First readers in House, 2022 February 11

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022 FIFTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 1300. By Representative Holmes of the 129th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to create the Jasper County Water and Sewer Authority, approved April 16, 1999 (Ga. L. 1999, p. 4595), so as to revise the membership of the authority; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1301. By Representatives Hogan of the 179th, Watson of the 172nd, Gambill of the 15th, Bentley of the 139th, Meeks of the 178th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to prohibit rules and regulations related to gasoline-powered leaf blowers except by general law; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 1302. By Representatives Bonner of the 72nd, Carpenter of the 4th, Lott of the 122nd, Mathiak of the 73rd, McDonald of the 26th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to provide for a one-time tax credit for individual taxpayers who filed income tax returns for both the 2020 and 2021 taxable years; to provide for a definition; 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 1303. By Representatives Dickey of the 140th, England of the 116th, Pirkle of the 155th, Erwin of the 28th, Bentley of the 139th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to educational programs, so as to transition
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a pilot program for elementary agricultural education to an ongoing program; to require schools to employ an agricultural education teacher; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 1304. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Jackson of the 128th, Cooper of the 43rd, Dempsey of the 13th, Gaines of the 117th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to create the "Georgia Caregivers Act"; to provide for definitions; to require hospitals to provide patients with the opportunity to identify lay caregivers; to provide that named lay caregivers are not obligated to provide aftercare; to provide that no new private right of action is created; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
HB 1305. By Representatives Neal of the 74th and Mallow of the 163rd: 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 the imposition, rate, computation, exemptions, and credits from state income tax, so as to provide for a deduction from Georgia taxable net income based on rental charges incurred by an individual due to renting his or her primary residence; to provide for limitations; 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 1306. By Representatives Hugley of the 136th, Smith of the 133rd, Smyre of the 135th, Williams of the 168th, and Buckner of the 137th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to children and youth services, so as to provide for personal identification cards for children entering the foster care system; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUVENILE JUSTICE
HB 1307. By Representative Houston of the 170th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and safety, so as to revise the "Georgia Utility
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Facility Protection Act" to require an excavator that strikes or damages a utility facility that carries gas or hazardous liquid to alert emergency services; to provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 1308. By Representatives Williams of the 148th, Taylor of the 173rd, Gambill of the 15th, Houston of the 170th, Jones of the 25th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 24 of Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance generally, so as to allow a plan sponsor of a health benefit plan to consent on behalf of an enrollee to the electronic delivery of all communications related to the plan; to allow the enrollee an opportunity to refuse to agree to receive mailings electronically; 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 INSURANCE
HB 1309. By Representatives Thomas of the 65th, Schofield of the 60th, Lim of the 99th, and Lewis-Ward of the 109th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agriculture, so as to create and provide for an educational farming program for urban youth; to provide for a short title; to provide for definitions; to provide for purpose and intent; to provide for administration, term length, and availability; to provide for the intent for annual appropriation funding; to provide for a pilot program; to provide for applications; to provide for participant requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HB 1310. By Representatives Dunahoo of the 30th, Byrd of the 20th, Gambill of the 15th, Gilligan of the 24th, Cantrell of the 22nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 32 of Title 33 of the O.C.G.A., relating to property insurance, so as to require an appraisal provision in residential and commercial fire and extended coverage insurance policies; to provide guidelines for appraisal of amount of loss, including scope of loss; to define damaged property and depreciation and provide guidelines for calculating depreciation where a property is damaged but not wholly destroyed; to prohibit an insurer from requiring the use of a preferred vendor or contractor; to allow an insurer to recommend the use of a preferred vendor or contractor;
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to provide for the adjustment and settlement of first-party losses based on replacement cost value and on actual cash value; 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 INSURANCE
HB 1316. By Representatives Neal of the 74th and Taylor of the 173rd: 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 that individual and group accident and sickness insurance policies in this state shall provide basic coverage of mental wellness services for the policyholder and other persons covered by such policies; to provide for definitions; to allow the Commissioner of Insurance to provide additional guidance by 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 INSURANCE
HB 1317. By Representatives Barr of the 103rd, Wade of the 9th, Momtahan of the 17th, Barton of the 5th, Dunahoo of the 30th, 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 remove provisions relating to absentee ballot drop boxes and the requirements therefor; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ELECTION INTEGRITY
HB 1318. By Representatives Carter of the 92nd, Beverly of the 143rd, Mitchell of the 88th, Holcomb of the 81st, Bruce of the 61st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 11 of Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding preparation for and conduct of primaries and elections, so as to provide that the election superintendent of a county may permit any elector of the county to vote in any precinct of the county which such elector chooses in a primary, election, or runoff under certain conditions; to provide for certain notices; to provide for 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
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HB 1319. By Representatives Werkheiser of the 157th, Wiedower of the 119th, Gaines of the 117th, Kelley of the 16th, Greene of the 151st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia Student Finance Authority, so as to provide for the Georgia LEO Scholarship grant; to provide for definitions; to provide for qualifications and procedures; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION
HB 1320. By Representatives Knight of the 130th, Blackmon of the 146th, and Williamson of the 115th: 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 revise the terms "Internal Revenue Code" and "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" and thereby incorporate certain provisions of the federal law into Georgia law; to revise provisions for granting the extension of time for returns; 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 1321. By Representatives Burchett of the 176th, Dempsey of the 13th, Hitchens of the 161st, Evans of the 57th, and Wilson of the 80th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to commerce, so as to provide for a litigation bar on governmental entities regarding certain statewide opioid litigation; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for definitions; 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 1322. By Representatives Powell of the 32nd, Jones of the 25th, Jasperse of the 11th, Mitchell of the 88th, Buckner of the 137th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 46 of the O.C.G.A., relating to public utilities and public transportation, so as to provide for the deployment of electric vehicle
