Updates From Karen Mathiak

Week 12 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 17:09:15 GMT

March 31 - April 2, 2026

The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, for the 12th and final week of the legislative session. The House convened on Tuesday and Thursday, while committees worked to finalize remaining legislation. As Sine Die approached, we spent long hours on the House floor debating and voting on key measures to ensure they reached final passage. Among the most significant actions taken was the approval of House Bill 974, the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget, along with dozens of other bills and resolutions sent to Governor Brian Kemp for consideration.

The General Assembly met its only constitutional requirement by passing the FY 2027 budget, totaling $38.5 billion. This budget makes strong investments in education, including full funding for Quality Basic Education and expanded early literacy efforts, while also supporting pre-K access and student mental health services. It provides additional resources for foster care, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and Medicaid providers, while also strengthening healthcare workforce development and maternal health programs. The budget further prioritizes cost-of-living adjustments for retirees and local infrastructure improvements, reflecting a responsible and balanced approach to meeting Georgia’s growing needs.

During week twelve, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 974 – Establishes the FY 2027 state budget, prioritizing education, healthcare, public safety and support for vulnerable populations across Georgia.
House Bill 1193 – The Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, expanding literacy coaching, teacher training and statewide accountability to improve reading outcomes in early grades.
Senate Bill 369 – Strengthens oversight and transparency for charter and nontraditional schools while expanding access to virtual learning options.
Senate Bill 589 – Increases access to voluntary pre-K programs and adds 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline information to certain student identification cards.
Senate Bill 150 – Extends the retired teacher reemployment program through 2030 to help address workforce shortages in critical subject areas.
Senate Bill 556 – Creates the DREAMS Scholarship, expands financial aid opportunities, enhances campus safety and raises college savings contribution limits.
House Bill 463 – Delivers tax relief by lowering the state income tax rate and increasing deductions, exemptions and retirement income exclusions.
House Bill 1344 – The Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act, improving consumer protections, reducing fraud and increasing accountability in insurance practices.
Senate Bill 33 – Establishes a local option sales tax to help reduce homestead property taxes and provide relief for homeowners.
Senate Bill 402 / House Bill 943 – Create a pilot program to provide autism screenings and expanded services for children in foster care.
House Bill 256 – Expands the Foster Parents Bill of Rights to include all foster placements and strengthens protections for caregivers.
House Bill 1283 – The Family Justice Center Act, allowing communities to establish centralized service centers for victims of violence and abuse.
Senate Bill 406 – The Georgia Property Owners’ Bill of Rights Act, increasing transparency and accountability for homeowners’ associations.
Senate Bill 587 – Enhances tools for locating guardians in abuse cases and establishes a statewide animal cruelty database.
House Bill 1187 – “Trey’s Law,” preventing nondisclosure agreements from silencing victims of childhood sexual abuse.
House Bill 651 – Updates regulations on school zone speed cameras to improve fairness, transparency and public safety.
House Bill 1161 – Strengthens traffic safety laws, including requirements for yielding to emergency vehicles and penalties for fleeing law enforcement.
House Bill 1138 – The Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act, allowing pharmacists to provide certain contraceptives and improving access statewide.
House Bill 350 – Authorizes newborn safety devices (“baby boxes”) to allow for the safe surrender of infants.
House Bill 1118 – Provides paid maternal leave for eligible state employees following childbirth.
House Bill 1284 – Allows terminally ill students to receive high school diplomas in a timely and compassionate manner.
House Bill 1230 – Prohibits unauthorized drone use over correctional facilities to enhance security and prevent contraband delivery.
House Bill 334 – The Sickle Cell Disease Protection Act, requiring annual reviews of Medicaid coverage and incorporating patient input.
House Bill 1112 – Implements rounding for cash transactions to the nearest five cents while maintaining exact electronic pricing.
House Resolution 713 – Promotes awareness of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline across healthcare settings.
House Resolution 1007 – Recognizes the benefits of arts-based programs in improving mental health outcomes.
House Resolution 1445 – Honors efforts to preserve and restore the historic Georgia State Capitol.

With the 2026 legislative session now complete, the governor has 40 days to sign or veto legislation passed by the General Assembly. Measures not acted upon within that time will automatically become law, and some legislation will take effect at a later date as specified. I encourage you to stay engaged and reach out with any questions or concerns about this year’s legislation. Please contact my office by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve District 82 at the Gold Dome.

Week 11 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 15:40:23 GMT

March 23 - 27, 2026

My House colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 23, for Legislative Day 36, beginning the second-to-last week of the 2026 legislative session. It was a busy and productive week, with three legislative days and two committee workdays as we continued advancing key legislation. By week’s end, the General Assembly had reached Legislative Day 38, leaving just one day before Sine Die on April 2, the final opportunity for bills to pass both chambers and be sent to the governor’s desk. As this critical deadline approaches, these final days remain among the most fast-paced and consequential of the session.

During week eleven, the House passed the following legislation:

Senate Bill 542 – Strengthens penalties for clergy members who abuse positions of spiritual authority by establishing first- and second-degree offenses for improper sexual conduct, along with clear definitions, penalties and a 15-year statute of limitations.
House Bill 1009 – Prohibits public high school students from accessing personal electronic devices during the school day beginning July 1, 2027, while allowing exceptions for medical or educational needs and requiring updated school policies for device storage.
Senate Bill 428 – Expands access to mental health services by allowing waiver requests for federal Medicaid support for individuals with serious mental health needs who are at risk of homelessness, incarceration or hospitalization.
Senate Bill 220 – Updates Georgia’s medical cannabis program by expanding available forms, adjusting dosage standards and adding new qualifying medical conditions.
Senate Resolution 622 – Creates a joint study committee to evaluate rising costs in Georgia’s foster care system and identify efficiencies and long-term solutions.
Senate Bill 433 – Also known as Rio’s Law, establishes a voluntary license plate for individuals with autism or developmental disabilities and requires specialized training for law enforcement officers.
Senate Bill 547 – Increases penalties for human trafficking-related crimes by classifying pimping and pandering as felonies for all offenses.
Senate Bill 540 – Establishes safeguards for minors using AI companion chatbots, including disclosure requirements, parental controls and protections against harmful interactions.
Senate Bill 594 – Addresses deceptive and harmful uses of AI by creating criminal penalties for election interference, exploitation involving minors and fraudulent impersonation.
Senate Bill 150 – Extends the program allowing retired teachers to return to high-need classrooms through 2030 while continuing to receive retirement benefits.
Senate Bill 369 – Enhances policies for nontraditional education programs, virtual learning and charter schools, while improving accountability and long-term planning.
Senate Bill 589 – Expands access to pre-K and requires student ID badges for grades 6–12 to include 9-8-8 crisis hotline information.
House Bill 1030 – The Math Matters Act, which expands advanced math opportunities, increases instructional time and strengthens teacher preparation standards.

We also passed the following bills from the Rules Calendar this week:

Senate Bill 8 – Establishes standards for remote online notarization, including required training, identity verification procedures and electronic recordkeeping, while authorizing secure remote notarizations and setting penalties for related violations.
Senate Bill 146 – Allows families to access burial sites on private property through permits and sets requirements for family burial plots, including size, maintenance, accessibility and limits on commercial use.
Senate Bill 306 – Permits consolidation of conservation covenants, adds taxpayer notification options and clarifies allowable land uses, while also capping low-income housing tax credits for certain years.
Senate Bill 395 – Authorizes limited information sharing between the Department of Public Health and the Georgia Composite Medical Board for oversight of the Low THC Oil Patient Registry.
Senate Bill 403 – Updates unclaimed property laws by clarifying when property is considered abandoned and simplifying the claims process for heirs in lower-value cases.
Senate Bill 430 – Revises hotel-motel tax provisions, expands eligible tourism uses and establishes new oversight and dispute resolution procedures for tourism promotion entities.
Senate Bill 441 – Requires State Depository Board approval for new pooled investment funds involving multiple local governments beginning in 2026.
Senate Bill 442 – Provides for the revocation of commercial driver’s licenses issued to noncitizens upon the expiration of their visa.
Senate Bill 443 – Increases penalties for obstructing highways or streets to a high and aggravated misdemeanor and establishes civil liability for damages.
Senate Bill 472 – Strengthens oversight of financially troubled school systems by allowing suspension of board members, tightening superintendent contracts and expanding audit authority.
Senate Bill 478 – Extends the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act through 2039 and increases dedicated funding for conservation efforts.
Senate Bill 485 – Requires REAL ID verification for nail technicians and updates provisions for professional licensing and behavioral analysis certification.
Senate Bill 500 – Expands and renames the state’s behavioral health workforce database to include more healthcare licensing boards.
Senate Bill 503 – Enacts the Georgia Insurance Fairness Act, strengthening consumer protections, increasing fraud penalties and enhancing insurer oversight and disaster response programs.
Senate Bill 566 – Updates property tax procedures by improving transparency, strengthening homestead exemption enforcement and creating a statewide database.
Senate Bill 569 – Enhances towing regulations by authorizing emergency light permits, creating a statewide vehicle database and improving notification requirements.
Senate Bill 605 – Expands grounds for discipline or removal of district attorneys and solicitors general, including violations related to victims’ rights and professional conduct.

The House will return to the State Capitol for the final week of the 2026 legislative session, with Sine Die scheduled for April 2. In the days ahead, we anticipate long hours as we work to finalize legislation before the deadline. I encourage you to reach out regarding any measures important to you or your family, and to stay informed as we conclude the session. Please don't hesitate to contact me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 10 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:39:18 GMT

March 16 - 20, 2026

The Georgia House of Representatives returned on Monday, March 16, marking Legislative Day 32 and the beginning of the 10th week of the 2026 legislative session. After Monday’s floor work, committees met Tuesday to continue reviewing Senate legislation following Crossover Day. By week’s end, Legislative Day 35 was complete, leaving just five days in the session. Although time is winding down, the pace remains steady as we continue working to move impactful legislation forward for Georgians.

During week ten, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 1199 – Suspends the state motor fuel excise tax for 60 days, aligns Georgia’s tax code with federal updates and caps the low-income housing tax credit at $100 million annually through 2028.
House Bill 1000 – Issues one-time income tax refunds to eligible filers based on prior-year tax liability and filing status.
Senate Bill 427 – Establishes a provisional licensing pathway for internationally trained physicians to practice in underserved areas, with a route to full licensure.
Senate Bill 383 – Enhances child fatality review efforts by focusing on prevention, expanding committee input and improving reporting timelines.
Senate Bill 523 – Creates standardized procedures for reporting and addressing discrimination in Georgia’s public education systems.
Senate Bill 399 – Improves emergency response by expanding AED access and requiring 9-1-1 operators to provide CPR and AED guidance.
House Bill 571 – Transfers oversight of radiologist assistants to the Georgia Composite Medical Board for licensure and regulation.
House Bill 185 – Updates dietetics and nutrition laws and enables participation in a multi-state licensure compact.
Senate Bill 570 – Mandates human trafficking awareness training for hotel and short-term rental employees.
Senate Bill 452 – Boosts retirement contributions for qualifying law enforcement officers.
Senate Bill 470 – Bans signal jammers that interfere with emergency and public safety communications.
Senate Bill 170 – Creates grants to help rural hospitals install backup generators for emergency situations.
Senate Bill 160 – Allows limited driving permits with speed control devices for certain suspended drivers.
Senate Bill 177 – Requires registration for individuals or groups acting politically on behalf of hostile foreign entities.
Senate Bill 216 – Adds certain prosecutorial officials to the Judicial Retirement System.
Senate Bill 284 – Revises securities law to allow restitution and updates provisions related to public works and school grants.
Senate Bill 285 – Allocates a portion of insurance premium taxes to support peace officer retirement benefits.
Senate Bill 293 – Strengthens penalties and enforcement against fraud in the used vehicle industry.
Senate Bill 384 – Introduces an optional five-year vehicle registration program with advance tax payment.
Senate Bill 432 – Extends authority for higher education systems to retain certain funds.
Senate Bill 435 – Updates statutory language to rename the Georgia Development Authority.
Senate Bill 439 – Requires disclosure of referral fees in assisted living and personal care placements.
Senate Bill 444 – Sets guidelines for the use of AI in insurance decisions, requiring human oversight.
Senate Bill 489 – Adjusts funding and dues for the Probate Courts Retirement Fund.
Senate Bill 524 – Establishes specialty license plates recognizing the nation’s 250th anniversary and Girl Scouts of Georgia.
Senate Bill 535 – Updates governance and operations of community service boards.
Senate Bill 551 – Repeals outdated statutes related to egg standards.
Senate Bill 553 – Creates a new state licensing board for construction-related professions.

With only a few legislative days remaining, attention now turns to final passage and resolution of key measures before adjournment. These closing days are critical in shaping this year’s legislative outcomes, and I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns as we approach the end of the session. Please feel free to contact me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 9 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:57:17 GMT

March 9 - 13, 2026

The House reconvened at the State Capitol on Monday, March 9, following an extended legislative day that carried over into the early hours of Saturday morning. By week’s end, the Georgia General Assembly reached Legislative Day 31, leaving just nine legislative days remaining in the 2026 session. After the fast-paced activity of Crossover Day, the House shifted its focus to Senate legislation, advancing several measures for consideration on the House floor. With Sine Die scheduled for April 2, my colleagues and I remained focused on moving key legislation forward, most notably the passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget.

