First readers in House, 2021 February 18

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 NINETEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 2. By Representatives Dunahoo of the 30th, Tarvin of the 2nd, Barr of the 103rd, Cantrell of the 22nd, Clark of the 147th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding parks, historic areas, memorials, and recreation; to amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to carrying and possession of firearms; to amend Part 2 of Article 4 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to transportation passenger safety, so as to revise provisions of law regarding the carrying of firearms; to amend Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to game and fish, so as to revise certain laws regarding the carrying of firearms; to amend Part 2 of Article 10 of Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to parking for persons with disabilities; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 485. By Representatives Moore of the 95th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Holcomb of the 81st, Mitchell of the 88th, Kennard of the 102nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to repeal the imposition of the death penalty in this state; to repeal references to procedures related to capital cases; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 486. By Representatives Moore of the 95th, Frye of the 118th, and Dollar of the 45th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-7-40.26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to an income tax credit for film, gaming, video, or digital production in Georgia, so as to provide that expenditures for certain purchases of licenses or rights to own or use certain musical compositions and sound recordings shall be production expenditures that are eligible for the tax credit; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on CREATIVE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
- 1 -

HB 487. By Representative Dreyer of the 59th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 13 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to excise tax on rooms, lodgings, and accommodations, so as to provide for optional return of funds by a destination marketing organization to certain jurisdictions levying the tax; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 488. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Kelley of the 16th, Leverett of the 33rd, Lumsden of the 12th, Gambill of the 15th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, so as to provide for an increase in the minimum compensation for chief magistrates; to provide for the calculation of future increases in the minimum compensation for chief magistrates; to provide for an increase in the minimum compensation for other magistrates; to provide for an increase in the minimum compensation for clerks of magistrate courts; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 489. By Representatives Moore of the 95th, Nguyen of the 89th, and Holcomb of the 81st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sexual offenses, so as to provide for a protective order for victims against persons who have committed acts of sexual assault; to provide for a definition; to provide for procedures; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
- 2 -

HB 490. By Representatives Hill of the 3rd and Tarvin of the 2nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the office of commissioner of Catoosa County, approved February 12, 1943 (Ga. L. 1943, p. 858), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 28, 1986 (Ga. L. 1986, p. 5538) and an Act approved March 19, 1987 (Ga. L. 1987, p. 4290) so as to remove certain bidding requirements on certain purchases made by the county; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 491. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Kelley of the 16th, Taylor of the 173rd, Powell of the 32nd, Hatchett of the 150th, and others: 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 provide additional requirements on the State Election Board's power to adopt emergency rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HB 492. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Kelley of the 16th, Taylor of the 173rd, Powell of the 32nd, Hatchett of the 150th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to make the Secretary of State a nonvoting ex officio member of the State Election Board; to provide for the appointment, confirmation, term, and removal of the chairperson of the State Election Board; to revise provisions relating to a quorum of such board; to require the Secretary of State to support and assist the State Election Board; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
- 3 -

HB 493. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Kelley of the 16th, Taylor of the 173rd, Powell of the 32nd, Hatchett of the 150th, and others: 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 provide for the State Election Board to assume temporary control over local election and voter registration administration; to provide a definition; to provide for the appointment of the Secretary of State to carry out such local election and voter registration duties; to provide for limitations; to provide for the promulgation of rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HB 494. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Corbett of the 174th, Watson of the 172nd, Smith of the 18th, and Williams of the 148th: 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 provide for the submission of photocopies of voter identification documents for absentee voting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HB 495. By Representatives Crowe of the 110th, Wiedower of the 119th, Williams of the 145th, and Hitchens of the 161st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 and Article 2 of Chapter 1 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board, respectively, so as to revise the duties of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board relative to the board's determination of a sexual offender's risk assessment classification; to provide for definitions; to provide for certain investigators; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
- 4 -

HB 496. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Burns of the 159th, Rhodes of the 120th, Ridley of the 6th, and Williams of the 148th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 32-6-28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to permits for vehicles and loads of excess weight and dimensions, so as to provide for issuance of an annual forest product permit for certain vehicles and loads exceeding weight and dimension maximums; to provide for fees for such permit; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HB 497. By Representative Efstration of the 104th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, so as to revise, modernize, correct errors or omissions in, and reenact the statutory portion of said Code, as amended, in furtherance of the work of the Code Revision Commission; to repeal portions of said Code, or Acts in amendment thereof, which have become obsolete, have been declared to be unconstitutional, or have been preempted or superseded by subsequent laws; to codify principles of law derived from decisions of the state Supreme Court; to provide for other matters relating to revision, reenactment, and publication of said Code; to provide for effect in event of conflicts; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on CODE REVISION
HB 498. By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Dickey of the 140th, LaHood of the 175th, England of the 116th, and Pirkle of the 155th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to property tax exemptions, so as to expand an exemption for agricultural equipment and certain farm products held by certain entities to include entities comprising two or more family owned farm entities; to add dairy products and unfertilized eggs of poultry as qualified farm products with respect to such exemption; to provide for a referendum; to provide for effective dates, applicability, and automatic repeal; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
- 5 -

