Fiscal Year 2022 Amended Budget Highlights
Governor’s Recommendations plus the House’s Changes
FY22 Original budget estimate: $27,252,569,596
FY22 Amended budget estimate: $29,889,163,593
Increase in estimate = $2,636,593,997
Recurring Costs Throughout the Budget:
For all full-time, benefit eligible state employees: Increase funds to provide a $5,000 cost of living
adjustment effective July 1, 2022
For Teachers (in K-12, Georgia’s Pre-K Program, Dept. of Juvenile Justice, and Georgia Military
College Preparatory School): adjust the state base salary schedule to increase salaries for by
$2,000 effective July 1, 2022
For Part Time School Support Personnel (K-12 QBE-funded instructional staff, school support staff,
school administration, and central administration, school nutrition workers, bus drivers, school
nurses): one-time salary supplement of $1,000
Juvenile Courts
• $25,000 Added for the case management contract
• $12,500 Added for grants to counties for the Cobb Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court
Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
• $310,000 Added for technology upgrades to the Georgia Crisis Access Line in preparation for
interfacing with the national ‘988’ hotline. (Adult MH Services)
• $16,875 Added for the Matthew Reardon Center for Autism. (Child and Adolescent Developmental
Disabilities)
• $5 Million Added for capital maintenance and repairs. (Direct Care Support Services)
Dept. of Community Health
• $2.815 Million Added for the All-Payer Claims Database to enable analysis and public reporting of
health care costs and utilization for medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services. (DCH Dept.
Administration)
• $36.66 Million Subtracted from Aged Blind Disabled Medicaid based on projected need.
• $279.12 Million Added for growth in Low Income Medicaid based on projected need.
• $447,000 Added for Low Income Medicaid reimbursement of donor milk.
• $20.88 Million Added for growth in PeachCare based on projected need PLUS $13.1 Million
Transferred from the Medicaid- Low-Income Medicaid program to reflect projected expenditures.
• $26.23 Million Added for skilled nursing centers for an add-on payment of an additional $10 per
patient day. (Medicaid – Aged Blind Disabled)
• $1.74 Million Added for residency slots to fully fund the actual number of residents.
• $500,000 Subtracted from Mercer School of Medicine to reflect expenditures.
• $500,000 Added to support planning efforts for a new nursing program at Morehouse School of
Medicine.
Dept. of Early Care and Learning
• Utilize Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal COVID-19 relief funds to provide two one-time salary supplements of
$1,000 each to increase salaries for certified Pre-K teachers and assistant teachers. (H: Yes)
• Utilize existing funds to expand the Summer Transition Program in order to address learning loss
resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. (H: Yes)
Dept. of Education
• $253,600 Added to offset the austerity reduction for the Area Teacher Program, Extended
Day/Year, Young Farmers, and Youth Camps. (Agricultural Education)
• $4.3 Million Added for agricultural education equipment and facilities.
• $1.37 Million Added to offset the austerity reduction to Communities in Schools local affiliates.
• $240,000 Subtracted to reflect a delayed implementation date for the rural coding program.
• $13.78 Million Added Increase funds to provide a one-time salary supplement of $1,000 to all
nutrition workers.
• $2.45 Million Added to offset the austerity reduction for the GNETS grants (Georgia Network for
Educational and Therapeutic Support).
• $1.68 Million Added to offset the austerity reduction for grants in Preschool Disabilities Services.
• $188 Million Added to replace 1,747 buses statewide over three years at a base bus cost of
$88,110 and provide funds for reimbursement of key safety features.
• $5 Million Added s to incentivize school systems to purchase alternative fuel buses.
• $3.466 Million Added for a midterm adjustment to the State Commission Charter School supplement
training and experience. (QBE)
• $8.5 Million Added to provide a one-time salary supplement of $1,000 to all custodians.
• $1.6 Million Reduction to reflect charter school closure. (QBE)
• $382.7 Million Added to offset the austerity reduction for K-12 education. (QBE)
• $93.1 Million Added for a midterm adjustment based on enrollment growth. (QBE)
• $14.6 Million QBE formula funds Added for the State Commission Charter School supplement.
• $233,700 QBE formula funds Added for a midterm adjustment to the charter system grant.
• $2.9 Million Added for growth in the Special Needs Scholarship. (QBE)
• $433,006 Added to offset the austerity reduction for grants to RESAs. (reduced from the Governor’s
recommendation of $593,000)
• $160,000 Added to restore funds for mental health contractual services. (RESAs)
• $2.6 Million Added purchase equipment for construction industry certification, statewide.
(Technology/Career Education)
• $200,000 Added to offset the austerity reduction for state schools.
• $282,460 Added Increase funds to offset the austerity reduction for Extended Day/Year, Vocational
Supervisors, Industry Certification, and Youth Apprenticeship programs. (Technology/Career Education)
• $2.4 Million Added to administer Georgia Milestones in accordance with Federal requirements.
(Testing)
Dept. of Human Services
• $2.7 Million Added for the Integrated Eligibility System costs for the implementation of the Patients
First Act (2019 Session) (Departmental Administration) (reduced from the Governor’s recommended $4
Million).
• $514,900 Reduction to reflect workforce efficiencies in Departmental Administration.
• $2.6 Million reduction in Departmental Administration operating funds in order to redirect $4,100,000
in unutilized funds to address programmatic costs associated with high-need youth.
• $2.36 Million Subtracted to reflect delayed implementation of FY22 appropriation for the Afterschool
Care Program.
• $27,000 Restored for Georgia Radio Reading Service. (Vocational Rehabilitation Program)
Office of the Child Advocate
• $75,900 Added for technology upgrades.
Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
• $49,400 Added to implement the state reinsurance program per the Patients First Act (2019 Session).
(Reinsurance)
• $8 Million Added to create the state healthcare exchange per the Patients First Act (2019 Session).
(Reinsurance)
Dept. of Juvenile Justice
• $228,000 Transferred from Secure Detention to provide a 20% salary increase for Juvenile Program
Managers to provide parity with previously provided salary adjustments.
