First readers in House, 2021 February 24

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATIVE DAY
*Rules Suspended
HB 35. By Representatives Scott of the 76th, McLeod of the 105th, Beverly of the 143rd, Schofield of the 60th, Davis of the 87th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 35 of the O.C.G.A., relating to law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to provide for ethical policing; to amend Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to state tort claims, so as to remove certain immunities from the actions of certain law enforcement officers; to provide that a law enforcement officer alleged to have committed misconduct or a violation of law while acting within the scope of his or her official duties or employment shall be subject to lawsuit or liability; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 595. By Representative Greene of the 151st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act reconstituting the Board of Education of Clay County, approved January 15, 1993 (Ga. L. 1993, p. 3576), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 4, 1997 (Ga. L. 1997, p. 3554) so as to change the compensation of the members of the board of education; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 596. By Representative Greene of the 151st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to provide for reimbursement of costs expended for the clean up of motor vehicle wrecks to tow truck operators; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
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HB 597. By Representatives Singleton of the 71st, Wade of the 9th, and Gilligan of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dangerous instrumentalities and practices, so as to provide for protections against the infringements on the right to keep and bear arms; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for a definition; to provide for a cause 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 JUDICIARY
HB 598. By Representatives Gullett of the 19th, Momtahan of the 17th, Wilensky of the 79th, Smith of the 18th, Wiedower of the 119th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 33-7-11 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to uninsured motorist coverage under motor vehicle liability policies, so as to revise the liability of an insurer upon refusal to pay an insured for any loss pursuant to uninsured motorist coverage under motor vehicle liability policies; to provide for a penalty; 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
HB 599. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Carson of the 46th, and Ballinger of the 23rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act reincorporating and re-creating the City of Woodstock, approved April 17, 1975 (Ga. L. 1975, p. 4160), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 12, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 5404), so as to change the corporate limits of the city; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 600. By Representatives Dreyer of the 59th and Schofield of the 60th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Hapeville, Georgia, approved March 25, 1980 (Ga. L. 1980, p. 3769), as amended, so as to revise provisions related to quorums of the mayor and council; to revise procedures for
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filling vacancies on the city council; to revise provisions related to the city attorney; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 601. By Representative Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide that low THC oil, marijuana, and tetrahydrocannabinols do not include certain federally approved products; to remove epidiolex as a Schedule V controlled substance; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 602. By Representative Stephens of the 164th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the election of the members of the Board of Education of Bryan County, approved March 16, 1978 (Ga. L. 1978, p. 3774), as amended, so as to provide for compensation of members of the board; to provide for nonpartisan elections for members of the board; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION
HB 603. By Representative Meeks of the 178th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating the board of commissioners of Brantley County, approved July 21, 1927 (Ga. L. 1927, p. 500), as amended, so as to authorize the chairperson of the board of commissioners to make and second motions and vote on all matters that come before the board for a vote; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 604. By Representatives Scoggins of the 14th, Gambill of the 15th, and Kelley of the 16th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Bartow County school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes in the amount of $60,000.00 of the appraised value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 65 years of age or older, in the amount of $80,000.00 of the appraised value of the homestead for
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residents of that school district who are 75 years of age or older, and in the amount of the full appraised value of the homestead for residents of that school district who are 80 years of age or older; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 606. By Representatives Nix of the 69th, Dickey of the 140th, Yearta of the 152nd, Belton of the 112th, and Cheokas of the 138th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-519 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to definitions regarding HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to add the Georgia Independent School Association to the list of accrediting agencies; 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 607. By Representatives Bennett of the 94th, Belton of the 112th, Jackson of the 64th, Frazier of the 126th, Lewis-Ward of the 109th, 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 taxes, so as to provide for a Georgia Veterans Work Opportunity Tax Credit as a state income tax credit incentive for private sector employers to hire certain veterans; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 608. By Representatives Wiedower of the 119th, Burns of the 159th, Smyre of the 135th, Parsons of the 44th, Kelley of the 16th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for planning, deployment, and incentives of broadband services throughout the state; to provide for definitions; to provide for certain powers, duties, and responsibilities of the OneGeorgia Authority and the Department of Community Affairs relative to funding and contractual awards for the deployment of broadband services to unserved areas and unserved locations within such areas; to provide certain criteria and conditions for such awards; to establish a process
