FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, MARCH 09, 2021 TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATIVE DAY HB 738. By Representatives Marin of the 96th, Beverly of the 143rd, Mitchell of the 88th, Park of the 101st, Schofield of the 60th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 2, Chapter 12 of Title 16, Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31, and Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to seeds and plants generally, offenses against public health and morals, general provisions relative to the Department of Public Health, and general provisions relative to torts, respectively, so as to authorize the use, production, manufacturing, and dispensing of medical marijuana in this state; to provide for the medical conditions for which medical marijuana may be prescribed and used; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HB 739. By Representative Ralston of the 7th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Blue Ridge in Fannin County, approved March 21, 1989 (Ga. L. 1989, p. 3823), as amended, so as to provide for staggered terms of the mayor and councilmembers; to revise provisions regarding the filling of vacancies on the governing authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 740. By Representative Benton of the 31st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act incorporating the Town of Pendergrass, in the County of Jackson, approved December 30, 1890 (Ga. L. 1890-91, Vol. II, p. 681), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 5, 1994 (Ga. L. 1994, p. 4755), so as to add two new members to the city council; to revise provisions governing quorums and overriding vetoes; to update reference to applicable state election law; to provide for - 1 - initial and staggered terms of the new councilmembers; to provide for conflict of interest; to provide for holding of other offices; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 741. By Representatives Schofield of the 60th, Beverly of the 143rd, Scott of the 76th, Hutchinson of the 107th, Davis of the 87th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 9 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to temporary assistance for needy families, so as to increase access to benefits; to increase the lifetime maximum for benefits; to provide that assets are disregarded in determining eligibility; to repeal the drug felony ban for eligibility; to repeal the family cap on benefits; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES HB 742. By Representatives Dubnik of the 29th, Dunahoo of the 30th, Hawkins of the 27th, and Barr of the 103rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to continue the existence of the Gainesville City School District as an independent school system; to provide for powers of the board of education; to provide for number of members, districts, elections, qualifications of members, organization, and compensation of the board of education; to provide for the position of superintendent; to provide for related matters; to repeal and reserve provisions of a specific Act; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 743. By Representative Dickey of the 140th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing a new charter for the City of Fort Valley, approved August 22, 1907 (Ga. L. 1907, p. 651), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 6, 2019 (Ga. L. 2019, 4170), so as to add three appointed members to the Utility Commission for the City of Fort Valley; to provide for the filling of - 2 - vacancies on such commission; to remove provisions providing for agreements between the city and commission as to certain payments from the commission to the city; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HB 744. By Representatives Anulewicz of the 42nd, Thomas of the 39th, Allen of the 40th, Bruce of the 61st, Smith of the 41st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act creating a new charter for the City of Smyrna, approved August 27, 1931 (Ga. L. 1931, p. 955), as amended, so as to provide for the annexation of certain territory into the boundaries of the city; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL HR 353. By Representatives Cannon of the 58th, Beverly of the 143rd, and Williams of the 168th: A RESOLUTION recognizing General Larry Platt and dedicating a bridge in his honor; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 354. By Representative Gilliard of the 162nd: A RESOLUTION recognizing Mayor Edna Jackson and dedicating an interchange in her honor; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 355. By Representative Gilliard of the 162nd: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Representative Bobby Lee Hill and dedicating an interchange in his memory; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION - 3 - SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, MARCH 09, 2021 TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATIVE DAY SB 10. By Senators Jones of the 10th, Butler of the 55th, James of the 35th, Seay of the 34th, Davenport of the 44th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to offenses against public order, so as to provide for an offense of promoting illegal drag racing and laying drags; to provide for an offense of knowingly attending an illegal drag race or laying drags exhibition; to provide for punishment; to amend Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to provide for classification and registration of high-performance vehicles; to provide for the issuance of special license plates for high-performance vehicles; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL SB 62. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Ginn of the 47th, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Albers of the 56th, 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 name and designation of the precinct appears on every ballot; to provide for the use of holographic security devices on ballots; to provide for the storage and retention of absentee ballots by precinct with chain of custody; to provide for the manner of handling and processing ballots requiring duplication for processing; to provide for the maintenance of certain lists of absentee voters; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY SB 72. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Albers of the 56th, Hickman of the 4th, 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 county registrars shall obtain monthly from the coroner, judge of the probate court, and - 1 - funeral homes in the county identifying information about persons who died in the county during the previous month; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY SB 74. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Walker III of the 20th, Albers of the 56th, 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 ability of poll watchers at tabulating centers to observe the vote counting process; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY SB 90. By Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Miller of the 49th, Jones of the 10th, Mullis of the 53rd, and Anderson of the 43rd: 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 create the Georgia Commission on African American History and Culture; to provide for duties and objectives; to provide for membership and terms of office; to provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on STATE PLANNING & COMMUNITY AFFAIRS SB 97. By Senators Jackson of the 2nd, Harbison of the 15th, Jones of the 10th, Rahman of the 5th, and Jones II of the 22nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-3-66 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to determination of in-state resident status of students for tuition or fees, so as to codify the university system policy of out-of-state tuition differential waivers; to require that a certain percentage of such waivers be allowed for certain institutions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION - 2 - SB 98. By Senators Beach of the 21st, Jones of the 25th, Gooch of the 51st, Ginn of the 47th, and Watson of the 1st: 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 provide for procedures, conditions, and limitations for public and private financing of projects; to revise definitions; 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; filling of vacancies; election of chairperson, vice chairperson, and secretary-treasurer; and quorum, so as to add the commissioner of transportation as an ex officio member of the Georgia Ports Authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on RULES SB 106. By Senators Davenport of the 44th, Jones II of the 22nd, Dugan of the 30th, Sims of the 12th, Butler of the 55th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 20-2-742 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to multi-tiered system of supports prior to suspension or expulsion for certain students, so as to include wraparound services in the multi-tiered system of supports to be provided prior to expelling or assigning a student in preschool through third grade to out-of-school suspension for more than five consecutive or cumulative days during a school year; to provide a definition of wraparound services; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION SB 120. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Kennedy of the 18th, Cowsert of the 46th, Jones II of the 22nd, Tillery of the 19th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 18 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to solicitors-general of state courts, so as to provide for the honorary office of solicitor-general emeritus; to provide for qualifications; to provide for certificate; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY - 3 - SB 144. By Senators Tippins of the 37th, Gooch of the 51st, Cowsert of the 46th, Miller of the 49th, Summers of the 13th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions for housing authorities, so as to limit the ability of city housing authorities to operate outside municipal boundaries without authorization; to revise a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS SB 156. By Senators Harbin of the 16th, Tippins of the 37th, Lucas of the 26th, Tillery of the 19th, Gooch of the 51st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to labor and industrial relations, so as to provide for the appointment, oath, bond, power, duties, and authority of a chief labor officer; to require the chief labor officer to provide reports related to claims for unemployment compensation benefits and implement effective strategies for the timely payment of benefits; to require the chief labor officer to promptly respond to financial audits; to provide for automatic repeal; 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 SB 162. By Senators Beach of the 21st, Albers of the 56th, and Thompson of the 14th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the number of judges of superior courts, so as to provide for an additional judge of the superior court of the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on RULES SB 164. By Senators Hufstetler of the 52nd, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Orrock of the 36th, and Butler of the 55th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-11-471, Title 16, and Code Section 31-22-9.1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to definitions relative to juvenile delinquency, crimes and offenses, and who may perform HIV tests, respectively, so as to provide for the modernization of HIV related laws to align with science to ensure that laws and policies support current understanding of best public health practices for - 4 - preventing and treating HIV, scientific evidence about routes of transmission, and the public health goals of promoting HIV prevention and treatment; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SB 202. By Senators Burns of the 23rd, Miller of the 49th, Dugan of the 30th, Ginn of the 47th, Anderson of the 24th, 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 persons or entities that mail absentee ballot applications shall mail such applications only to eligible registered electors who have not already requested, been issued, or voted an absentee ballot; to require certain comparisons to remove improper names from mail distribution lists; to provide for sanctions for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY SB 213. By Senators Harper of the 7th, Payne of the 54th, Mullis of the 53rd, Summers of the 13th, and Gooch of the 51st: 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 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 SB 218. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Dugan of the 30th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Miller of the 49th, Kennedy of the 18th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to vacation of office, so as to provide for the suspension of - 5 - compensation for certain public officers who are suspended because of indictment for a felony; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY SB 225. By Senators Harbison of the 15th, Rhett of the 33rd, Payne of the 54th, Dugan of the 30th, Anderson of the 43rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 2 of Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prestige license plates and special plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to provide for a veteran's license plate to individuals who served in the armed forces for an ally of the United States during active military combat; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES SB 226. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Mullis of the 53rd, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Thompson of the 14th, 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 SB 234. By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Strickland of the 17th, Parent of the 42nd, Jones II of the 22nd, and Watson of the 1st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to civil practice, so as to provide for uniform laws governing mediation and participants in mediation; to provide for definitions; to provide for privileges against disclosure, admissibility, and discovery; to provide for waiver and preclusion of privilege; to provide for exceptions to privilege; to provide for confidentiality and mediator disclosure of conflicts; to provide for international commercial mediation and electronic signatures; to provide for uniformity of construction and severability; to provide for applicability; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY - 6 - SB 237. By Senators Harbison of the 15th and Dugan of the 30th: 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 supporting members of the United States Army Rangers; 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 SB 238. By Senator Strickland of the 17th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions, so as to revise provisions relating to the enactment of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; to clarify the portions of the Code which have the effect of law; to clarify the matter included in the Code that does not have the effect of law; to amend Chapter 9 of Title 28 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Code Revision Commission, so as to clarify the oversight of the commission with respect to state content; to clarify the oversight of the commission with respect to supplementary content; to revise a provision relating to copyright of the Code; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on CODE REVISION SB 241. By Senators Dugan of the 30th, Miller of the 49th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Cowsert of the 46th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to comprehensively revise elections and voting; to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for the establishment of a voter intimidation and illegal election activities hotline; to limit the ability of the State Election Board and the Secretary of State to enter into certain consent agreements; to amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions regarding administrative procedure, so as to provide for the submission and suspension of emergency rules by the State Election Board; to provide for severability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY - 7 - SB 247. By Senators Anderson of the 24th, Walker III of the 20th, Miller of the 49th, Goodman of the 8th, Summers of the 13th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 8 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agricultural commodity commissions generally, so as to replace certain public hearings with online public comment opportunities; to revise procedures for issuing, amending, and renewing marketing orders; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS SB 253. By Senators Merritt of the 9th, Burns of the 23rd, Butler of the 55th, Dugan of the 30th, 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 notice when polling places are relocated; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY SB 256. By Senators Burke of the 11th, Gooch of the 51st, Watson of the 1st, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Hufstetler of the 52nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12, Code Section 16-12-4, Code Section 1911-9, Chapter 2 of Title 26, Title 31, and Code Section 43-18-75 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservation and natural resources, cruelty to animals, location of absent parents by department, standards, labeling, and adulteration of food, health, and inspections, suspension or revocation of license, and other disciplinary actions, respectively, so as to provide for the reorganization of county boards of health; to revise the powers of county boards of health; to authorize the Department of Public Health to select district health directors; to provide for qualifications of district health directors; to authorize the commissioner of public health to select chief medical officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES SB 260. By Senator Harper of the 7th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 2-12-80 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to promulgation and adoption of rules and regulations and sharing of information, so as to exclude certain soil amendments from regulation; to limit - 8 - locally adopted buffers and setbacks; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS SB 276. By Senators Kennedy of the 18th, Strickland of the 17th, Mullis of the 53rd, Harper of the 7th, and Dugan of the 30th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 15 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county law libraries, so as to allow county governing authorities to authorize the charging and collection of law library fees in county recorders' courts and magistrate courts; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY SR 102. By Senators Gooch of the 51st, Beach of the 21st, Miller of the 49th, Ginn of the 47th, Jones of the 25th, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the Georgia Commission on E-Commerce and Freight Infrastructure Funding; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION SR 134. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Dugan of the 30th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Butler of the 55th, Parent of the 42nd, and others: A RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to provide for the suspension of compensation for certain public officers who are suspended because of indictment for a felony; to provide for related matters; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY SR 154. By Senators Orrock of the 36th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, Mullis of the 53rd, Butler of the 55th, Strickland of the 17th, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Study Committee for Strengthening Georgia's Future Workforce; and for other purposes. Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE - 9 -