• $2.06 Million Added for Room, Board, and Watchful Oversight to reflect the loss of Title IV-E federal
funds.
• $526,000 Added to reflect the loss of Title IV-E funds associated with the October 1, 2021
implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act and the statewide transition to increased
family-based placement settings.
• $261,000 Transferred from Secure Detention to fill vacancies and increase salaries for positions
involved in recruitment and retention initiatives, gang activity investigations, facility management, and
public safety training. (Departmental Administration)
• $3.25 Million Added for capital repairs and maintenance in Secure Commitment. (YDCs)
• $6.75 Million Added for capital repairs and maintenance in Secure Detention. (RYDCs)
State Properties Commission
• $45 Million Added for the migration plan for Capitol Hill to maximize operational efficiencies by
consolidating agencies from 2 Peachtree to Capitol Hill.
Dept. of Public Health
• $9.9 Million Added to address the state funds shortfall for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
per the state match requirement in the Ryan White Care Act Title II Award. (Infectious Disease Control)
Dept. of Public Safety
• $424,245 Reduced in accordance with Fiscal Year 2021 Joshua’s Law collections.
University System of GA
• $2 Million Added for technology grants for the Georgia Public Library System.
• $493,000 Added for enrollment growth at the Georgia Military Preparatory School.
• $157,500 Added to offset the austerity reduction for K-12 education at the Georgia Military
Preparatory School.
• $3 Million Added for major repair and renovation for public libraries.
Dept. of Revenue
• Budget Direction: Utilize $1.6 Billion Used in prior year undesignated state funds surplus to provide a
one-time additional refund for tax year 2021 of $250.00 for single filers, $375.00 for head of
household filers, and $500.00 for married filing jointly.
Student Finance System of GA
• $2.23 Million Added to meet the projected need for the HOPE Scholarships. (Public Schools)
• $3.44 Million Reduction based on projections for Dual Enrollment.
• $111,300 Added to meet projected need of the Engineer Scholarship.
• $10 Million Added to provide service cancelable loans to Georgia residents enrolled in degree
programs in qualified behavioral health professions.
Technical College System of GA
• $1.54 Million Added to implement the Dual Achievement Program pilot (SB 204, 2021 Session).
• $5.8 Million Added for equipment for an aviation training academy at Chattahoochee Technical
College
JUSTICE AND EFFECTIVE SCHOOL DISCIPLINE
HB 272 (Ballinger-23rd) Raises the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to include 17-year-olds.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
HB 851 (Scott-76th) Within 48 hours of taking custody of a person for or within a penal institution, and at
any other time thereafter where there is reasonable cause to believe that such person has a mental illness,
a custodian shall have a physician of a facility to evaluate such person for mental illness. If determined
that the person appears to be a mentally ill, the physician shall execute a certificate stating such and
requires treatment. The certificate is then delivered to the custodian and filed with the chief judge of the
court having jurisdiction over the charges or conviction of the person.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 852 (Scott-76th) Requires the officer in charge of an inmate to produce reports of de-identified,
aggregated data when such data concerning the health, safety, or other conditions of detention of inmates
is requested.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 892 (Mitchell-106th) Prohibits the use of corporal punishment by school administrators, teachers, and
other school personnel.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 904 (Bazemore-63rd) Prohibits the use of corporal punishment by school administrators, teachers, and
other school personnel, requires the State Board of Education and the Department of Education to provide
for minimum standards and model student codes of conduct which address appropriate methods for
redirecting students whose behavior is dangerous or disruptive, and provides for limited immunity for
school administrators, teachers, and other school personnel for the good faith use of reasonable and
necessary physical contact with a student under certain circumstances.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 929 (Hutchinson-107th) Places more oversight on solitary confinement within correctional facilities by
requiring the correctional facility to ensure that any such confinement is imposed only within the medical
units of the facility, digitally record each incident from the initiation of the confinement for the duration and
document any de-escalation efforts implemented, the reason or reasons for which the use of confinement
was implemented, and the duration of the confinement. The warden or facility administrator of each
correctional facility must also furnish monthly reports to the department.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 1004 (Mainor-56th) Expands jurisdiction of campus police forces by virtue of “unified campus police
forces agreements” entered into by colleges and universities for any property that they own or occupy.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 1046 (Scott-76th) Requires all peace officers to successfully complete training on implicit biases
regarding race, gender, age, disability, religion, and sexual orientation.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 1047 (Scott-76th) Limits the use of solitary confinement in a correctional facility and requires increased
oversight, medical and mental health assessments and reporting when solitary confinement is used.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 1134 (Efstration-104th) Provides for the concurrent authority of prosecuting attorneys and the
Attorney General to prosecute offenses involving criminal gang activity.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The bill will be on the floor
of the House for a vote today (MONDAY)
HB 1216 (McDonald-26th) Increases penalties for violations of fleeing or attempting to elude a police
officer. The bill also prohibits the use of a blue light to impersonate a law enforcement officer.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 1234 (Ballinger-23rd) Requires a juvenile court to appoint an attorney for any child receiving
extended care youth services from DFCS.
STATUS: House Juvenile Justice Committee
HB 1333 (Wilson-80th) “Gay and Trans Panic Defense Prohibition Act” – Prohibits certain justifications for
crimes involving bias or prejudice against individuals from the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender) community.
STATUS: House Hopper
HB 1337 (Dukes-154th) Nigel’s Law” – Provides that a person commits the offense of murder when, in the
commission of a felony, he or she causes the death of a minor or elder person irrespective of malice. Such
offense shall be punished by imprisonment for life without parole or by imprisonment for life.
STATUS: House Hopper
HR 707 (Werkheiser-157th) Creates the House Study Committee on Homicide Cold Case Resources.
STATUS: House Judiciary Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this TUESDAY
SB 257 (Anderson-43rd) Expands GCIC criminal history record restrictions for individuals who have been
pardoned and have no pending charged offenses. Allows an individual who has been cited for a criminal
offense but was not arrested and the charged offense was subsequently dismissed or reduced to a
violation of a local ordinance to petition the court to have their record sealed.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
SB 359 (Albers-56th) Requires a biennial report and recommendation from the Council of Accountability
Court Judges of Georgia to various officials of the General Assembly.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 383 (Robertson-29th) Provides for an instructional course or presentation educating drivers and the
public on the best practices to implement when interacting with law enforcement officers.
