DAILY REPORT Tuesday
March 21, 2023

37th Legislative
Day

House Budget & Research Office (404) 656-5050

The House will reconvene for its 38th Legislative Day on Thursday, March 23 at 10:00 a.m. 14 bills / resolutions are expected to be debated on the floor.

Today on the Floor

Rules Calendar
SB 47 Offenses Against Public Health And Morals; vaping in restricted areas is a misdemeanor punishable by fine; provide
Bill Summary: SB 47 adds the smoking of electronic smoking or vaping devices to the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Public Health
Yeas: 152 Nays: 14

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass

SB 131 Permanent Guardianship; service by publication; provide
Bill Summary: Section 1 of SB 131 requires a guardianship petition hearing to be conducted in accordance with O.C.G.A. 29-2-18.

Section 2 adds requirements to the process of serving individuals related to a child who was adjudicated as a dependent child and any other parties who appear to the court as proper or necessary to the proceeding.

Section 3 makes a conviction of a parent for murder or voluntary manslaughter of the other parent a mandatory basis for removing a child from the parent who was convicted.

Section 4 allows the court to exercise its discretion when determining the custody of a child and one parent was indicted for the offense of murder or voluntary manslaughter of the other parent.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Blake Tillery (19th) Juvenile Justice
Yeas: 165 Nays: 5

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 135

Paternity; Uniform Parentage Act of 2017; align evidentiary medical and genetic testing
Bill Summary: SB 135 clarifies that when genetic testing is required by court order, testing must be of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in that field and conducted by a laboratory accredited by either the AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) or an accrediting body designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Results of genetic testing, including the statistical likelihood of the alleged parent's parentage, are admitted into evidence without foundational testimony or other proof of accuracy, unless a party objects in writing at least 30 days prior to a hearing at which the results may be introduced into evidence.

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Today on the Floor

The bill makes results of required genetic testing self-authenticating and admissible into any civil actions as long as documentation from the laboratory contains the following chain of custody information: the name and photograph of each individual whom was tested; the name of the individual who collected the test result; the place and date each result was collected; the name of the person who received the result in the laboratory; and the date the result was received.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Juvenile Justice
Yeas: 171 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-13-2023 Do Pass

SB 148

Nonprofit Corporations; comprehensively revise, simplify, and modernize said chapter
Bill Summary: SB 148 provides comprehensive revisions to the Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code, including updates, clarifications, and modernizations. Sections are updated to account for grammatical corrections, new definitions, changes from the Georgia Business Code for consistency, and changes for consistency with operations of Secretary of State and Attorney General's offices.

The bill revises quorum requirements of nonprofit corporations to be a majority of the voting power unless bylaws provide otherwise, and requires that the secretary of a nonprofit be a separate person from the chief executive officer. Executive directors are to be designated as officers, unless articles provide otherwise, and are subject to duties of care and good faith. Executive directors are also subject to conflict of interest rules. The minimum number of directors in non-member nonprofits is revised from one to three, and directors are afforded an express right of access to corporate information and an ability to enforce that right in court. Directors are afforded the same indemnification protections for nonprofits as are provided in the business code.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. John Kennedy (18th) Judiciary
Yeas: 163 Nays: 4

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-14-2023 Do Pass

SB 213

Zoning Procedures; local governments from preventing the continuance of lawful nonconforming use of property; prohibit
Bill Summary: SB 213 prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing any zoning decisions or other regulations on a new manufactured or mobile home that were not imposed on the preexisting home, in specified circumstances and subject to specified exceptions.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Governmental Affairs
Yeas: 169 Nays: 2

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass

SB 218

Identification Cards; issuance of identification cards to persons completing a term of incarceration; provide
Bill Summary: SB 218 allows for the issuance of identification cards to persons who complete a term of incarceration. The bill requires the Department of Corrections to provide identifying information to the Department of Driver Services for the card.

