First readers in House, 2023 February 7

FIRST READERS IN HOUSE TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 07, 2023 FOURTEENTH LEGISLATIVE DAY
HB 240. 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 Clay 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 241. By Representatives McClain of the 109th, Jones of the 60th, Alexander of the 66th, Glaize of the 67th, Cummings of the 39th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minimum wage law, so as to provide for an increase in the minimum wage; to provide a credit toward the minimum wage for employers of tipped workers; to eliminate various eligibility exemptions from the minimum wage; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
HB 242. By Representatives Hitchens of the 161st, Stephens of the 164th, Petrea of the 166th, Lumsden of the 12th, and Powell of the 33rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 10 of Chapter 21 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Georgia Driver's Education Commission, so as to provide for an additional penalty for violation of traffic laws or ordinances under "Joshua's Law"; 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 MOTOR VEHICLES
HB 243. By Representatives Smith of the 70th, Collins of the 71st, Smith of the 18th, Jenkins of the 136th, Huddleston of the 72nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the number of judges of superior courts, so as to provide for an eighth judge of the
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superior courts of the Coweta Judicial Circuit; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 244. By Representatives Petrea of the 166th, Rhodes of the 124th, DeLoach of the 167th, Sainz of the 180th, Townsend of the 179th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to game and fish, so as to extend the date by which rules and regulations prescribed by the Board of Natural Resources must be in effect for purposes of establishing criminal violations of said rules and regulations; to amend Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to general provisions relative to seafood, so as to require certain reporting of non-activity by seafood dealers; to amend Part 4 of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the O.C.G.A., relating to shellfish, so as to provide for a definition; to authorize discretionary penalties for certain enforcement actions by the Department of Natural Resources; to provide for effective dates; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on GAME, FISH, & PARKS
HB 245. By Representatives Evans of the 57th, McClain of the 109th, Park of the 107th, Marin of the 96th, Carter of the 93rd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minimum wage law, so as to repeal certain provisions relating to the preemption of wage and employment benefit mandates adopted by a local government entity; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
HB 246. By Representatives Momtahan of the 17th, Parsons of the 44th, Dickey of the 145th, Tarvin of the 2nd, Pirkle of the 169th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conveyances, so as to prohibit China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, their citizens, and companies owned or operated by them to acquire title to property in this state; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
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HB 247. By Representatives Hawkins of the 27th, Bonner of the 73rd, Clark of the 100th, Williams of the 168th, Thomas of the 21st, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 2 of Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the "Fair Business Practices Act," so as to provide a maximum interest rate of six percent on obligations or liabilities incurred by service members while in active military service of the United States; to provide for findings; to provide for definitions; to provide for a private right of action; to provide for a civil action by the Attorney General; to provide for damages; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 248. By Representatives Ridley of the 6th, Erwin of the 32nd, Rhodes of the 124th, Collins of the 71st, Franklin of the 160th, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 16 of Title 15 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding sheriffs, so as to repeal provisions limiting sheriffs to one additional salary for serving as the sheriff of multiple courts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 249. By Representatives Martin of the 49th, Hilton of the 48th, Jones of the 47th, McDonald of the 26th, and Gaines of the 120th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2A of Part 3 of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the needs based financial aid program, so as to provide for a definition; to provide for a maximum award amount; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION
HB 250. By Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Hitchens of the 161st, Kelley of the 16th, Townsend of the 179th, and Mathiak of the 74th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 9 of the O.C.G.A., relating to civil practice, so as to prohibit censorship by social media platforms; to prohibit waivers of protections; to provide for limitations; to provide for construction; to provide for user remedies; to provide for action by the Attorney General; to amend Title 10 of the O.C.G.A., relating to commerce and trade, so as to provide for disclosure requirements regarding social media platforms; to provide for construction; to provide for acceptable use policies; to
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provide for transparency reports; to provide for a complaint system; to provide for removal of content and exceptions; to provide for appeals; to provide for action by the Attorney General; to provide for definitions; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 251. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Drenner of the 85th, Kennard of the 101st, Evans of the 89th, and Hutchinson of the 106th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 46-1-6 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to governmental entities prohibited from restricting utility service connection or sale of fuels based on type and ability to choose utility service, so as to require the Public Service Commission to adopt regulations to gradually reduce, from 2025 to 2050, the carbon dioxide emissions from electric utilities; to require all electricity provided by an electric utility in this state to be generated from clean energy sources by 2050; to provide for a short title; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on ENERGY, UTILITIES & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
