DAILY REPORT Thursday March 21, 2024 38th Legislative Day House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050 The House will reconvene for its 39th Legislative Day on Tuesday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m. 23 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor. Today on the Floor Motions to Agree HB 244 Board of Natural Resources; effective date for certain rules and regulations; extend Bill Summary: HB 244 amends O.C.G.A. 27-1-39 by extending the date for which the rules and regulations of the Board of Natural Resources are in effect. The bill amends O.C.G.A. 24-4-136 by requiring licensed seafood dealers to report non-activity to the department in the same manner as provided by rule or regulation. O.C.G.A. 27-4-188 is revised by defining the term "cage" and stipulates that for a larger outer unit holding smaller units inside, the entire unit should be treated as a single cage. Language is updated to give the department authority over decisions regarding whether or not violators of O.C.G.A. 27-2-25 should have their harvester permit revoked. HB 244 eliminates the current cage fee in effect, and makes it legal to hunt bobcat and fox using electronic calls or sounds. Authored By: Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 353 Georgia Lottery for Education Act; administrative procedures regarding coin operated amusement machines shall be subject to Chapter 13 of Title 50; provide Bill Summary: HB 353 makes any regulations promulgated by the Georgia Lottery Corporation subject to the 'Georgia Administrative Procedure Act'. Authored By: Rep. Alan Powell (33rd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 563 Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978; hearing before an administrative law judge; provide Bill Summary: HB 563 adjusts sections of the Code from requiring the appointment of a special master for addressing complaints to now providing for a hearing before either a hearing officer or an administrative law judge with the Office of State Administrative Hearings. If the Office of State Administrative Hearings is a respondent, the court will then appoint a special master. The bill amends the unlawful practices statute to include willfully neglecting or failing to comply with a subpoena or other lawful order from an administrator or hearing officer. Authored By: Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor HB 779 Paulding County; Board of Education; filling vacancies; revise provisions Bill Summary: HB 779 revises filling vacancies of the board of education for Paulding County. Authored By: Rep. Martin Momtahan (17th) Rule Applied: Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 827 Crimes and offenses; livestock theft; increased penalties; provide Bill Summary: HB 827 increases the penalty for the crime of livestock theft to between two years and 15 years imprisonment and increases the maximum fine to $10,000. If the fair market value of the livestock is $100 or less, then the punishment is increased to a high and aggravated misdemeanor. The Department of Agriculture commissioner is also provided with authority to enforce this crime. The second part of the bill creates the offense of criminal trespass involving a wild animal. The first degree of the crime occurs when a person enters a zoo cage or area where a wild animal is housed, when the person knows they have no legal right to be there, harasses an animal, and that animal suffers an injury or death. The penalty for the first degree is a felony and imprisonment for between one and 10 years. The second degree of the crime occurs when a person enters a zoo cage or area where a wild animal is housed and knows they have no legal right to be there. The penalty for the second degree of the crime is a misdemeanor and imprisonment for a maximum of 12 months. A person who commits this crime will also be liable for restitution for the injury or death of the animal. Authored By: Rep. Tyler Smith (18th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 880 Professions and businesses; military spouses to use an existing license in good standing from another state; allow Bill Summary: HB 880 brings Georgia into compliance with the federal 'Servicemembers Civil Relief Act' and allows the spouse of a servicemember to practice his or her occupation without a license so long as that spouse: 1) holds a current license to practice the occupation in another state; 2) is in good standing in the other state; 3) has filed an application for an expedited license by endorsement along with the military orders of the servicemember, which can both be filed prior to moving to Georgia; 4) is hired by an in-state employer that may lawfully hire the spouse to engage in the occupation; and 5) has his or her information verified by the in-state employer. If a spouse is not issued a license by endorsement within 30 days of filing the application, then he or she can continue to work for the in-state employer without being licensed. If the spouse is denied an expedited license by endorsement, then that spouse will no longer qualify to engage in the practice of the occupation. A professional licensing board is permitted to investigate any persons exempted under this bill and to revoke that person's exemption if the spouse violated any of the recognized standards of the occupation or knowingly made any misleading or deceptive representations in his or her application. Authored By: Rep. Bethany Ballard (147th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 985 Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation; abolish Bill Summary: HB 985 abolishes the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation and transfers any obligations, liabilities, or assets to the Georgia Student Finance Authority. Authored By: Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 1033 Utility Worker Protection Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 1033 is the 'Utility Worker Protection Act', which adds enhanced penalties for protection of utility workers harmed while acting within the course/scope of their employment or while performing official duties. The bill includes a definition for "utility worker", which includes independent contractors and applies to both private and public entities. Page 2 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor The sentencing enhancement is added to the following crimes: simple assault, making it a high and aggravated misdemeanor; aggravated assault, making the term of imprisonment between three and 20 years; simple battery, making it a high and aggravated misdemeanor; aggravated battery, making the term of imprisonment between one and 20 years; and battery, making the crime a high and aggravated misdemeanor. These enhancements apply to all offenses committed on or after July 1, 2024. Authored By: Rep. Rob Leverett (123rd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 1229 Dalton, City of; provide new charter Bill Summary: HB 1229 provides a new city charter for the City of Dalton. Authored By: Rep. Kasey Carpenter (4th) Rule Applied: Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 1312 Agriculture, Department of; regulation and taxation of electricity used as motor fuel and electric vehicle charging stations; extend effective date of provisions Bill Summary: HB 1312 addresses delayed 2022 and 2024 Public Service Commission (PSC) elections, and sets a schedule for elections for each of the five PSC districts in order to maintain staggered terms of the commissioners. Authored By: Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HB 1339 Health; certificate of need; revise Bill Summary: HB 1339 modifies and updates statutes relating to the state's certificate of need (CON) processes. The Department of Community Health (DCH) is required to review and update the state health plan every five years. The time period to submit a letter of intent is reduced from 30 to 25 days before application submission. The 120-day period for DCH to review the application begins upon receipt of the application and within 30 days of receipt, an applicant will be provided an opportunity to meet and review with DCH. Opposition is required to be submitted within 30 days of receipt of the application. Additionally, expenditure thresholds for the construction, remodeling, and installation of capital projects are removed. HB 1339 expands several provisions relating to CON exemptions. The expansion of hospital bed capacity up to 10 beds or 20 percent within a three-year period when occupancy exceeds 60 percent for the previous 12 months is exempt. The maximum distance for certain healthcare facilities to relocate without a CON is extended from a three-mile radius to a five-mile radius of the original location. Psychiatric or substance abuse inpatient programs or beds for Medicaid and uninsured patients are now exempt when an agreement is reached with a nearby hospital. New or expanded rural hospital perinatal services are exempt when an agreement is reached with a nearby hospital, including new or expanded birthing centers. New acute care facilities in rural counties are exempt under certain circumstances. New short-stay general hospitals are exempt if the new facility is replacing a closed facility within a 48-month timeframe and within five miles of the main campus of a medical school. Transfers of existing beds and services are exempt when they occur within the same hospital system and are within a 15-mile radius of the original campus. DCH and the General Assembly's Office of Legislative Counsel will review and make recommendations to update and rewrite Title 31, Chapter 6 and other such provisions relating to CON in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Recommendations will be made to the General Assembly by December 1, 2024. Page 3 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor Penalties associated