During week nine, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 974 (FY 2027 Budget):
The House passed a balanced $38.5 billion budget for FY 2027, reflecting a $738 million (1.95%) increase over the prior year. House Bill 974 will address issues across the state including education, public safety, infrastructure, and healthcare.
Fully funds the QBE formula at $14.9 billion, includes $5.5 million for Special Needs Scholarships and more than $60 million for a statewide literacy initiative focused on early grade reading proficiency.
Provides $9.7 million to expand pre-K extended day services, supports working families and increases access to childcare assistance.
Allocates $2.7 million for vision and hearing screening equipment for K-3 students.
Adds funding for literacy coaches, teacher training and support staff to strengthen early education outcomes.
Includes funding for school nutrition, summer meal programs (SUN Bucks), transportation increases, mental health grants and school social worker expansion.
Invests in university research, medical education expansion and behavioral health workforce initiatives.
Provides $45.3 million to improve Medicaid reimbursement rates and funds services including autism care, rural healthcare access, maternal health and graduate medical education.
Adds $101 million to support correctional staffing, inmate healthcare and public safety initiatives, along with funding for victim services and judicial system improvements.
Includes a $166 million increase for transportation projects, maintenance and airport aid.
Supports veterans’ health services and agricultural protection efforts, including feral hog management programs.
House Bill 1402 : Establishes school-based vision and hearing screenings for young students to support early detection of learning barriers.
House Resolution 145 : Encourages coordination between state agencies to expand access to student health screenings.
Senate Bill 220 (Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act): Updates Georgia’s medical cannabis program by expanding product options, modernizing dosage standards and broadening qualifying conditions for patients.
House Resolution 948 : Establishes a study committee to examine pharmacy benefits managers and rising prescription drug costs, with a focus on transparency and access, especially in rural areas.
House Resolution 1049 : Designates an annual Fentanyl and Opioid Awareness Day to promote education, prevention and public safety efforts.
Senate Bill 420 : Supports Georgia’s coastal economy by improving data collection and management of offshore fishing through a new licensing endorsement.
Senate Bill 239 : Strengthens professional standards and oversight within the funeral services industry to better protect consumers.

As the 2026 legislative session nears its conclusion on Sine Die, April 2, I encourage you to remain engaged and informed about the work taking place under the Gold Dome. Please continue to share your thoughts, questions and concerns, as your input plays an essential role in shaping the decisions we make on behalf of our communities. It is an honor to serve you, and I remain committed to working diligently during these final days of session. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or (404) 656-0213. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your state representative.

Week 8 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:02:14 GMT

March 2 - 6, 2026

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol on Monday, March 2, for one of the busiest stretches of the 2026 legislative session. The week built toward Legislative Day 28, Crossover Day, the critical deadline for legislation to pass out of its originating chamber in order to remain eligible for final passage before the General Assembly adjourns Sine Die. As we approached Crossover Day, House members worked through two committee workdays and two legislative days, often late into the evening. During the week, members also joined Governor Brian Kemp as he signed House Bill 973, the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget, into law. By the end of the eighth week of session, the House had passed 97 bills and resolutions and sent many measures to the Senate.

During week eight, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 1000 – One-Time Tax Refund for Georgians
Passed unanimously to provide a one-time income tax refund to qualified taxpayers.
Eligible individuals must have filed Georgia income tax returns for both the 2024 and 2025 tax years.
Refunds would be issued automatically by the Georgia Department of Revenue after filing a 2025 return.
Maximum refund amounts based on filing status:
$250 for single filers or married filing separately
$375 for heads of household
$500 for married couples filing jointly
The refund would equal the lesser of the taxpayer’s 2024 Georgia income tax liability or the applicable cap.
House Bill 1402 – Student Vision and Hearing Screenings
Requires annual vision and hearing screenings for public-school students from pre-K through third grade.
Screenings would be conducted at school by trained personnel or a qualified third party.
The Georgia Department of Public Health would oversee training, screening protocols and statewide data collection.
Annual reports comparing screening results with student academic performance would be submitted to the General Assembly.
Provides one-time grants of up to $15,000 per school district, subject to appropriations, to purchase screening equipment.
Parents would receive advance notification and may opt their child out of screenings.
House Bill 1413 – DREAMS Scholarship Program
Establishes the Dedicating Resources to Educationally Advance More Students (DREAMS) Scholarship.
Administered by the Georgia Student Finance Authority.
Provides up to $3,000 annually for undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.
Eligible students must attend institutions within the University System of Georgia or the Technical College System of Georgia.
Scholarships may be awarded for up to eight semesters or 12 quarters.
Creates a dedicated endowment fund supported by public and private contributions.
Includes a medical scholarship program encouraging graduates to practice medicine in Georgia for at least four years following residency.
House Bill 1187 – Trey’s Law
Unanimously passed to prohibit nondisclosure agreements that silence victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Invalidates contracts preventing victims from speaking about abuse or related facts.
Allows settlement amounts and unrelated contractual terms to remain confidential.
Named in memory of Trey Carlock, whose experience highlighted the harm caused by restrictive NDAs.
House Bill 1290 – Sexual Abuse Protections for Vulnerable Adults
Strengthens protections for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Redefines sexual abuse to focus on lack of consent rather than requiring proof of coercion.
Establishes a new “dangerous sexual offenses” category within Georgia’s sexual offender registry.
Adds willful sexual abuse of a disabled adult, older adult or long-term care resident to the registry.
House Bill 1283 – Family Justice Center Act
Authorizes the creation of Family Justice Centers to provide coordinated services for victims of family violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse and human trafficking.
Centers may be operated by local governments, district attorneys or nonprofit organizations.
Governing boards would include representatives from law enforcement, prosecution, social services and victim advocacy groups.
Grant funding would be administered by the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.
Includes strict confidentiality protections for victims.
Designed to allow victims to access multiple services in one location rather than visiting several agencies.
House Bill 1230 – Drone Restrictions Over Correctional Facilities
Prohibits the operation of unmanned aircraft systems over prisons and jails.
Makes it unlawful to allow such drone activity from one’s property.
Classifies drones used in violations as contraband subject to seizure or destruction.
Authorizes law enforcement to take reasonable mitigation measures when unauthorized drones are detected.
House Bill 1138 – Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act
Allows pharmacists to prescribe and dispense certain hormonal contraceptives, including pills and patches.
Authorizes pharmacists to administer injectable contraceptives.
Requires completion of accredited training before pharmacists can provide these services.
Requires insurers, Medicaid and other state programs to cover extended contraceptive supplies.
Expands access to birth control in communities with limited OB-GYN availability.
House Bill 1118 – Maternal Birth Leave Expansion
Provides eligible state employees with 120 hours of paid maternal birth leave within the first three weeks after childbirth.
Requires at least six months of employment prior to leave eligibility.
Hourly employees must have worked a minimum of 700 hours in the previous six months.
Funded through existing leave budgets with no additional cost to the state.
House Bill 1045 – You Are Not Alone Awareness Act
Requires student ID badges for grades six through 12 to include a message promoting the 988 crisis hotline.
The message encourages students experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts or substance abuse challenges to call or text 988.
Applies to badges issued on or after July 1, 2026.
Helps ensure students across Georgia have consistent access to crisis resources.
House Bill 1114 – Financial Literacy Education Standards
Requires the Georgia State Board of Education to develop age-appropriate financial literacy standards for K–12 students.
High school students would complete a half-credit course in financial literacy beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
Curriculum topics include budgeting, banking, credit, investing, fraud prevention and gambling risks.
Financial literacy instruction would also be integrated into middle and elementary school curricula by the 2027–2028 school year.
House Bill 1112 – Cash Rounding for Pennies
Establishes a standardized rounding system for cash transactions to the nearest five cents.
Totals ending in one, two, six or seven cents would round down; totals ending in three, four, eight or nine cents would round up.
Electronic payments would not be affected.
Consumers could still pay the exact amount using pennies.
Merchants using the rounding system would not violate state or local regulations.
House Bill 1122 – Peripheral Artery Disease Screening Coverage
Expands insurance coverage for screenings for Peripheral Artery Disease for at-risk individuals ages 50 to 64.
Coverage would apply to health policies issued or renewed beginning January 1, 2027.
The screening is a simple, noninvasive test similar to a blood pressure check performed at the ankle.
Aims to improve early detection and reduce amputation rates associated with untreated vascular disease.
House Resolution 1000 – Timber Tax Constitutional Amendment Proposal
Would allow standing timber to be assessed at zero percent ad valorem tax when under a qualifying-use covenant.
If the covenant is broken within 10 years after harvest or sale, the tax savings would be recaptured.
Requires the state to reimburse counties, municipalities and school districts for any lost revenue.
If approved by the Senate, the proposal would appear on a statewide ballot referendum for voters to consider.
House Bill 668 – Service Dog Protection Act
Establishes criminal penalties for interfering with or harming a service dog.
Provides restitution for veterinary care, retraining or replacement of injured service dogs.
Extends legal protections to trainers and handlers.
Expands eligibility for service dog assistance to individuals with physical or mental impairments.
Creates penalties for falsely claiming the need for a service dog.

Additional measures passed include:

House Bill 158 – Establishes uniform business registration forms and a statewide filing registry.
House Bill 275 – Improves clarity and transparency in property tax assessment notices.
House Bill 295 – Allows property owners to seek compensation for losses caused by local government failures.
House Bill 334 – Requires yearly reviews of Medicaid coverage for sickle cell disease treatments.
House Bill 376 – Revises tax credits and thresholds for rehabilitating certified historic structures.
House Bill 382 – Permits certain FDA-approved psychedelic medications and updates pharmacy supervision rules.
House Bill 421 – Expands criminal penalties for traveling to commit child molestation offenses.
House Bill 438 – Lowers retirement eligibility age for sworn officers in the Department of Public Safety.
House Bill 547 – Allows consolidation of conservation property covenants and recognizes carbon capture uses.
House Bill 641 – Requires protections for electric customers with life-threatening medical conditions.
House Bill 664 – Standardizes voting requirements for homeowners association covenant changes.
House Bill 717 – Directs development of rules for psychedelic-assisted medical treatment clinics.
House Bill 874 – Protects taxpayer privacy in publicly accessible property tax records.
House Bill 880 – Expands tax exemptions and deductions for families and retirees.
House Bill 892 – Prohibits massage therapy businesses from operating late-night hours.
House Bill 947 – Enhances oversight, eligibility verification and reporting for SNAP benefits.
House Bill 951 – Requires insurance coverage for medically necessary prosthetic and orthotic devices.
House Bill 961 – Limits patient costs for emergency ambulance services and surprise billing.
House Bill 962 – Updates tax benefits and limits for higher education savings accounts.
House Bill 963 – Requires certification that campaign funds are not tied to foreign nationals.
House Bill 967 – Creates grants for bullet-resistant equipment in law enforcement vehicles.
House Bill 979 – Establishes procedures for transferring federal jurisdiction of land back to the state.
House Bill 990 – Provides veterinary care assistance for retired law enforcement dogs.
House Bill 1076 – Creates a felony offense for obstructing law enforcement with a vehicle.
House Bill 1077 – Extends the sales tax exemption for fine arts events.
House Bill 1087 – Eliminates certain fees for home accessibility upgrades for disabled veterans.
House Bill 1116 – Introduces major property tax reform and a homestead sales tax option.
House Bill 1128 – Expands notification requirements for indemnification claims involving public safety officers.
House Bill 1129 – Restricts tax incentives and financing rules for enterprise zones.
House Bill 1132 – Grants sales tax exemptions for charitable affordable housing construction.
House Bill 1133 – Allows solar energy projects on closed landfill sites.
House Bill 1134 – Updates legal procedures for repossession of motor vehicles.
House Bill 1142 – Creates a public registry for repeat domestic violence offenders.
House Bill 1148 – Extends and increases tax credits for conservation land donations.
House Bill 1159 – Exempts certain federal agricultural assistance payments from state income tax.
House Bill 1166 – Limits zoning restrictions on very small residential dwellings.
House Bill 1178 – Establishes a House committee to oversee budget and fiscal policy.
House Bill 1191 – Expands special license plates recognizing military service awards.
House Bill 1192 – Requires expanded reporting on health and human services programs.
House Bill 1195 – Broadens the use of veterinary telemedicine and remote triage.
House Bill 1196 – Creates criminal penalties for trespassing into wild animal enclosures.
House Bill 1201 – Updates statewide requirements for smoke alarm safety standards.
House Bill 1208 – Modernizes court reporting methods beyond traditional stenography.
House Bill 1209 – Provides limited sales tax incentives for certain convention-area development.
House Bill 1211 – Updates medical guideline references for colorectal cancer screening coverage.
House Bill 1220 – Expands eligibility for private school scholarship programs.
House Bill 1234 – Allows life insurance benefits to be assigned directly to funeral services.
House Bill 1238 – Seeks federal approval to reimburse certain youth behavioral health caregivers through Medicaid.
House Bill 1247 – Ends judicial deference to state agency interpretations of law.
House Bill 1254 – Consolidates several professional licensing functions under the Secretary of State.
House Bill 1261 – Provides a property tax exemption for certain electric utility inventory.
House Bill 1266 – Limits personal watercraft activity in parts of the Ogeechee River.
House Bill 1268 – Annual technical update to revise and correct Georgia’s statutory code.
House Bill 1272 – Establishes state regulation and licensing for payment stablecoin issuers.
House Bill 1275 – Allows certain ethically sourced stem cell therapies for treatment.
House Bill 1284 – Allows terminally ill students to receive high school diplomas.
House Bill 1285 – Allows counties to collect both enhanced and standard local sales taxes.
House Bill 1293 – Updates eligibility and funding formulas for the Dual Achievement workforce program.
House Bill 1295 – Joins a multistate licensing compact for physician assistants.
House Bill 1296 – Creates a pilot program studying innovative treatments for veterans and first responders.
House Bill 1302 – Restructures Georgia’s workforce and education coordination systems.
House Bill 1303 – Criminalizes possession of drugs in the presence of young children.
House Bill 1310 – Designates cotton as Georgia’s official state fabric.
House Bill 1328 – Expands military scholarship eligibility at the University of North Georgia.
House Bill 1345 – Authorizes approval of workforce training programs tied to federal Pell Grants.
House Bill 1365 – Adds a new superior court judge to the Atlanta Judicial Circuit.
House Bill 1368 – Updates governance and leadership rules for community service boards.
House Bill 1374 – Protects healthcare providers’ ability to choose payment methods.
House Bill 1379 – Requires disclosure of foreign funding received by public colleges.
House Bill 1391 – Creates a specialty license plate honoring public safety officers.
House Bill 1393 – Allows rural hospitals to coordinate services and shared resources.
House Bill 1396 – Requires certain homeless service providers to participate in statewide data systems.
House Bill 1408 – Expands authority for veterinarians and technicians to administer rabies vaccines.
House Bill 1409 – Expands mandated reporters and updates child abuse reporting procedures.
House Bill 1415 – Requires inventory and oversight of property owned by the Stone Mountain Memorial Association.
House Bill 1432 – Strengthens legislative oversight of the Georgia Public Defender Council.
House Bill 1434 – Requires zoning safeguards for areas affected by airport flight paths.
House Bill 1465 – Eliminates vehicle registration renewal decals starting in 2027.
House Bill 1470 – Allows damages for defendants in unsuccessful ADA website lawsuits.
House Resolution 1243 – Proposes a constitutional amendment funding Next Generation 9-1-1 upgrades.
House Resolution 1300 – Annual legislative package dedicating state roadways.
House Resolution 1416 – Creates a study committee on sustaining family farms across generations.