The bill requires that when a person is released from confinement from the Department of Corrections, the department releases to the individual, with their consent, documents pertaining to the program history including whether the person completed training requested by the Board of Pardons and Paroles; whether they completed programs recommended by the Department of Corrections; whether they obtained a state-approved high school equivalency diploma or other educational degree; and the person's institutional work record.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Michael Rhett (33rd)

Rule Applied:

Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee

Action:

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Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

House of Representatives
Floor Vote:

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Yeas: 171 Nays: 0

Amendments:

Today on the Floor

Postponed Until Next Legislative Day

SB 1

State Government; automatic repealer on the prohibition on state and local governments from requiring proof of COVID vaccination for government services; remove

Bill Summary: SB 1 removes the sunset on the prohibition that prevents state and local governments from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of providing services, accessing a facility, issuing licenses or permits, performing duties, and other matters.

Authored By: Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

SB 20

"Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act"; ensure consumer access to quality healthcare by setting adequacy standards for network plans offered by an insurer
Bill Summary: SB 20 requires insurers to contract with and maintain a sufficient and appropriate number of participating network providers. Additionally, insurers are prohibited from denying preauthorization of services that were rendered by an in-network provider because the referring provider is out-of-network. The bill gives the insurance commissioner authority to review network adequacy.

Authored By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

SB 64

Birth Certificate; issuance of a copy of the original birth certificate to certain adult persons who were adopted; provide
Bill Summary: SB 64 allows an adult who had been adopted to request and receive a copy of their original Georgia birth certificate following payment of a fee. The copy will indicate it is not a certified copy. A parent, sibling, or descendant of a deceased person may receive a copy of the decedent's birth certificate under the same procedure.

Authored By: Sen. Randy Robertson (29th)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

SB 155

Dangerous Instrumentalities and Practices; provisions relating to harming a law enforcement animal; revise
Bill Summary: SB 155 creates the offense of aggravated harming of a public safety animal or search and rescue animal when they know or should have known that an animal is a public safety animal or search and rescue animal and when they intentionally commit, conspire, or attempt to commit an act that causes the death of the animal or injures the animal in a manner that affects its ability to perform as a public safety animal or search and rescue animal.

The penalty for this conviction is at least two years and no more than 10 years imprisonment, a fine up to $50,000, or both. The first two years of the sentence cannot be suspended, probated, deferred, or withheld by a sentencing court without the agreement of the prosecuting attorney and the defendant on a sentence below the mandatory minimum.

Authored By: Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd)

Rule Applied: Modified-Structured

Local Calendar
HB 716 Cave Spring, City of; revise and modernize charter Bill Summary: HB 716 revises the charter of the City of Cave Spring.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Eddie Lumsden (12th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Today on the Floor

HB 722 Acworth, City of; adopt by reference a certain map Bill Summary: HB 722 adopts by reference a certain map for the City of Acworth.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lisa Campbell (35th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 727 Darien, City of; increase a residency requirement to one year
Bill Summary: HB 727 revises residency requirements of the city council members of the City of Darien.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Buddy DeLoach (167th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 731 DeKalb County; tax commissioner; election and filling of vacancies; change certain provisions
Bill Summary: HB 731 revises the election and filling vacancies for the office of tax commissioner of DeKalb County.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Karla Drenner (85th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 732 Quitman County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of technology fee Bill Summary: HB 732 authorizes a technology fee by the magistrate court of Quitman County.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Gerald Greene (154th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 733 Richmond County; letting contracts and opening bids; revise provisions Bill Summary: HB 733 revises provisions related to contracts for Richmond County.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Lynn Gladney (130th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 735 Hiawassee, City of; levy an excise tax Bill Summary: HB 735 authorizes the City of Hiawassee to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Stan Gunter (8th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 739 Cobb County; State Court; change salary of the chief deputy clerk and clerk
Bill Summary: HB 739 revises the salary of the clerk and chief deputy clerk of the state court of Cobb County.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Devan Seabaugh (34th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

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03-20-2023 Do Pass

House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Today on the Floor

HB 740 Hinesville, City of; levy an excise tax Bill Summary: HB 740 authorizes the City of Hinesville to levy an excise tax.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Al Williams (168th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

HB 742 Clay County; Magistrate Court; authorize assessment and collection of technology fee Bill Summary: HB 742 authorizes a technology fee by the magistrate court of Clay County.

