Daily report, 2022 February 28

DAILY REPORT Monday
February 28, 2022

21st Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 22nd Legislative Day on Tuesday, March 1 at 10:00 a.m. The Rules Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. 10 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Motions to Insist
SB 120 Solicitors-General of State Courts; honorary office of solicitor-general emeritus; provide
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 120, the 'Ethics in Government Act of 2021,' revises Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Code. Definitions are provided to clarify terms already in the chapter. Restrictions on the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission's authority to require additional reporting information are limited to campaign disclosure reports and personal financial statements. The ability for commission staff attorneys to initiate complaints and the commission's ability to initiate investigations based on such complaints are clarified.
No current or former members of the General Assembly shall be eligible to qualify for reelection until and unless all fines and fees owing to the commission have been paid, all disclosure reports due have been filed, and all outstanding taxes have been paid.
Deadlines for the commencement of actions by the commission for alleged violations are specified to coincide with the term of office and the occurrence of the violation, as opposed to the filing of a report containing such violation. Retention periods for accounts maintained by a candidate or treasurer of a campaign committee are clarified. Provisions regarding the allowable disposition of contributions are amended to include the transfer of contributions to political action committees.
The bill makes clear that a candidate may not utilize campaign funds for the purpose of making loans or investments directly to: the candidate; a member of the candidate's family; any business in which the candidate or a member of the candidate's family has an ownership interest; the candidate's trust or a trust of a member of the candidate's family; or any non-profit organization of which the candidate or a member of the candidate's family is on the payroll or has a controlling interest.
Updates of contribution limits by the commission will now be made after each gubernatorial election cycle, instead of each and every election cycle. The bill specifies when a candidate shall be deemed to have advanced to a subsequent election to clarify when the candidate may access contributions made for the subsequent election.
Public officers who have filed a financial disclosure statement within the previous year are exempted from having to submit an affidavit confirming that they took no official action in the previous calendar year that had a material effect on their private financial or business interests. Candidates seeking election as a public officer are now subject to the same requirement to file financial disclosure statements as the incumbent officers. Financial disclosure statements for candidates of statewide elected office shall be accompanied by a financial statement of the candidate's financial affairs for the five calendar years prior to the year that the election is held. The financial disclosure statements must also include the source or sources of the candidate's income.

House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Today on the Floor

Finally, the bill clarifies that lobbyists must file supplemental registration prior to any substantial or material change or addition in their registration.

Authored By: Sen. Lindsey Tippins (37th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

Motions to Insist: (A motion to insist sends the bill back to the Senate for consideration.)

Rules Calendar
HB 1056 Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund; authority to make alternative investments; repeal certain restrictions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1056 allows the Georgia Firefighters' Pension Fund to invest up to 15 percent of the fund's total assets in alternative investments. The fund's current limit on alternative investments is 10 percent. This bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Dewayne Hill (3rd) Retirement
Yeas: 163 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-08-2022 Do Pass

HB 1064 Income tax; certain retirement income for military service; provide exemption
Bill Summary: House Bill 1064 amends O.C.G.A. 48-7-27, relating to the computation of taxable net income, by adding an income tax exemption of up to $17,500 of military retirement income for individuals less than 62 years of age and an additional exemption of $17,500 for individuals less than 62 years of age who have at least $17,500 of earned income.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Jesse Petrea (166th) Ways & Means
Yeas: 161 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Structured 02-17-2022 Do Pass

HB 1182 Local government; disposition of property acquired for lake projects do not apply if any portion of such lake was constructed; provide provisions
Bill Summary: House Bill 1182 provides that specified provisions do not apply to the county sale of property that contains any portion of a lake that was constructed.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Governmental Affairs
Yeas: 152 Nays: 10

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-09-2022 Do Pass

HB 1219 Georgia Board of Dentistry; revise composition
Bill Summary: House Bill 1219 increases the number of members of the Georgia Board of Dentistry from 11 to 17. The number of members who are dentists increases from nine to 13 and the number of members who are dental hygienists increases from one to two. The bill also adds a member who has direct knowledge of the education of dental students in this state appointed by the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Penny Houston (170th) Health & Human Services
Yeas: 162 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-15-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1271 Property; covenants which infringe upon owners' right to display United States and Georgia flags; prohibit
Bill Summary: House Bill 1271 prohibits a property owners' association from enacting covenants after July 1, 2022 that forbid a lot owner from displaying the official flag of the United States of

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Today on the Floor

America through use of an attachment to the structure of a building. The bill applies to flags that are four and one-half feet by six feet or smaller.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. James Burchett (176th) Judiciary
Yeas: 160 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1274 State government; antisemitism; provide definition
Bill Summary: House Bill 1274 provides a definition of "antisemitism" for purposes of state law. The bill uses the definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which defines "antisemitism" as the harassment of a person of actual or perceived Jewish origin, ancestry, ethnicity, or faith. State departments and agencies shall consider antisemitism as evidence of discriminatory intent for any law that prohibits discrimination or under any hate crimes provision. The bill does not diminish any rights protected under the First Amendment.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. John Carson (46th) Judiciary
Yeas: 141 Nays: 19