STATUS: Senate Public Safety Committee
SB 459 (Orrock-36th) Expands jurisdiction of campus police forces by virtue of “unified campus police
forces agreements” entered into by colleges and universities for any property that they own or occupy.
STATUS: Senate Public Safety Committee
SB 499 (Tippins-37th) Provides for analysis and collection of DNA from individuals convicted of certain
misdemeanor offenses and from individuals arrested for felony offenses. The bill provides a crossreference for purposes of DNA collection as a condition of bail.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
SB 501 (Strickland-17th) Authorizes a sentencing court to resentence a defendant, upon a motion by the
prosecuting attorney and upon determining that the interest of justice would not be served by the
defendant’s continued incarceration in certain circumstances.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
SB 504 (Robertson-29th) Expands bail restricted offenses to include all felonies.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
PROTECTION AND SAFETY
HB 323 (Wiedower-119th) Adds the following to the list of forms of parental abandonment of a child,
which means DFCS would not make reunification efforts for the parent and child: prenatal abuse (“other
than which has been medically prescribed to the birthing parent”) and a history of chronic substance abuse
and “reasonable grounds” that the substance abuse will continue. Defines chronic abuse. States that the
court should presume that DFCS should not make reunification efforts if the court finds that the parent has
committed certain acts, such as abandonment, murder, felony assault, child molestation, and others.
STATUS: House Juvenile Justice Committee
HB 324 (Wiedower-119th) Allows interested parties (includes physicians, counselors, psychologists,
teachers, court appointed special advocates, a child’s attorney, and caregivers, including, but not limited
to, relatives of a child and foster parents of a child) to intervene and participate in dependency
proceedings under certain circumstances by filing a motion for order to show cause.
STATUS: House Juvenile Justice Committee
HB 347 (Gullett-19th) Increases the requirements for removal from the state’s sexual offender registry.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee. The bill
now rests in House Rules Committee
HB 689 (Gaines-117th) Allows persons who are victims of an offense of trafficking to petition the clerk of
court to seal certain criminal history record information and to allow restricted criminal history record
information to be available to criminal justice agencies.
STATUS: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HB 849 (Smith-41st) Adds human resources personnel and supervisory personnel in a workplace that
employs minors as mandatory reporters for child abuse and requires mandatory reporter training for such
personnel.
STATUS: House Industry and Labor Committee
HB 1087 (Hutchinson-107th) Prevents an undocumented person who in good faith seeks law enforcement
assistance and who is a victim of family violence or who seeks assistance on behalf of a victim of family
violence from being arrested, charged, or prosecuted for being an undocumented person.
STATUS: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HB 1188 (Lott-122nd) States that when a person does an immoral or indecent act involving touching of
any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to arouse or satisfy the sexual desires of the child or
the person, and such person touches such child in multiple areas of such child’s body, the touching of each
area shall constitute a separate offense of child molestation. The bill also states that each action involving
media, which is considered sexual exploitation of children will be counted as a separate offense.
STATUS: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HB 1306 (Hugley-136th) Requires DHS to issue a personal identification card for each child taken into the
foster care system under the Division of Family and Children Services.
STATUS: House Juvenile Justice Committee
SB 54 (Harbison-15th) Allows judicial discretion in determining the right of a surviving parent to custody of
a child when the surviving parent is criminally charged with the murder or voluntary manslaughter of the
other parent.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill will be heard in committee today (MONDAY)
SB 316 (Anavitarte-31st) Makes it a high and aggravated misdemeanor for any person 18 years or
older to commit the offense of stalking against a minor and makes the offense punishable by not less than
$1,000 nor more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not less than one year, or both. Requires local school
boards to notify students and parents that some acts of bullying or cyberbullying may constitute stalking.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill will be on the Senate floor
for a vote today (MONDAY)
SB 360 (McNeill-3rd) Provides for protections from exploitation and intimidation for disabled minors and
renames this part of Georgia law “Colton’s Law”.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill rests in Senate Rules Committee
SB 370 (Cowsert-46th) Creates tax credits for certain contributions made by taxpayers to certain foster
child support organizations that assist youth who age out of foster care. The amount of tax credits issues by
the state would be capped at $20 million per year.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to House Ways and Means Committee
SB 381 (Robertson-29th) Increases the penalty provisions relating to pimping and pandering.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 382 (Robertson-29th) Revises provisions for misdemeanor convictions for the offense of aggravated
child molestation by raising the minimum age of victims from 13 to 14.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 461 (Dixon-45th) Adds the offense of human trafficking as a bailable offense.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by Senate Public Safety Committee. The bill awaits transmission to Senate
Rules Committee
SB 506 (Jordan-6th) Among other things, the bill expands the definition of aggravated assault to include
causing another person to consume or ingest a controlled substance without his or her knowledge when
intentionally used to diminish the capacity of or to incapacitate such other person; and defines “against the
will of such other person” and “forcibly”. The bill also extends the statute of limitations up to ten years
after the commission of the crime for prosecution for an offense that is classified as a sexual offense, or as
Legislative Update – February 14, 2022 www.georgiavoices.org
an offense related to minors committed against victims who are under the age of 18 at the time of the
offense.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
HEALTH AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
HB 412 (Dempsey-13th) Provides for the licensure of individuals in the practice of applied behavior
analysis and creates the Georgia Behavior Analyst Licensing Board.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee
HB 430 (Powell-32nd) Changes the licensure requirements for advanced practice registered nurses
(APRNs) to include a fingerprint criminal background check. Allows home health services to be provided to
individuals under a written plan of care by an APRN or physician assistant, or, as was already law, a
physician. Authorizes the collection of nurse workforce data.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. Assigned to Senate Health and Human Services Committee
HB 752 (Cooper-43rd) Addresses psychiatric advance directives for adults and emancipated youth.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. Assigned to Senate Judiciary Committee
HB 853 (Scott-76th) A defendant who has pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to or has been convicted of
a felony or misdemeanor and who is or was eligible for public mental health services or Social Security
Disability Insurance benefit due to a diagnosed serious mental illness may petition the court for a sentence
that includes mental health treatment and the court may allow in certain circumstances.
