Daily report, 2024 February 16

DAILY REPORT Friday
February 16, 2024

22nd Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 23rd Legislative Day on Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. Six bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
HB 546 Georgia Pharmacy Practice Act; pharmacy care; revise definition
Bill Summary: HB 546 amends the definition of "pharmacy care" within the 'Georgia Pharmacy Practice Act' to allow for adaption of a prescription drug order. The bill allows a pharmacist to adapt a prescription drug order, under certain circumstances, by changing the quantity of medication prescribed, changing the dosage form of the prescription, and completing missing information on a prescription drug order. Adaptions must be documented and done with patient consent.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Health
Yeas: 155 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-12-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 872 Medical professionals; rural assistance; expand service cancelable loan program for health care providers to include dental students
Bill Summary: HB 872 allows for dental students to be eligible for the service cancelable loan program when they agree to practice in rural counties with a population of 50,000 or less.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Public Health
Yeas: 150 Nays: 3

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-06-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 874 Schools; automated external defibrillators; require
Bill Summary: HB 874 requires all public schools to have a functional automated external defibrillator (AED) on site at all times during school hours and during any school-related function.

Each school will ensure that the following requirements are met: designate an internal response team; ensure that all internal response team members and any other expected users receive training; ensure that emergency medical services are aware of the AED's location; ensure the AED is maintained/tested appropriately; ensure involvement of a licensed physician for training, notifications, and maintenance; establish a written emergency action plan; and conduct a minimum of two emergency action practice drills each school year.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Health
Yeas: 151 Nays: 1

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 01-29-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Today on the Floor

HB 988

Georgia Technology Authority; annual inventory of artificial intelligence usage by state agencies; provide
Bill Summary: HB 988 defines the term "artificial intelligence" and revises the responsibilities of the Georgia Technology Authority. It requires the authority to conduct an inventory of all systems that utilize artificial intelligence and are in use by any agency. Inventory must include information such as the system's name, vendor details, general capabilities, independence in decision-making, and whether impact assessments were conducted before implementation.

The authority is mandated to develop and establish procedures that govern the development, implementation, and assessment of artificial intelligence systems used by agencies to prevent unlawful discrimination against individuals or groups.

The authority is required to prepare an annual report regarding the inventory of artificial intelligence systems in use by agencies and to make this report available to the state offices specified in the bill.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Brad Thomas (21st) Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Yeas: 147 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-07-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1058 Motor vehicles; federal regulations regarding safe operation of motor carriers and commercial motor vehicles; update reference date
Bill Summary: HB 1058 addresses federal regulations for safe operations for drivers and vehicles transporting hazardous materials, changing an effective date from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2024.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lauren McDonald (26th) Motor Vehicles
Yeas: 152 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-13-2024 Do Pass

SB 353

Highways, Bridges, and Ferries; duties when death results from an accident upon a highway in certain instances; allow for delegation
Bill Summary: SB 353 allows for the call of a caucus for a Department of Transportation board election to be sent via email rather than by mail. The bill clarifies language relating to contracting for public-private partnerships and alternative contracting methods.

The bill amends the code governing the length of modular unit transporters to allow for an increased length from 80 feet to 84 feet when a permit is purchased. Code Section 45-16-23 is amended to allow any coroner or county medical examiner to delegate to medical personnel the power to perform the duties of the coroner or county medical examiner when an accident on an interstate highway or limited-access road results in a death and a significant disruption to the flow of traffic.

The Department of Transportation is added to the code section relating to when public disclosure is not required by a state agency and adds the data of vehicle information, or personally identifiable information, to those records that are not required to be disclosed.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Transportation
Yeas: 152 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-08-2024 Do Pass

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
HB 424 Courts; office of sheriff; revise qualification requirements
Bill Summary: HB 424 requires peace officers who want to qualify as candidates for the office of sheriff to be in good standing with the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Council. It requires that any person qualifying as a candidate for sheriff who is not a certified peace officer but is receiving retirement benefits, other than disability retirement benefits, as a former agent
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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Today on the Floor

of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to satisfactorily complete requirements for certification within six months of taking office. The executive director of POST Council is required to create and provide for an affidavit attesting to the person's compliance with the new standard for qualifying. The director, or his designee, must sign the affidavit and the person seeking to qualify must present the affidavit to elections officials in order to qualify.