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-10-2022 Do Pass

HB 1288 State Employees' Assurance Department; assignment of certain group term life insurance benefits; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1288 provides for the assignment of certain group-term life insurance benefits to pay for funeral services of a deceased individual who was a member of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, Georgia Legislative Retirement System, or Georgia Judicial Retirement System.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Darlene Taylor (173rd) Insurance
Yeas: 159 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1294 Property; timing of sending notice when an abandoned mobile home has been determined to be derelict; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1294 provides landowners three days to send notice, rather than sameday notice, to all responsible parties upon a determination by a local government agent that an abandoned mobile home is derelict.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. John Corbett (174th) Judiciary
Yeas: 159 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-15-2022 Do Pass

HB 1308 Insurance; allow plan sponsor to consent on behalf of an enrollee to electronic delivery of all communication
Bill Summary: House Bill 1308 allows a sponsor of a health benefit plan to consent on behalf of an enrollee to the electronic delivery of all communications and identification cards related to the plan. Enrollees can opt out of electronic communications.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Noel Williams (148th) Insurance
Yeas: 161 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1346 Courts; clerks of superior courts; provide for construction Bill Summary: House Bill 1346 permits clerks of superior courts, who would otherwise be prohibited from practicing law in his/her name, to serve as a judge advocate or any other role in an
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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Today on the Floor

active duty or reserve component of the armed forces.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Mandi Ballinger (23rd) Judiciary
Yeas: 162 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day
HB 389 Employment security; change definition of employment to include services performed by an individual for wages
Bill Summary: House Bill 389 codifies existing case law to determine whether work classifies a person as an employee or an independent contractor. Further, the bill provides for an enforcement mechanism, which adds a civil penalty paid to the Department of Labor when an employer misclassifies its employees. Fines for companies with less than 100 employees are capped at $2,500 for each misclassified employee, while fines for companies with 100 or more employees are capped at $7,500 for each misclassified employee.

The bill states that employment does not include services performed by or facilitated through a network company, so long as the network company has a written contract with the individual that expressly states that the network company shall not unilaterally prescribe specific dates, times, or a minimum number of hours that an individual is required to be logged onto the network company's application. To apply, the contract must not be terminated by the network company if a person does not: accept a specific delivery or transportation request; restrict an individual from performing transportation or delivery services through other network companies; and contractually restrict an individual from working in any other lawful occupation or business. The bill defines "ride share network service" and "network company."

Authored By: Rep. Todd Jones (25th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

HB 961

Torts; authorize apportionment of damages in single-defendant lawsuits; provide for evidence of fault of nonparties
Bill Summary: House Bill 961 amends Code Section 51-12-33 to authorize apportionment of damages in single-defendant lawsuits rather than solely in multi-defendant lawsuits. In lawsuits against one or more defendants, following a reduction of damages attributed to the plaintiff's percentage of fault, the damages shall be apportioned to the liable person or persons according to each person's percentage of fault.

Authored By: Rep. Chuck Efstration (104th)

Rule Applied: Structured

Local Calendar
SB 522 Board of Education of Harris County; description of the education districts; change
Bill Summary: Senate Bill 522 changes the description of the Harris County Board of Education's districts.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 139 Nays: 8

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

02-25-2022 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 22nd Legislative Day, Tuesday, March 1, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker. The Rules Committee will next meet on Tuesday, March 1, at
9:00 a.m., to set the Rules Calendar for the 23rd Legislative Day.

HB 974

Property; deeds; require electronic filing
Bill Summary: House Bill 974 requires recorded instruments, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, maps/plats, and state tax executions, to be filed electronically or delivered in person to the clerk of the superior court. The clerk shall make available a public computer terminal for electronic filing access. In addition, when filing, an incorrect or missing tax parcel identification number on a recorded instrument shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the instrument. Finally, a deed to secure debt must include the following items on the first page: date, names of signatories, mailing address, map/parcel identification information, original loan amount/outstanding principal amount, initial debt maturity date, and amount of intangible recording tax or citation for a tax exemption.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Joseph Gullett (19th) Judiciary

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1009 Motor vehicles; use of personal delivery devices to transport cargo; authorize
Bill Summary: House Bill 1009 provides definitions and operation guidelines for personal delivery devices. The bill prohibits local authorities from enacting ordinances regarding personal delivery devices under specified conditions.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Todd Jones (25th) Motor Vehicles

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-23-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1188 Criminal procedure; each act of child molestation charged as a separate offense; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1188 revises the crimes of "child molestation" and "sexual exploitation of children" to specify that each individual violation of the crimes can be charged as its own count in a charging document.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Jodi Lott (122nd) Judiciary Non-Civil