with delayed or unsubmitted reports are increased from $500 to $2,000 per day up to 30 days, and from $1,000 to $5,000 per day for every day after 30 days. The maximum limit on the rural hospital tax credit is increased from $75 million to $100 million per taxable year and the sunset is extended from December 31, 2024 to December 31, 2029. HB 1339 creates the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission, which will advise the General Assembly, governor, and DCH on matters related to the quality of and access to healthcare by lowincome and uninsured populations, including reimbursement, funding, quality improvement, and service delivery enhancement opportunities. The commission will consist of nine members including: a chairperson appointed by the governor; three non-legislative members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; three nonlegislative members appointed by the president of the Senate; one non-legislative member appointed by the House minority leader; and one non-legislative member appointed by the Senate minority leader. The commission's initial report will be submitted no later than December 1, 2024 and the commission will be abolished on December 3, 2026. Authored By: Rep. Butch Parrish (158th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HR 1113 Property; granting of nonexclusive easements; authorize Bill Summary: HR 1113 authorizes the State of Georgia, acting through the State Properties Commission, to grant easements over certain state-owned properties in 17 counties as listed below: Article 1 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors and assigns over approximately 1.45 acres, located in Appling County, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia at Coastal Pines Technical College, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines, pad mount transformer, and associated required facilities for a new Career Lab for $10. Article 2 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 12 acres, located in Barrow County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources at Fort Yargo State Park, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground fiber optic cable lines for fair market value no less than $650. Article 3 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.128 of an acre, located in Barrow County, under the custody of the Department of Defense at Winder Readiness Center, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of three-phase overhead and underground distribution lines, and associated equipment to serve a new educational building for $10. Article 4 grants an easement to the Department of Transportation or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.915 of an acre, located in Bartow County, under the custody of the State Properties Commission, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of road widening and a bridge for a fair market value no less than $650. Article 5 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.092 of an acre, located in Clarke County, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) at Athens Technical College, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of three-phase underground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve TCSG-365 Industrial System Building for $10. Article 6 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company of its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.6 of an acre, located in Colquitt County, under the custody of the TCSG, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines and Page 4 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor associated equipment to serve the TCSG-378 Technical and Industrial Education Building for $10. Article 7 grants an easement to City of Marietta Board of Lights and Water or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.53 of an acre, located in Cobb County, under the custody of the Department of Defense at the Marietta Readiness Center, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of a new sanitary sewer line to support emergency room expansion at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for $13,799. Article 8 grants an easement to Trenton Telephone Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 8.5 acres, located in Dade County, under the custody of the Department of Natural resources at Cloudland Canyon State Park, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground fiber optic cable lines and associated equipment to provide WiFi for $10. Article 9 grants an easement to Heron Mill Apartments, LLC or its successors. and assigns over approximately 0.54 of an acre, located in Douglas County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources at Sweetwater Creek State Park, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground sanitary sewer lines to serve an adjacent development for a fair market value no less than $650. Article 10 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 5.19 acres, located in Douglas County, under the custody of the Department of Public Safety, for the installation of underground fiber optic lines with existing powerline right-of-way for a fair market value no less than $650. Article 11 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.6 of an acre, located in Fulton County, under the custody of the Department of Public Safety at the Public Safety Headquarters, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground distribution lines and associated equipment to serve DPS-043 Main Entrance and a Guard Shack for $10. Article 12 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.21 of an acre, located in Fulton County, under the custody of Department of Economic Development at the World Congress Center, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve Clear Channel Billboard for a fair market value no less than $650. Article 13 grants an easement to Hart County or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.04 of an acre, located in Hart County, under the custody of the Department of Corrections, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of a force main sewer connection for a fair market value no less than $650. Article 14 grants an easement to Little Ocmulgee Electric Membership Corporation or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.14 of an acre, located in Laurens County, under the custody of the TCSG, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve TCSG-382 GEER II CDL Range for $10. Article 15 grants an easement to the United States of America for the use and benefit of the Tennessee Valley, or its successors, and assigns over approximately 60 acres, located in Murray County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, for the relocation, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the radio repeater for $10. Article 16 grants an easement to the City of Covington or its successors and assigns over approximately 0.72 of an acre, located in Newton County, under the custody of the TCSG, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve D Building and Conference Center for $10. Article 17 grants an easement to the City of Covington or its successors, and assigns over approximately 3.1 acres, located in Newton County, under the custody of the TCSG, for the Page 5 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground sanitary sewer lines and associated equipment to serve an adjacent development for a fair market value no less than $650. Article 18 grants an easement to Atlanta Gas Light or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.086 of an acre, located in Paulding County, under the custody of the TCSG, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground gas distribution lines to serve TCSG - 363 Aviation Academy for $10. Article 19 grants an easement to ASF Holdings I, LLC or its successors, and assigns over approximately 2.051 acres, located in Stewart County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources at Providence Canyon State Park, for ingress egress action for fair market value no less than $650. Article 20 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.34 of an acre, located in Sumter County, under the custody of the TCSG, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines to serve traffic cameras for Americus-Sumter High School for fair market value no less than $650. Article 21 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.13 of an acre, located in Tattnall County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve a new laundry room for $10. Article 22 grants an easement to Georgia Power Company or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.13 of an acre, located in Tattnall County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of overhead electrical distribution lines and associated equipment to serve a new addition to the Visitor Center for $10. Article 23 grants an easement to Telesystem or its successors, and assigns over approximately 0.66 of an acre, located in Telfair County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources at Little Ocmulgee State Park, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground fiber optic cables to serve the park and lodges for $10. Article 24 grants an easement to Georgia Transmission Corporation or its successors, and assigns over approximately 56.3 acres, located in Troup County, under custody of the Department of Economic Development at the Kia Plant, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground and overhead electrical transmission distribution lines and associated facilities for the LaGrange Primary-Oseligee Creek 230kV Project for fair market value no less than $650 Article 25 grants an easement to Walton Electric Membership Corporation or its successors, and assigns approximately 1.78 acres, located in Walton County, under the custody of the Department of Economic Development at