HB 499. By Representatives Evans of the 57th, McClain of the 100th, Buckner of the 137th, Nguyen of the 89th, McLeod of the 105th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minimum wage law, so as to repeal certain provisions relating to the preemption of wage and employment benefit mandates adopted by a local government entity; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
HB 500. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Blackmon of the 146th, Dickey of the 140th, Rhodes of the 120th, and Watson of the 172nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-1-25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act," so as to provide for a second round of funding and period for applications; to increase an application fee and provide for an annual maintenance fee; to change certain reporting requirements; to revise and provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 501. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th and Roberts of the 52nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to provide that recounts shall count the text portions of ballots; to provide for discretionary recounts in certain circumstances; to provide certain procedures for conducting recounts in partisan elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
- 6 -

HB 502. By Representatives Smith of the 18th, Efstration of the 104th, Lopez of the 86th, Scoggins of the 14th, and Wilensky of the 79th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to procedure for sentencing and imposition of punishment, and Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state-wide probation system, so as to revise the conditions and procedures under which probation may be terminated early; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 503. By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Blackmon of the 146th, Corbett of the 174th, Houston of the 170th, and Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding sales and use taxes, so as to extend the sunset date for the exemption for projects of regional significance; to redefine the term "manufacturing plant" to include certain motor vehicles that manufacture tangible personal property; to grant a limited exemption for such motor vehicles that mix concrete; to remove the sunset provision for an exemption for sales taxes on certain tangible personal property sold or used to maintain, refit, or repair a boat during a single event; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 504. By Representatives Williamson of the 115th, Reeves of the 34th, Burns of the 159th, Knight of the 130th, Blackmon of the 146th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-1-25 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the "Georgia Agribusiness and Rural Jobs Act," so as to provide for a second round of funding and period for applications; to increase an application fee and provide for an annual maintenance fee; to change certain reporting requirements; to revise and provide for definitions; to amend Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to revenue and taxation, so as to provide for a tax credit for medical equipment and supplies manufacturers and pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturers; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
- 7 -

HB 505. By Representatives Nguyen of the 89th, Beverly of the 143rd, Gilliard of the 162nd, Boddie of the 62nd, Jackson of the 64th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to justification and excuse, so as to comprehensively revise the law regarding justification and the use of force; to provide for certain investigations and reports in certain circumstances; to repeal certain Code sections; to provide for related matters; to amend Titles 15, 16, 17, 20, and 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to courts, crimes and offenses, criminal procedure, education, and torts, respectively, to make conforming changes; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 506. By Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Williams of the 145th, Scoggins of the 14th, Gullett of the 19th, Momtahan of the 17th, and others: 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 provide that the State Election Board shall promulgate minimum standards for voting equipment; to provide that the Secretary of State shall test and certify such equipment; to provide that each county shall be authorized to obtain whichever certified voting equipment it chooses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HB 507. By Representatives Williams of the 145th, Jasperse of the 11th, Crowe of the 110th, Yearta of the 152nd, Scoggins of the 14th, and others: 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 regulate the distribution of absentee ballot applications by third-party entities; to provide for disclaimers and the use of proper forms by certain persons in distributing absentee ballot applications; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
- 8 -

HB 508. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Gaines of the 117th, Moore of the 95th, Reeves of the 34th, and Frye of the 118th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide protections for commercial recordings, musical performances, and audiovisual works; to prohibit the deceptive practice of musical performance groups advertising and appearing as the recording group without the recording group's permission or denoting that it is a salute or tribute performance; to provide for definitions; to specify violations; to require certain websites or online services to properly identify third-party commercial recordings or audiovisual works; to provide for definitions; to provide for civil and criminal penalties and causes of action; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on CREATIVE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
HB 509. By Representatives Gaines of the 117th, Kelley of the 16th, Cooper of the 43rd, Wiedower of the 119th, Lumsden of the 12th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 30 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to group or blanket accident and sickness insurance, so as to require certain insurers to make at least one reasonably priced comprehensive major medical health insurance policy available to residents in this state without limitation or exclusion based on preexisting conditions; to condition such requirement on the repeal or judicial invalidation of certain provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 510. By Representatives Gaines of the 117th, Stephens of the 164th, Clark of the 147th, Houston of the 170th, Cooper of the 43rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide for a nonrefundable earned income tax credit; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
- 9 -