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-16-2022 Do Pass

HB 1194 Motor vehicles; federal regulations regarding safe operation of commercial motor vehicles and carriers; update reference date
Bill Summary: House Bill 1194 is the annual update to the 'Uniform Carriers Act.' It updates the effective date from January 1, 2021, to January 1, 2022, to comply with federal law.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Clint Crowe (110th) Motor Vehicles

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-15-2022 Do Pass

HB 1292 Education; prohibit students who participate in 4-H sponsored activities or programs from being counted as absent from school
Bill Summary: House Bill 1292 prohibits students who participate in 4-H sponsored activities or programs from being counted as absent from school. The school principal or their designee may request documentation, as proof, from a 4-H representative.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Rick Jasperse (11th) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-23-2022 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Next on the Floor

HB 1302 Income tax; one-time tax credit for taxpayers who filed returns for both 2020 and 2021 taxable years; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1302 adds 48-7-20.1, relating to income taxes, which provides a one-time income tax refund equal to the lesser of the taxpayer's 2020 income tax liability or $250 for a taxpayer filing as single, $375 for a taxpayer filing as head of household, or $500 for a married couple filing a joint return. The refund is not available for non-resident alien individuals, individuals who were claimed as a dependent for the 2020 or 2021 tax years, nor estates or trusts. The refund is automatically credited once a taxpayer files an individual income tax return for 2021, and any refunds due shall be credited against outstanding income tax liability prior to being either electronically transmitted or sent by check to the taxpayer.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Josh Bonner (72nd) Ways & Means

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Structured 02-24-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

HB 1303 Education; transition a pilot program for elementary agricultural education to an ongoing program
Bill Summary: House Bill 1303 revises O.C.G.A. 20-2-154.3 relating to a pilot program for agricultural education in elementary schools to transition the pilot to an ongoing program. The Department of Education will provide a program evaluation to the House and Senate related committees by December 31, 2022.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Robert Dickey (140th) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-23-2022 Do Pass

HR 732

Local government; date temporary loans are payable from end of calendar year to fiscal year; change - CA
Bill Summary: House Resolution 732 proposes an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to change the payable date of temporary loans for counties and municipalities from December 31 of each year to within 12 months of the initial funding.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Chuck Martin (49th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Open 02-23-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Committee Actions

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

Judiciary Committee
HB 1383 Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978; hearing before an administrative law judge; provide
Bill Summary: House Bill 1383 concerns the Commission on Equal Opportunity and provides a framework for administrative hearings with the commission. The position of hearing officer is created, defined as an administrative law judge of the Office of State Administrative Hearings or, if that office is a respondent, a special master selected by the governor. The hearing officer will be the recipient of complaints rather than a special master. Additionally, processes are added to the bill. If the administrator is unable to complete the investigation within 90 days of filing, the administrator shall notify the parties of the reasons for failing to complete the investigation. The administrator shall also issue status reports every 60 days following that initial 90-day period.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Michael Wilensky (79th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-28-2022 Do Pass

HB 1396 Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council; create
Bill Summary: House Bill 1396 creates the Georgia Municipal Court Clerks' Council as an institution designed to improve municipal courts, assist municipal court staff, and assist in training municipal court staff. The council is a state agency and is composed of the municipal court staff of all municipal courts in the state. The council is authorized to elect officers and an executive committee.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Bill Yearta (152nd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

02-28-2022 Do Pass

Ways & Means Committee

HR 594

County and municipal governing authorities; grant temporary tax relief to properties severely damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster and located within a nationally declared disaster area; provide - CA
Bill Summary: House Resolution 594 amends Article VII, Section I of the Constitution by authorizing the governing authority of each county, municipality, and consolidated government and the board of education of each independent and county school system in this state to grant temporary tax relief to properties that are severely damaged or destroyed as a result of a natural disaster and that are located within a nationally declared disaster area. The resolution also includes the required ballot language to ratify this amendment.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Lynn Smith (70th) Ways & Means

Committee Action:

02-28-2022 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for February 28, 2022

Committee Meetings

Committee Meeting Schedule
This meeting schedule is up to date at the time of this report, but meeting dates and times are subject to change. To keep up with the latest schedule, please visit www.house.ga.gov and click on Meetings Calendar.

Tuesday - March 1, 2022 8:00 AM SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 8:00 AM MOTOR VEHICLES COMMITTEE 8:00 AM CANCELED Energy Utilities, & Telecommunications EV
Charging Subcommittee 9:00 AM RULES COMMITTEE 10:00 AM FLOOR SESSION (LD 22) 1:00 PM Insurance Property & Casualty Subcommittee 1:30 PM Ways & Means Subcommittee 1:30 PM Insurance Life & Health Subcommittee 2:00 PM REGULATED INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE 2:00 PM HOUSE HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE 3:00 PM ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
COMMITTEE 3:00 PM Judiciary Non-Civil Smith Subcommittee

506 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda 606 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda 406 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

341 CAP

VIDEO Agenda

House Chamber VIDEO

606 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

403 CAP HYBRID VIDEO

606 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

506 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

606 CLOB HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

403 CAP HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

132 CAP HYBRID VIDEO Agenda

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