First readers in House, 2023 February 28

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 586. By Representative Smith of the 18th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Haralson County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology needs; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 587. By Representative Anderson of the 10th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the election of the members of the Board of Education of Rabun County by the qualified electors of the Rabun County School District, approved March 13, 1978 (Ga. L. 1978, p. 3430), as amended, particularly by an Act approved March 20, 2012 (Ga. L. 2012, p. 4480), so as to change the description of the education districts; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for the continuation in office of current members; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 588. By Representative Smith of the 18th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 3 of Title 35 of the O.C.G.A., relating to Georgia Crime Information Center, so as to provide for criminal history record information restrictions for certain persons cited with or convicted of certain criminal offenses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
HB 589. By Representative Cheokas of the 151st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Department of Audits and Accounts, so as to require certain financial disclosures from entities performing work related to fiscal notes; to
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provide for reporting; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on BUDGET AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT
HB 590. By Representatives Cameron of the 1st, Crowe of the 118th, Kelley of the 16th, and Bonner of the 73rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, so as to provide for the offense of online menacing of a peace officer; 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 JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 591. By Representatives Evans of the 89th, Drenner of the 85th, Tran of the 80th, Mitchell of the 88th, Bennett of the 94th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide that each resident of DeKalb County who is 65 years of age or over or disabled and whose net income together with the net income of the spouse and all members of the family who reside at the homestead of such resident does not exceed $15,000.00 per annum shall be granted an exemption from all DeKalb County ad valorem taxes, except county school district taxes, in the amount of $14,000.00 of the value of the homestead of such resident, approved March 15, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 4114), so as to increase the income cap on said homestead exemption to $37,500.00; to provide for mandatory execution of election and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 592. By Representatives Reeves of the 99th, Mitchell of the 88th, Silcox of the 53rd, Crawford of the 84th, and Drenner of the 85th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 6 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding superior courts, so as to change the name of the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit to the DeKalb Judicial Circuit; 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
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HB 593. By Representatives Evans of the 89th, Drenner of the 85th, Tran of the 80th, Mitchell of the 88th, Bennett of the 94th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend a former local constitutional amendment (Ga. L. 1982, p. 2659), which former local constitutional amendment was continued in effect as statutory law pursuant to Article VII, Section II, Paragraph IV of the Constitution of Georgia and which provided that each resident of the DeKalb County School District who is 62 years of age or over or who is disabled and whose gross income, together with the gross income of the spouse and all members of the family who reside at and occupy the homestead of such resident, does not exceed $16,000.00 per annum shall be granted an exemption from all DeKalb County School District ad valorem taxes on $20,000.00 of the value of the homestead owned and occupied by such resident, so as to increase the income cap on said homestead exemption to $40,000.00; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 594. By Representatives Evans of the 89th, Drenner of the 85th, Tran of the 80th, Mitchell of the 88th, Bennett of the 94th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide that each resident of the DeKalb County School District who is 65 years of age or over or disabled and whose net income together with the net income of the spouse and all members of the family who reside at the homestead of such resident does not exceed $15,000.00 per annum shall be granted an exemption from all DeKalb County School District ad valorem taxes in the amount of $14,000.00 of the value of the homestead of such resident, approved March 24, 1988 (Ga. L. 1988, p. 4160), as amended, so as to increase the income cap on said homestead exemption to $37,500.00; to provide for mandatory execution of election and judicial remedies regarding failure to comply; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 595. By Representative DeLoach of the 167th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the O.C.G.A., relating to primaries and elections generally, so as to revise the manner of holding certain primaries and elections; to provide for the dates of such primaries and elections; to provide for the setting of qualifying fees; to provide for the manner and method of qualifying candidates; to provide for the forms of ballots; to provide for the conduct of such primaries and elections; to provide for the determination of successful candidates; to provide for