STATUS: House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee
HB 857 (Clark-108th) Provides that the prescribed course of study in sex education and AIDS prevention
instruction is age appropriate for grades K-9.
STATUS: Pre-filed
HB 861 (Scott-76th) Requires schools, penal institutions, and providers of temporary housing to provide
necessary menstrual products to women and girls at no cost.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services
HB 863 (Scott-76th) Requires the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of
Georgia to make menstrual hygiene products available at no cost to students in certain facilities.
STATUS: House Higher Education Committee
HB 864 (Scott-76th) Requires the Ga Dept. of Human Services to apply for a waiver allowing SNAP or
WIC recipients to use their benefits to purchase diapers or menstrual products if the United States
Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service creates and makes available such a waiver
available.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services
HB 867 (Newton-123rd) Among other things, the bill requires pharmacy benefits managers to disclose the
true net cost and final net cost (if applicable) of prescription drugs to insureds and to calculate cost sharing
requirements for insureds based on the true net cost of prescription drugs.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. Assigned to Insurance and Labor Committee
HB 869 (Byrd-20th) Prohibits state or local governments from requiring individuals to submit to
vaccinations as a condition to certain actions, from issuing immunization passports, from requiring face
masks or other facial coverings, and prohibits certain entities or individuals doing business in this state from
requiring patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying vaccination, or to wear a mask or
other facial covering in order to gain entry to a business, or to receive goods or services.
STATUS: Pre-filed
HB 902 (Schofield-60th) Limits the total cost sharing amount that a covered person is required to pay for
a covered prescription insulin drug to an amount not to exceed $100.00 per 30-day supply of insulin,
regardless of the amount or type of insulin needed to fill the covered person’s prescription.
STATUS: House Insurance Committee
HB 918 (Cheokas-138th) Creates a state-based advisory council to educate medical professionals,
government agencies, legislators, and the public about rare diseases and encourage research and
treatment of rare diseases.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill now rests in
House Rules Committee
HB 939 (Mainor-56th) Requires notice of admission and daily updates with regards to examination and
treatment for mental illness from a facility to the parent or legal guardian of an involuntary minor patient
under 12 years of age.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services
HB 972 (Belton-112th) Among other things, this bill adjusts licensing provisions regarding professional
counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists.
STATUS: House Regulated Industries Committee
HB 1005 (Mainor-56th) Requires local school systems to conduct annual suicide screenings on all students
ages eight through 18.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1013 (Ralston-7th) A bill which embodies the recommendations of the Georgia Behavioral Health
Reform & Innovation Commission (established in 2019). The bill: requires health insurers of all sorts to
follow federal law (the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008) in that they must provide
meaningful coverage for the treatment of mental health or substance use disorders; establishes multiple
requirements and protocols for addressing complaints from consumers and health entities; establishes
multiple reporting and data-sharing requirements across sectors; requires care management organizations
to comply with a minimum 85% medical loss ratio (MLR); expands postsecondary loan forgiveness
programs for those in fields of study for behavioral health professions; requires those seeking to gain or
renew behavioral health professional licensure to complete surveys collecting specific data regarding
service provision and other things; establishes a three-year Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) program
to be used by community service boards (CSBs) and probate courts for involuntary AOT in order to avoid
incarceration for individuals who are deemed to need behavioral health treatment; expands oversight
authority and coordination powers of the Office of Health Strategy and Coordination; creates a task force
to assist local communities in keeping people with serious mental illness out of county and municipal jails
and detention facilities (including juvenile detention); Establishes the Network of Co-Response Teams (3-5
teams across the state in the first year, with plans to expand in future years) composed of at least one
peace officer and one trained behavioral health professional, that are to respond to 9-1-1 emergency
and other calls for service or law enforcement interactions involving a person in behavioral health crisis;
adds the leadership of DECAL, TCSG, OCA, a behavioral health expert employed by the University
System of Georgia and an expert on infant and early childhood mental health, appointed by the
Governor to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council (BHCC); tasks DBHDD, DCH, and DPH with
developing a clearinghouse of children’s behavioral health research and best practices to disseminate to
schools, practitioners, and others through training, technical assistance, and educational materials;
establishes a state-wide registry for pediatric patients residing in this state with behavioral health issues
who have had high utilization of crisis services or other high usage of resources; clarifies that CSBs are to
serve both adults and children; creates a task force composed of care management organizations,
pediatric primary care physicians, a representative of a pediatric hospital, pharmacy benefits managers,
other insurers, and pediatric mental health and substance use disorder care professionals to consider
implementation of a unified formulary for Medicaid for certain conditions, including mental health and
substance use disorder condition, how to provide training and support for multidisciplinary staff in neonatal
intensive care units and nursery units to implement and sustain developmentally supportive and evidence
based practices and interventions that enhance caregiver/infant attachment, expanding postpartum
Medicaid coverage from six months to 12 months, Medicaid billing codes to provide behavioral health
services coverage for children 0-4, improving mechanisms and services for children and families in foster
care or adoptive situations; establishes The Multi-Agency Treatment for Children (MATCH) team to better
coordinate delivery of care between agencies for complex treatment need of children and adolescents;
requires DCH to study mental health reimbursement for services under Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, and
the state health benefit plan; and extends the Georgia Behavioral Health Reform & Innovation Commission
until June 30, 2025.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1038 (Cooper-43rd) Limits eligibility for the rural physician tax credit to persons qualifying as a rural
physician on or before December 31, 2022 and creates a new tax credit for rural physicians, dentists,
nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
STATUS: House Ways and Means Committee
HB 1041 (Pirkle-155th) Increases the aggregate limit for tax credits for contributions to rural hospital
organizations from $60 to $75 million per taxable year.