The House reconvened at the Capitol on Monday, March 9, for Legislative Day 29. With Crossover Day now behind us, House members will begin considering Senate-passed legislation while the Senate reviews measures approved by the House. As the 2026 legislative session moves toward adjournment on April 2, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about legislation under consideration. Your input is invaluable, and I welcome the opportunity to speak with you. Please feel free to contact my Capitol office at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or (404) 656-0213. As always, thank you for the privilege of serving as your state representative.

Week 7 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:20:16 GMT

February 23 - 27, 2026

On Monday, February 23, 2026, my House colleagues and I reconvened at the State Capitol to begin the seventh week of the legislative session. We opened with our first committee workday, dedicating hours to reviewing and advancing legislation for placement on a Rules Calendar and potential consideration by the full House. These meetings play a vital role in ensuring bills are carefully examined before reaching the floor. By Friday, we had reached Legislative Day 25, with just two legislative days until Crossover Day, the deadline for legislation to pass its chamber of origin ahead of adjournment Sine Die on April 2.

The House’s most significant action this week was granting final passage to House Bill 973, the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget. Built on a revised revenue estimate of $43.6 billion, the budget incorporates $4.5 billion in unrestricted surplus funds and $145 million in lottery surplus funds—totaling $5.9 billion, a 15.6 percent increase over the original FY 2026 budget. The amended budget focuses on taxpayer relief, public safety, mental health, education and transportation investments.

During week seven, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 973 (AFY 2026 Budget)
Allocates $850 million for the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program.
Invests more than $400 million to construct a new state mental health hospital and $409 million for a new 300-bed facility at Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta.
Provides $20.7 million for a 40-bed forensic restoration unit at East Central Regional Hospital in Augusta and $150 million to expand jail-based restoration services at the Cobb County Jail.
Directs over $2 billion toward transportation projects statewide, including $250 million for local roads, $11 million for airports and $8.4 million for shortline rail improvements.
Includes more than $600 million for a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for state employees and educators.
Restores $325 million to the Georgia Student Finance Commission for the DREAMS scholarship program, including $25 million for next year’s awards and use of $145 million in lottery reserves toward a $300 million endowment.
Provides $29.8 million to establish a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University.
Allocates $81 million to address DFCS deficits and restore foster care contracts.
Invests $45 million in the State Housing Trust Fund, $5 million to assist homeless veterans and $100 million to strengthen the Employees’ Retirement System.
Provides $15.75 million for the BOOST 2.0 after-school initiative.

House Bill 1193 (Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026)
Funds literacy coaches in all K–3 public schools and regional literacy leaders across Georgia’s 16 RESAs.
Provides science-of-reading-based professional learning at no cost to K–3 teachers and coaches.
Requires full-day kindergarten and kindergarten attendance before first grade entry.
Strengthens early-grade intervention, promotion and parent notification policies; students not meeting reading benchmarks would receive targeted support and not advance without proficiency.
Establishes a Georgia Literacy Task Force and Director of Literacy to oversee instructional materials and screening tools.
Requires unified literacy plans and science-of-reading-aligned instructional materials statewide.

House Bill 1030 (Math Matters Act)
Automatically places qualifying seventh graders on an accelerated math track beginning in 2027–2028, with parent opt-out options.
Requires a minimum of 60 minutes of daily core math instruction for fourth and fifth graders.
Updates teacher certification standards to emphasize strong math content knowledge and evidence-based instruction across all strands of mathematical proficiency.

House Bill 1009
Extends the K–8 cell phone ban to high schools by July 1, 2027.
Prohibits student access to personal electronic devices during the school day, with exceptions for IEPs, 504 Plans and medical needs.
Requires updated local policies, secure storage solutions and clear enforcement standards.

House Bill 1023
Requires weapon detection systems at primary entrances of public school buildings by July 1, 2027, with grant funding permitted.

House Bill 1123
Requires schools offering after-care and pre-K programs to extend after-school services to pre-K students, with a one-year waiver option for extenuating circumstances.

House Bill 634
Updates the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to align scholarship amounts with active IEPs.
Modernizes payment processes and enhances transparency through annual reporting.

House Bill 310 (Student Teacher Promotion Act)
Establishes grants to support student teachers during required classroom training.

House Bill 385
Allows certain students pursuing graduate or professional degrees to fully utilize their HOPE scholarship eligibility.

House Bill 372
Extends the sunset for retired educators returning to work through June 30, 2030, with literacy endorsement requirements for certain roles.

House Bill 971
Expands access to college and career academies to eligible home study and private school students when space allows.

House Bill 689
Creates a statewide homelessness prevention program under the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Commission to fund rental assistance, eviction diversion, mediation and stabilization services.

House Bill 1344 (Georgia Insurance Affordability and Claims Integrity Act)
Increases fines within Georgia’s insurance code and strengthens enforcement authority.
Establishes a felony offense for profiting from steering accident victims to generate insurance claims, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.
Strengthens uninsured motorist enforcement and increases related penalties and fees.
Requires insurers to meet clear timelines for catastrophic property claims and permits deadline extensions following declared disasters.
Creates the Georgia Storm Damage Mitigation Program to help homeowners fortify properties.
Formalizes excluded driver reporting requirements and establishes penalties for violations.

Additional Measures Passed:
House Bill 320 - Prohibits disposal of solar panels in landfills and requires delivery to recycling facilities, with civil penalties up to $20 per violation.
House Bill 519 - Establishes a state tax credit of up to $500 per eligible employee tied to the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit, capped at $10 million annually.
House Bill 792 - Increases the magistrate court claims limit from $15,000 to $25,000.
House Bill 1001 - Reduces the state income tax rate from 5.19 percent to 4.99 percent effective January 1, 2026.
House Bill 1024 - Raises bankruptcy homestead exemptions to $50,000 for individuals and $100,000 for married couples, with inflation adjustments.
House Bill 1070 - Increases the Class III railroad tax credit cap and extends the program’s sunset and transferability through January 1, 2032.
House Bill 1075 - Provides enhanced sentencing of up to 10 years for individuals convicted of pimping with prior trafficking convictions.
House Bill 1085 - Expands tax credit eligibility to forestry manufacturers in less developed counties and allows transfer of credits earned from 2026 through 2031.
House Bill 1097 - Authorizes DBHDD and other state agencies to request national background checks in compliance with federal law.
House Bill 1107 (Excellent Teacher Preparation Act) - Creates a statewide accountability system for educator preparation programs with annual performance metrics and reporting requirements.
House Bill 1131 - Requires notice before warrant application hearings and ensures individuals are informed of charges.
House Bill 1164 - Establishes a State Board of Education audit committee and expands fiscal oversight and intervention for high-risk school systems.
House Bill 1185 - Expands the jurisdiction of the Georgia State-wide Business Court for certain internal corporate claims and sets procedures for record inspection disputes.
House Bill 1259 - Restricts virtual instruction for out-of-system students in low-performing districts and excludes those students from equalization funding calculations.
House Bill 1262 - Expands the Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner’s authority to fine insurers for mental health parity and other violations.
House Bill 1263 - Establishes procedures and a three-year filing deadline for insurers seeking refunds of improperly collected fees or taxes.
House Bill 1274 - Requires annual financial and loss reporting from auto insurers and establishes a process to return excess profits to policyholders when identified.
House Bill 1277 - Updates DOT policies by increasing project and property thresholds, allowing inflation adjustments, expanding transparency reporting, and lifting limits on design-build contracts.
House Bill 1278 - Permits the Georgia Board of Dentistry to approve dental offices for administering conscious sedation.
House Bill 1329 - Revises controlled substance classifications and authorizes pharmacists to provide certain low-dose epinephrine spray devices.
Senate Bill 59 - Expands available tax credits for timber producers and sets timelines for application processing and awards.

On Monday, March 2, we will begin the eighth week of session with another committee workday as we approach Crossover Day on Friday, March 6. The coming days will be fast paced as we work to move legislation before the deadline. As always, I appreciate your engagement and welcome your questions or concerns. Please feel free to contact my Capitol office at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or (404) 656-0213. Thank you for the honor of serving as your state representative.

Week 6 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 20:28:26 GMT

February 17 - 20, 2026

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, resuming legislative business after the President’s Day holiday and kicking off the sixth week of session. Reaching Legislative Day 22 this week marked a significant turning point, as we have now moved beyond the halfway mark of the 2026 legislative session. With an active schedule of committee hearings and floor votes, we continued advancing key legislation aimed at protecting taxpayers, strengthening families and supporting communities across our state. As Crossover Day approaches, our work in the House Chamber will only intensify as we focus on moving priority legislation forward.

This week, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 1063
Would prohibit electric utilities from passing along construction and operational costs of large data centers (100 megawatts or more annual electricity demand) to residential or retail customers.
Addresses unprecedented growth in energy demand from data centers across Georgia.
Follows work by the House Special Committee on Resource Management Water Subcommittee and Energy Subcommittee, which studied the industry, toured facilities and met with community leaders.
Would codify Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) cost allocation rules into state law to prevent them from being weakened, reinterpreted or bypassed.
Establishes four contract requirements for electric service to qualifying data centers:
Minimum billing requirements to ensure facilities cover their own service costs.
Flexible contract terms reflecting project scale.
Performance and credit protections to safeguard ratepayers in the event of default.
Termination provisions to protect ratepayers if a contract ends early.
Leaves determination of incremental costs to the PSC to maintain regulatory flexibility.
Applies only to new data center contracts; existing agreements remain unchanged.
Establishes groundwork for responsible economic growth as the data center industry expands.

House Bill 419
Requires institutions within the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia to make opioid antagonists, such as naloxone, readily available.
Permits students, visitors and university employees to possess opioid antagonists on campus or at university-sponsored activities.
Requires institutions to maintain a supply for overdose emergencies.
Mandates campuses with one or more Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to store opioid antagonists within three feet of the AED.
Authorizes university personnel to administer an opioid antagonist in good faith during a suspected overdose.
Grants immunity from civil liability or professional discipline to personnel who administer the medication.
Seeks to expand access to life-saving medications and prevent opioid overdose deaths on college campuses.

House Bill 256
Renames the “Foster Parents Bill of Rights” to the “Foster Placements Bill of Rights.”
Extends statutory rights to relative caregivers and fictive kin.
Adds protections, including the right to apply a reasonable and prudent parent standard for extracurricular activities.
Allows caregivers to request a trained, certified volunteer advocate during meetings with the Georgia Department of Human Services (DHS) when the foster child is present.
Protects caregivers from retaliation for filing complaints with the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS).
Affirms the right to seek and obtain independent legal counsel regarding foster placement status.
Supports caregivers navigating the fostering process while caring for vulnerable children.

House Bill 943
Directs DFCS to create a five-year pilot program for autism spectrum disorder screenings and clinical evaluations for children in foster care.
Based on five years of research conducted by pediatric healthcare professionals specializing in autism in partnership with Georgia Southern University.
Research indicates proper diagnosis can reduce average placements for foster children with autism from 5.5 to 2.4.
Requires DFCS to provide training and resources for providers, directors, supervisors, case managers, staff, healthcare providers and caregivers.
Launches in three regional service areas, expanding annually statewide.
Prioritizes children diagnosed with ADHD or reactive attachment disorder or prescribed psychotropic medications.
Requires plans for incremental expansion, caregiver communication strategies, adequate medical consultants and staffing support.
Mandates annual reporting through July 1, 2031.
Aims to provide earlier intervention and greater stability for foster children with autism.

House Bill 970
Expands qualified professionals who can conduct sports physicals to include licensed medical physicians, doctors of osteopathic medicine, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Increases timely access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, requires cardiovascular prescreening based on guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.
Requires use of the State Board of Education’s approved form.
Maintains one-year validity for examinations.
Provides parents with educational materials on warning signs and causes of sudden cardiac arrest.
Seeks to proactively identify health risks and prevent tragedies in school sports.

House Bill 1161
Requires drivers to move as far as possible to the right-hand side of the roadway during traffic stops initiated by law enforcement using audible and visual signals.
Clarifies state law following court determinations that the requirement was not explicitly outlined.
Requires drivers to stop parallel and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb, clear of intersections, and remain stopped until directed otherwise.
Permits drivers to proceed to a reasonably safe location if immediate stopping would be unsafe, using hazard lights or a turn signal.
Extends Georgia’s existing “move over” requirements to traffic stops.
Seeks to improve safety for motorists, emergency responders and law enforcement.

House Bill 1061 – The “Mandi Ballinger Act”
Creates a 12-member organizational committee chaired by the House Committee on Judiciary Juvenile and Senate Judiciary Committee chairs.
Tasked with preparing Georgia for potential inclusion of certain 17-year-olds in the juvenile court system.
Requires examination of best practices, national juvenile justice standards and operational, security, technological and infrastructure needs.
Mandates consultation with law enforcement, juvenile court attorneys and youth advocates.
Requires a detailed report by December 1, 2027, to the governor, lieutenant governor and General Assembly.
Initiates formal planning regarding raising the juvenile court age to 18.
Seeks a careful, fiscally responsible transition that protects public safety and supports rehabilitation.