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certifications and contests; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 596. By Representative Greene of the 154th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to authorize the assessment and collection of a technology fee by the Probate Court of Randolph County; to identify the authorized uses of such technology fee; to provide for the termination of such technology fee and dedication of residual funds to technology uses; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 597. By Representative Bentley of the 150th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to provide a new charter for the City of Andersonville; to provide for sale and lease of city property; to provide for prior ordinances; to provide for existing personnel; to provide for pending matters; to provide for construction; to provide for severability; to repeal specific Acts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 598. By Representatives Cox of the 28th, Powell of the 33rd, Washburn of the 144th, Douglas of the 78th, and Jasperse of the 11th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to professions and businesses, so as to change certain provisions relating to certain boxing, wrestling, and martial art associations and federations; to revise a definition; to change the applicability of certain provisions as to matches, contests, or exhibitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
HB 599. By Representative Erwin of the 32nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act to provide a new charter for the Town of Martin, approved March 18, 1980 (Ga. L. 1980, p. 3215), as amended, so as to change the number of city council members; to provide for continuation in office of current
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members; to provide for special meetings; to provide for a quorum; to provide for an effective date; 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 Schofield of the 63rd, Werkheiser of the 157th, Beverly of the 143rd, Sainz of the 180th, Scott of the 76th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 13 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of administrative procedure, so as to remove the exemption of administrative review from the Board of Corrections and its penal institutions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 601. By Representatives Silcox of the 53rd, Holland of the 54th, Roberts of the 52nd, and Panitch of the 51st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for a new charter for the City of Sandy Springs in Fulton County, approved April 15, 2005 (Ga. L. 2005, p. 3515), as amended, so as to change the description of the election districts for the city council; to provide for definitions and inclusions; to provide for continuation in office of current members; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 602. By Representative Ridley of the 6th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4B of Title 43 of the O.C.G.A., relating to Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, so as to provide for the regulation of bare knuckle boxing matches; to provide for definitions; to authorize the commission to promulgate rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on REGULATED INDUSTRIES
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HB 603. By Representatives Wiedower of the 121st and Gaines of the 120th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Juvenile Code, so as to expedite and prioritize processes for the termination of parental rights in certain cases involving parental incapacity and child maltreatment; to revise and to provide for definitions; to revise circumstances for when reasonable efforts by DFCS are not required; to revise requirements for nonreunification hearings; to update a cross-reference; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUVENILE JUSTICE
HB 604. By Representatives Byrd of the 20th and Horner of the 3rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 1 of the O.C.G.A., relating to persons and their rights, so as to provide that life is valued and protected from the moment of conception and that each life, from that moment, is accorded the same rights and protections guaranteed to all persons; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH
HB 605. By Representatives Dickey of the 145th, Bentley of the 150th, Martin of the 49th, and Knight of the 134th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 4 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the Realizing Educational Achievement Can Happen (REACH) Scholarship, so as to provide that victims of human trafficking are eligible for such scholarship; to provide for the selection of REACH scholars; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
HB 606. By Representatives Cooper of the 45th, Hatchett of the 155th, Houston of the 170th, Cameron of the 1st, and Newton of the 127th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 6 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state health planning and development, so as to revise
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definitions relative to certificate of need; to revise exemptions from certificate of need requirements; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH
HB 607. By Representatives Pirkle of the 169th, Jones of the 47th, Martin of the 49th, and Dubnik of the 29th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 7 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to HOPE scholarships and grants, so as to revise the definition of "Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar" by changing the ACT score requirement for certain students; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on EDUCATION
Withdrawn from Education and recommitted to Higher Education.