HB 424 allows for any person desiring to run for sheriff to attend the basic law enforcement training course for peace officers as a pre-service candidate and to be reimbursed for tuition expenses upon being elected. These expenses are paid by the office of sheriff to which the candidate is elected.

HB 424 provides for a sheriff who serves in more than one court to receive salary for up to two courts, and that salary would not be increased by any state cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or general performance-based increases.

Authored By: Rep. Kenneth Vance (133rd)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 23rd Legislative Day, Tuesday, February 20, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, February
20, at 9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 24th Legislative Day.

HB 793

Professional counselors; authorize applicants enrolled in a master's degree program to take the master's social work licensing exam; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 793 allows an applicant for a license in social work who is enrolled in the last semester of their master's degree program for social work to sit for the master's social work licensing examination.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Matt Barton (5th) Regulated Industries

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-12-2024 Do Pass

HB 946

Special district mass transportation sales and use tax; intergovernmental agreements; revise requirements
Bill Summary: HB 946 amends O.C.G.A. 48-8-5A, relating to special district mass transportation sales and use tax, to allow a county and one or more municipalities that comprise at least one-half of the total population of the territory of qualified municipalities to enter into an intergovernmental agreement that would allow the special district to establish a tax rate of up to one percent.

The agreement must provide for the proceeds to be received by municipalities in the district that have not entered into the agreement, for which a calculation for the absent municipality minimum percentage is provided. The agreement can exist for a maximum of five years with an option for a sixth year if municipalities representing 100 percent of the district's population enter into the agreement.

The bill removes language allowing for a sales and use tax related to this code section to be established without an intergovernmental agreement.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lee Hawkins (27th) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-08-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 987

Education; grants; revise definition of qualified local school system school by reducing the minimum required millage rate or equivalent millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills
Bill Summary: HB 987 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-165 relating to the equalization grant. The term "qualified local school system" is amended to reduce the minimum required millage rate or effective millage rate from 14 to 10 mills beginning July 1, 2024. School systems that receive equalization must meet these requirements or risk a 25 percent midterm adjustment of the initial equalization grant amount.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Charles Cannon (172nd) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-01-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 995

Education; administration of a nationally recognized multiple-aptitude battery assessment that predicts success in the military to certain public school students; require
Bill Summary: HB 995 creates O.C.G.A. 20-2-281.2, which requires local school systems to provide an optional nationally recognized multiple-aptitude battery assessment to predict future academic and occupational success in the military to students in grades 11 and 12. This assessment will be provided to students during school hours at least once a school year.

Authored By: Rep. Josh Bonner (73rd)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Next on the Floor

House Committee:

Education

Committee Action:

02-08-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1020 Income tax credit; military zones that qualify for designation as less developed areas; revise
Bill Summary: HB 1020 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-40.1, relating to tax credits for businesses in less developed areas, to eliminate language requiring a qualifying census tract that contains a federal military installation to also contain an industrial park owned and operated by a governmental entity.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Steven Sainz (180th) Small Business Development

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-07-2024 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Committee Actions

Committee Actions
Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar.

Education Committee

HB 127

State Board of Education; establish rules and regulations for local school system outreach efforts regarding ESOL program; require
Bill Summary: HB 127 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-156 to direct the State Board of Education to develop rules and regulations for local school systems to follow when interpreters are needed for limited English-proficient students and their parents during Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.

HB 127 further requires community outreach efforts by local school systems to provide parents with information regarding the English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mesha Mainor (56th) Education

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 579 Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act; revise prior school year requirement
Bill Summary: HB 579 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-2114 relating to the 'Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act' to allow students who previously qualified for the scholarship to remain eligible throughout the students' education.