Additional Measures Passed:
House Bill 541 : Expands tuition equalization grant eligibility to certain nursing-focused higher education institutions meeting accreditation, physical presence and performance standards.
House Bill 662 : Amends the definition of “rural hospital organization” to include “rural freestanding emergency department.” It requires licensure for maternal and newborn services or minimum five percent annual net revenue categorized as indigent care, charity care or bad debt.
House Bill 818 : Authorizes full-time Georgia Tax Court employees to join the Judicial Retirement System (JRS).
House Bill 956 : Amends the Solid Waste Trust Fund to add a sixth allowable use and permits funds to support solid waste management programs including permitting, monitoring, regulation, inspections and enforcement.
House Bill 964 : Exempts certain 501(c)(3) entities providing fire protection services for local governments from state and local title ad valorem tax on motor vehicles and exempts sale of tangible personal property used for fire protection services from sales and use taxes.
House Bill 987 – “Voluntary Portable Benefit Plan Act”: Allows voluntary contributions to portable benefit accounts for independent contractors.
House Bill 1020 : Requires district attorneys hired after June 30, 2026, to reach age 65 for full retirement benefits under the Judicial Retirement System.
House Bill 1022 : Prohibits operation of motor vehicles with electric tinting on windshields or windows, establishing fines up to $500 for first violation and up to $1,000 for subsequent violations.
House Bill 1027 : Authorizes counties and municipalities to enter into contracts for solar utility services, wind utility services and electric power sales for up to 20 years.
House Bill 1086 – “Preston Fant and Brant Chesney Firefighter Safety Act”: Requires certain commercial, industrial and multiunit residential buildings to post notice of light-frame truss-type construction.
House Bill 1096 : Allows eligible county board of health employees to retain accrued annual and sick leave when transitioning to employment with the Georgia Department of Public Health.
House Bill 1121 : Revises terms of court for the Cordele Judicial Circuit to January 1 and July 1.
House Bill 1181 : Requires application for vehicle certificate of title to include last out-of-state title when inherited from a decedent owner.
House Bill 1182 : Prohibits soil amendments derived from industrial byproducts from being stored or loaded/unloaded within 100 feet of property lines or public roads.
House Bill 1199 : Provides annual Internal Revenue Code update applicable to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, for relevant federal laws passed on or before January 1, 2026.
House Bill 1202 : Corrects a scrivener’s error in state law.

As we head into our seventh week of session on Monday, February 23, we will begin with a committee workday and a full calendar of meetings as we prepare for Crossover Day. These discussions are essential to ensuring legislation is carefully reviewed and positioned for consideration by the full House. I remain committed to keeping you informed and representing your priorities under the Gold Dome. Please feel free to contact my Capitol office at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or (404) 656-0213. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve our community in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Week 5 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:55:31 GMT

February 9 - 13, 2026

My colleagues and I returned to the Georgia State Capitol on Monday, February 9, to kick off the fifth week of the 2026 legislative session. This week, we were in session for four legislative days, and the House Rules Committee remained busy throughout the week, placing several bills on the Rules Calendar each day for consideration on the House floor. As a result, we were highly productive, passing and adopting a total of 23 bills and resolutions. As the legislative session continues, our days on the House floor will get busier and longer as we work toward the critical deadline of Crossover Day, Legislative Day 28, which marks the final opportunity for bills and resolutions to pass out of their originating chamber and remain eligible to be signed into law during this legislative session.

This week, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 657 : Certified Peer Specialists and Recovery Community Organizations
Formally defines certified peer specialists in state law as individuals with lived experience who are trained to support those receiving mental health or substance use recovery services.
Requires certification through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD).
Establishes standards for recovery community organizations (RCOs), including nonprofit status, recovery-focused missions and majority-recovery governing boards.
Requires RCOs to support all pathways to recovery, including medication-assisted treatment and harm reduction strategies.
Standardizes peer support services statewide.

Senate Bill 162 : Medical Licensing and Credentialing Modernization
Requires the Georgia Composite Medical Board to implement an automated licensing data management system.
Creates a single statewide verification process for physicians, physician assistants and anesthesiologist assistants.
Eliminates duplicative credentialing requirements across healthcare facilities.
Aims to reduce administrative backlogs and expand access to care, particularly in rural Georgia.
Would be fully operational by January 1, 2027.

House Bill 383 : High School Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) Protections
Regulates NIL compensation for Georgia high school student athletes.
Provides automatic expiration of NIL contracts upon graduation or withdrawal.
Allows student athletes to obtain professional representation.
Requires schools to provide written notice regarding potential impacts on collegiate eligibility.
Prohibits recruitment-based NIL incentives, use of school logos and endorsement of restricted or adult products.

House Bill 907 : Completion Special Schools Act Updates
Revises procedures for Georgia’s completion special schools.
Requires updated program descriptions to local school systems twice annually.
Requires resident school systems to share completion school information with students and parents.
Allows outreach to students who withdraw by permitting limited contact information sharing.
Permits parents or guardians to directly enroll students in credit recovery and intervention programs.
Establishes transition procedures when new completion special schools open.
Aligns with funding in House Bill 973 (AFY 2026 budget), including $1.7 million for a new completion special school in the Columbus region.

Senate Bill 195 : Expanded Access to HIV Prevention Medications
Authorizes pharmacists to dispense PrEP and PEP under specified conditions.
Allows a 30-day supply, with up to 90 days after required training.
Requires physician protocol agreements for long-acting injectable treatments.
Mandates notification to a patient’s primary care provider and documentation of services.
Establishes oversight safeguards and penalties for noncompliance.

House Bill 903 : Administrative Procedures Act Clarification
Clarifies that all executive branch agencies must comply with the Georgia Administrative Procedures Act when adopting certain rules.
Subjects boards, commissioners, departments and public authorities to consistent public notice and comment requirements.
Strengthens transparency and legislative oversight in rulemaking.

House Bill 117 : Imported Shrimp Disclosure Requirements
Requires food service establishments to disclose when imported foreign shrimp is served.
Supports G eorgia’s coastal economy and seafood industry.

House Bill 414 : State Ethics Commission Authority Expansion
Authorizes the State Ethics Commission to request documentation from individuals located outside Georgia.
Allows the commission to petition a superior court if an individual refuses to comply.

Additional Measures Passed:
House Bill 57 : Adds step-grandparent and step-grandchild to prohibited sexual relationship statutes.
House Bill 632 : Revises disabled veterans’ occupation tax exemptions and updates blindness eligibility definitions.
House Bill 676 : Imposes a $1,500 fine per frivolous mechanics lien filed.
House Bill 944 : Updates the definition of “present regulations” for motor vehicles to January 1, 2026.
House Bill 948 : Requires foreclosure notices to inform mortgagors of surplus funds claim rights and timelines.
House Bill 957 : Defines “miniature on-road vehicle” and outlines regulatory and emissions standards.
House Bill 983 : Revises prescribed burning definitions and allows additional local notice requirements without restricting the practice.
House Bill 986 : Updates safety and speed standards for personal delivery devices.
House Bill 998 : Extends rate-of-return regulation option for Tier 2 local exchange companies until August 1, 2026.
House Bill 1015 : Revises funding thresholds for the Georgia Self-Insurers Guaranty Trust Fund.
House Bill 1215 : Increases superior court judges in the Middle Judicial Circuit from two to three, effective January 1, 2027.
House Resolution 251 : Proposes a constitutional amendment to require nonpartisan elections for probate judges.
House Resolution 999 : Urges recognition of America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026.
House Resolution 1050 : Authorizes conveyance of certain state-owned properties in 11 counties.
House Resolution 1051 : Authorizes easements over state-owned properties in 22 Georgia counties and one Tennessee county.

On Tuesday, February 17, we will return to the Georgia State Capitol following the President’s Day holiday. In the coming weeks, the House’s work will be fast-paced and consequential as we approach our Crossover Day deadline. I will be sure to keep you updated with our progress in the coming weeks. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me regarding issues that are being considered under the Gold Dome, and I encourage you to stay connected with our work at the Capitol as we move through the remainder of the 2026 legislative session.

You may contact me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 legislative term.

Week 4 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:34:03 GMT

February 2 - 6, 2026

My colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, February 2, 2026, for Legislative Day 10. The pace under the Gold Dome is certainly picking up as we begin zeroing in on key policy priorities. This week, the House Appropriations Committee met midweek to pass House Bill 973, the House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget, which provides state funding through the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2026. The House Rules Committee then placed HB 973 onto a Rules Calendar for a full House vote on Thursday, where it passed with bipartisan support. During this busy week, we also heard from Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Nels S.D. Peterson, who delivered his annual State of the Judiciary Address before a joint session of the House and Senate.

This week, the House passed the following legislation:

House Bill 973 : Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) Budget
Based on a revised revenue estimate of $42.3 billion, including $3.3 billion in surplus funds, for a total infusion of $4.5 billion—an 11.9 percent increase over the original FY 2026 budget.
Includes major investments in tax relief, education, healthcare, infrastructure, higher education and public safety.
Allocates $300 million in state-matching funds for the need-based DREAMS Scholarship program.
Provides $11 million for HOPE scholarships, bringing total AFY 2026 HOPE funding to $907 million.
Includes $9 million for GOSA to develop a statewide Career Navigator System.
Provides $366 million for $2,000 pay supplements for K–12 educators and school staff, and $17.2 million through DECAL for early learning educators.
Funds the QBE midterm adjustment with $43.9 million and supports school safety and mental health initiatives.
Allocates $850 million to fully fund the Homeowner Tax Relief Grant (HTRG) program for the 2026 tax year.
Includes $50 million for the State Housing Trust Fund to address homelessness.
Supports economic development with $10.9 million for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative.
Provides $92.9 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections, including technology and security upgrades, inmate healthcare services and facility improvements.
Directs $220 million to design and construct a new 480-bed private prison facility.
Establishes the Wrongful Conviction and Incarceration Compensation Trust Fund with $4.8 million.
Invests $1.7 billion in I-75 express lane expansion, $250 million for road resurfacing and $85 million for rural bridge rehabilitation.
Strengthens healthcare access with funding for graduate medical education, rural clinics, spinal injury services and residency training equipment.
Invests $20.7 million in a forensic restoration facility in Augusta and $27 million to begin construction of a new Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta.
Fully funds the DFCS deficit with $82.7 million and restores foster care support contracts.
Includes $1 million for veteran mental health and traumatic brain injury treatment and $17.5 million for emergency preparedness and NextGen 911 improvements.

House Bill 659 : Optometry Workforce Expansion
Expands loan repayment and financial assistance programs to include optometrists.
Addresses shortages in rural vision and eye care services.
Complemented by $29.8 million in AFY 2026 funding for a College of Optometry at Georgia Southern University.

House Bill 350 : Safe Place for Newborns Act Update
Allows eligible facilities to install newborn safety devices for anonymous infant surrender.
Applies to fire stations, medical facilities, police stations and ambulance services.
Requires 24/7 EMS staffing and visibility to on-site personnel.
Protects mothers from prosecution when surrendering newborns under 30 days old.
Funded through donations and grassroots support rather than state funds.

House Bill 946 : Feral Hog Control
Allows trapping and killing of feral hogs on private property without a license.
Permits the use of drones to locate feral hogs.
Aims to reduce approximately $150 million in annual agricultural losses.
Supported by the Department of Natural Resources.

House Bill 985 : Veterans Burial Eligibility Expansion
Extends burial eligibility to members of the Hmong Laotian Special Guerrilla Unit who served between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975.
Builds upon House Bill 53 from the 2025 session.
Updates the definition of “full term of service” to align with federal standards.

House Bill 557 : Increases the number of superior court judges in the Northeastern Judicial Circuit from five to six.

House Bill 629 : Codifies the use of bleeding control kits in K–12 schools through the Georgia Trauma Commission program.

House Bill 945 : Updates banking and financial laws. HB 945 Allows temporary transaction holds to prevent financial exploitation of elderly or disabled adults and establishes trusted contact protocols and virtual currency kiosk disclosure requirements.

House Bill 960 : Increases the number of superior court judges in the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit from 11 to 12.

House Bill 980 : Creates the Georgia-Ireland Trade Commission.

House Bill 999 : Clarifies court-connected alternative dispute resolution costs and confirms the effective date for nonpartisan magistrate elections.

The following legislation was introduced and is pending consideration:

House Bill 1193 – Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026
Provides QBE funding for literacy coaches in all K–3 public schools.
Supports professional development aligned with the science of reading.
Ensures access to high-quality instructional materials.
Establishes the Georgia Literacy Task Force.

House Resolution 251 – Nonpartisan Election of Probate Judges
Proposes a constitutional amendment to end partisan elections for probate judges.
Builds on House Bill 426 from the 2025 session, which addressed magistrate judges.

The days and weeks ahead will only get busier as we continue working on key policies and priorities for our state. If you are ever at the Capitol, please contact my office to schedule a meeting. As always, I encourage you to stay engaged and continue voicing any concerns you may have about our community and our state. You may contact me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 legislative term.

Week 3 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 17:56:35 GMT

January 26 - 30, 2026

After “budget week,” the Georgia House of Representatives opened the third week of the 2026 legislative session on Monday, January 26, holding a pro forma session following Governor Brian Kemp’s State of Emergency declaration due to Winter Storm Fern, which impacted much of North Georgia. Once travel conditions improved, legislators returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday to resume normal business. During the remainder of the week, several House Appropriations subcommittees met to review portions of the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) and Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget proposals. Other House committees also convened to consider legislation eligible for consideration from the 2025 legislative session, along with newly introduced bills. The House Rules Committee met for the first time this session to set the initial Rules Calendar, allowing the House to pass its first legislation of the year.

Upon returning to the Capitol, members received a briefing on the effects of Winter Storm Fern. The storm disrupted service for more than 250,000 Georgia Power customers, and more than 30,000 of Habersham EMC’s 40,000 customers experienced outages. Communities, infrastructure and public safety were significantly affected. On Tuesday, the House paused to recognize electric utility crews, state agencies and local law enforcement who worked continuously under difficult conditions to restore power and protect Georgians.

