 27th, Jones of the 25th, Oliver of the 82nd, and Lumsden of the 12th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-24-59.25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to establishment by health benefit plans of step therapy protocols, exception process, time requirements, appeals, construction, and application, so as to provide that step therapy protocols may not be required for medications prescribed for the treatment of serious mental illness under health benefit plans; to
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provide a definition; 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 that step therapy protocols may not be required for medications prescribed for the treatment of serious mental illness under Medicaid; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
HB 1180. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Williamson of the 112th, Blackmon of the 146th, Martin of the 49th, Buckner of the 137th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income tax credits for film, gaming, video, or digital production, so as to revise a definition; to provide for an application requirement; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1181. By Representatives Martin of the 49th, Blackmon of the 146th, Williamson of the 112th, Stephens of the 164th, and Buckner of the 137th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to limit the carry-forward periods of certain income tax credits; to provide for expirations of certain credits; to amend Code Sections 3-6-70, 33-8-13, 48-5C-1, 48-8-3, and 48-11-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from excise tax on wine, exemption of certain insurance companies from taxes, definitions, exemption from taxation, allocation and disbursement of proceeds collected by tag agents, fair market value of vehicle appealable, and report relative to alternative ad valorem tax on motor vehicles, state sales and use tax exemptions, and excise tax imposed, rates for tobacco and vaping products, exemptions, collection and payment, and tax separately identified, respectively, so as to provide for sunset dates; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1182. By Representatives Crowe of the 118th, Williamson of the 112th, Blackmon of the 146th, Buckner of the 137th, and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 33 and Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding insurance and income taxes, respectively, so as to revise the low-income housing tax
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credits; to provide that such tax credits shall be termed the Georgia affordable housing tax credits; to reduce the amount of such credits for certain projects; to authorize such credits in an amount equal to the federal credit for certain projects; to provide for definitions; to provide for open records; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1183. By Representatives Dempsey of the 13th, Cooper of the 45th, Hawkins of the 27th, Stoner of the 40th, and Mathiak of the 74th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health in elementary and secondary education, so as to require local school systems to provide certain information to parents and guardians of students in grades six through 12 on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes whenever other health information is provided; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
HB 1184. By Representatives Anulewicz of the 42nd, Smith of the 18th, Leverett of the 123rd, and Evans of the 57th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 24 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to privileges relative to evidence, so as to provide a privilege for participation in victim centered programs; to provide for definitions; to provide for limitations; to provide for civil immunity for facilitators in certain circumstances; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 1185. By Representatives Camp of the 135th, Washburn of the 144th, Frye of the 122nd, Martin of the 49th, and Blackmon of the 146th: 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 tax exemption, so as to provide for a statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to any amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the inflation rate from the adjusted base year 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; to provide for approval by local governing authorities; to provide for related
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matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for contingent repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 1186. By Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Cox of the 28th, Dubnik of the 29th, Ballard of the 147th, Mainor of the 56th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-14-33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to indicators of quality of learning in individual schools and school systems, comparison to state standards, rating schools and school systems, providing information, and uniform definition of "dropout" and "below grade level," so as to clarify that ratings are a single numerical score based on indicators of quality of learning for each public school and school system in the state; to require timely publication of such scores; to provide for related matters; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 1187. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Bonner of the 73rd, Mathiak of the 74th, and Hagan of the 156th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16, Chapter 4 of Title 30, and Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, rights of persons with disabilities, and uniform rules of the road, respectively, so as to change references to assistance and guide dogs to service dogs; to provide for definitions and conforming changes; to provide for a criminal penalty for a person who causes death or physical harm to a service dog; to provide for exceptions; to revise provisions relating to the use and training of service dogs; to provide for a penalty for persons who misrepresent the need for a service dog; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
HR 1019. By Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Jasperse of the 11th, Ridley of the 22nd, New of the 64th, Horner of the 3rd, and others: A RESOLUTION supporting increased protections for America's borders; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
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HR 1020. By Representatives Silcox of the 53rd, Jones of the 47th, Martin of the 49th, Cooper of the 45th, and Smith of the 70th: A RESOLUTION recognizing Representative Joe Wilkinson and dedicating an interchange in his honor; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HR 1021. By Representatives Stephens of the 164th, Washburn of the 144th, and Blackmon of the 146th: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for local governments to have the option to offer a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to any amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the base year value of such homestead as provided by general law; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HR 1022. By Representatives Camp of the 135th, Washburn of the 144th, Frye of the 122nd, Martin of the 49th, and Blackmon of the 146th: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide for local governments to have the option to offer a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes in an amount equal to any amount by which the current year assessed value of a homestead exceeds the inflation rate from the adjusted base year value of such homestead as provided by general law; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 08, 2024
SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 339. By Senator Summers of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Crisp County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology uses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
SB 345. By Senator Walker III of the 20th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Dooly County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology uses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
SB 382. By Senator Gooch of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Gilmer County; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
SB 388. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Albers of the 56th, and Beach of the 21st: 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
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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 the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
SB 397. By Senators Williams of the 25th, Strickland of the 17th, and Jones of the 10th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create a new Charter for the City of Locust Grove, Georgia, in the county of Henry, approved April 7, 1976 (Ga. L. 1976, p. 4426), as amended, to change the corporate limits of such city; to provide descriptions; 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 the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
SB 434. By Senator Burns of the 23rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Glascock County; to provide for its powers and duties; to provide for definitions; to provide for the composition of the board and the selection, qualifications, terms, and removal of members; to provide for a supervisor of elections; to provide for vacancies; to provide for certification; to provide for oaths and privileges; to provide for the conduct of primaries and elections; to authorize the conduct of municipal elections; to allow for joint primaries; to provide for meetings; to authorize expenditure of public funds; to provide compensation for board members and staff; to provide for offices, supplies, and other materials; to provide for the transfer of powers, duties, facilities, and personal property; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
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