Authored By: House Committee: Floor Vote:

Rep. Gerald Greene (154th) Intragovernmental Coordination Local Yeas: 164 Nays: 0

Rule Applied: Committee Action: Amendments:

03-20-2023 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Next on the Floor

Next on the Floor from the Committee on Rules
The Committee on Rules has fixed the calendar for the 38th Legislative Day, Thursday, March 23, and bills may be called at the pleasure of the Speaker.

SB 45

Education; care of students being treated for epilepsy or a seizure disorder; provide
Bill Summary: SB 45 creates 'A.J.'s Law' to provide for the care of students being treated for epilepsy or a seizure disorder. A school nurse or other school employee should be trained in the proper protocols should a student experience a seizure while at school. The parent or guardian must annually supply the school with a seizure action plan which provides specific directions about what to do in emergency situations.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jason Anavitarte (31st) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass

SB 65

Commissioner of Insurance; general provisions; establishing an advisory committee; provisions; authorize
Bill Summary: SB 65 allows the state to establish a state-based healthcare exchange.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Ben Watson (1st) Insurance

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 02-22-2023 Do Pass

SB 86

Education; eligible students participating in the Dual Enrollment program to access HOPE career grant funds for certain CTAE courses; allow
Bill Summary: SB 86 allows eligible dual enrollment students to access HOPE grant funds for eligible career, technical, and agricultural education (CTAE) courses. The bill requires reporting of specified information relating to the dual enrollment program.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Matt Brass (28th) Higher Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-16-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 91

Workers' Compensation; the time period for the dissolution of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund; extend
Bill Summary: SB 91 amends O.C.G.A. 34-9-368 to revise the sunset clause of the Subsequent Injury Trust Fund to December 31, 2025.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Clint Dixon (45th) Industry and Labor

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass

SB 95

Solid Waste Trust Fund; specify the manner in which funds appropriated shall be used
Bill Summary: SB 95 amends O.C.G.A. 12-8-40.1, relating to tire disposal restrictions and fees, to require tire distributors, rather than retail dealers, to collect the $1.00 per tire sold.

The bill amends O.C.G.A. 12-8-33, relating to the Recycling Market Development Council, by adding an individual from the tire industry to the list of industry representatives considered by the governor for appointment to the Recycling Market Development Council.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th)

Rule Applied:

Natural Resources & Environment Committee

Action:

Modified-Structured 03-16-2023 Do Pass

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Next on the Floor

SB 129

Primaries and Elections; time off for employees to advance vote; provide
Bill Summary: SB 129 allows the State Election Board to appoint members of county boards of elections, or county boards of elections and registration to performance review boards. The bill clarifies the language that must be included on any absentee ballot application that is mailed to an elector by a nongovernmental entity.

The bill requires employers, upon reasonable notice, to provide time off for employees to vote during the period of advance voting. The bill extends the time limit from 10:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. for specified reporting requirements for election superintendents following the close of the polls on the day of an election. The bill clarifies the auditing requirements for local election superintendents following specified elections.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Rick Williams (25th) Governmental Affairs

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 158

Property Insurance; insurance premium discount or rate reduction for property owners; tornado, hurricane, or other catastrophic windstorm events; provide
Bill Summary: SB 158 provides an insurance premium discount or reduction for a home or commercial property built to fortified standards to better resist catastrophic wind events.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Randy Robertson (29th) Insurance

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass

SB 197

"Health Care Practitioners Truth and Transparency Act"; enact
Bill Summary: SB 197 amends the 'Consumer Information and Awareness Act' to prohibit an advertisement or identification by a healthcare practitioner that includes deceptive or misleading terms or false representation or references to medical or medical specialty titles, unless the practitioner is a licensed physician.

The bill requires advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to verbally identify themselves during each patient interaction and clearly state they are not a medical doctor if they hold a doctorate degree and identify themselves with the title "doctor".