STATUS: House Ways and Means Committee
HB 1042 (Jasperse-11th) Creates a grant program to establish primary care medical facilities (meaning
any facility where the majority of the services provided are primary care, dental, or mental health
services) in health professional shortage areas as designated by the Department of Community Health.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1057 (Greene-151st) Requires DBHDD to develop a standard suite of services that community service
boards are required to provide in their respective service areas.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1065 (Lim-99th) Revises procedures regarding emergency involuntary treatment for mental health and
alcohol and drug dependency by requiring that certain documents become part of the patient’s clinical
record and changes from 48 hours of admission to 8 hours for the time within which a physician must
examine a patient for involuntary treatment for mental health or alcohol and drug dependency.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1186 (Houston-170th) Allows persons who are not licensed audiologists to use otoacoustic emissions or
auditory brainstem response technology as part of a screening process for the initial identification of
communication disorders in individuals up to age 22.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1273 (Wilson-80th) Requires DCH to establish the Medicaid Continuity of Coverage Program, which
becomes effective on the first day following the expiration of the public health emergency and extends for
the greater of 12 months or the maximum allowable time period provided for under the guidelines
established by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1276 (Hawkins-27th) Requires that statistical reports containing data relating to state health plans
(e.g. state health benefits plan, PeachCare, etc.) be posted on the DCH website. The data include things
such as the number of, type of, and changes in enrolled providers; county-level data on primary care
providers enrolled per 1,000 people and indicating which counties fall below defined benchmarks; and
data on hospital utilization and costs.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
HB 1316 (Neal-74th) Requires 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.
STATUS: House Insurance Committee
HB 1324 (Camp-131st) Clarifies that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the diagnoses
given.
STATUS: House Insurance Committee
HB 1332 (Wilson-80th) Prohibits the discrimination of healthcare services accessed through Medicaid,
including gender-affirming hormone therapy and gender-reassignment surgeries, to covered persons on
the basis of their gender expression, gender identity, or transgender status.
STATUS: House Hopper
HR 629 (Taylor-173rd) Creates the House State Health Benefit Plan Study Committee.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill now rests in
House Rules Committee
HR 647 (Hatchett-50th) Urges the Georgia Department of Community Health to apply for federal
approval to allow institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement.
STATUS: House Special Committee on Quality Healthcare
HR 651 (Hutchinson-107th) Creates the House Study Committee on Evaluating, Simplifying, and
Eliminating Duplication of Regulatory Requirements for Mental Health and Social Services Providers.
STATUS: House Health and Human Services Committee
SB 82 (Au-48th) Clarifies that the prudent layperson standard is not affected by the diagnoses (initial,
interim, final, or otherwise) given with regards to emergency medical services. Adds Emergency Medical
Technician to the definition of healthcare provider.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to the House Judiciary Committe
SB 330 (Albers-56th) Prohibits insurers from cancelling, modifying coverage, refusing to issue, or refusing
to renew life insurance policies solely because the applicant or insured donated a liver or kidney, and
revises an income tax deduction based on a taxpayer’s living donation of all or part of his or her liver,
pancreas, kidney, intestine, lung, or bone marrow.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Recommended Do Pass by the House Insurance Committee, but was then
recommitted to House Ways and Means Committee
SB 341 (Kirkpatrick-32nd) Provides guidelines for the prior authorization of a prescribed medication for
chronic conditions requiring ongoing medication therapy.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. The bill will be on the
Senate floor for a vote today (MONDAY)
SB 342 (Kirkpatrick-32nd) Requires annual reporting regarding mental health parity in healthcare plans.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to House Health and Human Services Committee
SB 345 (Mullis-53rd) Prohibits state and local governments from mandating vaccine passports.
STATUS: Senate Health and Human Services Committee
SB 372 (Beach-21st) Makes it illegal for local or state government or any employer to refuse, withhold
from, or deny to a person any local or state services, goods, facilities, advantages, privileges, licensing,
educational opportunities, health care access, or employment opportunities based on the person’s
vaccination status or whether the person has an immunity passport, or to discriminate based on vaccination
status.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 403 (Watson-1st) “Georgia Behavioral Health and Peace Officer Co-Responder Act”- Requires each
community service board to establish a co-responder program to offer assistance or consultation to peace
officers responding to emergency calls involving individuals with behavioral health crises and allows law
enforcement agencies within a community service board’s service area to elect to partner with the
community service board to establish one or more co-responder teams. Among other things, the bill also
establishes protocols for notification of release and treatment of individuals who engage with a coresponder program.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The bill now rests in
Senate Rules Committee
SB 505 (Robertson-29th) Requires that 9-1-1 communications officers receive training in the delivery of
high-quality telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
SR 364 (Au-48th) Creates the Senate Costs and Effects of Smoking Study Committee.
STATUS: Senate Rules Committee
MATERNAL CARE AND CHILD CARE
HB 1052 (Mitchell-106th) Removes restrictions on the selection of a child’s first name, middle name, or
surname.
STATUS: House Judiciary Committee
HB 1092 (Cooper-43rd) Requires that every woman arrested who is not released on bond within 72 hours
of arrest to submit to urine pregnancy testing unless she declines, and if pregnant, allows a judge to defer
any sentenced confinement until six weeks post-delivery unless the pregnant woman poses a significant
threat or danger to any person or unless declined by the pregnant woman.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill now rests in
House Rules Committee
SB 338 (Burke-11th) Extends postpartum coverage under Medicaid from six months to one year following
pregnancy.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to House Health and Human Services Committee
SB 496 (Burke-11th) Requires a medical examiner’s inquiry for the death of a pregnant female or for the
death a female who was pregnant within 365 days prior to her death. This does not apply to a female
whose death resulted from a motor vehicle accident or who was deemed to have died unattended by a
physician when any such individual has not been seen or treated by a physician within the 180 days prior
to such individual’s death.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
EDUCATION
HB 1 (Bonner-72nd) Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act – Prevents the creation of
“free speech zones” at public institutions of higher education.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Higher Education Committee. The bill now rests in House
Rules Committee
HB 60 (Cantrell-22nd) “Georgia Educational Scholarship Act” – Creates a voucher program for public
school students to attend private schools with a cap on the number of students from individual districts.