the Rivian Site, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of underground electrical lines and associated electrical infrastructure improvements to serve the Rivian Site for $10. Article 26 grants an easement to the Tennessee Department of Transportation or its successors, and assigns approximately 116 acres, located in Hamilton County, Tennessee, under the custody of the State Properties Commission, for the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of various road improvement projects over the Western and Atlantic Railroad for $10. Authored By: Rep. Emory Dunahoo (31st) Rule Applied: Modified-Open Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) HR 1116 Property; conveyance of certain state owned property; authorize Bill Summary: HR 1116 is a conveyance resolution for properties located in nine counties, conveying property owned by the State of Georgia or amending those conveyances, as follows: Page 6 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor Article 1 leases approximately 97.2 acres of land located in Barrow County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to Camp Twin Lakes, Inc. for a term of 25 years and for a consideration of $10 annually. Article 2, to resolve any and all disputes of ownership and real property and all present and former littoral, wharfing, and other rights and interests in and to the Property and adjoining tidally influenced water bottoms of the Savannah river, conveys approximately 0.187 of an acre of State owned filled area to East River Street, LLC in exchange for the conveyance of property from East River Street, LLC, the property being approximately 0.35 of an acre, measuring from the property line to not less than three feet in width adjoining the south face of the sheetpile bulkhead along the Savannah River. Payment for the conveyance of said land shall be made to the state for a fair market value of no less than $650 for any real property. Article 3 conveys approximately 30 acres, known as the Guy Minick Youth Sports Complex and located in Chatham County, under the custody of the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, to a local government or State entity for fair market value or to a local government or State entity for a consideration of $10, so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity. Article 4 conveys approximately 4.99 acres of land, known as the former Eastman RYDC and located in Dodge County, to a local government or State entity for fair market value or to a local government or State entity for a consideration of $10, so long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity. Article 5 conveys approximately 1.30 acres to Marriott International, Inc., or a wholly owned subsidiary for the consideration of $50,000,000 and such further terms and conditions as determined by the State Properties Commission to be in the best interest of the State of Georgia. Jamestown Shopping Center, Inc. now known as Westin Portman Peachtree I (managed by Marriott International) leased the Property, formerly known as the Old Governor's Mansion and the Henry Grady Hotel, from the State since 1969 for a term of ninety-nine years. The current rental rate after the June 2022 reset is $2,820,000 annually with an escalation factor of 1%. Article 6 conveys approximately 2.31 acres of land, known as the Atlanta Transitional Center and located in Fulton County, under the custody of the Department of Corrections, by a competitive bid for fair market value, or to a local government or State entity for fair market value, or to a local government or State entity for a consideration of $10 as long as the property is used for public purpose in perpetuity. Article 7 conveys approximately 256 acres of land located in Houston County, under the custody of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, to the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia for the consideration of $10 as long as the Property is used for the development and operation of an agricultural demonstration farm. Article 8 conveys approximately 3 acres of land located in Houston County, under the custody of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, to the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority for a consideration of $10. Article 9 conveys approximately 14.114 acres in fee and approximately 3.095 acres of temporary easement, being a portion of the Rivian Project Tract, under the custody of the Department of Economic Development, to the Department of Transportation for a consideration of $10. Article 10 leases approximately 0.15 of an acre of land located in Paulding County, under the custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to Paulding County, Georgia for a 25-year term for the installation, operation, and maintenance of a 911 communications tower. Article 11 leases an approximate 28,517 square foot portion of a building located at Building 500 on the Walker County Campus of Georgia Northwestern Technical College, under the custody of the Technical College System of Georgia, to the Walker County Board of Education for a term of 10 Page 7 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor years with one 10-year renewal option for $10 annually. Article 12 leases of approximately 4.93 acres of land located in White County, under custody of the Department of Natural Resources, to Extenet Systems for a lease term from commencement to expiration on December 31, 2027, with two five-year renewal options, and for the consideration of $1,800 annually. Authored By: Rep. Clay Pirkle (169th) Rule Applied: Modified-Open Motions to Agree: (A motion to agree represents final passage of the bill.) Rules Calendar SB 69 Honorable Clarence Thomas; placement of a monument in his honor within the capitol building or grounds; provide Bill Summary: SB 69 provides for the placement of a monument honoring Clarence Thomas on the capitol grounds. The design and placement are subject to final approval from a monument committee composed of two members of the House appointed by the speaker, two members of the Senate appointed by the lieutenant governor, and one member from each chamber appointed by the governor. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Floor Action: Sen. Ben Watson (1st) Special Rules Yeas: Nays: Recommit to Rules Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Open 03-18-2024 Do Pass SB 112 "Workforce EXCELeration Act"; enact Bill Summary: SB 112 creates the 'Workforce EXCELeration Act', which provides for a pilot program to establish a high school diploma program for adult learners. The program will be facilitated by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia. The pilot program must include at least two distinct programs and will be automatically repealed on June 30, 2029. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Higher Education Yeas: 143 Nays: 23 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-13-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 230 Programs and Protection for Children; foster parents bill of rights; revise provisions Bill Summary: SB 230 adds a new item to the bill of rights for foster parents, which says that they have the right to a reasonable and prudent parent standard when determining the ability of a child in foster care to engage in certain extracurricular activities. This clarifies that foster parents have the right to a certified volunteer advocate of the foster parent's choosing during an investigation and also during meetings, as well as the right to a fair, timely, and impartial investigation. It also changes the date that the Department of Human Services must develop a grievance procedure for dealing with grievances of foster parents from 2007 to 2024. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Matt Brass (28th) Juvenile Justice Yeas: 169 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-12-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 259 Superior Court of Banks County; move from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit to the Mountain Judicial Circuit Bill Summary: SB 259 transfers Banks County from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit to the Mountain Judicial Circuit effective January 1, 2025. Pending proceedings and litigations will be transferred to the Mountain Judicial Circuit, and county governing authorities will enter into intergovernmental Page 8 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor agreements concerning costs and expenses of each judicial circuit by December 31, 2024. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Bo Hatchett (50th) Judiciary Yeas: 150 Nays: 1 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 293 County Boards of Health; operational policies and procedures of the Department of Public Health apply to local personnel; provide Bill Summary: SB 293 revises the selection and qualifications of district health directors. The commissioner of the Department of Public Health will appoint district health directors to serve as chief executive officers of each local health department in the respective district. The director must be licensed to practice medicine or have a master's degree in public health or a related field. If the director is not licensed to practice medicine, then a licensed physician must serve as the chief medical officer. If a position for district health director becomes vacant, the commissioner can appoint an interim without board approval until a permanent director is appointed and approved by the county boards of health. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Ben Watson (1st) Public Health Yeas: 120 Nays: 37 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-14-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 324 State Printing and Documents; a victim centered address confidentiality program; provide Bill Summary: SB 324 prohibits courts from issuing or approving mutual protective orders in certain instances. The bill provides for the issuance of dating violence protective orders. The bill creates a victim-centered address confidentiality program within the Office of the Secretary of State. The program allows certified participants to utilize an address confidentiality card in lieu of disclosing their address to governmental entities to prevent the publication of a confidential address. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Kim Jackson (41st) Governmental Affairs Yeas: 151 Nays: 1 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-13-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 368 Government Transparency and Campaign Finance; foreign nationals from contributing to candidates or campaign committees; prohibit Bill Summary: SB 368 prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions to a candidate, campaign committee, independent committee, or political action committee, as well as prohibiting those entities from accepting contributions from foreign nationals. The bill prohibits persons from acting as agents of a foreign principal unless they have properly registered themselves with a proper registration statement. Whenever an agent of a foreign principal appears before an elected official, agency, officer, or General Assembly committee to testify or advocate for the interests of the foreign principal, the agent will affirmatively state they are acting as an agent and disclose the identity of the foreign principal. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Rick Williams (25th) Judiciary Yeas: 161 Nays: 2 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-07-2024 Do Pass SB 373 Licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy; issuance of expedited licenses by endorsement for marriage and family therapists; provide Bill Summary: SB 373 amends the definition of "supervisor" related to professional counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists to remove the requirement that an applicant be a psychiatrist or a psychologist. It also removes the requirement that applicants to become a Page 9 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor professional counselor have a doctoral degree in order to be licensed. Further, an associate professional counselor would be required to have 90 quarter hours in relevant education rather than 80 hours in order to be licensed. The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists is required to issue expedited licenses by endorsement within 30 days from the date of application for those individuals who have the same type of license in another state and meet other requirements, such as being in good standing. This will not apply to licenses for an associate marriage and family therapist. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 159 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-14-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 374 "Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Act of 2021"; land surveyor interns and professional land surveyors; change provisions Bill Summary: SB 374 provides that two years of the four total years required of experience in fulltime or part-time soil classification to receive a soil classifier license will be obtained after meeting the applicable educational requirements for the license. This also provides for ways in which an applicant can fulfill the remaining years of experience. The bill allows the Georgia Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors Board to issue land surveyor intern certificates to applicants who have earned a high school diploma, passed a board-approved examination, and completed other requirements of the board. O.C.G.A. 43-15-12, related to land surveyor intern certificates, is repealed. The bill revises the requirements for a professional land surveyor license to provide for three separate ways to obtain licensure. The first method includes obtaining a relevant bachelor's degree or possessing a certificate of registration as a professional engineer, passing board-approved examinations, and completing three years of office and field experience. The second method involves obtaining a relevant associate's degree, passing board-approved examinations, and completing five years of office and field experience. The third method includes obtaining a high school diploma, passing board-approved examinations, and completing eight years of office and field experience. The Act becomes effective on January 1, 2025. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Floor Action: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 59 Nays: 96 Failed Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-14-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 384 Public Officers and Employees; development and administration of the State of Georgia as a Model Employer (GAME) Program; provide Bill Summary: SB 384 makes it the policy of the state to become a model employer for hiring individuals with disabilities. The bill creates the Georgia as a Model Employer (GAME) Program, and requires the program to be developed and implemented by the state's Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act coordinator. The program is designed to boost employment in state government of individuals with disabilities by developing and implementing reasonable accommodation policies and procedures, creating a reporting system for tracking progress of state agencies, developing evaluation forms/reports for data collection, and creating training/technical assistance for state agency human resources personnel. Each state agency must submit a plan to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities by September 1, 2025, and by September 1 of each year afterward. The state ADA coordinator must submit a report on the progress of state agencies by December 15, 2025, and by December 15 of each year afterward. Page 10 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Floor Action: Sen. Billy Hickman (4th) Industry and Labor Yeas: Nays: Recommit to Rules Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-06-2024 Do Pass SB 420 Agriculture; acquisition of possessory interest in certain land by certain foreign persons and entities; prohibit Bill Summary: SB 420 prohibits a person who is not a U.S. citizen or legal resident, is an agent of a foreign government designated as a foreign adversary pursuant to 15 C.F.R. Section 7.4., and has been out of the country for a period of time preceding the acquisition of land from acquiring directly or indirectly any possessory interest in agricultural land or land within a 10-mile radius of a military installation, excluding residential property. Any possessory interest in agricultural land acquired by a nonresident alien through inheritance will be disposed of within one year after acquisition, and any interest acquired in the collection of debts will be disposed of within two years after acquisition. A broker will timely disclose to their client the requirements regarding relevant land acquisition. Violations will be considered a felony with punishment of a fine of less than $15,000 and imprisonment of between one to two years. SB 420 allows an interest in real estate to be transferred through a transfer-on-death deed, permitting a deed to transfer ownership of an interest upon death of the record owner. The transfer-on-death deed will be executed, acknowledged, and recorded in the office of the clerk of superior court of the county where the real estate is located prior to the death of the record owner. A transfer-on-death form is provided in the bill. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Judiciary Yeas: 97 Nays: 67 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 433 Nonprofit Corporations; enact "Donor Intent Protection Act"; provide definitions; charitable organizations from violating the terms of charitable contributions; prohibit Bill Summary: SB 433, the 'Donor Intent Protection Act', requires a charitable organization or trust that accepts a contribution pursuant to an endowment agreement to not violate the terms of any donor imposed restriction. If a donor imposed restriction is violated, the donor, the donor's lineal descendants, or the donor's legal representative may bring a civil action within four years after discovering a breach of the endowment agreement. If a court finds a violation, the court is authorized to order a remedy consistent with the charitable purposes expressed in the endowment agreement. The court, however, will not be authorized to order the return of the contribution. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Bill Cowsert (46th) Judiciary Yeas: 157 Nays: 3 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 469 "College Success 529 Expansion Act"; enact Bill Summary: SB 469 revises the maximum account balance allowed related to contributions to savings trust accounts for higher education expenses. The bill increases the income tax deduction cap related to higher education savings trust account contributions. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Jason Esteves (6th) Higher Education Yeas: 155 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-13-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Page 11 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor SB 472 "Combating Organized Retail Crime Act"; enact Bill Summary: SB 472 enacts the 'Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act' and revises language in O.C.G.A. 10-36-1 relating to high-volume third-party sellers, sellers, and third-party sellers. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. John Albers (56th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Yeas: 167 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-12-2024 Do Pass SB 479 Secondary Metals Recyclers; applicability of the definition of the term "used, detached catalytic converters" to said article; provide Bill Summary: HB 479 revises judicial compensation so that the base salary for judges is related to the annual salary fixed for judges of the U.S. district court for the northern district of Georgia on July 1st of the second proceeding state fiscal year. Each supreme court justice will receive a maximum of 100 percent of the federal district judge's salary, each court of appeals judge will receive a maximum of 95 percent of the base salary, the judge of the state-wide business court will receive a maximum of 92 percent of the base salary, and each superior court judge will receive a maximum of 90 percent of the base salary. Locality pay may be provided to judges in lieu of and not in addition to any prior county supplements, but in no event will the annual locality pay exceed 10 percent of the state annual salary. Each superior court judge in office on July 1, 2024 may opt in to the new salary framework as well as any existing locality pay by October 1, 2024 through filing written notification to the council of superior court judges and the governing authority of each county comprising the judge's judicial circuit. From July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, all local laws providing compensation for a state or local official that tie that compensation to a superior court judge's compensation will be suspended with respect to any compensation increase. None of the provisions of HB 479 will repeal or amend any local law. As of July 1, 2025, that suspension will be terminated and will not entitle any official to retroactive compensation. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Bo Hatchett (50th) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Yeas: 138 Nays: 13 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-07-2024 Do Pass SB 496 Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; extension of preferential assessment periods for certain historic properties; provide Bill Summary: SB 496 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-29.8, relating to tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures, to extend the sunset date of the program to December 31, 2029 and clarify the definition of a historic building or structure to require the structure to be certified by the Department of Community Affairs as having met certain criteria. The bill amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-40.32, relating to revitalization zone tax credits, to extend the sunset date of the program to December 31, 2032. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Ways & Means Yeas: 145 Nays: 3 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 503 Residential and General Contractors; the general contractor license as a commercial general contractor license; rename Bill Summary: SB 503 is a clean-up bill that revises various grammar and terminology related to general contracting licensure and splits licenses into two separate categories for commercial and residential. The bill changes the annual volume threshold to $10 million that two of the members of the commercial general contractor division must have less than. Members must also meet at least Page 12 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor once every two months. A person applying for a residential-basic contractor license must also show that they are qualified as far as financial responsibility. The decision of the appropriate division shall be conclusive except for fraud or willful or wanton misconduct. A business organization which loses a qualifying agent and that is acting under the statutory timeframe to find a new qualifying agent must have its financially responsible officer or executive, who has assumed all responsibilities of the agent, swear in an affidavit that the permit application is made in the applicable timeframe. A building inspector will not be able to issue a building permit unless the applicant has provided this affidavit. If a building inspector violates this provision, then they are subject to a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $1,000. The bill revises other dates, timelines, and fine amounts. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Matt Brass (28th) Regulated Industries Yeas: 149 Nays: 2 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-14-2024 Do Pass SB 505 Hospitals and Related Institutions; required publication by hospital of certain financial documents on its website; provisions; revise Bill Summary: SB 505 requires each licensed hospital in the state to post and maintain a link to the federal related disclosures in the format established by the Department of Community Health to be updated annually, and no later than July 1 of each year. The department is directed to establish a uniform template and criteria for reporting the required documents no later than December 31, 2024, to be utilized no later the July 1, 2025. Additionally, SB 505 requires the board of a hospital authority to select one of the three proposed candidates to fill a vacancy. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Blake Tillery (19th) Health Yeas: 156 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-18-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 520 Domestic Relations; provisions relating to income withholding orders; change and clarify Bill Summary: SB 520 adds definitions for "income withholding" and "income withholding notice", and replaces previous terms within the Code. It also requires that an income withholding notice be provided to the payor to initiate income withholding. In cases involving Title IV-D child support withholding through an income withholding notice, all objections will be placed on the calendar for a hearing before an administrative law judge. The notice will remain in effect until the objection is heard and a decision is rendered. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Bill Cowsert (46th) Juvenile Justice Yeas: 166 Nays: 0 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: Modified-Structured 03-12-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Postponed Until Next Legislative Day SB 97 'Georgia Cyber Command Act'; Georgia Cyber Command Division under the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; create Bill Summary: SB 97 creates the offense of operation of a motor vehicle with a fraudulent license plate. A person commits this offense when they, willfully and with an intent to obscure or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle or its owner, operate a vehicle while: concealing any portion of the license plate; displaying a license plate issued to a different motor vehicle; displaying a revalidation decal other than the one issued to the motor vehicle; or displaying a license plate not issued by the Department of Revenue which has the appearance of one validly issued by the department. Page 13 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor SB 97 requires warning signs for traffic safety enforcement devices and school zone speed limit reduction to display flashing yellow lights while the speed reduction is in effect. The speed limit may be enforced one hour prior to and one hour after the school day starts; one hour prior to and two hours after the school dismisses unless the school campus is bisected by a highway; and when the driver is 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. The legislation restricts fines and civil penalties received from use of automated devices to 30 percent of the law enforcement agency's budget in order to keep the permit for operating the device. Authored By: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 132 Agriculture; the acquisition of possessory interest in certain land by certain nonresident aliens; prohibit Bill Summary: SB 132 amends the Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources from accepting any new applications for surface mining utilizing dragline mining for heavy mineral sands from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. This bill does not prohibit the modification of permits already issued by or submitted to the division on or before June 30, 2024. Authored By: Sen. Brandon Beach (21st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 208 'Georgia Development Impact Fee Act'; provide for fees for education Bill Summary: SB 208 allows local boards of education of high-growth school systems to impose, levy, and collect educational development impact fees, upon approval to do so by local referendum. The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2025, and is dependent on the passage of a constitutional amendment to authorize educational development impact fees. Authored By: Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 212 Probate Court Judges; relating to elections; end activities and duties Bill Summary: SB 212 removes election activities and duties from the powers of probate judges. The bill directs any county with a probate judge acting as the election superintendent to create a board of elections and registration. The bill provides for the composition and administration of such boards. Authored By: Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 344 Sales and Use Taxes; firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories during an 11-day period each year; exempt Bill Summary: SB 344 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-27, relating to computation of taxable net income, to exclude any grants for investments in broadband infrastructure received as part of 47 U.S.C. 1702, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, or the 'American Rescue Plan Act of 2021'. This Code section expires January 1, 2029. Authored By: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Rule Applied: Structured SB 351 "Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024"; enact Bill Summary: SB 351 