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and procedure for the department to receive and investigate comments and suggestions related to proposed awards; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 609. By Representatives Gullett of the 19th, Moore of the 95th, Wilensky of the 79th, Jones of the 25th, and Scoggins of the 14th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 11 of Title 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to animal protection generally, so as to prohibit the marketing of certain domestic animals at certain locations; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HB 610. By Representatives Dickey of the 140th, Washburn of the 141st, Beverly of the 143rd, Mathis of the 144th, and Paris of the 142nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide for the restructuring of the City of Macon, the City of Payne City, and Bibb County, approved April 20, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 5595), as amended, so as to revise provisions regarding eligibility for the office of mayor; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 611. By Representatives Cheokas of the 138th, LaRiccia of the 169th, Stephens of the 164th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Powell of the 32nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to small business assistance, so as to change the definition of small business; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
HB 612. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Clark of the 147th, Mathis of the 144th, Williams of the 148th, and Collins of the 68th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia, so as to allow sworn law enforcement officers serving in and the commissioner and deputy
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commissioner of the Motor Carrier Compliance Division and the Capitol Police Division of the Department of Public Safety to be eligible for regular retirement benefits at the age of 55 years, certain disability benefits, and certain provisions for purchasing creditable service; to provide conditions for an effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT
HB 613. By Representatives Blackmon of the 146th, Dickey of the 140th, Clark of the 147th, and Williams of the 148th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the governing authority of the City of Perry to levy an excise tax pursuant to subsection (b) of Code Section 48-13-51 of the O.C.G.A.; to provide procedures, conditions, and limitations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 614. By Representatives Mathiak of the 73rd, Knight of the 130th, Singleton of the 71st, Bonner of the 72nd, Camp of the 131st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to revise certain provisions governing the Griffin Judicial Circuit; to revise the method for the assignment of cases; to revise the method for the selection of one or more qualified persons as judge of the juvenile courts of the circuit; to revise the method of selection of the chief judge; to revise the method for filling a vacancy in the office of chief magistrate of Fayette County; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 615. By Representative Jones of the 25th: 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 an automatic recount and recanvass under certain circumstances; to provide for certain reports; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
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HB 616. By Representatives Barr of the 103rd, Cheokas of the 138th, Stephens of the 164th, Werkheiser of the 157th, Powell of the 32nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 25 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Technology Authority, so as to require such authority to study the potential implementation of a state-wide unique identification system and a centralized website for all businesses and legal entities; to provide for requirements and a report; to require cooperation and collaboration; to provide for related matters; to provide for automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
HB 617. By Representatives Martin of the 49th, Rhodes of the 120th, Fleming of the 121st, and Smyre of the 135th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to postsecondary education, so as to provide that student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletic programs at postsecondary educational institutions may receive compensation for the use of the student athlete's name, image, or likeness; to provide for application to intercollegiate athletic associations; to allow for professional representation of such student athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics; to provide for findings; to 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 HIGHER EDUCATION
*HB 635. By Representatives Leverett of the 33rd, Wilensky of the 79th, and Efstration of the 104th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, so as to provide that each judge of the superior court, state court, and probate court and each magistrate shall have authority to perform any lawful judicial act regardless of where he or she is physically located at the time of such act; to amend Title 17 of the O.C.G.A., relating to criminal procedure, so as to provide for the issuance of arrest warrants by a judge regardless of where such judge is physically located; to revise standards for holding a court of inquiry; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding superior courts, so as to revise when superior courts are
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authorized to use alternative locations; to provide for criteria; 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 HR 210. By Representatives Scott of the 76th, Beverly of the 143rd, Smyre of the 135th, Mitchell of the 88th, Williams of the 168th, and others: A RESOLUTION urging Congress to enact the John Lewis Civil Rights Voting Act; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RULES HR 211. By Representatives Evans of the 83rd, Park of the 101st, Williams of the 37th, Schofield of the 60th, Scott of the 76th, and others: A RESOLUTION urging the governor of Georgia to join the United States Climate Alliance; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT HR 212. By Representative Williams of the 145th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Mrs. Denette Odum Jackson and dedicating a bridge in her memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 40. By Senators Jordan of the 6th, Au of the 48th, Merritt of the 9th, Jones II of the 22nd, Parent of the 42nd, 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 revise the time and method for opening and tabulating absentee ballots; to provide for an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
SB 67. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Miller of the 49th, Mullis of the 53rd, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st, 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 submission of identification in connection with absentee ballot applications; to provide for the submission of photocopies of voter identification documents for absentee ballot applications; to provide for requesting of absentee ballot applications through a web portal; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
SB 184. By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, and Kennedy of the 18th: 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 time for inputting credit for voting data; to provide for sanctions for failure to meet deadlines; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
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SB 188. By Senators Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, 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 an election results reporting system to be established and maintained by the Secretary of State; to provide for the submission of certain information to such reporting system by county superintendents; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
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