PROPOSED SENATE FIRST READERS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025 TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 293. SB 294. SB 295. By Senators Anderson of the 24th, Payne of the 54th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th, Kennedy of the 18th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-85.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license plates for certain veterans, so as to increase the number of free license plates issued to certain veterans; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Summers of the 13th, Strickland of the 42nd, Beach of the 21st, Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the 41st and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to distilled spirits, so as to authorize the sale of consumable hemp products by retail dealers in distilled spirits; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Sims of the 12th, Albers of the 56th, Summers of the 13th, Hufstetler of the 52nd and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 8 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to State Board of Education under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require local school systems to maintain and publish a registry of all contracts worth more than $10,000.00 involving the use of any state funds; to provide for such information to be included on the contract registry; to require local boards of education to adopt policies; to provide for enforcement; to prohibit waivers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - 1 - SB 296. SB 297. SB 298. SB 299. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st and Strickland of the 42nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uniform rules of the road, so as to establish the offense of operation of a school bus while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; to establish the offense of endangering school bus occupants while under the influence of alcohol or drugs; to provide for penalties; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Still of the 48th, Anavitarte of the 31st and Summers of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxes, so as to create an exemption from sales and use tax for certain menstrual discharge collection devices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senator Robertson of the 29th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 5-6-34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to judgments and rulings deemed directly appealable, procedure for review of judgments, orders, or decisions not subject to direct appeal, scope of review, hearings in criminal cases involving a capital offense for which death penalty is sought, and appeals involving nonmonetary judgments in child custody cases, so as to provide for certain appellate procedures regarding the denial of sovereign and any other immunity available to the state or a city or county in this state; to provide for time limitations; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Robertson of the 29th, Payne of the 54th, Kennedy of the 18th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 17 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to notaries public, so as to provide for members of the armed forces on active duty to use online notaries public for certain matters; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - 2 - SB 300. SB 301. SB 302. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Davenport of the 17th, Anderson of the 43rd, James of the 28th, Mangham of the 55th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 9 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to grants for educational programs, so as to establish a program to support recruitment of teachers by providing grant funds to be paid by public schools to student teachers participating in the required student teaching component of their teacher education programs; to provide for applications for grants; to provide for maximum payments; to require the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations to implement the program; to provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Williams of the 25th, Gooch of the 51st, Robertson of the 29th, Harbin of the 16th, Ginn of the 47th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state flag, seal, and other symbols, so as to revise provisions for the protection of government statues, monuments, plaques, banners, and other commemorative symbols; to provide for construction; to provide for severability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senator Kennedy of the 18th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Peach County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of 10 percent of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, automatic repeal, mandatory execution of election, and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - 3 - SB 303. SB 304. SB 305. By Senators Moore of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st and Dolezal of the 27th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to revise provisions related to the state-wide uniform system of voting equipment; to transfer responsibility for the certification and selection of such system from the Secretary of State to the State Election Board; to provide that such system shall use hand marked and hand counted paper ballots; to provide for the use of ballot marking devices by voters precluded from using hand marked ballots; to for provide the use of the same equipment in municipal elections; to making conforming changes to provisions related to scanning absentee ballots; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Anderson of the 24th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Watson of the 11th, Brass of the 6th, Kennedy of the 18th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide for direct payments to property owners whose property was damaged or destroyed as a result of a certain natural disaster; to provide for an appropriations contingency; to provide for the amounts of such payments; to provide for procedures; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an automatic repeal; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Harbison of the 15th, Lucas of the 26th, Sims of the 12th and Davenport of the 17th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-86 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to special license plates promoting or supporting certain worthy agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, so as to establish a specialty license plate honoring alumni of Alabama State University; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - 4 - SB 306. SB 307. SB 308. SB 309. By Senator Robertson of the 29th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to require notices of impending expiration to be sent via certified mail; to provide for the reinstatement of certain covenants and preferential assessments in certain limited circumstances; to provide for appeals and refunds; to prohibit additional fees or interest; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Islam Parkes of the 7th, Merritt of the 9th, Mangham of the 55th, Orrock of the 36th, Halpern of the 39th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to physicians, assistants, and others, so as to provide for continuing education requirements for all physicians to include one hour on maternal health; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Islam Parkes of the 7th, Jones II of the 22nd, Esteves of the 35th, Parent of the 44th, Halpern of the 39th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to provide for Medicaid coverage of postpartum maternal mental health care services; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Kemp of the 38th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Orrock of the 36th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to repeal Chapter 2B, relating to promise scholarship accounts, including both Articles 1 and 2 of said chapter, relating to the Georgia Education Savings Authority and the "Georgia Promise Scholarship Act," respectively; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - 5 - SB 310. SB 311. SB 312. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Orrock of the 36th, Mallow of the 2nd, Kemp of the 38th, Harbison of the 15th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Community Affairs, so as to establish the Creating Hope and a New Georgia for Everyone or CHANGE Task Force for the purpose of examining the complex issues facing urban, suburban, and rural communities in this state and finding solutions focused on labor and community development; to provide for definitions; to provide for such task force's membership, duties, and powers; to provide for a grant program, subject to appropriation; to provide for reporting; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, Orrock of the 36th, Kemp of the 38th, Harrell of the 40th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 3 of Chapter 1 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to ride share network services and transportation referral services, so as to provide for additional requirements upon transportation referral service providers and ride share network services relative to driver safety and hiring and the privacy of personal information for drivers and passengers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. By Senators Mangham of the 55th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 44th, Kemp of the 38th, Halpern of the 39th and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Economic Development, so as to provide for the establishment of the Georgia Peach Walk of Fame Advisory Council; to provide for appointment of members to the advisory council; to provide for criteria of the membership of the advisory council; to provide for the election of officers; to provide for terms of members; to provide for quarterly meetings; to provide for expenses; to provide for the purpose and activities of the advisory council; to provide for funding; to provide for annual reports; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. - 6 - SR 292. SR 293. SR 294. SR 295. SR 296. SR 297. By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, Dolezal of the 27th, Anavitarte of the 31st and others: A RESOLUTION authorizing the Senate Special Committee on Investigations to investigate additional matters; to authorize the use of compulsory process to secure the attendance of witnesses or the production of documents and materials related to such additional matters; and for other purposes. By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the 4th, Sims of the 12th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Pierce County girls golf team for winning the GHSA Girls Golf AA State Championship; and for other purposes. By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the 4th, Sims of the 12th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Pierce County High School competition cheerleading team for winning the 2024 AA Division State Cheerleading Championship; and for other purposes. By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Watson of the 11th, Dixon of the 45th, Hickman of the 4th, Sims of the 12th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Lowndes County High School baseball team for winning the 2024 GHSA 7A State Baseball Championship; and for other purposes. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Petty Officer (Ret.) Diesha Blackmon; and for other purposes. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Sergeant (Ret.) Mary L. Clements; and for other purposes. - 7 - SR 298. SR 299. SR 300. SR 301. SR 302. SR 303. SR 304. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending LaVeda Bennett; and for other purposes. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Major (Ret.) Dorothy A. Britton; and for other purposes. By Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Davenport of the 17th, Wicks of the 34th, Rhett of the 33rd, Harbison of the 15th and others: A RESOLUTION commending the Sims family for their lasting contributions to Newton County and beyond; and for other purposes. By Senators Davenport of the 17th, Anderson of the 43rd, James of the 28th, Jones of the 10th, Merritt of the 9th and others: A RESOLUTION creating the Senate Rosenwald Schools Study Committee; and for other purposes. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Parent of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Jackson of the 41st, Halpern of the 39th and others: A RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of Rabbi Alvin Marx Sugarman; and for other purposes. By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Islam Parkes of the 7th, Anderson of the 43rd, Mangham of the 55th, Still of the 48th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Brookwood High School girls swim and dive team for winning the 2025 GHSA Class 6A State Swimming and Diving Championship; and for other purposes. By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Islam Parkes of the 7th, Anderson of the 43rd, Mangham of the 55th, Still of the 48th and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Brookwood High School boys swim and dive team for winning the 2025 GHSA Class 6A State Swimming and Diving Championship; and for other purposes. - 8 - SR 305. SR 306. SR 307. SR 308. SR 309. By Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Mallow of the 2nd, Williams of the 25th and Hatchett of the 50th: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Prince Hall Freemasonry and the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Georgia; and for other purposes. By Senator Islam Parkes of the 7th: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Rahim Shah Akhunkhail; and for other purposes. By Senators Halpern of the 39th, Orrock of the 36th, Kemp of the 38th, McLaurin of the 14th and Esteves of the 35th: A RESOLUTION recognizing and commending Camille Russell Love; and for other purposes. By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Robertson of the 29th, Brass of the 6th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Gooch of the 51st and others: A RESOLUTION congratulating the Georgia Association of Manufacturers on the 125th anniversary of its formation; and for other purposes. By Senators Tillery of the 19th, Albers of the 56th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Cowsert of the 46th, Mallow of the 2nd and others: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to require any bill proposing any sales or income tax credit or sales or income tax exemption to receive a two-thirds' vote of the membership of each house of the General Assembly in order to become law; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. - 9 -