With joint House and Senate Appropriations meetings complete, House Appropriations subcommittees began a more detailed review of individual sections of the AFY 2026 and FY 2027 budgets. After subcommittee approval, the budget bills will advance to the full House Appropriations Committee, then to the House Rules Committee, and ultimately to the House floor. If passed, the bills will be sent to the Senate for further consideration. Should the two chambers approve different versions, conference committees will reconcile the differences before the legislation is forwarded to Gov. Kemp for signature or veto. Updates will continue as the budget process moves forward.

On Wednesday, the House Rules Committee held its first meeting of the session. Members observed a moment of silence to honor former State Representative Mandi Ballinger (R-Canton), who served as secretary of the House Rules Committee and chair of the House Judiciary Juvenile Committee and passed away last fall.

Later that day, the House passed House Bill 443 , the first bill approved during the 2026 legislative session. HB 443 would establish annual fees for reef or migratory fish endorsements on Georgia recreational fishing licenses. Requested by coastal fishermen, the bill seeks to regulate recreational and commercial offshore fishing while allowing the state to conduct Georgia-specific fishery surveys rather than relying solely on federal data. The legislation sets a $10 annual fee for residents and $20 for non-residents, with revenue retained by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and requires endorsements for certain saltwater species. After being amended by the Senate last session, the bill returned to the House, where it was further amended and passed again this week. The updated version has been sent back to the Senate.

The House also unanimously adopted House Resolution 1008 , which would ratify amendments to Georgia’s statewide water management plan originally developed in 2008 by the Environmental Protection Division of DNR. The plan established 10 regional water planning councils to address water supply, wastewater, stormwater and conservation needs. Following a 2025 review, the State Water Council adopted amendments to reduce council membership, eliminate alternates, extend terms from three to six years and require representation from major water-use sectors. HR 1008 has been sent to the Senate.

During the week, the Senate gave final passage to Senate Bill 148 , making it the first bill of the 2026 session to clear the General Assembly. If enacted, SB 148 would allow hunting safety instruction for students in grades six through 12, establish an outdoor learning center pilot program, increase allowable personal leave for public school personnel and remove the physician oversight requirement for automated external defibrillators in schools.

House Speaker Jon Burns also announced House Bill 1116 , the Georgia Homeownership Opportunity and Market Equalization (HOME) Act of 2026. HB 1116 would eliminate homestead property taxes by 2032, authorize optional local revenue tools, cap revenue growth for certain properties, establish a homeowner tax relief grant and gradually double the statewide homestead exemption. Updates will follow as the bill advances.

With additional winter weather forecast, Gov. Kemp declared a second State of Emergency. Residents are encouraged to remain cautious and monitor updates from GEMA/HS, NWS and GDOT.

The House will reconvene Monday, February 2. Legislative proceedings are live streamed on the House website located here , with archived video available here . All sessions are open to the public, and visitors are welcome at the Capitol.

Please feel free to reach out to me by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone a t (404) 656-0213. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the 2025–2026 legislative term.

Week 2 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:03:29 GMT

January 20 - 23, 2026

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, my colleagues and I returned to the Georgia State Capitol for the second week of the legislative session, beginning “budget week.” While we did not convene in the House Chamber, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees held joint hearings where Governor Brian Kemp, state leaders and agency officials presented budget recommendations for the current and upcoming fiscal years. The Georgia General Assembly’s sole constitutional obligation is to pass a balanced budget, underscoring the importance of this week’s work.

The hearings began with Gov. Kemp presenting his recommendations, which will be incorporated into two bills: the Amended Fiscal Year 2026 (AFY 2026) budget, covering the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30, and the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) budget, establishing spending for the year beginning July 1, 2026. The AFY 2026 proposal reflects a revised revenue estimate of $42.3 billion, including $3.3 billion in undesignated surplus funds, resulting in a total adjustment of $4.5 billion, or an 11.9 percent increase. The FY 2027 budget is based on a $38.5 billion estimate, a $738 million, or two percent, increase. A video archive of the governor’s presentation may be found here , and his full recommendations here .

Gov. Kemp highlighted that since 2021, more than $9.7 billion has been returned to Georgia taxpayers through rebates and tax relief. His AFY 2026 proposal includes a one-time $1 billion tax rebate averaging $250 for single filers, $375 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly. He also allocates $625 million for a one-time $2,000 salary supplement for state employees and school personnel, including $384 million for K-12 educators, school staff and Pre-K teachers.

The governor noted the impact of Hurricane Helene and permanent pulp and paper mill closures on the timber industry. To support recovery, his AFY 2026 proposal includes nearly $11 million for the Georgia Forestry Innovation Initiative with the Georgia Institute of Technology and $35 million for a natural gas infrastructure pipeline program. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Forestry Commission emphasized the importance of these investments.

For higher education, Gov. Kemp’s FY 2027 proposal includes more than $218 million in formula funding for the University System of Georgia, reflecting 4.95 percent enrollment growth, and more than $34 million for the Technical College System of Georgia, reflecting 9.4 percent growth. The proposal also allocates $58 million to fully fund the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) scholarship.

A major announcement was a one-time $325 million endowment in AFY 2026 to establish the Dedicating Resources to Educationally Advance More Students (DREAMS) scholarship, Georgia’s first need-based aid program. The FY 2027 proposal also includes $2.5 million for the Georgia Foster Care Scholarship, created through Senate Bill 85 . Additional investments include $88 million for Maintenance, Repairs and Renovation needs, $88 million for the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering at Georgia Tech, $3 million for a new college and career academy, and $14 million to implement a Career Navigator application system.

Other investments include $50 million for the State Housing Trust Fund, $194 million for Department of Corrections upgrades, and more than $2.4 billion for transportation projects.

State Economist Dr. Robert Buschman reported that revenues have increased by $9 billion over five years, though job growth has slowed and inflation continues to strain household budgets.

We also learned that Georgia has moved toward release from more than 60 provisions of the 2010 Department of Justice Settlement Agreement related to behavioral health. The FY 2027 budget includes $9.3 million for housing vouchers to support individuals with mental illness.

Due to an approaching winter storm, Gov. Kemp declared a statewide State of Emergency through January 29, 2026. Updates are always available at the GEMA/HS website here and on social media at @georgiaemahs.

As hearings concluded, House Appropriations subcommittees began detailed budget review. The House Page Program begins next week; information and applications are available at https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/page-program .

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state representative. I can be reached at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or (404) 656-0213.

Week 1 Legislative Session Recap 2026

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 21:01:56 GMT

January 12 - 16, 2026

The Georgia House of Representatives convened on Monday, January 12, 2026, for the first day of the 2026 legislative session, the second regular session of the 158th Georgia General Assembly. The session opened with a special violin performance of “Georgia on My Mind” by Audrey Kittila, Miss Georgia 2025.

The House also recognized the recent restoration and renovation of the House Chamber, completed by the Georgia Building Authority (GBA) and partners. The project preserved the Capitol’s historical character while adding modern updates, featuring locally produced carpet from Dalton and gold leaf accents from Dahlonega. A timelapse video of the process is available for viewing here .

The House adopted House Resolution 998 , the Adjournment Resolution, establishing the 2026 legislative calendar. The Georgia Constitution requires 40 legislative days, with Sine Die scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2026.

On Wednesday, members attended the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs & Issues breakfast, where Gov. Kemp outlined priorities. He proposed a one-time $35 million natural gas infrastructure fund through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority, along with major transportation investments: $1.8 billion for I-75 Henry County Express Lanes, $200 million for Highway 316—University Parkway, $250 million for local roads, and $100 million for rural bridge improvements. He also announced a one-time $50 million Homeless Response Grant to support preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Atlan ta.

On Thursday, the House and Senate held a joint session for Gov. Kemp’s final State of the State Address as Georgia’s 83rd governor. The address focused on lowering the cost of living, while prioritizing education, workforce training, school safety, law enforcement retirement security, and intensified efforts against human trafficking and gang-related crime. A video archive of the address is available here .

Gov. Kemp highlighted fiscal achievements since 2021: more than $3.2 billion in one-time tax relief, nearly $1 billion in property tax relief, over $2.2 billion through motor fuel tax suspensions, and nearly $3.4 billion in permanent income tax savings—totaling almost $9.7 billion returned to Georgians. His budget proposals include a fourth one-time $1 billion tax rebate (averaging $250 for single filers and up to $500 for married couples), bringing total surplus revenue returned over four years to more than $7.5 billion. He also proposed a 20-basis-point reduction in the personal and corporate income tax rate, to 4.99 percent.

The governor emphasized support for state employees and economic development, noting more than 219,700 new jobs and over $118 billion in investment over seven years, much directed outside metro Atlanta. His Amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes a one-time $2,000 pay supplement for state employees, including educators and public safety officers.

In education, the state has fully funded the Quality Basic Education Act (QBE) seven times and added $368 million for workforce preparation. School safety funding has grown from three campus security grants totaling over $184.5 million in his first year to an additional $109 million in the base budget, with proposals bringing total public safety allocations during his tenure to more than $511 million. Teacher pay has increased by $9,500, raising starting salaries by nearly 28 percent.

For higher education, the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) scholarship has been restored to 100 percent, with tuition increases limited to five percent since 2019. Proposals include $2 billion more for higher education, $40.7 million for healthcare education facilities and medical workforce training, and $2.1 million to expand medical residency slots (now at 2,523, up 897 since he took office).

The address announced $326 million for the University of Georgia’s Dedicating Resources to Educationally Advance More Students (DREAMS) scholarship, Georgia’s first needs-based endowment program to reduce student debt and promote generational economic advancement. It complements the Georgia MATCH program, which has driven 5.9 percent USG enrollment growth and 7.1 percent TCSG growth in its first two years.

Gov. Kemp proposed an enhanced retirement plan for state law enforcement officers, increasing the state’s 401(k) match rate and raising the maximum contribution cap from 9 percent to 15 percent. He also committed to further action against human trafficking, noting ten prior bills and an upcoming eleventh, led in part by the GRACE Commission under First Lady Marty Kemp. Efforts against gang violence include the GBI Anti-Gang Taskforce, which has investigated over 1,800 cases, arrested nearly 2,500 gang-affiliated offenders, and seized more than $95 million in drugs and illegal items since 2019.

The week concluded with a Celebration of Service event honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of compassion and unity.

The 2026 session is now underway. Following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, work resumes Tuesday, January 20, with budget week featuring presentations from Gov. Kemp and agency leaders to the joint House and Senate Appropriations Committees.

Committee meetings are open to the public in person or via live streams at https://www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/house . Follow updates on @GaHouseHub (X), @gahouseofrepresentatives (Instagram), and the House Facebook page.

I welcome your input as we address community and statewide needs. Contact me at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or (404) 656-0213. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your state representative.

Week 12 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 21:26:17 GMT

March 31 - April 4, 2025

The Georgia General Assembly reconvened under the Gold Dome on Monday, March 31, 2025, for the 12th and final week of the 2025 legislative session. Throughout the week, we worked late into the evenings, voting on key measures to secure their final passage by the time the final gavel fell on Sine Die. By the end of the week, the House passed a number of bills and resolutions, several of which will now be sent to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk for him to sign into law or veto. In the coming paragraphs, I will highlight several bills that we voted on in our final days, as well as some significant legislation that received final passage in the Georgia General Assembly.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of Georgia’s students, teachers and school communities is a top priority of the Georgia House, and during the final week of the legislative session, my colleagues and I gave final passage to House Bill 268 , a critical piece of legislation aimed at achieving that goal. First, the bill would enact Ricky and Alyssa’s Law, originally outlined in Senate Bill 17 , which also received passage in the House during the final week with bipartisan support. SB 17 would require local school systems to implement a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting emergency services technologies. This would allow for real-time coordination between state and local first responder agencies during school security incidents. Additionally, HB 268 would require that schools procure mapping data by July 1, 2026, to be shared with state and local agencies. This would ensure that, in the event of a credible threat to a school system, all relevant agencies are included in the communication, thereby enhancing their coordinated emergency response efforts. The bill would also mandate the timely transfer of student records when a child in state custody is enrolled in a new school, requiring that all relevant educational and behavioral history be shared within five school days. This could include information like whether a student has been adjudicated for a felony or is currently serving a suspension. In addition to improving school safety, HB 268 would address mental health concerns and student discipline. It would require that all schools serving students in grades six through 12 provide one hour of suicide awareness and prevention training and one hour of youth violence prevention training each school year, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill would also mandate that school safety plans include provisions for addressing the behavioral health needs of both students and staff. By January 1, 2027, each safety plan would need to include a behavioral threat assessment management (BTAM) process to identify and mitigate potential threats. Furthermore, local school systems would be required to implement progressive discipline systems, which may include transitioning students to remote learning when there is a credible threat of violence. HB 268 is now headed to the governor’s desk for final approval and, if signed into law, would provide important tools and protections for our schools and communities.

One of the most pivotal actions that the House took during the last week of the 2025 legislative session was the final passage of House Bill 68, the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget with the adoption of a conference committee report. The conference committee report for HB 68, which reflects the culmination of final agreements between the House and Senate, highlights Georgia’s commitment to addressing essential areas that impact all Georgians, such as public safety, education, healthcare, the judicial system and numerous other areas of state funding, ensuring that the state’s resources are allocated to meet the evolving needs of its citizens. With a focus on sustaining these investments, the FY 2026 budget represents a significant step toward promoting the state’s growth and long-term prosperity. The final version of HB 68 allocates funding for the upcoming fiscal year, which spans from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The FY 2026 budget, set to take effect on July 1st, is based on a revenue estimate of $37.8 billion, marking an increase of $1.6 billion—or 4.4 percent—over the original FY 2025 budget. HB 68 now awaits the governor’s signature, enacting it into law. For more information on the highlights of the FY 2026 budget, please visit here .

My House colleagues and I also gave final passage to Senate Bill 5 , which would outline requirements for insurers regarding prior authorization programs, mandating that they lower prior authorization requirements for high-performing providers. SB 5 also includes provisions from a previously passed House bill, House Bill 124 , which would require all health benefit policies administered by the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) in Georgia to provide health insurance coverage for services related to Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). All SHBP policies renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2025, would be required to align with nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines and apply to diagnosis, treatment, management and monitoring of these conditions. Both PANS and PANDAS are rare diseases that have previously not been recognized under the SHBP as covered conditions, and this legislation would help ensure that affected families and patients can receive the care they need. Both provisions of the bill seek to improve health insurance for Georgians, ensuring that patients experience less hurdles when seeking medications and coverage.