Eligible students would be those whose local public schools did not offer face-to-face instruction in the prior
school year, live in low-income households (under 200% FPL), children in military families, have been
adopted from foster care, or have certain special education needs (an IEP, a formal diagnosis, or a 504
plan relating to a condition to be identified by the State Board). An audit every 5 years is required and
the program would be overseen by the Student Finance Commission.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Education Committee. The bill moves onto House Rules
Committee
HB 385 (Blackmon-146th) Enables retired educators to return to work full-time, after a 12-month waiting
period following retirement, while continuing to draw full Teachers Retirement System (TRS) benefits.
Employment is restricted to high-needs areas in each region as determined by Regional Education Service
Agencies (RESAs) and to retired educators with at least 30 years experience.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. Assigned to Senate Retirement Committee
HB 885 (Belton-112th) Provides that a military student may attend any public school in the local school
system in which such student resides and allows such student to continue enrollment in their current public
school for specified periods of time regardless of a parent’s change of residence.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Education Committee. The bill moves onto House Rules
Committee
HB 888 (Thomas-21st) Among other things, the bill prohibits the teaching of (but not limited to) the
following: (1) That individuals of any race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin are inherently
superior or inferior; (2) That individuals should be adversely or advantageously treated on the basis of
their race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin; (3) That individuals, by virtue of their race, ethnicity,
religion, color, or national origin bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed
in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin; (4) That
governing systems or programs which were designed to identify, select, or promote participants on the
basis of merit or work ethic are discriminatory or were created by members of a particular race, ethnicity,
religion, color, or national origin to oppress members of another race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national
origin; (5) That any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological
distress on account of the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin; (6) That an
individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion, color, or
national origin; and (7) That the United States is a systemically racist country. The bill also encompasses
protocols for violations of such provisions, including the possibility of withholding 20% of state QBE funds
for violation.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 932 (Cantrell-22nd) Requires the University System of Georgia to classify noncitizen students with
certain refugee, special immigrant, or humanitarian parole status under federal law as in-state for tuition
purposes.
STATUS: House Higher Education Committee
HB 999 (Cantrell-22nd) “Georgia Educational Freedom Act” – Establishes promise scholarship accounts to
be funded by the state in the amount of $6,000.00 per school year for each participating student and
which are to be used for private school tuition.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1043 (Jasperse-11th) Creates the Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals to foster a publicprivate partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia for support of postsecondary teaching
professionals in high demand courses, subjects, and disciplines.
STATUS: House Higher Education Committee
HB 1048 (Scott-76th) Requires local units of administration to annually report to the State Board of
Education certain information regarding the educational performance of foster care students, including
information regarding discipline, and to provide for remediation plans when foster care students are
disproportionately failing to meet academic standards or are disproportionately subject to school
discipline compared to the overall student population.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1084 (Wade-9th) Prohibits the teaching of “divisive concepts” by Georgia’s public K-12 schools,
prohibits discrimination in the schools, and requires school systems to develop a complaint resolution
process for such.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1130, HR 666 (Benton-31st) Creates development impact fees for education.
STATUS: House Governmental Affairs Committee
HB 1153 (Mainor-56th) Requires the State Board of Education to establish rules and regulations for local
school system outreach efforts regarding the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program
and local school systems to engage in such efforts. The bill also requires standards for foreign language
interpreters in educational settings and local school systems to provide notices concerning interpretation
services.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1158 (Carson-46th) “Parents’ Bill of Rights”- Establishes a consistent mechanism for parents to be
notified of information relating to the health, well-being, and education of their minor children. Prevents
state or local government entities or any agent or officer from infringing on the fundamental right of a
parent to direct the upbringing, education, and healthcare of his or her minor child without demonstrating
that such action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest, and that such action is
narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by less restrictive means. The bill also requires school
systems, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, to develop and adopt a policy to
promote parental involvement in the public schools.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1178 (Bonner-72nd) Requires procedures for a parent to review records relating to his or her minor
child, learn about the child’s courses of study, to object to instructional materials intended for use in the
child’s classroom or recommended by the child’s teacher, and to withdraw the child from any portion of the
school’s prescribed course of study in sex education if the parent provides a written-objection to the child’s
participation. The procedures must provide for a parent to be notified in advance of such course content so
they may withdraw their child from those portions.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1184 (Williams-168th) Requires public school systems (including DJJ) to allow 11th graders to select
and administer a college entrance exam, paid for by the state, if appropriations are available.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1215 (Thomas-21st) Removes a provision that reduced the amount of certain funding provided to
state charter schools that offer virtual instruction.
STATUS: House Education Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this WEDNESDAY
HB 1217 (Erwin-28th) Requires the inclusion of methods for the promotion of the safe and appropriate
use of technology and responsible digital citizenship in the comprehensive character education program. In
so doing, the bill revises requirements for internet safety polices in public schools, existing definitions
regarding pornography, obscene material, and the like, and allows for the withholding of state funds from
local school systems that have not provided for adequate technology protection measures.
STATUS: House Education Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this WEDNESDAY
HB 1220 (Clark-108th) Requires that the prescribed course of study in public schools’ sex education and
HIV prevention instruction is age appropriate and that the subject of consent is included in the course.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1282 (Gilliard-162nd) “Blind Persons’ Braille Literacy Rights and Education Act” – Requires an
evaluation of a blind or visually impaired child to determine such child’s need for Braille instruction;
individualized education program of a blind or visually impaired student as appropriate; and license
requirements relating to Braille for certain teachers, among other provisions.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1283 (Douglas-78th) Requires an average of 30 minute per day of recess for students in kindergarten
and grades one through five every school day unless it is a day on which a student has had physical
education or structured activity time or if reasonable circumstances impede such recess. The bill states that
recess is not withheld for disciplinary or academic reasons.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1292 (Jasperse-11th) Prohibits students who participate in 4-H sponsored activities or programs from
being counted as absent from school.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1295 (Corbett-174th) Removes the “needs development” rating from the group of performance
evaluation ratings that may adversely impact an educator’s ability to obtain a renewable certificate from
the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
STATUS: House Education Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this WEDNESDAY
HB 1303 (Dickey-140th) Transitions a pilot program for elementary agricultural education to an ongoing
program.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HB 1309 (Thomas-65th) Creates an educational farming program for urban youth ages 12-18
administered by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension programming system. The program
would be funded by the state at $259,000 per year.