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Health

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-13-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 199

State's Employee Benefit Plan Council; council to establish health savings accounts; require
Bill Summary: SB 199 authorizes the state's Employee Benefit Plan Council to provide health savings accounts as part of the flexible employee benefit plan for state employees, public school employees, and teachers. The bill provides discretion to the council on whether to provide flexible benefit deductions or salary reductions, and allows the flexible benefit plan to continually provide deductions or salary reductions related to health savings accounts starting January 1, 2025.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Jason Esteves (6th) Health

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Next on the Floor

SB 204

Education Accountability; recognition of certain accrediting agencies as evaluators of the quality of education offered in public schools in this state; provide
Bill Summary: SB 204 requires accrediting agencies that operate in Georgia to focus on student achievement, academic success, and fiscal solvency of schools and school systems. The State Board of Education must establish evaluation criteria, procedures, and other requirements for recognized accrediting agencies.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Education

Rule Applied: Committee Action:

Modified-Structured 03-15-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Committee Actions

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

Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee

SB 177

"Food Insecurity Eradication Act"; enact
Bill Summary: SB 177 creates the 'Georgia Food Security Advisory Council' within the Georgia Department of Agriculture to recommend and advise the General Assembly and state agencies on best practices and policies to address food insecurity.

The council will consist of 15 members as follows: the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture; the commissioner of the Department of Human Services; the state school superintendent; four members appointed by the governor, including one representative from the Department of Public Health, one representative from the Department of Early Care and Learning, one representative of an institution of high learning with a focus on alleviating food insecurity, and one person to serve as the council's chairperson; four members appointed by the lieutenant governor, including a representative from a hospital or health system focused on food insecurity, a representative from a food policy council, an owner of a grocery store that accepts SNAP and WIC program benefits, and a representative from a municipal chamber of commerce in an urban area; and four members appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, including a Georgia farmer, a CEO of a food bank or food bank supporting organization, one representative from a municipal chamber of commerce in a rural area, and an owner or operator of a local community farmers' market.

The council must submit a report to the governor and General Assembly each year beginning on July 1, 2024, and will stand abolished on June 30, 2026.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Harold Jones II (22nd) Agriculture & Consumer Affairs

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Defense & Veterans Affairs Committee
HR 476 Congress; ensure spouses of active duty service members are able to obtain the retirement benefits that they have earned; urge
Bill Summary: HR 476 urges the U.S. Congress to enact legislation to allow military spouses to retain retirement benefits earned through multiple public pension plans based on creditable service.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. David Huddleston (72nd) Defense & Veterans Affairs

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass

Education Committee

SB 233

'The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act'; establishment of promise scholarship accounts
Bill Summary: SB 233 creates the 'Georgia Promise Scholarship Act', which would provide $6,500 per student to families for qualified education-related expenses outside of the public school system. Qualified education expenses include; tuition at a participating school, tutoring, and purchase of curriculum, professional services, transportation, and other expenses authorized by the State Board of Education.

Funds will go into an account controlled by a parent to be used for qualified education expenses.

The bill stipulates reporting requirements participating schools must provide annually to the Georgia Student Finance Commission and the Department of Education. The commission must annually

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Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Committee Actions

report to the General Assembly on the previous fiscal year's promise scholarship recipients and their respective schools.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Greg Dolezal (27th) Education

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SR 175

Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages; create
Bill Summary: SR 175 creates the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages. This committee will examine existing dual enrollment opportunities to develop highly skilled talent at younger ages and develop solutions to produce more dual enrollment talent.

Section 2 creates the Joint Study Committee on Service Delivery Strategy (SDS). The committee will consist of 10 members as follows: the president of the Senate will appoint three members of the Senate, including the chair of the Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee, a county commissioner from a county currently levying a local option sales tax (LOST), and a mayor of a city within a county currently levying a LOST; the speaker of the House will appoint three members of the House of Representatives, including the chair of the House Committee on Governmental Affairs, a county commissioner from a county currently levying a LOST, and a mayor of a city within a county currently levying a LOST. A co-chairperson each from the House of Representatives and Senate will be chosen by the president of the Senate and speaker of the House, respectively. The committee will stand abolished on December 1, 2023.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Matt Brass (28th) Education

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Governmental Affairs Committee

SB 215

Public Records; personal information of public employees; protect from public disclosure
Bill Summary: SB 215 requires local governments, upon employee request, to remove personally identifiable information of such employee from all property records that are publicly available on the local government's website.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Matt Brass (28th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 222

Primaries and Elections; all costs and expenses relating to election administration are paid for with lawfully appropriate public funds; provide
Bill Summary: SB 222 requires all expenses related to conducting elections to be paid from lawfully-appropriated public funds. The bill prohibits local governments or election officials from accepting any contributions or donations for the purpose of conducting elections, subject to specified exceptions. The bill prohibits election superintendents, local governments, and boards of registrars from accepting grants or gifts related to conducting elections from any entity other than the State of Georgia or the federal government.