HB 252. By Representatives Thomas of the 21st, Bonner of the 73rd, Clark of the 100th, Ballard of the 147th, Prince of the 132nd, and others: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-9-2.1, Title 16, Title 19, Title 20, Chapter 2 of Title 38, Chapter 2 of Title 40, and Title 47, relating to appointment, compensation, authority, qualifications, training, and other limitations of associate probate court judges, crimes and offenses, domestic relations, education, military affairs, registration and licensing of motor vehicles, and retirement and pensions, respectively, so as to add appropriate references to the United States Space Force; to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on DEFENSE & VETERANS AFFAIRS
HB 253. By Representatives Momtahan of the 17th, Kelley of the 16th, Seabaugh of the 34th, Tarvin of the 2nd, McCollum of the 30th, and others: 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 for the offense of druginduced homicide; to provide for enhanced penalties for the distribution of certain
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controlled substances; to provide for enhanced penalties for the distribution of controlled substances within 1,000 feet of any substance abuse treatment facility; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY NON-CIVIL
HB 254. By Representatives Jenkins of the 136th, Cannon of the 172nd, Pirkle of the 169th, Horner of the 3rd, and Lott of the 131st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 9-13-142 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the requirements of an official legal organ, so as to provide an alternative procedure for the designation of the official legal organ; to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to provisions applicable to counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities, so as to provide an additional manner of publishing certain legal notices by counties and municipalities; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on JUDICIARY
HB 255. By Representative Corbett of the 174th: A BILL to amend an Act providing for the election of members of the Board of Education of Brantley County, approved April 17, 1975 (Ga. L. 1975, p. 3937), as amended, particularly by an Act approved May 12, 2008 (Ga. L. 2008, p. 3757), so as to change the provisions relating to the compensation of the members of the board; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INTRAGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION LOCAL
HB 256. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Greene of the 154th, Carter of the 93rd, Marin of the 96th, and Bonner of the 73rd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 34-1-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to prohibition of age discrimination in employment, so as to change the age of individuals protected by such prohibition; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
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HB 257. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, Hutchinson of the 106th, and Hugley of the 141st: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding health, so as to prohibit feminine hygiene products containing restricted substances from being distributed, sold, or offered for sale in this state; to provide for definitions; 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 HEALTH
HB 258. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Scott of the 76th, Hutchinson of the 106th, and Buckner of the 137th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 26 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to food, drugs, and cosmetics, so as to require certain labeling on packages containing menstrual products; to provide for definitions; to provide for statutory construction; to provide for a penalty; 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 HEALTH
HB 259. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Beverly of the 143rd, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, and Mitchell of the 88th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 4 of Chapter 2 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general contracting provisions for the Department of Transportation, so as to require the publication of the department's disparity study along with a summary of the department's efforts to increase minority business participation in department contracts; 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 260. By Representatives Schofield of the 63rd, Davis of the 87th, Mitchell of the 88th, Gilliard of the 162nd, and Thomas of the 65th: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservation and natural resources, so as to require all state entities to consider and report on environmental justice concerns prior to taking certain state actions; to create the Environmental Justice Commission; to provide that governmental agencies shall consider the disproportionate effect of environmental hazards on people of color or people from low-income families in implementing certain environmental policies; to
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provide that no person in this state shall be excluded from any state funded program or activity because of race, color, or national origin; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on NATURAL RESOURCES & ENVIRONMENT
HB 261. By Representatives Lewis-Ward of the 115th, McClain of the 109th, and Bennett of the 94th: 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 require employers to contemporaneously provide a pay stub or other documentation communicating certain information when compensating employees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on INDUSTRY AND LABOR
HB 262. By Representatives Lewis-Ward of the 115th, Beverly of the 143rd, Jackson of the 128th, and Gilliard of the 162nd: A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to agriculture, so as to establish the Office of Equity in Agriculture; to provide definitions; to provide for purpose; to provide for training; to establish and provide requirements for the Georgia Farmers Council; to provide for purpose; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS
HR 119. By Representatives Sainz of the 180th, Townsend of the 179th, Petrea of the 166th, Mathiak of the 74th, Vance of the 133rd, and others: A RESOLUTION creating the Joint Study Committee on Censorship by Social Media Platforms; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on SPECIAL RULES
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HR 120. By Representatives Mitchell of the 88th, Burnough of the 77th, Taylor of the 92nd, Adeyina of the 110th, Glaize of the 67th, and others: A RESOLUTION urging Congress to enact legislation to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social Security Act and for President Joe Biden to sign that legislation into law; and for other purposes.
Referred to the Committee on RETIREMENT
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