Earlier in the week, the House gave final passage to Senate Bill 170 , which would create a grant program to acquire and install backup generators for certain rural hospitals. The program would apply to acute care hospitals located in rural counties with fewer than 100 beds and situated in any region where the governor declared a state of emergency after July 1, 2024. In March, the House passed House Bill 262 with the goal of establishing the same grant program. SB 170 would empower the Department of Community Health, in partnership with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, to develop grant criteria and oversee the distribution of funds. These grants would be awarded on a case-by-case basis, ensuring each hospital receives the tailored support needed to address its specific challenges. Priority would be given to rural hospitals that are currently lacking backup generators and the resources to install them. Following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene and other recent storms, this legislation would be a step toward strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure. By equipping these facilities with reliable backup power, this legislation would ensure that they can continue delivering critical medical services without disruption during emergencies.

Furthermore, the House gave passage to Senate Bill 131 , which mirrors a previously passed measure – House Bill 612 . This legislation would add the insurance commissioner to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council and establish a parity compliance review panel within the council. Parity refers to protections designed to ensure certain types of health plans cover mental health and substance use disorders in the same way that coverage is provided for other types of health conditions. The council and panel would be responsible for overseeing compliance with mental health parity laws by healthcare providers and insurers. SB 131 would also require healthcare providers to report parity concerns, and the panel would assess the concerns and make recommendations if violations are found. The panel would further develop educational materials to highlight mental health parity rights and compliance. Additionally, the panel would work with government agencies to establish procedures for enforcing parity laws, though it would not have the authority to impose financial penalties on healthcare providers for failing to report. There have been concerns regarding the current reporting system in the state, and this legislation seeks to increase oversight and streamline the process so that insurers and providers comply with parity laws and ensure that Georgians receive equal care for mental health concerns.

On Sine Die, we gave final passage to several bills, including Senate Bill 101 , which would require that certain health benefits policies renewed on or after January 1, 2026, include coverage for medically necessary orthotic and prosthetic devices. Coverage would apply when these devices are needed for activities of daily living, essential job-related tasks, personal hygiene and physical activities. SB 101 would limit coverage to no more than three devices per affected limb per covered individual within any three-year period. Under the bill, health coverage that is categorized as habilitative or rehabilitative would be comparable to coverage provided for other medical and surgical benefits. This coverage could be subject to the same cost-sharing requirements, including limitations for out-of-network providers. Additionally, the bill would require that the insurance commissioner submit a report by July 1, 2032, to the House Insurance Committee and the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee, outlining the implementation of this coverage requirement to help guarantee that insurers are complying with coverage of these devices. Orthotic and prosthetic devices are essential devices that allow individuals to perform daily tasks, remain active in the workforce and maintain their independence. This legislation would help ensure that those who rely on these devices can access them without facing an overwhelming financial burden.

In this final week of the legislative session, the House gave final passage to a number of bills, including House Bill 123 , which would change how intellectual disability (ID) is determined in death penalty cases. Under HB 123, if the court finds the defendant does have an ID, the jury could choose to sentence that individual to life in prison instead of the death penalty. House Bill 307 also received final passage and would amend the Georgia Early Literacy Act to include dyslexia, renaming it the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act. The bill aims to improve reading instruction for students at risk of falling behind or showing signs of dyslexia by aligning teaching methods with the science of reading principles. HB 307 would also prohibit the use of the three-cueing method as the primary literacy instruction approach and establish the Georgia Literacy Plan Coordination Council to oversee and ensure standardized training across the state. Similarly, Senate Bill 93 , which would require that the content standards align with the science of reading for core curricula for state-approved educator preparation programs, received final passage. House Bill 216 , named in memory of former State Representative and House Rules Chairman Richard Smith, was also among the bills that received final passage. This legislation would establish the Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Development Act and would create funds to provide grants and loans to attract semiconductor companies to Georgia, as well as support workforce education and training in high-demand semiconductor and microelectronics careers. House Bill 266 , which would support Georgia’s military veterans, also received final passage and is now awaiting the governor’s decision. The bill would increase the income exclusion for military retirement benefits to $65,000 for retired military members under the age of 65. Additionally, House Bill 136 received final passage, which would allow parents of children age five and under to claim a $250 state income tax credit, which would expand the state income tax credit for child care expenses.

Following the end of the 2025 legislative session, Governor Kemp now has 40 days to either sign or veto any legislation that received final passage by the General Assembly. Depending on the bill, some will become law upon the governor’s signature, while others may take effect on a specified enactment date. Any bills not signed or vetoed within the 40-day period after Sine Die will automatically take effect in Georgia. Any House and Senate bills that did not receive final passage this session may still be eligible for consideration during next year’s legislative session. To stay informed about the bills the governor signs into law, please click here .

As we head into the interim, the time between legislative sessions, my colleagues and I will begin the study committee process later this year. These committees will take a deep dive into specific issues currently impacting Georgia, with the goal of gathering valuable insights that will help shape the legislation we introduce during next year’s session. The following study committees were approved this session: the House Study Committee on Reinsurance for Essential Industries, created by House Resolution 40 ; the House Study Committee on Cancer Access, created by House Resolution 72 ; the House Study Committee on the Costs and Effects of Smoking, created by House Resolution 304 ; the House Study Committee on Funding for Next Generation 9-1-1, created by House Resolution 429 ; the House Study Committee on Georgia’s Investment Funds, created by House Resolution 557 ; the House Study Committee on the State Board of Registration of Used Motor Dealers and Used Motor Vehicle Parts Dealers, created by House Resolution 558 ; the House Study Committee on Abandoned Child Placement Following Hospital Discharge, created by House Resolution 611 ; the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in Pre-K-12 Education, created by House Resolution 711 ; the House Study Committee on Improving Access to Internal Medicine in Rural Areas, created by House Resolution 753 ; the House Study Committee on Evaluating Funding for Public Health, created by House Resolution 847 ; the House Study Committee on Election Procedures, created by House Resolution 885 and the House Study Committee on Reducing and Prioritizing Mandates for Public School Administration, created by House Resolution 887 .

Although this legislative session has ended, I encourage you to share your thoughts on how I can best support our district and what matters most to you and your family, as your input is invaluable. I encourage you to reach out by calling 404-656-0213 or emailing karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov . As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 11 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:56:23 GMT

March 25 - 28, 2025

My House colleagues and I returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, to kick off the 11th week of the 2025 legislative session. In preparation for the fast-approaching Sine Die deadline, we passed several pieces of legislation this week, including bills that passed over from the Senate, as well as giving final passage to bills that are now on their way to the governor’s desk for his decision to sign or veto. Throughout this arduous process, we remain focused on delivering meaningful solutions for our state and communities. I will highlight some of the key measures we took up this week, and I remain eager to advance more positive policy initiatives before the 2025 legislative session concludes on Friday, April 4, 2025.

The House gave final passage to Senate Bill 123 this week, a measure aimed at addressing chronic absenteeism in Georgia’s public schools. The bill would formally define chronic absenteeism as students who missed 10 percent or more of the school year. It would also introduce targeted intervention strategies to boost student attendance, while providing support over punishment for schools and students struggling with absences. Last year, 22.6 percent of Georgia’s public-school students—approximately 360,000 children—were chronically absent, missing 10 percent or more of the school year, underscoring the need for this legislation. With the objective of modernizing language in Georgia law, the bill would update the term mandatory attendance to compulsory attendance and expand the definition of a parent or guardian to include legal custodians or individuals with legal authority over a child. Importantly, the bill would not expel or penalize students solely due to excused absenteeism. Additionally, the bill would mandate that school climate committees, responsible for assessing school safety and attendance, meet at least twice a year and report their findings to the Georgia Department of Education and the Georgia General Assembly. Lastly, schools and districts with high absenteeism rates would face added oversight under SB 123 – districts with a 10 percent or higher absenteeism rate would be required to form an attendance review team, while individual schools with chronic absenteeism rates exceeding 15 percent would establish a dedicated review team. By establishing attendance review teams, schools could find solutions to chronic absenteeism and implement policies and support to get students back into the classroom. We know that being present in the classroom is vital for students’ learning, and this legislation would be a step in the right direction toward enhancing student engagement, improving academic outcomes and preparing them for postsecondary education. SB 123 now heads to the governor’s desk for his review.

The House also focused on addressing the needs of Georgia’s current and former foster children and supporting their pursuit of higher education through the passage of Senate Bill 85 . The passage of this bill recognizes that supporting Georgia’s foster youth is essential to ensuring that they have the same opportunities as other young Georgians to advance their education and prepare for future careers. As such, this bill would establish the Georgia Foster Care Scholarship Act, which aims to provide financial assistance in the form of grants to current and former foster youth seeking postsecondary education. These grants would be subject to annual appropriations, and former foster youth would be eligible for the scholarship if they are under the age of 26 and have been in foster care or were in foster care for at least six months after the age of 14. The grants would cover tuition, room and board, meal plans and textbooks at eligible institutions. SB 85 would ensure that all individuals who are currently or formerly part of Georgia’s foster care system receive coverage not only for tuition but also for other essential costs of higher education. The total award amount would be based on the cost of these expenses, minus any other federal or state scholarships, with a maximum annual grant of $30,000. Eligible students could continue to receive the scholarship until they earn a bachelor’s degree, exceed a set number of attempted credit hours or reach the 10-year scholarship limit. With access to higher education, these individuals could gain the skills and qualifications necessary to enter Georgia’s workforce, contributing to the state’s economic growth. SB 85 was passed in the House by substitute and will now return to the Senate where they will review the House’s version of the bill.

Furthermore, my colleagues and I gave final passage to Senate Bill 72 , which would create a legal safe harbor for rare disease patients and other vulnerable patient groups in Georgia. The bill would allow hospitals and healthcare professionals to provide cutting-edge care and treatments to patients based on their individualized condition and DNA. Under this legislation, physicians would be allowed to prescribe medications and treatments that have not yet gone through the full FDA process. Oftentimes, individualized medications for diseases that are considered rare or affect a smaller patient group are not given a full FDA process because they are costly. Instead, these treatments may go through clinics that have received official Federalwide Assurances (FWA), which ensure that they comply with U.S. federal regulations for the protection of human subjects in research. Currently, patients with rare diseases seeking these treatments in Georgia may need to leave the state to receive this individualized care. However, under SB 72, these patients would have access to individualized and physician-approved medications in Georgia. This bill seeks to support vulnerable patient populations by allowing for physician and clinic-approved medications and treatments to advance the health of rare disease patients, ultimately elongating or improving their lives.

Senate Bill 42 , which aims to address certain inconsistencies in sentencing for crimes involving the exploitation of minors, also passed the House unanimously this week and is now on its way to the governor’s desk for consideration. The bill would repeal a provision in current state law that imposes penalties for offenses like keeping a place of prostitution, pimping or pandering when the victim is under the age of 18. This change would correct a rule of lenity issue, which currently allows judges to impose the lesser sentence when a defendant is charged with two similar offenses. Under current state law, judges in both Cobb and Cherokee counties have found that charges of human trafficking and pimping and pandering a minor are similar enough to trigger this rule, resulting in lesser sentences for those convicted of pimping and pandering, despite the more serious nature of the charge of human trafficking. SB 42 would align the penalties for pimping, pandering and human trafficking, sending a message that Georgia will not tolerate the exploitation of its young citizens in any form. By ensuring that charges for pimping and pandering a minor are prosecuted with the same severity as human trafficking, SB 42 would help close a loophole and ensure consistent, appropriate penalties for those who exploit minors.

Building on the foundation of Senate Bill 465 , Austin’s Law, which was passed in the 2024 legislative session in memory of Austin Walters, a fentanyl overdose victim, my colleagues and I gave House passage to Senate Bill 79 , the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act. SB 79 is part of a broader initiative to combat fentanyl-related deaths in Georgia and to address opioid abuse more generally. SB 79 would strengthen penalties for trafficking fentanyl and its equivalents by amending state law related to the manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession or sale of noncontrolled substances. Specifically, it would remove fentanyl and its equivalents from the current statute that governs opiates and creates a separate schedule of offenses for fentanyl. Under the Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act, individuals found with at least four grams of fentanyl, or its equivalent, would face mandatory minimum sentences, starting at eight years and a $75,000 fine for amounts just over four grams and escalating based on the quantity involved. For example, the penalty for possessing 28 grams or more would be 35 years in prison and a fine of $750,000. SB 79 supports ongoing efforts to address the opioid crisis in Georgia, including initiatives like making Naloxone more widely available in schools and public buildings. Fentanyl is incredibly potent, with just two milligrams potentially being lethal, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has found counterfeit pills containing up to five milligrams—more than twice the lethal dose. With drug trafficking organizations distributing fentanyl by the kilogram, SB 79 would, if approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, strengthen penalties for those involved in trafficking this dangerous substance, helping to protect communities.

My House colleagues and I gave final passage to Senate Bill 245 , which would allow grandparents expanded visitation rights in certain situations. This legislation would permit grandparents who have been granted visitation rights to their grandchild following the death, incapacitation or incarceration of the child’s parent to petition the court and request a revision of their visitation rights up to one time every two years. Currently, under Georgia law, grandparents are allowed visitation rights in the event of a death of the parent, but this legislation would allow grandparents to go to court and request that their visitation rights be changed. However, SB 245 would still grant parents the right to revoke the visitation rights of a grandparent at any time, if needed. The bill would allow a legal avenue for grandparents to modify existing visitation orders and ensure that any modification is in the child’s best interest, requiring clear and convincing evidence before a change is granted by the court. Lastly, the bill would strengthen the legal framework for grandparent visitation rights by ensuring that changes are well-documented and justified. The goal of the legislation is to provide necessary and mutually agreed-upon updates to visitation rights, while prioritizing the well-being of children and their guardians.