STATUS: House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee
HB 1319 (Werkheiser-157th) Creates the Georgia LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) Scholarship grant for
peace officers attending postsecondary education.
STATUS: House Higher Education Committee
HR 496 (Carpenter-4th) Constitutional Amendment allowing local school superintendents to be elected by
voters as an alternative to being appointed by local boards of education, if approved by local
referendum.
STATUS: House Education Committee
HR 630 (Taylor-173rd) Creates the Joint Study Committee for Consolidation of County Governments and
School Systems.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the House Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill now rests in
House Rules Committee
HR 650 (Gambill-15th) Creates the House Study Committee on Literacy Instruction.
STATUS: House Education Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this WEDNESDAY
SB 15 (Anderson-43rd) Creates a new category of coursework dealing with the history of Black people
and their contributions to American society. This course may be taken by students between ninth and
twelfth grade and may be required by the local education authority for high school graduation.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 226 (Anavitarte-31st) Requires local boards of education to adopt a complaint resolution policy and
process to address complaints submitted by parents/guardians alleging that material (e.g. books,
websites, etc.) that is harmful to minors has been provided to their student. Requires GA DOE to establish a
model complaint resolution process policy no later than September 21, 2021.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE (2021). Recommended Do Pass by the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. The
bill now rests in House Rules Committee
SB 231 (Anavitarte-31st) Creates 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.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Assigned to House Education Committee
SB 327, SR 360 (Miller-49th) Provides for a homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes for educational
purposes in an amount equal to $100,000.00 of the assessed value of the homestead for residents of any
school district that has been certified by the State Board of Education for a given year to have
substantially deviated from the course curriculum approved by the State Board of Education.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 328 (Mullis-53rd) Provides for the designation of a nonprofit organization to govern Georgia high
school athletics.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 333 (Albers-56th) Removes provisions related to agents and agent’s permits; to repeal definitions of
such terms; provides for new exemptions from applicability of the part relating to certain programs for
industry-specific certifications and certain short courses; and expands exemption for certain programs
where students obtain occupational training through employment experience.
STATUS: Senate Higher Education Committee
SB 334 (Mullis-53rd) Prohibits high schools which receive QBE funding from participating in or sponsoring
interscholastic sports events conducted by any athletic association unless the association has separate
regions and playoffs for certain private schools and certain public schools.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 357 (Kirkpatrick-32nd) Allows military students to select adjacent school districts for attendance and
provides for a standard process of military student school transfer.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 375 (Mullis-53rd) Prohibits the teaching of “divisive concepts” by Georgia’s public K-12 schools,
prohibits discrimination in the schools and requires school systems to develop a complaint resolution process
for such.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 377 (Hatchett-50th) Prohibits the teaching of “divisive concepts” by the Board of Regents of the
University System of Georgia, the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia, units of the
University System of Georgia, units of the Technical College System of Georgia, local boards of education,
and local school systems.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee. The bill will be heard in committee today (MONDAY)
SB 378 (Albers-56th) expands the definition of hazing to include minors and beefs up penalties and
reporting requirements for hazing affecting all ages.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 379 (Strickland-17th) Requires the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia to
establish a program to promote the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in the
state.
STATUS: Senate Economic Development and Tourism Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this
WEDNESDAY
SB 397 (Goodman-8th) Updates and replaces terminology related to general educational development
(GED) diplomas; provides for state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diplomas; and updates the
minimum standards and requirements for such diplomas to be established by the Technical College System
of Georgia.
STATUS: Senate Higher Education Committee
SB 435 (Harbin-16th) Prohibits Georgia public schools or participating private schools whose students or
teams compete against a Georgia public school from operating, sponsoring, or facilitating athletic
programs or activities that permit a person of one gender to participate in an athletic program or activity
that is designated for persons of the opposite gender.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by Senate Education and Youth Committee. The bill now rests in Senate
Rules Committee
SB 449 (Dixon-45th) Requires procedures for a parent to review records relating to his or her minor child,
learn about the child’s courses of study, to object to instructional materials intended for use in the child’s
classroom or recommended by the child’s teacher, and to withdraw the child from any portion of the
school’s prescribed course of study in sex education if the parent provides a written-objection to the child’s
participation. The procedures must provide for a parent to be notified in advance of such course content so
they may withdraw their child from those portions.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee. The bill will be heard in committee today (MONDAY)
SB 452 (McNeill-3rd) Requires public school systems (including DJJ) to allow 11th graders to select and
administer a college entrance exam, paid for by the state, if appropriations are available.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 460 (Orrock-36th) Allows that noncitizen students who have received a grant of deferred action for
childhood arrivals from the United States Department of Homeland Security may be extended the same
consideration as citizens of the United States in determining whether they qualify for in-state classification
for purposes of tuition and fees by the University System and the Technical College System of Georgia.
STATUS: Senate Higher Education Committee
SB 480 (Anavitarte-31st) Special Education Services Bill of Rights – provides for a statement of rights of
parents of children who are or may be eligible for special education and related services under state and
federal law, and requires local educational agencies to post such rights on their public website with links to
Department of Education resources.
STATUS: Senate Education and Youth Committee
SB 490 (Strickland-17th) Revises the definition of approved school as it pertains to definitions regarding
tuition equalization grants at private colleges and universities.
STATUS: Senate Higher Education Committee
SB 498 (Tippins-37th) Deals with criteria of school accreditation agencies.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
SB 508 (Parent-42nd) Requires the Georgia Student Finance Commission to establish participation and
performance targets for the Dual Enrollment program.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
SB 509 (Parent-42nd) Requires the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of
Georgia to provide the Georgia Student Finance Commission with a course transfer chart and requires
program materials to indicate which courses are transferable.