The bill establishes the State Election Board as a separate and distinct budget unit in the state budget, attached to the Office of the Secretary of State for administrative purposes only. The bill completely removes the State Election Board from the jurisdiction of the secretary of state. The bill provides for appointment of an executive director of the State Election Board.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Max Burns (23rd) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Committee Actions

SR 214 Joint Study Committee on Local Option Sales Tax and Service Delivery Strategy; create
Bill Summary: SR 214 calls for the nomination and election of the chairperson of the State Election Board.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Frank Ginn (47th) Governmental Affairs

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Judiciary Committee

SB 13

Public Sales; tax levies and executions; authorize online
Bill Summary: SB 13 provides an online option for sales of property taken under execution, sales for taxes due, or sales made on foreclosure. Utilizing an online option is at the discretion of the sheriff or coroner. Any fee charged to any purchaser will not exceed $250. With respect to foreclosure sales, no sale of real estate will be valid unless advertised and conducted at the county courthouse on the first Tuesday of the month between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and at public outcry.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. John Albers (56th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 19

Courts; collection of passport application and processing fees by clerks of superior courts and probate court judges; provide
Bill Summary: SB 19 enacts requirements for fees, sums, or other remuneration for the performance of passport duties performed by clerks of superior courts and probate judges. Both clerks and probate judges will issue written reports to counties disclosing the total amount of fees received by the clerks or probate judges during the agreed upon reporting period.

One-third of fees will be paid into the general fund of the county in quarterly installments, one-third of fees will be retained by the clerk or probate judge for purposes of maintaining and operating their respective offices, and one-third of fees will be retained by the clerk or probate judge as personal compensation, provided any amount exceeding 50 percent of the base salary goes towards maintaining and operating the office of the clerk or probate judge.

Fees will not include postage expenses. The division of funds may be changed by local act of the General Assembly, or by written agreement of the county governing authority and the clerk or judge.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (32nd) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 66

Superior Courts; Atlantic Judicial Circuit; additional judge; provide
Bill Summary: SB 66 increases the number of superior court judges in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit from four to five. The fifth judge will be appointed for a term beginning January 1, 2024, and an election will take place at the 2026 nonpartisan judicial election.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Billy Hickman (4th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 74

Commerce and Trade, Courts, and Torts; the disclosure of the nature and practices of businesses that provide legal services; require
Bill Summary: SB 74 makes it unlawful to misrepresent oneself as an attorney, or misrepresent an entity as engaged in providing legal services unless that person is a duly licensed attorney at law in Georgia or unless the entity is entitled to furnish legal services. It makes it unlawful to represent that a person featured in legal media is able to offer legal services in Georgia when that person is not a duly licensed attorney at law. It also makes it unlawful to fail to provide accurate language reflecting
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Committee Actions

the legal services, scope of work, success rate, or fees of a person practicing law.

Violations are punishable with a misdemeanor offense. Damages of $500 or actual damages, whichever is greater, may be awarded in a civil claim against a person who solicits in any media in violation of this act.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Blake Tillery (19th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 103

Unclaimed Property; handling of certain wills; provide
Bill Summary: SB 103 provides processes related to the disposition of unclaimed property as it pertains to the Department of Revenue. If a will, codicil, or other trust instrument is included among the contents of a safe-deposit box, the commissioner will retain those documents unless delivered to the testator/settlor upon confirmation of identity, delivered to the probate court, permitted to be removed, or delivered to the trustee.

A claimant's designated representative may file a claim if they claim an interest in any property, with that claim being considered by the commissioner and upon approval, the claimant's designated representative shall be paid the balance remaining after deduction. When determining the merits of an unclaimed property claim, the commissioner will rely on applicable statutes, regulations, and court decisions. The burden will be on the claimant to establish entitlement to the property by a preponderance of the evidence.