HB 579 requires the Department of Education to electronically deposit payments into the accounts of participating schools.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Carter Barrett (24th) Education

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1104 Quality Basic Education Act; address mental health risks for student athletes
Bill Summary: HB 1104 amends O.C.G.A. 20-2-324.7 to address mental health risks for student athletes by requiring athletic associations to post on their website guidelines and relevant materials informing and educating students, parents/guardians, school personnel, and coaches about screening for mental health risks and available resources.

Coaches will annually view approved educational videos, if available, and review guidelines/materials related to mental health risks in student athletes.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Omari Crawford (84th) Education

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee
HB 1229 Dalton, City of; provide new charter Bill Summary: HB 1229 provides a new city charter for the City of Dalton.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Kasey Carpenter (4th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Committee Actions

HB 1230 Edison, City of; municipal court to collect a technology fee; authorize
Bill Summary: HB 1230 authorizes the municipal court of the City of Edison to collect a technology fee.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Gerald Greene (154th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1236 Douglas County; State Court; add third judge Bill Summary: HB 1236 adds a third judge for the state court of Douglas County.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Kimberly New (64th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1241 Smyrna, City of; revise compensation of mayor and councilmembers
Bill Summary: HB 1241 revises the compensation of the mayor and council members of the City of Smyrna.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Doug Stoner (40th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1242 Clayton County Public Facilities Authority; create Bill Summary: HB 1242 creates the Clayton County Public Facilities Authority.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Yasmin Neal (79th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1243 Cobb County; Probate Court; change compensation of clerk Bill Summary: HB 1243 revises the compensation of the clerk of the probate court of Cobb County.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Teri Anulewicz (42nd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1246 Cobb County; State Court; change compensation of judges Bill Summary: HB 1246 revises the compensation of judges of the state court of Cobb County

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Teri Anulewicz (42nd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1248 Elbert County; ad valorem tax for educational purposes for certain senior citizens; provide homestead exemption
Bill Summary: HB 1248 provides a homestead exemption from Elbert County school district ad valorem taxes for residents 65 years of age and older, and whose homestead's market value does not exceed $250,000.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

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Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Committee Actions

HB 1249 Elbert County; ad valorem tax for county purposes for certain senior citizens; provide homestead exemption
Bill Summary: HB 1249 provides a homestead exemption from Elbert County ad valorem taxes for residents 65 years of age or older in an amount by which the current year assessed value exceeds the base year assessed value of the homestead.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1250 Elbert County; ad valorem tax for county purposes for certain senior citizens; provide homestead exemption
Bill Summary: HB 1250 provides a homestead exemption from Elbert County school district ad valorem taxes for residents 65 years of age or older in an amount by which the current year assessed value exceeds the base year assessed value of the homestead.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

Motor Vehicles Committee

HB 907

Motor vehicles; responsibilities for encountering funeral procession on two-lane highway; revise
Bill Summary: HB 907 outlines the responsibilities of motor vehicle drivers in the event they encounter a funeral procession. The bill requires drivers on a two-lane road to pull to the edge or curb of the road to give the funeral procession the right-of-way. In order for drivers not in the funeral procession to be aware of its beginning and end, both lead and rear vehicles must display flashing hazard lights.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lehman Franklin (160th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1001 Motor vehicles; presentation of a driver's license in a certain electronic format satisfies the requirement to possess a driver's license while operating a motor vehicle; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1001 allows licensees to present their license on a wireless telecommunication device to a law enforcement officer upon their request. If a physical copy of the license is presented to the officer, the licensee does not have to present an electronic version as well.