HB 511. By Representatives Reeves of the 34th, England of the 116th, Blackmon of the 146th, Williamson of the 115th, Mitchell of the 88th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 12, 19, 27, 28, 31, 40, 45, 48, and 49 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservation and natural resources, domestic relations, game and fish, General Assembly, health, motor vehicles and traffic, public officers and employees, revenue and taxation, and social services, respectively, so as to provide for the establishment or revision of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, Solid Waste Trust Fund, Hazardous Waste Trust Fund, State Children's Trust Fund, Wildlife Endowment Trust Fund, Trauma Care Network Trust Fund, Transportation Trust Fund, Georgia Agricultural Trust Fund, Fireworks Trust Fund, and Georgia Transit Trust Fund as funds within the state treasury; to dedicate the proceeds of certain fees and taxes to such funds as authorized and subject to the conditions imposed by Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(r) of the Constitution of Georgia; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on APPROPRIATIONS
HB 512. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Williams of the 145th, Barton of the 5th, Ridley of the 6th, and Tarvin of the 2nd: 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 the times for advance voting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HB 513. By Representative Benton of the 31st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state and other flags, so as to provide for protections for publicly and privately owned monuments on public property; to provide for damages and injunctive relief; to provide for criminal liability for individuals; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RULES
- 10 -

HB 514. By Representatives Hutchinson of the 107th, Cooper of the 43rd, Oliver of the 82nd, Beverly of the 143rd, Dempsey of the 13th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to update references to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 515. By Representatives Wilson of the 80th, Kausche of the 50th, Allen of the 40th, and Schofield of the 60th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-9-4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to standards applicable to making and use of rates, so as to prohibit insurers from considering advertising or solicitation expenses when making or using personal private passenger motor vehicle insurance rates; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 516. By Representatives Mathiak of the 73rd, Bonner of the 72nd, Camp of the 131st, Knight of the 130th, Gravley of the 67th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 12 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sale or distribution of harmful materials to minors, so as to provide that the provisions of Code Section 16-12-103 shall be applicable to libraries operated by schools; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 517. By Representatives Carson of the 46th, Knight of the 130th, Blackmon of the 146th, Newton of the 123rd, Belton of the 112th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2A of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student scholarship organizations, so as to provide for the inclusion of earned interest in the calculation of minimum revenue obligations for scholarships and tuition grants; to require that student scholarship organization audits are conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards; to amend Code Section 48-7-29.16, relating to qualified education tax credits, so as to increase the limit available to individuals, heads of household, married couples filing joint returns, and
- 11 -

individuals who are members of certain limited liability companies, shareholders of Subchapter "S" corporations, or partners in a partnership; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 518. By Representatives Mitchell of the 106th, Evans of the 57th, Wilkerson of the 38th, Scott of the 76th, Lewis-Ward of the 109th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide for limitations on waiver and variance requests by local school systems requesting flexibility; to remove requirement that local school systems requesting flexibility must select at least one waiver or variance request from a prescribed list of options; to provide for certain conditions upon local charter schools and the individual schools of charter school systems; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 519. By Representatives Mitchell of the 106th, Wilkerson of the 38th, Evans of the 57th, Scott of the 76th, Mainor of the 56th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to increased flexibility for local school systems, so as to remove the option of turning the operation of a nonperforming school over to a forprofit entity; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 520. By Representatives Singleton of the 71st, Jones of the 25th, Martin of the 49th, Dreyer of the 59th, Camp of the 131st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 40 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding promotion and deployment of broadband services, so as to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- 12 -

HB 521. By Representative Lim of the 99th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6A of Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to outdoor stewardship, so as to authorize the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund to issue revenue bonds; to provide for procedures regarding same; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GAME, FISH, & PARKS
HB 522. By Representative Lim of the 99th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 7 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to provisions applicable to the Department of Banking and Finance and financial institutions, so as to provide for community reinvestment evaluations to be conducted by the department; to provide for timing, factors for consideration, rating, and other requirements for banking institutions and the department relative to such evaluations; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on BANKS & BANKING
HB 523. By Representative Lim of the 99th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 and Article 1 of Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to health and insurance, respectively, so as to provide good faith estimates regarding the cost of health care services; to provide for definitions; to require health care providers to provide good faith estimates of costs and fees available to consumers upon request; to require health insurers to provide good faith estimates of costs available to consumers upon request; to provide for time limits; to prohibit the limitation of disclosure by contract; to provide for construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE
- 13 -