HB 608. By Representatives Evans of the 57th, Smith of the 138th, and Mainor of the 56th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 32-2-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to development of transportation plans, public hearings, approval of plans by board, and promulgation of rules and regulations by the Department of Transportation, so as to require public hearings for local transportation projects of significant impact; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
HB 609. By Representative Bentley of the 150th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act providing for the Board of Commissioners of Taylor County, approved March 1, 1933 (Ga. L. 1933, p. 672), as amended, so as to change the description of the commissioner 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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HB 610. By Representative Bentley of the 150th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act changing the number of members of the Board of Education of Taylor County, approved April 17, 1975 (Ga. L. 1975, p. 3486), 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
HB 612. By Representative Marin of the 96th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the official state language, so as to require reasonable access to public services for non-English speakers; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 613. By Representatives Marin of the 96th and Park of the 107th: 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, and computation of income tax, so as to provide for an income tax credit with respect to qualified citizenship expenses for low-income families; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditions and limitations; to provide for powers, duties, and authority of the state revenue commissioner with respect to the foregoing; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HB 614. By Representative Marin of the 96th: 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 plates for certain persons and vehicles, so as to provide for special parking permits issued to persons with
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disabilities to include the name and a recent photograph of the person issued the permit; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 615. By Representatives Smith of the 70th, Bonner of the 73rd, Jenkins of the 136th, and Thomas of the 65th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend an Act continuing the State Court of Coweta County, approved May 17, 2004 (Ga. L. 2004, p. 4260), as amended, so as to add a judge to the court; to provide for an effective date; to provide for other matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 616. By Representative Evans of the 89th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to state government, so as to require state agencies to consider antisemitism when determining whether an alleged criminal act was motivated by discriminatory intent; to provide for limitations and construction; to provide legislative findings and intent; to provide for definitions; to provide for effective dates and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
HB 617. By Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Pirkle of the 169th, Wiedower of the 121st, Thomas of the 21st, and Hagan of the 156th: 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 the development and maintenance of a state-wide freight and logistics implementation plan; to provide for a definition; to provide for responsibilities and duties of the Planning Division and director; to provide for standards and considerations for such plan; to require annual reporting to the General Assembly; to provide for legislative intent and declarations; to provide for the creation of a Georgia Freight 2050 Program subject to appropriation by the General Assembly; to provide for purposes of such program; to identify intended funding for such program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on TRANSPORTATION
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HR 322. By Representatives Mainor of the 56th, Thomas of the 65th, Mitchell of the 88th, Jackson of the 128th, and Lim of the 98th: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on Research and Development of Reparation Proposals for the Institution of Slavery for African Americans; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL RULES
HR 323. By Representatives Evans of the 89th, Drenner of the 85th, Oliver of the 82nd, Schofield of the 63rd, and Buckner of the 137th: A RESOLUTION urging the Public Service Commission to pursue actions that will protect 2,700,000 electric customers from unjustly paying for construction mistakes, delays, and corrections at Plant Vogtle reactors three and four and that will prohibit Georgia Power from profiting on those construction mistakes, delays, and corrections; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HR 324. By Representatives Houston of the 170th and Greene of the 154th: A RESOLUTION creating the House Study Committee on the Jobs Tax Credit Tier System; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on WAYS & MEANS
HR 347. By Representatives Reeves of the 99th, Clark of the 100th, Bonner of the 73rd, Martinez of the 111th, Hitchens of the 161st, and others: A RESOLUTION designating the song "The Veteran Anthem," with lyrics and music by Takosha M. Swan, as the official song of Georgia service members, veterans, and their families; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on DEFENSE & VETERANS AFFAIRS
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SENATE FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
SB 99. By Senators Dolezal of the 27th, Watson of the 1st, Brass of the 28th, and Cowsert of the 46th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-6-47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from certificate of need requirements, so as to provide an exemption for acute care hospitals established in rural counties that meet certain criteria; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HEALTH
SB 116. By Senators Watson of the 1st, Mallow of the 2nd, Hickman of the 4th, Gooch of the 51st, and Ginn of the 47th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 36-37-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disposition of municipal property generally, so as to revise provisions relating to the maximum term of certain leases or contracts for the use, operation, or management of real or personal property owned by a municipality for recreational facilities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SB 129. By Senators Williams of the 25th, Burns of the 23rd, Harbin of the 16th, Anderson of the 24th, Beach of the 21st, 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 provide for time off for employees to advance vote; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
SB 145. By Senators Still of the 48th, Dolezal of the 27th, Robertson of the 29th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Payne of the 54th, 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 local regulations that create differing standards for or
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distinguish gasoline-powered leaf blowers from similar equipment; 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 SB 159. By Senators Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th, Dugan of the 30th, Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, and Walker III of the 20th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding correctional institutions of states and counties, so as to prohibit wireless communications and standalone electronic devices behind guard lines; to provide for penalties; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on PUBLIC SAFETY & HOMELAND SECURITY
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