HB 1001 does not require the licensee to release their telecommunication device to the officer under this circumstance. The individual is not considered to have consented to a search and seizure of said device.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Clay Pirkle (169th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1100 Revenue, Department of; authorize use of electronic notifications and communications to motor vehicle owners; provisions
Bill Summary: HB 1100 allows the Department of Revenue to contact an individual with an interest in or title to a vehicle 30, 20, and 10 days prior to the date of an insurance suspension via electronic means.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Kimberly New (64th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Committee Actions

HB 1193 Motor vehicles; require operation of flashing or revolving amber lights upon certain vehicles
Bill Summary: HB 1193 revises Code Section 40-6-16 to allow the display of a revolving light on a stationary towing or recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle, or utility service vehicle. Red lights are removed as being one of the potential colors to be flashed or revolved.

HB 1193 defines what vehicles should utilize flashing or revolving lights, and under what circumstances.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lauren McDonald (26th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

HB 1235 Motor vehicles; vehicle registration of special mobile equipment that are self-propelled cranes in order to authorize operation of such upon public highways; provide
Bill Summary: HB 1235 creates a definition for "self-propelled crane" and defines the annual license fee for the operation of this vehicle to be $31. The bill further amends other code sections for inclusion of self-propelled cranes.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Steven Meeks (178th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 110

'Back the Blue Act'; enact
Bill Summary: SB 110 creates a Back the Blue Fund of which the revenue commissioner will be the custodian and administer to sheriffs' offices through the Georgia Sheriff's Association for the purpose of providing bonuses to deputy sheriffs and jailers. An option will be provided to contribute $5 to the fund upon issuance or renewal of a motor vehicle car tag.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 369

Motor Vehicles; issuance of license plates commemorating the United States of America's semiquincentennial; provide
Bill Summary: SB 369 creates a license plate celebrating the United States' semiquincentennial. The design will be selected from designs submitted by students through their civics education class.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Motor Vehicles

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
HB 957 Water, ports and watercraft; penalties for failing to remove abandoned vessel; revise Bill Summary: HB 957 establishes procedure and policy for discovery and subsequent removal of vessels abandoned or left unattended on public property or in public waters of this state.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1165 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council; replace chairperson of the Governor's Office of Children and Families with the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
Bill Summary: HB 1165 replaces the chairperson of the Governor's Office for Children and Families with the commissioner of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities on

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Committee Actions

the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mesha Mainor (56th) Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee
Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

Special Rules Committee
HR 1066 Iranian people; desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Republic of Iran; express support
Bill Summary: HR 1066 expresses support for the Iranian people's desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Republic of Iran, and recognizes the people of Iran that are defending their rights for freedom.

The resolution also condemns state-sponsored terrorism by the Iranian government and the killing of Iranian protestors, as well as U.S. citizens. The resolution calls on U.S. government agencies to work with European allies to hold Iran accountable, and to prevent malign activities during the regime's diplomatic missions.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Special Rules

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Ways & Means Committee
HB 971 Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage Tax Credit Act; enact
Bill Summary: HB 971 creates O.C.G.A. 48-7-29.11A to allow a taxpayer to claim a tax credit of up to $300 for eligible expenses related to firearm safe handling instructional courses and firearm secure storage devices.
The tax credit will have an annual aggregate cap of $3 million, and an individual taxpayer may only receive credits totaling $300 in their lifetime from this program. Any unused tax credit cannot be carried forward.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Mark Newton (127th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1069 Ad valorem tax; assessment of standing timber; authorize disclosure of records to State Forestry Commission
Bill Summary: HB 1069 amends O.C.G.A. 48-5-7.5, relating to standing timber assessments, to allow the State Forestry Commission to request confidential reports provided to tax assessors.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Charles Cannon (172nd) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-16-2024 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 16, 2024

Committee Meetings

Committee Meeting Schedule
This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.legis.ga.gov to view all upcoming events.

Monday - February 19, 2024 1:30 PM Regulated Industries Subcommittee on Alcohol and Tobacco
(House) 2:00 PM REGULATED INDUSTRIES (House)
3:00 PM Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Subcommittee on Energy (House)

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