STATUS: Senate Hopper
MISCELLANEOUS
HB 218 (Ballinger-23rd) Allows reciprocity for any state’s weapons carry license as long as the holder
carries according to Georgia’s laws. The bill also requires the attorney general to enter into a reciprocity
agreement with any state that requires one in order to recognize and give effect to a Georgia-issued
license in their state.
STATUS: PASSED HOUSE. PASSED SENATE. The bill awaits transmission to the governor for his
consideration
HB 541 (Bruce-61st) Creates the Georgia Equity and Fairness Commission, which would examine the
extent to which the State of Georgia supported the institution of slavery and its ongoing ramifications. The
Commission would also recommend appropriate remedies in consideration of the commission’s findings.
STATUS: House Governmental Affairs Committee
HB 846 (Smith-41st) Allows local authorities to regulate the operation of bicycles upon sidewalks by
persons under the age of 16 or with disabilities.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 894 (Boddie-62nd) Provides that a prospective tenant shall not be refused a rental or lease
agreement solely based upon a previous eviction during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
STATUS: House Judiciary Committee
HB 903 (Gullett-19th) Expands places where firearms may be carried and eliminates licensure for
carrying a concealed weapon.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 917 (Cameron-1st) Allows lifetime weapons carry licenses.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 927 (Hutchinson-107th) Revises terminology referring to persons who are noncitizens and present in
the United States without official documentation from “illegal alien” to “undocumented person”.
STATUS: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
HB 960 (Leverett-33rd) Creates the Office of the Inspector General in order to investigate the
management and operation of agencies. The office shall be assigned to the Office of the Governor for
administrative purposes only.
STATUS: House Judiciary Committee
HB 995 (Boddie-62nd) Requires employers to provide at least five days of sick leave per year for an
employee that can be used for the care of immediate family members.
STATUS: House Industry and Labor Committee
HB 1040 (Bentley-139th) Requires community action agencies to submit audit reports and IRS forms to the
Department of Audits and Accounts before any contracts with the Department of Human Services are made
or offered and requires each member of the board of directors of a community action agency to execute
contracts between the community action agency and the Department of Human Services.
STATUS: House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee. The bill will be heard in committee this
WEDNESDAY
HB 1149 (Burnough-77th) “Georgia Evictions Records Restriction Act”; Requires certain records of
dispossessory actions be sealed from the public when the plaintiff does not prevail, a settlement
agreement is effectuated; or when three years have lapsed since a resolved case of dispossessory action
caused by nonpayment. The bill also states that during a public health emergency, a one-time sealing of
civil case records in dispossessory actions shall be effective immediately provided that such action was due
to nonpayment caused by uncontrolled loss of income.
STATUS: House Judiciary Committee
HB 1185 (Lewis-Ward-109th) Except to the extent determined by the court, allows a ward to retain and
exercise all of the powers of a person without a disability, including the right to communicate, visit, or
interact with other persons through visits, telephone calls, or personal mail; and, by presuming a ward’s
consent allows communication, visitation, or interaction with a person based on the ward’s prior relationship
with such person if the ward is unable to express consent because of a physical or mental condition.
STATUS: House Juvenile Justice Committee
HB 1293 (Lim-99th) Requires state agencies to identify Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in data
collected by such agencies.
STATUS: House Governmental Affairs Committee
HR 581 (Neal-74th) Allows the net proceeds of one or more Georgia Lottery games to be used for
economic development programs and loans to support small businesses located in Georgia that are
independently owned and operated by students enrolled in a recognized course of study at a Georgia
institution of higher education.
STATUS: House Regulated Industries Committee
SB 197 (Jackson-41st) Includes the residence of the defendant in the list of places occupied by a victim of
stalking.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 323 (Miller-49th) Repeals the state income tax in its entirety.
STATUS: Senate Finance Committee
SB 344 (Harrell-40th) Requires training to possess a handgun or long gun and establishes training
standards. The bill also provides for the offenses of possession of a firearm without proper training and
failure to store a firearm in a secure manner.
STATUS: Senate Public Safety Committee
SB 351 (Thompson-14th) “Woman’s Right to Know Act” – Creates extensive requirements relating to the
use of abortion-inducing drugs and extensive reporting requirements, plus the bill prohibits abortioninducing drugs in school facilities or on state property, and defines penalties for such.
STATUS: Senate Health and Human Services Committee
SB 352 (Thompson-14th) Provides for the issuance of expedited licenses by endorsement for certain
licenses to spouses of firefighters, healthcare providers, and law enforcement officers who relocate to
Georgia.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Awaits assignment to House Committee
SB 374 (Tillery-19th) Establishes the Georgia Data Analytic Center as an agent of all executive state
agencies.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by the Senate Science and Technology Committee. The bill awaits
transmission to Senate Rules Committee
SB 388 (Jackson-2nd) Increases the minimum wage and provides for annual minimum wage increases to
match the rising cost of living.
STATUS: Senate Insurance and Labor Committee
SB 396 (Goodman-8th) Changes the name of the Georgia State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to
the Georgia Grown Farm to Food Bank Program (F2FB), and requires food procured pursuant to such
program be Georgia grown. The bill also authorizes persons who provide services to such program or the
Department of Agriculture to receive food from the program if qualified as a recipient.
STATUS: PASSED SENATE. Awaits assignment to House Committee
SB 439 (Tippins-37th) Allows the landlord in a dispossessory proceeding to appear during the trial or be
represented by an agent, attorney in fact, or attorney at law.
STATUS: Senate Judiciary Committee
SB 456 (Thompson-14th) Requires abortion-inducing drugs only be provided or prescribed by a qualified
physician following procedures outlined in the bill. It also makes it unlawful for any manufacturer, supplier,
physician, qualified physician, or any other person to provide any abortion-inducing drug via courier,
delivery, or mail service. The bill prohibits abortion-inducing drugs in school facilities or on state property.
STATUS: Recommended Do Pass by Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The bill now rests in
Senate Rules Committee