Upon request, the commissioner will provide a claimant's designated representative relevant account information in a searchable digital format for all unclaimed accounts, with this information being prohibited from distribution. A claimant's designated representative will register with the commissioner and pay a $1,200.00 fee for a four-year registration.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Russ Goodman (8th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 168

Hospitals and Nursing Homes; chiropractic practice to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person; allow
Bill Summary: SB 168 includes chiropractic practices among the entities able to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person for costs of care. No filing of a lien will be enforceable unless the individual or entity filing the lien first submitted a claim to each health insurer of the injured person, if any, and had the claim rejected.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Rick Williams (25th) Judiciary

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass

Public Health Committee

HB 358

Education; instruction on best practices for and risks associated with use of tampons; provide
Bill Summary: HB 358 requires local boards of education to include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention information as well as the risks associated with tampon use in sexual education curriculum. The bill also encourages healthcare professionals that provide tampons to female patients to include written information about the risk of toxic shock syndrome.

Authored By: House Committee:

Rep. Debra Bazemore (69th) Public Health

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass

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Committee Actions

SB 109

Department of Community Health; include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients; require
Bill Summary: SB 109 prohibits insurers from denying coverage of an in-network provider for provider administered medication or the administration of such medication under certain circumstances.

The bill requires the Department of Community Health to cover continuous glucose monitors through Medicaid as a pharmacy benefit. Eligibility for coverage includes a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and patient or caregiver training. Additionally, a patient must have use of daily insulin or a history of problematic hypoglycemia to receive the benefit. An in-person or telehealth visit is required within six months prior to and every six months after initial prescription.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Shelly Echols (49th) Public Health

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

Retirement Committee

SB 56

Ad Valorem Taxation; state revenue commissioner to contract with the board of the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia to offer certain county tax commissioners the option to participate in a state administered deferred compensation plan; require
Bill Summary: SB 56 creates a deferred compensation plan for eligible county tax commissioners. Tax commissioners are eligible if they are not permitted to participate in a retirement system or deferred compensation offered by the county that utilizes a 401(k) or 457(b). The Employees' Retirement System of Georgia will administer the plan and the state will match contributions of up to 5 percent of the minimum annual salary for county tax commissioners.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (52nd) Retirement

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

SB 240

Retirement and Pensions; the minimum and maximum allowable benefit multiplier for current and future retirees; revise
Bill Summary: SB 240 prohibits anyone hired after June 1, 2023 from becoming a member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, if the operator or management company of the public charter school in which they are employed offers an alternative retirement plan.

The bill requires the Employees Retirement System of Georgia to identify each school system that does not extend Social Security coverage to members of the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS). The Employees Retirement System must submit a report of all school systems that do not offer this benefit to the chairmen of the House and Senate Retirement Committees by September 1, 2023. Any school system not offering coverage must revise their plan to extend coverage by January 1, 2024.

On or after September 1, 2023 the Employees Retirement System is not authorized to approve any plan that does not extend Social Security benefits to PSERS members. The bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a non-fiscal retirement bill.

Authored By: House Committee:

Sen. Larry Walker III (20th) Retirement

Committee Action:

03-21-2023 Do Pass by Committee Substitute

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House of Representatives

Daily Report for March 21, 2023

Committee Meetings

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

Wednesday - March 22, 2023

8:00 AM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM COMMITTEE (House)

406 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

8:30 AM Judiciary Non-Civil Hong Subcommittee (House)

132 CAP VIDEO Agenda

9:00 AM GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (House)

406 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

11:00 AM JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL COMMITTEE (House)

132 CAP VIDEO Agenda

1:00 PM JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMITTEE (House)

515 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

1:00 PM PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE (House)

506 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

1:00 PM Education Policy Subcommittee (House)

406 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

1:30 PM HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE (House)

606 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

2:00 PM SPECIAL RULES COMMITTEE (House)

415 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

2:00 PM Education Curriculum Subcommittee (House)

406 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

3:00 PM MOTOR VEHICLES COMMITTEE (House)
3:00 PM Natural Resources & Environment Environmental Quality Subcommittee (House)

515 CLOB
415 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda VIDEO Agenda

3:00 PM CANCELED INDUSTRY & LABOR COMMITTEE (House)

506 CLOB

VIDEO Agenda

5:00 PM WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (House)

406 CLOB

VIDEO

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