First readers in House, 2021 February 23

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021 TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATIVE DAY
*Rules Suspended
HB 574. By Representatives Camp of the 131st, Cameron of the 1st, Hill of the 3rd, Houston of the 170th, Jenkins of the 132nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 4-11-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to licenses for pet dealers and kennel, stable, or animal shelter operators, requirement, issuance, and application, so as to provide for a Companion Local Government Animal Trust Fund for reimbursement of impoundment expenses incurred by local governments; to provide for annual reporting; to provide for promulgation of regulations; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for an effective date and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HB 575. By Representatives Dickey of the 140th, Watson of the 172nd, Pirkle of the 155th, and Holmes of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4, relating to bona fide conservation use property, residential transitional property, application procedures, penalties for breach of covenant, classification on tax digest, and annual report, so as to authorize on premises processing and marketing of agricultural products as a qualifying conservation use; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 576. By Representatives Rhodes of the 120th, Gambill of the 15th, and Corbett of the 174th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 10 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to contracts and purchases by public schools, so as to provide for payment on guaranteed energy saving contracts by local school systems using proceeds from local option sales taxes collected for educational purposes; to provide for phased implementation of energy or operational cost savings measures; to revise a definition; to amend Chapter 37 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to guaranteed energy savings performance contracting, so as to revise
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definitions; to increase the value percentage threshold applicable to certain improvements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 577. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Jasperse of the 11th, Burns of the 159th, Anulewicz of the 42nd, and Wiedower of the 119th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 32 and Code Section 40-6-181 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to highways, bridges, and ferries and maximum speed limits, respectively, so as to provide for a proposal guaranty for bids upon certain projects; to provide for the licensing of airports; to provide for definitions; to provide for issuance of cease and desist orders and punishment; to provide for posting of signage of maximum speed limits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HB 578. By Representatives McLaurin of the 51st, Dukes of the 154th, Hutchinson of the 107th, Nguyen of the 89th, and Paris of the 142nd: 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 regarding torts, so as to repeal a statute providing for the right of action for seduction of daughter; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 579. By Representatives Oliver of the 82nd, Efstration of the 104th, Wilson of the 80th, Drenner of the 85th, Lopez of the 86th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 75 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to war on terrorism local assistance, so as to change a short title to the "Public Safety and Judicial Facilities Act"; to repeal the requirement for referendums prior to issuance of bonded indebtedness for new projects; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
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HB 580. By Representatives McLaurin of the 51st, Frye of the 118th, and Smyre of the 135th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to public officers and employees, so as to prohibit former public officials and employees from conducting certain transactions with state agencies; to provide for exceptions; to provide for penalties; to provide a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 581. By Representatives Momtahan of the 17th, Smith of the 18th, Holcomb of the 81st, Jackson of the 128th, Bentley of the 139th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, so as to provide for requirements for settlement offers by insurers; to require the provision of certain notices and disclosures to claimants and insureds; to designate an unfair claims settlement practice; to provide for a private cause of action for unfair trade practices; to remove a provision related to private causes of action; to prohibit use of certain settlements in actuarial tables or other information submitted to the Commissioner of Insurance; to provide for a short title; 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 SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM
HB 582. By Representatives Ballinger of the 23rd, Carson of the 46th, Thomas of the 21st, Byrd of the 20th, and Cantrell of the 22nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide that future elections for the office of probate judge of Cherokee County shall be nonpartisan elections; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION
HB 583. By Representatives Wilkerson of the 38th, Schofield of the 60th, Burnough of the 77th, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to employment security, so as to provide for access and dissemination of certain information and documents related to claims for unemployment benefits; to require the Commissioner of Labor to provide periodic reports containing certain information related to claims for unemployment compensation benefits; to
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provide members of the General Assembly with access to information and documents concerning constitutents' claims for unemployment benefits with such individuals' consent; to require the Department of Labor to develop and make available a consent form for such purpose; 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 584. By Representatives Boddie of the 62nd, McClain of the 100th, Buckner of the 137th, Beverly of the 143rd, Schofield of the 60th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide for daily overtime pay for eligible employees; to provide for definitions; to provide for the amount of and method of calculating daily overtime pay; 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 585. By Representatives Boddie of the 62nd, Prince of the 127th, Alexander of the 66th, Jackson of the 64th, and Mallow of the 163rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-86 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to special license plates promoting or supporting certain worthy agencies, funds, or nonprofit corporations with proceeds disbursed to the general fund and the agency, fund, or nonprofit corporation, so as to establish a specialty license plate honoring Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 586. By Representatives Watson of the 172nd, Corbett of the 174th, Houston of the 170th, Blackmon of the 146th, and Rich of the 97th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., 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 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