As the end of the 2025 session draws near, several pieces of legislation have now received final passage in the House and Senate. I would like to highlight several bills that received final passage, meaning that these bills will now head to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk where he can sign into law or veto the legislation. One of these bills, House Bill 340 , would instruct public school systems to implement policies to ban the use of personal electronic devices in the classroom from the start to the end of the school day for the purpose of keeping students engaged in their learning environments. House Bill 111 is also awaiting the governor’s decision and proposes a reduction in the individual income tax rate from 5.39 percent to 5.19 percent, effective after January 1, 2025. Similarly, House Bill 112 , which would provide a one-time income tax refund to taxpayers who filed returns both in 2023 and 2024, is also on its way to the governor’s desk. The refund would be the lesser of either the taxpayer’s 2023 tax liability or $250 for single filers, $375 for head-of-household filers or $500 for married couples filing jointly. At the end of the week, the House voted to give final passage to House Bill 428 , which would codify protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and is now awaiting the governor’s decision.

We also passed the following bills and resolution during the 11th week of session:

Senate Bill 9 , the Ensuring Accountability for Illegal AI Activities Act, which would define terms related to artificial intelligence (AI) and would establish the offense of fraudulent election interference and solicitation of fraudulent election interference by using AI-generated media in campaign advertisements. The bill would introduce the terms materially deceptive media and AI generated media and would criminalize the publication of this type of media within 90 days of an election with intent to deceive voters and influence the outcome of an election. The State Election Board would be authorized to investigate complaints regarding fraudulent election interference within 90 days of an election and would publicly release the findings or completed investigations. The attorney general would be granted concurrent jurisdiction with local district attorneys to criminally prosecute violations regarding fraudulent election interference upon recommendation from the State Election Board. The bill would clarify that the use of AI-generated content in campaign advertisements would not be unlawful as long as the proper disclosures are displayed;

Senate Bill 40 , which would prohibit a secondary metals recycler from paying more than $100 in cash for any transaction to a seller. These recyclers would also be prohibited from paying cash for used, detached catalytic converters or coils, used utility wire, used communications copper, copper wire or a battery. The bill would revise certain requirements related to registered agents and would require the locality to remit $100 of each registration fee to the locality’s general fund and $100 to the Georgia Sheriff’s Association;

Senate Bill 44 , which would amend state law by revising the definition of the qualified local school system by reducing the minimum required or equivalent millage rate from 14 mills to 10 mills. This bill would provide for a 25 percent reduction of equalization grant awards for local school systems whose millage rate or equivalent millage rate does not meet the minimum requirement. A report created by the Department of Education would be sent to certain members of the General Assembly, the House Budget and Research Office, Senate Budget and Evaluation Office and Office of Planning and Budget each year by September 1. The report would show systems that received an equalization grant the previous fiscal year, the total amount of equalization earned over the past 10 years and list any systems with a millage rate less than 10 percent;

Senate Bill 56 , which would authorize the Department of Administrative Services to purchase annuities for the payment of indemnification claims. The bill would allow for indemnification payments for claims relating to deaths of public safety officers related to COVID-19 when the death occurred on or before April 15, 2022. Applications for payment could be submitted no later than August 1, 2025;

Senate Bill 63 , which would amend state law to require local school systems to allow home study students to take the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, PreACT, ACT or Advanced Placement exams offered by the school system to resident students. The local school system could require home school students to pay for such exam if the school requires all students to pay a fee to take the exam;

Senate Bill 69 , the Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act, which would regulate third party litigation financing in Georgia. This legislation would require litigation financiers to register with the Department of Banking and Finance and to disclose pertinent information. It would also include specific restrictions, such as a prohibition on foreign affiliations. The bill would outline contract requirements, disclosure obligations and cancellation provisions to protect consumers. It would also allow for the discovery of litigation financing agreements and would establish penalties for law violations;

Senate Bill 105 , which would allow a licensed veterinarian to practice veterinary telemedicine in the state under conditions outlined in state law and would allow a licensed veterinarian or a veterinarian technician under supervision by a licensed veterinarian to practice veterinary teletriage under conditions outlined in state law. Other code sections would be amended by adding in definitions for veterinary teleadvice, veterinary telemedicine and veterinary teletriage and by updating language to reflect these new definitions. SB 105 would further allow graduates of a foreign veterinary medicine school who are able to submit a transcript, who have completed a residency program of two or more years and have received board certification from a veterinary medicine organization recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Board of Veterinary Specialties or other American Veterinary Medical Association board-approved organizations to be able to apply for a veterinary license in Georgia. A graduate could additionally submit an Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) certificate or its equivalent, a Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) certificate or its equivalent or any other document authorized by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The bill would not prohibit someone licensed in this way from lecturing or giving instructions in their certified veterinary medicine specialty;

Senate Bill 110 , which would define the term blatant disregard within the Juvenile Code as a real, significant and imminent risk of harm that is so obvious to a legal custodian that a reasonable person would not expose a child to that imminent risk of harm without exercising certain precautionary measures. It would also define the term independent activity to be one that is not under the direct supervision of a legal custodian or parent and includes playing outdoors, walking to school, running errands and traveling to local commercial or recreational facilities. The bill would modify the definition of neglect to be when someone fails to provide necessary parental care rather than proper parental care. It would also narrow the requirements of when a parent must provide certain supervision necessary for the health and safety of a child to require the parent to avoid creating a real, significant and imminent risk of harm to the child as a result of blatant disregard for the parent’s responsibilities. This would further narrow what constitutes abandonment of a child under the definition of neglect to exclude when a parent or guardian permits a child to engage in independent activities that reasonably avoid substantial risk of harm. The bill would also modify state law to amend the crime of when a person causes bodily harm to or endangers the bodily safety of another through conscious disregard of another’s safety to explicitly not include when a parent or legal custodian permits a child to engage in one or more independent activities unless doing so constitutes neglect;

Senate Bill 112 , which would create a new article in state law to allow an HVAC system manufacturer’s warranty to be conveyed to a new owner of a residential property should a conveyance of property take place;

Senate Bill 119 , which would revise provisions regarding when manufactured homes become real property, specifically through a certificate of permanent location. When a certificate of permanent location is filed, the commissioner would notify the holders of all listed security interests that a certificate has been filed and the certificate of title has been surrendered. The filing of a certificate of permanent location and the surrender of a certificate of title would not impair the rights and remedies of a prior interest holder until the interest has been satisfied. Additionally, the filing of a certificate of permanent location and the surrender of a certificate of title would not impose additional licensing or conduct requirements on the lien or security interest holder;

Senate Bill 147 , which would allow state correctional institutions to provide for the release of certain criminal history, vocational and educational information for inmates upon release. The bill would provide for the issuance of an identification card and a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate;

Senate Bill 149 , which would revise the institution eligibility for tuition equalization grants to require classification as a Level VI institution by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges;

Senate Bill 180 , which would allow apprenticeship sponsors to perform specified tasks related to conducting an apprenticeship program;

Senate Bill 193 , which would authorize the Technical College System of Georgia to establish the adult workforce high school diploma program, which would have a sunset date of July 1, 2031;

Senate Bill 233 , which would increase the number of members of the Behavioral Health Reform Innovation Commission from 24 to 30. The six members added must be: a certified addition recovery specialist with lived experiences; an intellectual and developmental disabilities provider; an individual who has lost an immediate family member to a drug overdose; a leader of an intellectual and developmental recovery nonprofit; and someone with or a parent of someone with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bill would also replace the Involuntary Commitment and Workforce System Development subcommittees of the commission with Addictive Diseases and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The commission’s abolishment date would be extended from June 30, 2025, to December 31, 2026;

House Resolution 273 , which would designate the City of Incheon, South Korea as the sister city-state of Georgia.

On Monday, March 31st, we will return for the 12th and final week of the 2025 legislative session. In the final days of the 2025 legislative session, I will continue working for our district and fighting for our communities. You can access committee schedules, livestreams and the status of bills on the Georgia General Assembly’s website, linked here .

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the bills being considered by visiting my Capitol office, calling 404-656-0213, or emailing karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov . As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 10 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 20:26:57 GMT

March 18 - 21, 2025

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, my legislative colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome for Legislative Day 32, ready to resume our work on behalf of the people we serve. With only a few legislative days remaining in this year’s session, we are fully focused on advancing meaningful legislation that will deliver real results for our communities and our state, and every moment counts as we work diligently until the last second. With just two weeks remaining until Sine Die on Friday, April 4th, I want to highlight some important measures we addressed during the 10th week of the 2025 legislative session.

This week, the House passed Senate Bill 68 , a measure that would revise several areas of civil law, including motor vehicle and tort laws. Under SB 68, the recovery of attorney’s fees would be restricted, and the admissibility of seatbelt evidence would be updated. The bill would create a new framework for claims related to negligent security, limiting property owners’ liability in certain situations. SB 68 would also change how medical expense damages are calculated and allow for bifurcated trials. First, SB 68 would limit arguments on noneconomic damages—such as non-monetary losses resulting from an accident or harm—by prohibiting attorneys from discussing these damages in the closing argument unless they were already addressed in the opening argument. Additionally, attorneys would not be permitted to discuss a different value for noneconomic damages in the closing argument than what was presented in the opening argument. However, the bill would not prevent attorneys from asking potential jurors during voir dire— the process of questioning jurors to determine their suitability for a case—whether they could return a verdict that either does not award damages or awards an amount greater than a specified limit, as long as these questions would be supported by evidence. SB 68 would also require courts to rule on a motion to dismiss within 90 days after the conclusion of the briefings on that motion. If the court does not issue a ruling within this 90-day period, a party would be able to file a motion to terminate or modify the case. However, this remedy would not prevent the use of other available options to address the court’s inability to rule in a timely manner, including, but not limited to, filing a writ of mandamus—a court order which directs a lower court or government official to perform a certain public duty or legal obligation.

Further, SB 68 would amend current state law to allow a party to file a written notice of dismissal at any time before the 60th day after the opposing party serves an answer. SB 68 would also specify that a property owner or occupier could be held liable for poor security if the plaintiff proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that prior incidents of similar wrongful conduct by a third person led to an injury. This liability would only apply if the property owner or occupier knew, or had reason to know, that the third person was or would be on the premises and if the owner or occupier had actual knowledge of the prior wrongful conduct. Also, SB 68 would include provisions for cases where the plaintiff has been injured by an alleged sexual offense. These provisions would allow a court to reject a decision made by any party to divide the plaintiff’s case into two phases for liability and damages, also known as a bifurcated proceeding, if the plaintiff is likely to experience psychological or emotional distress from testifying twice in a bifurcated proceeding. The provisions would also apply if the amount in controversy is less than $150,000. On Friday, the Senate accepted the House’s changes to SB 68, and the bill now heads to the governor’s desk for signature.

On Tuesday, the House passed the Dignity and Pay Act, bipartisan legislation which would prohibit the Georgia Department of Labor from offering exemptions to minimum wage laws for individuals with disabilities. Senate Bill 55 would further prohibit employers from utilizing certificates issued by the U.S. Department of Labor that allow companies to pay individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities below the minimum wage. Under current federal law, there are eight organizations in the state that have a federal waiver that allows them to pay workers below the federal minimum wage. If a Georgia company currently utilizes a federal certificate, SB 55 would require the company to pay individuals with disabilities at least half of the minimum wage between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027. Starting on July 1, 2027, employers would not be able to utilize these certificates to pay individuals with disabilities subminimum wages. The goal of this would be to phase out less than minimum wage payment to these employees. As we promote workforce development and job creation in Georgia, it is important that we also ensure equal opportunity and compensation to employees with disabilities – individuals who contribute in meaningful and vital ways to our state’s industries. With the bill’s final passage, it now awaits the governor’s signature to be enacted into law.

Senate Bill 109 also passed the House this week with bipartisan support. This bill, which mirrors House Bill 182 that we passed in the House earlier this session, would provide much needed protections for Georgia’s active-duty service members and their families. Specifically, SB 109 would prevent group life insurance policies in our state from excluding or limiting liability for the death of an insured active-duty service member, unless the death is directly or indirectly caused by war or a related act or hazard. Currently, many life insurance policies include exclusions that specify that certain causes of death are not covered under the policy, often using the term “act of war” to describe these exclusions. However, in group life insurance policies, the term “active duty” is typically used. SB 109 would clarify that being on active duty alone would not be a reason to deny a claim. For example, if an active-duty service member is injured in a car accident while at home, on leave or stationed within the United States, their life insurance claim should not be denied simply because they are on active duty but not in active combat. SB 109 would guarantee that Georgia’s dedicated service members and their families are protected, no matter where the injury or death occurs, ensuring they receive the support and benefits they deserve for the sacrifices they make in service to our state and nation. The House’s unanimous vote on SB 109 gave the bill final passage where it now goes to the governor’s desk for approval.

Later this week, the House gave final passage to Senate Bill 58 , the Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act, which would allow for the licensing and operation of emergency organ transport vehicles as ambulance services to transport necessary personnel, organs, tissue or medical supplies to a time-critical organ transplant procedure. For example, if a donor is deceased, the organ may need to be transported from another region of the state, across state lines or by air transport, necessitating the need for specialized personnel and specialized emergency transport. These specialized vehicles have been used for years to transport organs, but they are not explicitly designated as emergency vehicles in state law. SB 58 would eliminate any potential concern about their status as a critical emergency vehicle by codifying it in Georgia law. Under this legislation, these vehicles would be eligible to apply for licenses designating them as emergency organ transplant vehicles and would also be required to have insurance coverage, as other vehicles do under state law. The Department of Public Safety would be authorized to designate each vehicle by issuing a permit to operate flashing or revolving emergency lights. By allowing emergency organ transport vehicles to operate under ambulance service regulations, SB 58 – now headed to the governor’s desk – would help ensure that organs, medical personnel and critical supplies reach their destinations faster, with the goal of saving more lives. In a similar effort to promote organ donation, the House also passed Senate Bill 84 , which would create a special license plate recognizing the importance of organ donation. The license plate would read ‘Organ Donors Save Lives,’ and the funds raised by the sale of the license plate would be deposited into the state’s general fund. These two initiatives underscore the House’s dedication to supporting both organ donors and recipients, reinforcing the importance of saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes across our state.