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charging equipment; to provide for legislative findings and declarations; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 1323. By Representative Camp of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Upson County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $14,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are 65 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 compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1324. By Representatives Camp of the 131st, Hawkins of the 27th, Newton of the 123rd, Taylor of the 173rd, Lumsden of the 12th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 and Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services and insurance, respectively, so as to clarify that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the diagnoses given; to provide for unfair claims settlement practices; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INSURANCE
HB 1325. By Representative Camp of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Upson County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $22,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are 62 years of age or older and disabled; to provide for definitions; to specify the terms and conditions of the exemption and the
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procedures relating thereto; to provide for applicability; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1326. By Representative Camp of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Upson County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $10,000 of the assessed value of that homestead; 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 compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1327. By Representative Camp of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a homestead exemption from Upson County ad valorem taxes for county purposes in the amount of $12,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of that county who are 62 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 compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for related matters; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 1328. By Representative Camp of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a homestead exemption of $10,000.00 from all Upson County ad valorem taxes, including taxes to retire bonded indebtedness but excluding ad valorem taxes for the Upson County School District, for each resident of Upson County who is disabled if his adjusted gross income, together with the adjusted gross income of his spouse who also occupies and resides at such homestead, does not exceed $10,000.00, approved March 10, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 3821), so as to increase the amount of such homestead exemption to $20,000.00 subject
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to adjusted base year value; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HR 757. By Representative Cheokas of the 138th: A RESOLUTION honoring the life of Sheriff Horace Irving Snider and dedicating a mile of road in his memory; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION HR 758. By Representative Neal of the 74th: A RESOLUTION encouraging all employers in Georgia to adopt streamlined job application processes that do not seek duplicative information on applications and through resumes so as to ensure that candidates can efficiently and effectively communicate their qualifications and obtain employment; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR HR 759. By Representatives Neal of the 74th and Gilliard of the 162nd: A RESOLUTION urging local law enforcement agencies to establish public safety embassador units; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2022
FIFTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 231. By Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Payne of the 54th, Parent of the 42nd, Albers of the 56th, Halpern of the 39th, 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 a pilot program to allow for certain adults to enroll in charter schools that provide instruction only for individuals between ages 21 and 35 residing in this state who have not attained a high school diploma; to provide for an exception to the maximum age of eligibility for enrollment; to authorize local boards of education or the State Charter Schools Commission to approve charter schools that serve only individuals between ages 21 and 35 residing in this state who have not attained a high school diploma; to provide for funding for such charter schools; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for a repealer; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on
SB 277. By Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Harper of the 7th, Hufstetler of the 52nd, and Ginn of the 47th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 3 of Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to carrying and possession of firearms, so as extend the exemptions from weapons carry laws for certain court officials to include carrying inside of a courthouse; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
SB 340. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Watson of the 1st, Burke of the 11th, Dugan of the 30th, Au of the 48th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-7-95 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to funding of medical education provided by hospital authorities and designated teaching hospitals, so as to revise definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
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SB 358. By Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Thompson of the 14th, Harbison of the 15th, Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 35-5-5 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center available for use by certain personnel, fees, enrollment, authorization for expenditure of funds, and powers and duties, so as to provide for the reimbursement of certain costs incurred by active duty, retired, or honorably discharged members of the United States armed forces who are attending basic law enforcement training; to provide for limitations on such reimbursements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
SB 361. By Senators Walker III of the 20th, Harbison of the 15th, Mullis of the 53rd, Cowsert of the 46th, Albers of the 56th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 7 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to income taxes, so as to enact the "Law Enforcement Strategic Support Act" ("LESS Crime Act"); to provide for tax credits for certain contributions made by taxpayers to certain local law enforcement foundations; to provide for an aggregate annual limit; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide for applications and certifications; to provide for the revocation of qualified status; to provide for certain penalties; to require annual reporting; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date, applicability, and an automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
SB 453. By Senator Kennedy of the 18th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act known as the "Macon Water Authority Act," approved March 23, 1992 (Ga. L. 1992, p. 4991), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 10, 2014 (Ga. L. 2014, p. 3889), so as to change the description of the electoral districts; to provide for the continuation in office of current members; to provide for effective dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
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SB 457. By Senators Burns of the 23rd and Anderson of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the consolidation of Richmond County and the City of Augusta, approved March 27, 1995 (Ga. L. 1995, p. 3648), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 8, 2002 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 3769), so as to change the description of the commission districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SB 458. By Senators Burns of the 23rd and Anderson of the 24th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act regulating public instruction for the County of Richmond, approved August 23, 1872 (Ga. L. 1872, p. 456), as amended, particularly by an Act approved April 8, 2002 (Ga. L. 2002, p. 3756), so as to change the description of the school board districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for the continuation in office of current members; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SB 462. By Senator Summers of the 13th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act reconstituting the Board of Education of Lee County, approved April 9, 1993 (Ga. L. 1993, p. 5130), as amended, so as to change the description of the education districts; to define certain terms and provide for certain inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to provide for related matters; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
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