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HB 587. By Representatives Williamson of the 115th, Reeves of the 34th, Blackmon of the 146th, Jasperse of the 11th, Frye of the 118th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 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 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; change certain reporting requirements; to revise and provide for definitions; to amend Code Section 48-7-40.34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to tax credit for Class III railroads and reporting, so as to extend an income tax credit for expenditures on the maintenance of railroad track owned or leased by Class III railroads; to provide for a short title; 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 588. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Burns of the 159th, Hatchett of the 150th, Smyre of the 135th, Ballinger of the 23rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 32 of the O.C.G.A., relating to highways, bridges, and ferries, so as to provide for eligible expenditures for the Georgia Freight Railroad Program of the Georgia Department of Transportation; to amend Title 48 of the O.C.G.A., relating to revenue and taxation, so as to provide for an exemption to state sales and use tax; to amend Code Section 52-2-5 of the O.C.G.A., relating to composition of the Georgia Ports Authority; appointment, terms, and qualifications of members generally; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HB 589. By Representatives Gambill of the 15th, Erwin of the 28th, Glanton of the 75th, Wade of the 9th, and Rich of the 97th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 14 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education accountability assessment programs, so as to create the Georgia Commission on Civics Education; to provide for membership, filling of vacancies, terms, officers, duties, meetings, and reimbursement of members of
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the commission; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative intent; to provide for automatic repeal; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 590. By Representatives Hogan of the 179th, Oliver of the 82nd, Williams of the 148th, LaHood of the 175th, Blackmon of the 146th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the O.C.G.A., relating to mental health, so as to provide for a grant program to establish assisted outpatient treatment programs for persons with mental illness who struggle to maintain engagement with essential mental health treatment; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 591. By Representatives Hogan of the 179th, Williams of the 148th, Meeks of the 178th, Buckner of the 137th, Collins of the 68th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to mental health, so as to authorize marriage and family therapists to perform certain acts which physicians, psychologists, and others are authorized to perform regarding emergency examinations of persons for involuntary evaluation and treatment for mental illness or alcohol or drug abuse; to define certain terms; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 592. By Representatives Wilson of the 80th, Beverly of the 143rd, Wilkerson of the 38th, McClain of the 100th, Schofield of the 60th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 16 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to COVID-19 pandemic business safety, so as to clarify the gross negligence standard in actions involving COVID-19 liability claims against healthcare facilities, healthcare providers, entities, and individuals; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ACCESS TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM
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HB 593. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Williamson of the 115th, Martin of the 49th, Knight of the 130th, Stephens of the 164th, 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 state income tax, so as to increase the amount of the standard deduction from state taxable income for individuals; to provide for a short title; 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 594. By Representatives Carpenter of the 4th, Carson of the 46th, Dollar of the 45th, Knight of the 130th, and Blackmon of the 146th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to sales and use taxes, so as to expand sales and use taxation to encompass certain transactions of digital goods and services; to revise and provide for definitions; 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 605. By Representative Cooper of the 43rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 8 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to care and protection of indigent and elderly patients, so as to provide for authorized electronic monitoring in long-term care facilities; to provide for definitions; to provide consent requirements; to provide for notice to the facility; to provide for relocation of a resident to another room; to provide for installation and costs; to provide for notice to visitors; to prohibit obstruction or destruction of electronic monitoring devices; to provide for protection of privacy rights; to provide for limited liability; to provide for a notification and consent form; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HUMAN RELATIONS & AGING
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HR 202. By Representatives Mainor of the 56th, Glanton of the 75th, Lim of the 99th, Evans of the 83rd, and Mallow of the 163rd: A RESOLUTION urging the Georgia General Assembly to adopt Wesley International Academy; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION HR 203. By Representatives McLaurin of the 51st, Allen of the 40th, Kausche of the 50th, Oliver of the 82nd, and Holcomb of the 81st: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that taxes on motor fuels shall be appropriated for any or all public transportation purposes; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 204. By Representatives Gilliard of the 162nd, Stephens of the 164th, Williams of the 168th, Petrea of the 166th, and Oliver of the 82nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr., and dedicating a building in his memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on STATE PROPERTIES
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATIVE DAY SR 28. By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, Miller of the 49th, Anavitarte of the 31st, and others: A RESOLUTION requesting that the United States Congress call a convention under Article V of the Constitution of the United States limited to proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of the United States House of Representatives and to set a limit on the number of terms that a person may be elected as a member of the United States Senate; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RULES SR 29. By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Gooch of the 51st, Dugan of the 30th, Kennedy of the 18th, Miller of the 49th, and others: A RESOLUTION applying for a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RULES
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