FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATIVE DAY *Rules Suspended HB 1294. By Representatives Pirkle of the 169th, Greene of the 154th, and Werkheiser of the 157th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 23 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, so as to authorize the authority to finance and perform certain duties in connection with projects relating to natural gas facilities; to revise definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for limited liability; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT HB 1295. By Representatives Pirkle of the 169th, Jones of the 25th, Corbett of the 174th, and Williams of the 148th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to horns, exhaust systems, mirrors, windshields, tires, safety belts, and energy absorption systems, so as to provide for the failure to wear a safety belt or safety restraints for children as admissible evidence in civil actions; to prohibit the failure to wear a safety belt or safety restraints for children as a basis for cancellation of insurance coverage; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 1296. By Representatives Hilton of the 48th, Ballinger of the 23rd, New of the 64th, Sainz of the 180th, Momtahan of the 17th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 39 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to online internet safety, so as to provide for social media age verification; to provide for definitions; to provide for parental permission; to provide for restrictions on minor's social media account activity; to provide for parental supervision; to provide for the Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Law to investigate complaints; to provide for civil remedies; to provide for annual reporting; - 1 - to provide for exceptions; to provide for redesignation of certain Code sections; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY HB 1297. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Clark of the 100th, Bonner of the 73rd, Barrett of the 24th, Ridley of the 22nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state and other flags, so as to provide that state and local government agencies buy American when procuring flags of the United States or state flags; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL RULES HB 1298. By Representatives LaHood of the 175th, Burchett of the 176th, and Williams of the 148th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Brooks 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 HB 1299. By Representatives Reese of the 140th, Greene of the 154th, Mainor of the 56th, Olaleye of the 59th, and Buckner of the 137th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to recording relative to property, so as to provide for notice to the owner and deed holder when another deed is filed by another party; to provide for a 45 day waiting period; to provide for limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY - 2 - HB 1300. By Representative Prince of the 132nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-32.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to certification of assessed taxable value of property and method of computation, resolution or ordinance required for millage rate, and advertisement of intent to increase property tax, so as to revise the advertisement of intent to increase property tax; 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 1301. By Representatives Mathiak of the 74th, Camp of the 135th, Hawkins of the 27th, and Bennett of the 94th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 12 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to control of hazardous conditions, preventable diseases, and metabolic disorders, so as to require the newborn screening system to include Duchenne muscular dystrophy; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH HB 1302. By Representatives Bennett of the 94th, Hawkins of the 27th, New of the 64th, Oliver of the 82nd, Hugley of the 141st, 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 mandatory maternal mental health screening for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders for Medicaid recipients; to provide for definitions; to provide for specific points during and after pregnancy at which a woman shall receive such screening; to provide for additional screening as deemed necessary by healthcare providers; to provide for mandatory education regarding postpartum depression to women after childbirth; to authorize the department to submit necessary amendment or waiver requests to implement such screening as part of the state Medicaid program; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH - 3 - HB 1304. By Representatives Clark of the 108th and Holly of the 116th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 21-2-385 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for voting by absentee ballot and advance voting, so as to revise provisions relating to advance voting on certain Saturdays in runoff elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HB 1305. By Representative Clark of the 108th: 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 revise provisions relating to advance voting; to extend the period of mandatory advance voting; to revise the time for holding runoffs in general and primary elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS HB 1306. By Representatives Clark of the 108th and Sharper of the 177th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Title 16 and Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of controlled substances and student health in elementary and secondary education, respectively, so as to require prescribers to provide patients with information regarding the risks of physical and psychological dependence from opioids whenever a prescription for an opioid is issued; to require that prescribers provide patients with information about alternative treatment options and the attendant benefits and risks of such; to provide for definitions; to provide for an exception; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION HB 1307. By Representatives Holly of the 116th, Olaleye of the 59th, Douglas of the 78th, Reese of the 140th, and Bruce of the 61st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of detention generally, so as to provide for fair market wages for inmate labor; to provide for tracking of inmate labor; to provide - 4 - for payment for inmate labor; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY HB 1308. By Representatives Holly of the 116th, Bell of the 75th, Hutchinson of the 106th, Glaize of the 67th, and Park of the 107th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of specialized land transactions, so as to provide for protections for homeowners, condominium owners, and property owners in community associations; to provide for civil causes of action for violations; to provide for civil penalties for violations and the recovery of litigation costs; 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 JUDICIARY HB 1309. By Representatives Clark of the 108th, Bell of the 75th, Willis of the 55th, and Barnes of the 86th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 24-9-923 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to admissibility of photographs, motion pictures, video recordings, and audio recordings when witness unavailable, so as to provide that creative or artistic expression evidence is inadmissible at trial; to provide for a definition; to provide for the presumption of inadmissibility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL HB 1310. By Representative Moore of the 