HB 524. By Representatives Lim of the 99th, Park of the 101st, Mainor of the 56th, and Thomas of the 65th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to landlord and tenant generally, so as to require landlords to provide residential tenants with a notice of tenants' rights and responsibilities; to provide for such notice; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 525. By Representatives Lim of the 99th, Mainor of the 56th, and Thomas of the 65th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to operation of funeral establishments and crematories, so as to require funeral directors to provide certain information regarding prices of funeral merchandise and funeral services to consumers; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 526. By Representatives Neal of the 74th, Gilliard of the 162nd, Wilensky of the 79th, Frye of the 118th, and Taylor of the 91st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to arrests by private persons, so as to provide for definitions to revise the law with regard to the arrest of certain offenders by private citizens; to provide when and to what degree force may be used to effectuate such arrest; to provide that unauthorized arrests may be resisted and to provide when and to what degree force may be used to resist an unauthorized arrest by a private citizen; to provide that the defense of justification shall be available to a person who attempts to arrest someone when such person is not authorized under the law to make such arrest; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
- 14 -

HB 527. By Representatives Neal of the 74th and Park of the 101st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to imposition, rate, computation, and exemptions from income taxes, so as to provide for a tax credit for employers that retain 90 percent of their full-time employees for a certain period of time; to provide for conditions and limitations; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 528. By Representatives Neal of the 74th, Gilliard of the 162nd, Frye of the 118th, Boddie of the 62nd, and Taylor of the 91st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of torts, so as to provide protections for law enforcement officers defending persons from excessive use of force by other law enforcement officers; to provide for a definition; to provide for a penalty; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 529. By Representatives Neal of the 74th and Boddie of the 62nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding registration and licensing of motor vehicles; to amend Chapter 6 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding the uniform rules of the road; to amend Parts 2, 3, and 4 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to lighting equipment; brakes; and horns, exhaust systems, mirrors, windshields, tires, safety belts, and energy absorption systems, respectively, relative to equipment generally, so as to provide for and revise penalties; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to amend to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
- 15 -

HB 530. By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Dickey of the 140th, and Burns of the 159th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state holidays and observances, so as to designate a Purebred Dog Day in Georgia; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
HB 531. By Representatives Fleming of the 121st, Jones of the 47th, Powell of the 32nd, Blackmon of the 146th, Smith of the 70th, and others: 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 provide that no election superintendents or boards of registrars shall accept private funding; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HR 172. By Representatives Smith of the 133rd and Parsons of the 44th: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Georgia Utility Facility Safety Improvements; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HR 173. By Representative Lim of the 99th: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for authorization of the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Fund to issue revenue bonds; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GAME, FISH, & PARKS
- 16 -

SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2021 NINETEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 52. By Senators Thompson of the 14th, Dugan of the 30th, Kennedy of the 18th, Cowsert of the 46th, Mullis of the 53rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to selling and other trade practices, so as to provide for legislative findings; to provide standards for cybersecurity programs to protect businesses from liability; to provide for affirmative defenses for data breaches of private information; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
SB 81. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Anderson of the 43rd, Dugan of the 30th, Walker III of the 20th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-4-37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Office of College and Career Transitions and powers and duties, so as to change the name of the Office of College and Career Transitions to the Office of College and Career Academies; to provide for increased technical skills; to provide for collaboration between the Technical College System of Georgia and certain entities to support efforts to recruit new industries and expand existing industries; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION
SB 88. By Senators Goodman of the 8th, Jackson of the 2nd, Tippins of the 37th, Sims of the 12th, Burns of the 23rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elementary and secondary education, so as to provide that the Georgia Teacher of the Year shall be invited to serve as an advisor ex officio to the State Board of Education; to provide for a nontraditional teacher certification program for members and veterans of the United States armed forces; to provide for the Professional Standards Commission to require that teacher education programs include mandatory coursework in differentiated
- 1 -

instruction and reading fundamentals and to promote increased student enrollment in and completion of teacher education programs offered at historically black colleges and universities in this state; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
- 2 -