creates the 'Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024' in Part I Section 1-1. Part II Section 2-1 adds to the character education program relating to bullying a new requirement to teach "responsible digital citizenship and the safe and appropriate use of technology, the Internet, and social media" beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Page 14 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor Section 2-2 requires the Department of Education to develop model programs regarding online safety for grades six through 12, and post on its website recommended curricula and instructional materials. The model programs should be re-evaluated periodically to reflect changes in Internet and social media use. Section 2-3 revises O.C.G.A. 20-2-234 relating to Internet safety and requires local governing bodies to adopt an acceptable-use policy for Internet use by October 1, 2025. Schools should implement technology protection measures to block access to prohibited materials. The Department of Education will provide guidance and assistance to assist local schools and school systems comply with these requirements. The State Board of Education will have the authority to withhold state funding if a local governing body fails to comply with this Code section. Section 2-4 requires local governing bodies to adopt a social media policy by April 1, 2026. The Department of Education will assist in the creation of social media policies, and have the authority to withhold a portion of the state funding if a local governing body fails to comply with this Code section, or fails to enforce its social media policy. Section 2-5 requires the Department of Education to include cyberbullying in its model policy regarding bullying by July 1, 2026. The department will post on its website resources for online and local in-person providers throughout the state available to families for students found to be perpetrating bullying and those who have been targets of bullying. Part III Section 3-1 requires providers of social media platforms to make commercially reasonable efforts to verify the age of account holders. Any person under the age of 16 will be treated as a minor by social media platforms, and the platform must obtain the express consent of such minor's parent/guardian for use of the platform. The attorney general has exclusive authority to enforce Chapter 6 of Title 39. Section 3-2 requires a commercial entity to use a reasonable age verification method before allowing access to a public website that contains a substantial portion of material that is harmful to minors. It holds that a commercial entity liable for damages and a fine of up to $10,000 per violation if it fails to perform reasonable age verification, namely that the individual attempting to access the material is at least 18 years of age. When performing a reasonable age verification, the commercial entity will not retain any identifying information after access to the material has been granted. Authored By: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 399 Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; to enter into and amend existing agreements with the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia; encourage and state expectations Bill Summary: SB 399 requires the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) commissioner to collaborate with the University System of Georgia (USG) chancellor to provide a report on specified information related to courses, transfers, degree completion, and the High-Demand Career List to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Representatives, and certain legislative committee chairs. The bill provides expectations to the Board of Regents, units of USG, and local boards of education to enter into and amend agreements with TCSG related to transferability of credits. Authored By: Sen. Shelly Echols (49th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 402 Instruction Permits; restrictions upon the operation of Class C motor vehicles by Class D license holders with certain passengers in the vehicle; revise Bill Summary: SB 402 removes the ability of a law enforcement agency's governing body from charging additional fines, fees, penalties, or charges along with the civil monetary penalty if a vehicle is found to be in violation by a recorded image. Agents, law enforcement agencies, or governing Page 15 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor bodies found in violation of the provisions within this article will be fined $1,000 by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. Authored By: Sen. Frank Ginn (47th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 449 Certified Nursing Aid; certain military medical personnel from an examination requirement; exempt Bill Summary: SB 449 requires the Department of Community Health, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Service, to create a program in which military medical personnel can be certified as nurse aides, paramedics, cardiac technicians, emergency medical technicians, or licensed practical nurses without having to meet certain additional requirements. The term "military medical personnel" is added by the bill and relates to those who have relevant experience within the past 24 months prior to seeking certification or recertification as a medic, medical technician, or corpsman, within the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard. The bill amends the definition of "advanced practice registered nurse" (APRN) to specify that APRNs engage in advanced nursing within one of the following roles: certified nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse anesthetist, or a clinical nurse specialist. The bill revises the requirements for those applying to become an APRN, starting on September 1, 2025. The license must be renewed every two years, and it is a misdemeanor offense to practice as an APRN without a proper license. Further, the bill provides that any reference to a rural hospital organization within the chapter of the Code will include a hospital located in any county that satisfies the definition of rural hospital organization in O.C.G.A. 31-8-9.1. Authored By: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 497 Education; High-demand Career Initiatives Program as the High Demand Apprenticeship Program; redesignate Bill Summary: SB 497 redesignates the High-demand Career Initiatives Program as the High Demand Apprenticeship Program. The bill lowers the maximum contract completion award amount from $10,000 per apprentice to $5,000 per apprentice, and increases the number of allowable apprentices from five per year to 10 per year. The bill establishes the Public Service Apprenticeship Program through the Office of Workforce Development in order to promote the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs throughout the state. Authored By: Sen. Billy Hickman (4th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SB 517 Criminal Prosecutions; immunity from certain criminal prosecutions against law enforcement officers whose threat or use of force is justified or otherwise lawful; provide Bill Summary: SB 517 allows for certain uses of force by a law enforcement officer to be considered for immunity from prosecution. The bill adds references to the immunity statute for O.C.G.A. 16-3-20, relating to justification, and O.C.G.A. 17-4-20, relating to authorization of arrests with and without warrants and use of deadly force. The same references are added into the O.C.G.A. 51-11-9, which provides for immunity for civil liability. Authored By: Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured SR 189 General Assembly; development impact fees for educational purposes; provide -CA Bill Summary: SR 189 proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to allow the General Assembly to authorize, by general law, local boards of education to impose, levy, and collect development impact fees, subject to approval by local referendum, and use the proceeds to pay for a Page 16 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor share of additional educational facilities. Authored By: Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Rule Applied: Modified-Structured Local Calendar HB 1455 St. Mary's, City of; ad valorem tax for municipal purposes; provide homestead exemption Bill Summary: HB 1455 provides a homestead exemption from City of St. Marys' ad valorem taxes for residents 65 years of age or older in the amount of $25,000 of the assessed value of the homestead. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Floor Action: Rep. Steven Sainz (180th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 92 Nays: 65 Tabled Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 03-08-2024 Do Pass HB 1478 Mid-State Energy Authority Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 1478 creates the Mid-State Energy Authority. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 116 Nays: 42 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 03-21-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 1487 Villa Rica, City of; provide that the mayor shall appoint and remove the city manager Bill Summary: HB 1487 revises the appointment and removal process of the city manager of the City of Villa Rica. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. J Collins (71st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 116 Nays: 42 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 03-21-2024 Do Pass HB 1501 City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 1501 creates the City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Rep. Deborah Silcox (53rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 116 Nays: 42 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 03-21-2024 Do Pass SB 558 City of Doraville; corporate limits; change Bill Summary: SB 558 provides a referendum to change the corporate limits of the City of Doraville. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Sally Harrell (40th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 116 Nays: 42 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 03-21-2024 Do Pass SB 560 City of Doraville; corporate limits; change Bill Summary: SB 560 provides a referendum to change the corporate limits of the City of Doraville. Authored By: Sen. Sally Harrell (40th) Rule Applied: Page 17 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Today on the Floor House Committee: Floor Vote: Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 116 Nays: 42 Committee Action: Amendments: 03-21-2024 Do Pass SB 575 Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority; create Bill Summary: SB 575 creates the Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority. Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote: Sen. Rick Williams (25th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 116 Nays: 42 Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments: 03-21-2024 Do Pass Page 18 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Next on the Floor Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 39th Legislative Day, Tuesday, March 26, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. SB 97 'Georgia Cyber Command Act'; Georgia Cyber Command Division under the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency; create Bill Summary: SB 97 creates the offense of operation of a motor vehicle with a fraudulent license plate. A person commits this offense when they, willfully and with an intent to obscure or misrepresent the identity of a vehicle or its owner, operate a vehicle while: concealing any portion of the license plate; displaying a license plate issued to a different motor vehicle; displaying a revalidation decal other than the one issued to the motor vehicle; or displaying a license plate not issued by the Department of Revenue which has the appearance of one validly issued by the department. SB 97 requires warning signs for traffic safety enforcement devices and school zone speed limit reduction to display flashing yellow lights while the speed reduction is in effect. The speed limit may be enforced one hour prior to and one hour after the school day starts; one hour prior to and two hours after the school dismisses unless the school campus is bisected by a highway; and when the driver is 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. The legislation restricts fines and civil penalties received from use of automated devices to 30 percent of the law enforcement agency's budget in order to keep the permit for operating the device. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Rule Applied: Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 132 Agriculture; the acquisition of possessory interest in certain land by certain nonresident aliens; prohibit Bill Summary: SB 132 amends the Georgia Surface Mining Act of 1968 to prohibit the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources from accepting any new applications for surface mining utilizing dragline mining for heavy mineral sands from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027. This bill does not prohibit the modification of permits already issued by or submitted to the division on or before June 30, 2024. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Brandon Beach (21st) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-12-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 208 'Georgia Development Impact Fee Act'; provide for fees for education Bill Summary: SB 208 allows local boards of education of high-growth school systems to impose, levy, and collect educational development impact fees, upon approval to do so by local referendum. The bill has an effective date of January 1, 2025, and is dependent on the passage of a constitutional amendment to authorize educational development impact fees. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Governmental Affairs Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass SB 212 Probate Court Judges; relating to elections; end activities and duties Bill Summary: SB 212 removes election activities and duties from the powers of probate judges. The bill directs any county with a probate judge acting as the election superintendent to create a board of elections and registration. The bill provides for the composition and administration of such boards. Page 19 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Next on the Floor Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Governmental Affairs Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-07-2024 Do Pass SB 344 Sales and Use Taxes; firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories during an 11-day period each year; exempt Bill Summary: SB 344 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-27, relating to computation of taxable net income, to exclude any grants for investments in broadband infrastructure received as part of 47 U.S.C. 1702, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, or the 'American Rescue Plan Act of 2021'. This Code section expires January 1, 2029. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Ways & Means Rule Applied: Committee Action: Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 351 "Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024"; enact Bill Summary: SB 351 creates the 'Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act of 2024' in Part I Section 1-1. Part II Section 2-1 adds to the character education program relating to bullying a new requirement to teach "responsible digital citizenship and the safe and appropriate use of technology, the Internet, and social media" beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. Section 2-2 requires the Department of Education to develop model programs regarding online safety for grades six through 12, and post on its website recommended curricula and instructional materials. The model programs should be re-evaluated periodically to reflect changes in Internet and social media use. Section 2-3 revises O.C.G.A. 20-2-234 relating to Internet safety and requires local governing bodies to adopt an acceptable-use policy for Internet use by October 1, 2025. Schools should implement technology protection measures to block access to prohibited materials. The Department of Education will provide guidance and assistance to assist local schools and school systems comply with these requirements. The State Board of Education will have the authority to withhold state funding if a local governing body fails to comply with this Code section. Section 2-4 requires local governing bodies to adopt a social media policy by April 1, 2026. The Department of Education will assist in the creation of social media policies, and have the authority to withhold a portion of the state funding if a local governing body fails to comply with this Code section, or fails to enforce its social media policy. Section 2-5 requires the Department of Education to include cyberbullying in its model policy regarding bullying by July 1, 2026. The department will post on its website resources for online and local in-person providers throughout the state available to families for students found to be perpetrating bullying and those who have been targets of bullying. Part III Section 3-1 requires providers of social media platforms to make commercially reasonable efforts to verify the age of account holders. Any person under the age of 16 will be treated as a minor by social media platforms, and the platform must obtain the express consent of such minor's parent/guardian for use of the platform. The attorney general has exclusive authority to enforce Chapter 6 of Title 39. Section 3-2 requires a commercial entity to use a reasonable age verification method before allowing access to a public website that contains a substantial portion of material that is harmful to minors. It holds that a commercial entity liable for damages and a fine of up to $10,000 per violation if it fails to perform reasonable age verification, namely that the individual attempting to access the material is at least 18 years of age. When performing a reasonable age verification, the commercial entity will not retain any identifying Page 20 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Next on the Floor information after access to the material has been granted. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Education Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-18-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 399 Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia; to enter into and amend existing agreements with the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia; encourage and state expectations Bill Summary: SB 399 requires the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) commissioner to collaborate with the University System of Georgia (USG) chancellor to provide a report on specified information related to courses, transfers, degree completion, and the High-Demand Career List to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House of Representatives, and certain legislative committee chairs. The bill provides expectations to the Board of Regents, units of USG, and local boards of education to enter into and amend agreements with TCSG related to transferability of credits. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Shelly Echols (49th) Higher Education Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-13-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 402 Instruction Permits; restrictions upon the operation of Class C motor vehicles by Class D license holders with certain passengers in the vehicle; revise Bill Summary: SB 402 removes the ability of a law enforcement agency's governing body from charging additional fines, fees, penalties, or charges along with the civil monetary penalty if a vehicle is found to be in violation by a recorded image. Agents, law enforcement agencies, or governing bodies found in violation of the provisions within this article will be fined $1,000 by the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Frank Ginn (47th) Motor Vehicles Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 449 Certified Nursing Aid; certain military medical personnel from an examination requirement; exempt Bill Summary: SB 449 requires the Department of Community Health, in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Service, to create a program in which military medical personnel can be certified as nurse aides, paramedics, cardiac technicians, emergency medical technicians, or licensed practical nurses without having to meet certain additional requirements. The term "military medical personnel" is added by the bill and relates to those who have relevant experience within the past 24 months prior to seeking certification or recertification as a medic, medical technician, or corpsman, within the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, or Coast Guard. The bill amends the definition of "advanced practice registered nurse" (APRN) to specify that APRNs engage in advanced nursing within one of the following roles: certified nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse anesthetist, or a clinical nurse specialist. The bill revises the requirements for those applying to become an APRN, starting on September 1, 2025. The license must be renewed every two years, and it is a misdemeanor offense to practice as an APRN without a proper license. Further, the bill provides that any reference to a rural hospital organization within the chapter of the Code will include a hospital located in any county that satisfies the definition of rural hospital organization in O.C.G.A. 31-8-9.1. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Regulated Industries Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-19-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Page 21 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Next on the Floor SB 497 Education; High-demand Career Initiatives Program as the High Demand Apprenticeship Program; redesignate Bill Summary: SB 497 redesignates the High-demand Career Initiatives Program as the High Demand Apprenticeship Program. The bill lowers the maximum contract completion award amount from $10,000 per apprentice to $5,000 per apprentice, and increases the number of allowable apprentices from five per year to 10 per year. The bill establishes the Public Service Apprenticeship Program through the Office of Workforce Development in order to promote the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs throughout the state. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Billy Hickman (4th) Higher Education Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-12-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute SB 517 Criminal Prosecutions; immunity from certain criminal prosecutions against law enforcement officers whose threat or use of force is justified or otherwise lawful; provide Bill Summary: SB 517 allows for certain uses of force by a law enforcement officer to be considered for immunity from prosecution. The bill adds references to the immunity statute for O.C.G.A. 16-3-20, relating to justification, and O.C.G.A. 17-4-20, relating to authorization of arrests with and without warrants and use of deadly force. The same references are added into the O.C.G.A. 51-11-9, which provides for immunity for civil liability. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Judiciary Non-Civil Rule Applied: Committee Action: Modified-Structured 03-18-2024 Do Pass Page 22 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Committee Actions Committee Actions Bills passing committees are reported to the Clerk's Office and are placed on the General Calendar. Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee SB 429 "Small Business Protection Act of 2024"; enact Bill Summary: HB 429 creates the 'Small Business Protection Act of 2024'. The bill requires the Office of Planning and Budget, and the Department of Audits and Accounts, to prepare a small business impact analysis for a bill at the request of any member of the General Assembly, the governor, or the president of the Senate before the Session convenes or following the convening of the session. During the legislative session, the analysis can be requested by the governor, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives, or chairperson of the committee to which the bill was assigned. The analysis estimates the economic cost and benefits the bill has on small businesses in the state. If unable to provide a small business impact analysis, the Office of Planning and Budget or the Department of Audits can provide a written explanation of the impact in general terms without quantifying the impact. A small business impact analysis requested during the legislative session must be completed within 10 days, and requests made outside the legislative session must be completed within 30 days. In determining whether an agency rule will have an economic impact on small businesses, the definition of small business changes from 100 to 300 employees, and establishes reduced compliance for small businesses with differing timetables. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute Intragovernmental Coordination - Local Committee HB 1478 Mid-State Energy Authority Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 1478 creates the Mid-State Energy Authority. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Shaw Blackmon (146th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute HB 1487 Villa Rica, City of; provide that the mayor shall appoint and remove the city manager Bill Summary: HB 1487 revises the appointment and removal process of the city manager of the City of Villa Rica. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. J Collins (71st) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass HB 1501 City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority Act; enact Bill Summary: HB 1501 creates the City of Roswell Public Facilities Authority. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Deborah Silcox (53rd) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass Page 23 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Committee Actions SB 558 City of Doraville; corporate limits; change Bill Summary: SB 558 provides a referendum to change the corporate limits of the City of Doraville. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Sally Harrell (40th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass SB 560 City of Doraville; corporate limits; change Bill Summary: SB 560 provides a referendum to change the corporate limits of the City of Doraville. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Sally Harrell (40th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass SB 575 Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority; create Bill Summary: SB 575 creates the Milledgeville Public Facilities Authority. Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Rick Williams (25th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass Natural Resources & Environment Committee HR 1554 House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters; create Bill Summary: HR 1554 creates the House Study Committee on Navigable Streams and Related Matters. The study committee will be composed of the following seven members: the chair of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee; the majority whip of the House of Representatives; four members of the House of Representatives as appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and an attorney with experience in water rights and property rights as appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives. The study committee will stand abolished on December 1, 2024. Authored By: House Committee: Rep. Lynn Smith (70th) Natural Resources & Environment Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass Regulated Industries Committee SB 502 Department of Administrative Services; state agencies from contracting for advertising or marketing services with certain companies or from supporting certain companies; prohibit Bill Summary: SB 502 defines a "foreign adversary" as the countries of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, as well as Venezuelan politician Nicolas Maduro. The bill defines the term "media monitoring organization" as a company that rates or ranks news and information based on factual accuracy, or provides ratings or opinions on news sources regarding misinformation. This bans agencies from entering into agreements with a media monitoring organization or with an advertising or marketing agency that utilizes a media monitoring organization. The agency also cannot provide support, other than as required by law, to a media monitoring organization. Companies that submit a bid or proposal for a contract for advertising services must certify that the company is in compliance with these new requirements. Section 1 of the bill will become effective on July 1, 2027, and Section 2 will become effective on July 1, 2024. Page 24 of 25 House of Representatives Daily Report for March 21, 2024 Committee Actions Authored By: House Committee: Sen. Clint Dixon (45th) Regulated Industries Committee Action: 03-21-2024 Do Pass by Committee Substitute 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 - March 25, 2024 9:00 AM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM (House) 11:00 AM DEFENSE AND VETERANS AFFAIRS (House) 1:00 PM TRANSPORTATION (House) 2:00 PM HIGHER EDUCATION (House) 406 CLOB 606 CLOB 341 CAP 406 CLOB VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Page 25 of 25