91st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to provide that persons doing business in this state shall not expose individuals to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving clear and reasonable warning nor discharge such chemicals into drinking water; to provide for the content and manner of the giving of such warnings; to provide for exceptions; to provide that the Governor shall publish lists of such chemicals; to authorize the Attorney General and, under specified conditions, district attorneys and other persons to seek injunctions - 5 - and civil penalties; to provide for the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Fund and its purposes and funding; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH HB 1311. By Representatives Moore of the 91st and Cummings of the 39th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 13A of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dating violence protective orders, so as to provide for substitute service when respondent is avoiding service to delay a hearing; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY *HB 1338. By Representatives Corbett of the 174th, Meeks of the 178th, Cannon of the 172nd, Townsend of the 179th, Smith of the 70th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the "Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968," so as to provide for a three-year moratorium on the acceptance of applications for new permits by the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources for surface mining utilizing dragline mining for heavy mineral sands; to prohibit tolling; to provide for administrative and judicial review and affirmation by operation of law; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT *HB 1339. By Representatives Parrish of the 158th, Burns of the 159th, Hawkins of the 27th, Beverly of the 143rd, and Taylor of the 173rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health, so as to revise relative to certificate of need; to amend Code Section 48-7-29.20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax credits for contributions to rural hospital organizations, so as to increase the aggregate limit for tax credits for contributions to rural hospital organizations; to extend the sunset provision; 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 the creation of the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission; to provide for its members; to provide for its purpose and duties; to provide for assistance from experts and consultants; to provide - 6 - for semiannual reports; to provide for the automatic repeal of the commission; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH HR 1154. By Representatives Gambill of the 15th and Scoggins of the 14th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Mr. Gene R. Tilley and dedicating a road in his memory; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 1155. By Representatives Alexander of the 66th, Bruce of the 61st, Thomas of the 65th, and New of the 64th: A RESOLUTION honoring Mr. Scot Hudson and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 1162. By Representatives Stinson of the 150th, Efstration of the 104th, Burchett of the 176th, Carson of the 46th, Camp of the 135th, and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Mr. Michael Anthony Woodall and dedicating an intersection in his memory; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 1163. By Representative Moore of the 91st: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to provide that revenue derived from the regulation of safe drinking water and toxic enforcement may be dedicated for certain purposes and not deposited into the general fund; to authorize the General Assembly to create the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Fund; to provide that such funds shall not lapse; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT - 7 - SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024 TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 212. By Senators Burns of the 23rd, Gooch of the 51st, Anderson of the 24th, Summers of the 13th, Hickman of the 4th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to probate courts, and Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections, respectively, so as to end activities and duties of probate court judges relating to elections; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SB 322. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Gooch of the 51st, Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, and Summers of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 16 of Title 47 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Sheriffs' Retirement Fund of Georgia, so as to provide for an increase in dues; to provide for an increase in the sum to be paid for purchasing prior service credit; to provide for related matters; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT SB 341. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Dolezal of the 27th, Brass of the 28th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Robertson of the 29th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend various titles of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated so as to revise committee names; to repeal provisions relating to inactive boards, panels, authorities, centers, commissions, committees, councils, task forces, and other such bodies and certain procedures of the General Assembly; to make conforming changes throughout the Code; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS - 1 - SB 436. By Senators Watson of the 11th, Goodman of the 8th, Anderson of the 24th, Walker III of the 20th, Ginn of the 47th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1B of Article 13 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to operation of farm use vehicles, so as to define a term; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES SB 448. By Senators Hatchett of the 50th, Strickland of the 17th, Kennedy of the 18th, and Gooch of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to revise, modernize, correct errors or omissions in, and reenact the statutory portion of said Code, as amended, in furtherance of the work of the Code Revision Commission; to repeal portions of said Code, or Acts in amendment thereof, which have become obsolete, have been declared to be unconstitutional, or have been preempted or superseded by subsequent laws; to codify principles of law derived from decisions of the state Supreme Court; to provide for other matters relating to revision, reenactment, and publication of said Code; to provide for effect in event of conflicts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on CODE REVISION SB 467. By Senator Williams of the 25th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to create a board of elections and registration for Baldwin 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 vacancies; to provide for oaths and privileges; to provide for the conduct of primaries and elections; to provide for meetings; to provide duties of the chairperson; to allow for joint primaries; to authorize the conduct of municipal elections; 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 - 2 - SB 468. By Senator Williams of the 25th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a board of commissioners of Baldwin County, approved December 26, 1888 (Ga. L. 1888, p. 286), as amended, particularly by an Act approved February 26, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 4786), so as to provide for staggered terms for the board of commissioners; to provide for initial terms; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL - 3 -