We also passed the following Senate bills during the 10th week of session:

Senate Bill 6 , which would allow for drug analysis equipment to be used to determine whether a controlled substance or its packaging have been altered;

Senate Bill 13 , which would allow the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to provide loans for the supply, distribution and storage of natural gas. The bill would provide for the transition from electrical lines aboveground to underground;

Senate Bill 35 , which would extend the required notice period for the nonrenewal of certain property insurance policies from 30 days to 60 days;

Senate Bill 88 , which would increase the number of superior court judges in the Douglas Judicial Circuit from three to four. The fourth judge would be appointed for a term beginning January 1, 2026, continuing through December 31, 2028. Their successor would be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2028;

Senate Bill 96 , which would make modifications with respect to particular boards, advisory councils, commissions and other similar bodies. Certain bodies would be abolished, with liabilities and obligations of those bodies assumed by the state. The composition, appointment procedures, member terms and requirements of particular bodies would be revised;

Senate Bill 98 , which would change various references in state law to reflect “county conservators” rather than “county guardians” and add references to “county conservators” to other sections of state law. After July 1, 2025, when an individual designated as a county guardian is serving as a county conservator, that individual would be titled ‘county conservator;’

Senate Bill 145 , which would increase the number of superior court judges in the Augusta Judicial Circuit from five to six. The sixth judge would be appointed for a term beginning January 1, 2026, continuing through December 31, 2028. Their successor would be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2028;

Senate Bill 153 , which is the annual Code revision bill that would revise, modernize and correct errors or omissions to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The bill reflects the work of the Code Revision Commission that would repeal portions of the Code that are obsolete, declared unconstitutional or preempted or superseded by subsequent laws. Lastly, the bill would provide for other matters relating to revision, reenactment and publication of the Code;

Senate Bill 154 , which would amend state law by adding the words “or its successor” across Georgia Code after references to the U.S. Department of Education. The bill would update dated language by replacing a reference to student aid reports with Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in state law;

Senate Bill 252 , which would allow municipalities with a population 300,000 or higher to lease out, grant easements over or convey property to an independent school system within its boundaries. Property conveyed would be replaced with other property(s) that the governing authority deems to be of equivalent or greater value;

Senate Bill 276 , which would introduce new obligations for third-party health insurance payers regarding medical assistance claims. The bill would prohibit third-party payers from withholding payment for healthcare services that have already been rendered, preventing them from denying payment solely due to a lack of prior authorization. The bill would also require insurers to respond to inquiries from the state regarding the status of claims within 60 days;

My House colleagues and I will return to the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 25th for the 11th week of the 2025 legislative session. We are in the final stages of advancing legislation that could soon become law. I encourage you to stay engaged and keep track of the legislation that affects our community and your family. You can access committee schedules, livestreams and the status of bills on the Georgia General Assembly’s website, linked here .

Week 9 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 20:59:39 GMT

March 10 - 14, 2025

After a fast-paced and eventful Crossover Day last week, members of the Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol on Monday, March 10th for Legislative Day 29, kicking off our ninth week of session. With Crossover Day behind us, the House began to review and vote on legislation that passed over from our Senate counterparts this week. Additionally, my colleagues and I successfully passed the House’s version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, House Bill 68 . This critical piece of legislation would outline and allocate the necessary funding for the state’s operations and services in the upcoming fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. The House passage of HB 68 serves as a significant milestone in the legislative process, fulfilling our constitutional obligation to pass a balanced budget. It also lays the foundation for the priorities that will guide Georgia’s growth and development for the next year, with significant investments in education and public safety.

With a revenue estimate of $37.7 billion—marking an increase of $1.6 billion or 4.4 percent over the original FY 2025 budget—the House’s version of HB 68 places a strong emphasis on addressing the critical needs of Georgia’s education system to ensure that Georgia students can thrive. As such, a large portion of HB 68 would support a statewide literacy initiative aimed at improving reading outcomes for students in kindergarten through fifth grade, recognizing that reading proficiency by the end of third grade is central to future academic success and beyond. Therefore, the House’s version of the FY 2026 budget appropriates $22.7 million—$10 million of which includes new funding—to support the recommendations of the Georgia Council on Literacy. HB 68 appropriates $18.5 million for 116 Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA)-based literacy coaches, providing individualized teacher support to ensure that structured literacy and the science of reading would be implemented effectively. Additionally, HB 68 allots $2 million for a free universal reading screener that would be available to all school systems as a result of the efforts outlined in House Bill 538 , the Georgia Early Literacy Act, which Governor Brian Kemp signed into law in 2023. The House’s version of the FY 2026 budget also includes funding for a state-level coaching coordinator position that would support competency-based research and training for literacy coaches and educators.

In addition to investing in literacy initiatives, HB 68 also demonstrates the House’s commitment to school safety, proposing a $25 million investment that would cover the first-year costs of the statewide School and Student Safety (S3) Database—a new tool that would collect and investigate school-based threats across state and local law enforcement agencies. This proposal would also support Behavioral Threat Assessment Management (BTAM) teams, which would address identified threats and enhance overall school safety. This funding is included in the House’s budget as a result of House Bill 268 , a comprehensive school safety plan that prioritizes strengthened safety measures, that is now awaiting Senate consideration. The House’s version of the FY 2026 budget also includes $19.6 million for mental health support grants for school systems through the Student Support Services program, a new initiative outlined in HB 68 that would provide both academic and mental health support to students both in and outside of school. Similar to school security grants, school systems would earn $20,000 per middle and high school for mental health services, including contracting with providers, tele-mental health contracts or hiring in-school counselors. HB 68 also includes investments in student well-being and proposes $28 million in targeted support for economically disadvantaged students, allowing Georgia to join 45 other states in providing additional funds through a poverty weight to districts with a high proportion of these students. Additionally, HB 68 would once again fully fund the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program with a record $14.7 billion in state funds for K-12 education.

The House’s FY 2026 budget further supports students and educators across Georgia by recommending a total of $6.3 million in state funds to continue to provide breakfast and lunch for reduced-paying students, which would certify that every child has access to nutritious meals while they are at school. Additionally, the Non-Quality Basic Education program would receive $5.9 million for sparsity grants, which would benefit 131 qualified schools based on updated survey data. These grants are designed for schools with smaller student populations that would not generate enough funds through QBE to meet staffing and operational needs. The Non-Quality Basic Education program would also receive $150,000 in new funding for feminine hygiene products, bringing the total appropriation to $1.65 million. These grants would be specifically targeted to low property tax wealth districts with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students. Moreover, HB 68 includes $7.5 million for the School Supplies for Educators program, as outlined in Senate Bill 464 , which passed during the 2024 legislative session. These funds would provide educators with $100 each to purchase essential school supplies, recognizing that many school teachers often pay out-of-pocket for classroom supplies.

In the Technology and Career Education program, the House’s version of the FY 2026 budget appropriates $1.25 million for high-demand equipment grants that would support new and expanding career and technical education labs, including grants for heavy equipment simulators. HB 68 also sets aside $14 million in lottery funds for the Georgia Pre-K Program to continue implementing the recommendations from the House Early Childhood Education Working Group. This funding would support year two of a four-year phase-in to reduce class sizes from 22 to 20 students, aiming to improve instructional quality. HB 68 also includes the addition of 93 new Pre-K classrooms that would accommodate growing demand across the state.

While education funding is a substantial part of HB 68, the House’s version of the FY 2026 budget also prioritizes funding aimed at enhancing Georgia’s courts, correctional systems and public safety sectors. The House’s FY 2026 budget provides $1.6 million to the Council of Accountability Court Judges that would increase participation in accountability courts. This funding would enable an additional 843 Georgians to receive treatment and services for mental health and drug addiction, which offers an alternative to incarceration. Furthermore, since FY 2021, the Georgia General Assembly has made significant investments in Georgia’s correctional officers and juvenile correctional officers, recognizing their critical role in maintaining safety and security within the state’s correctional facilities. This funding has resulted in a 63.9 percent salary increase for these dedicated public servants, with an additional four percent pay raise that is included in FY 2026; this would amount to $13.5 million for the Department of Corrections and $3.1 million for the Department of Juvenile Justice. The House’s version of the FY 2026 budget also includes a $250 million increase for the Department of Corrections, with $45 million allocated to hire more than 700 new correctional officers, which would improve inmate-to-staff ratios, underscoring the state’s continued support for the hard work and sacrifices of correctional officers who play an essential role in Georgia’s justice system.

Furthermore, the House recognizes the critical condition of the state’s aging correctional facilities, many of which are in need of repairs to guarantee the safety of both inmates and correctional officers. HB 68 provides funding to move 667 prisoners from state prisons to other housing units, which would pave the way for necessary renovations. Additionally, four new 126-bed prefabricated housing units would become available through HB 68, allowing for the relocation of 1,171 inmates as part of widespread facility renovations. The House’s budget also allocates $15 million to address capital maintenance and repairs and $19.2 million for skilled maintenance staff to help address and repair critical infrastructure needs. Further, the House’s FY 2026 budget also adds $56.8 million to the Department of Corrections to continue offering comprehensive physical, mental, dental and pharmaceutical services to inmates. This appropriation would expand mental health services by funding an additional 42 mental health professionals, ensuring that inmates receive the care and support they need. Finally, HB 68 includes $2.8 million that would make 100 transition center beds available at the Smith Transitional Center in Evans County. These beds would provide inmates returning to the Southeast Georgia area with access to necessary resources, including employment assistance, social services, housing support and family reunification programming.

The House is also working to address homelessness in our state, and this budget includes funding to aid in that effort. The House’s version of the FY 2026 budget allocates $6 million for homelessness initiatives, with an additional $4 million designated to leverage federal funding for the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless. This fund, developed through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, supports organizations that provide housing and services to individuals and families working to overcome homelessness. HB 68 also includes $2 million that would assist in expanding the Accountable Housing Initiative, which also falls under the umbrella of the Department of Community Affairs and awards funding on a competitive basis to eligible applicants who demonstrate an ability to provide voluntary, immediate, stable housing and support services to program participants. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities receives $2.7 million in new funding that would support different programs that address homelessness, including 100 new housing voucher slots, outreach services for those with severe mental illness and a community action team.

HB 68 also makes significant investments in maternal health as the House continues its work to improve healthcare outcomes for women across Georgia. More than $9 million in new funding is included in HB 68 to address maternal health needs, and $5 million is dedicated to expanding and sustaining labor and delivery services in rural areas of the state. Providing access to maternal healthcare in rural Georgia is paramount, as many rural communities across the state face significant healthcare shortages and barriers to maternal care. This funding would help build the necessary infrastructure to provide high-quality care to mothers in underserved communities. Additionally, HB 68 includes $1.2 million for the Department of Public Health’s Office of Cardiac Care that would be used to provide grants to hospitals to enhance cardiac care, as cardiac complications remain a leading cause of maternal mortality. To further improve maternal healthcare outcomes, $700,000 is set aside to support quality improvements at birthing facilities that would assist in increasing the number of facilities that meet verified maternal and neonatal care standards. Lastly, the House’s version of the FY 2026 budget directs the Department of Public Health to study the needs of regional emergency transportation, which could help identify more efficient ways to transport mothers who require additional care.

The House’s FY 2026 budget is robust, and I would like to highlight some additional noteworthy investments in HB 68. The House’s version of the FY 2026 budget proposes an additional $23.25 million for the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia, which would bring the total appropriation for the system to $50 million. This funding would provide an enhanced annual benefit adjustment for eligible retired state employees, ensuring that they receive the financial support they deserve after years of dedicated service to our state. Furthermore, the House has also aligned with the governor’s recommendation to the Department of Administrative Services to provide more than $1.5 million in supplemental payments to first responders suffering from occupational post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This funding stems from House Bill 451 , a House led initiative passed during the 2024 legislative session, which requires that public entities provide specialized insurance for first responders diagnosed with PTSD. Under the provisions of HB 451, these brave individuals will receive a lifetime benefit, including a $3,000 cash payment and income replacement disability benefits, available 90 days after diagnosis, if necessary. Finally, HB 68 appropriates $19.2 million to support growth in our state’s foster care system and account for rising costs of care. Our budget also allocates $1.5 million for clothing and supplies for foster youth; the funding would also help keep foster children closer to their families, deter child welfare involvement and support those aging out of the foster care system.

HB 68 is now awaiting consideration and action by the Senate, where it will undergo a similar committee review process. We expect that the Senate may make changes to the House’s version, which would lead to the appointment of a conference committee to reconcile any differences between the two versions. Once a final version is agreed upon and passed in both chambers, HB 68 will be sent to the governor’s desk for approval and signature into law.

In addition to passing the FY 2026 budget this week, the House also voted on Senate Bill 81 , which would enhance data privacy for automobile dealerships and update other requirements related to the relationships between auto manufacturers, affiliates, franchisors and dealers. The Georgia Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices Act has been amended multiple times over the past 35 years, but SB 81 seeks to make significant updates to this law by upholding consumer protections and ensuring fairer business practices when purchasing vehicles. First, this legislation would reaffirm the need for transparency with automobile warranty and recall information and ensure a competitive marketplace in order to foster fair pricing and accessible repair facilities. The bill also emphasizes that independent dealerships are essential for consumer protection and integration of new automotive technologies, while also preventing monopolistic practices that could harm local dealerships. Next, the bill would set stricter guidelines for consumer data protection for franchisors, manufacturers and third parties when handling data in the sale, leasing or repair of a vehicle. SB 81 would prohibit manufacturers from unauthorized access and sale of dealership data. It also would limit third-party interference in data storage and allow dealers to back up data in order to streamline the sales processes and safeguard it against security breaches. Under SB 81, manufacturers would still be allowed to access customer information in regard to essential needs, such as safety recalls, sales transactions, incentive validation and reasonable marketing purposes. Furthermore, manufacturers would be required to compensate franchise dealers who assist customers with over-the-air (OTA) vehicle recalls and disclose new vehicle functions that may be updated via OTA. In doing so, customers would have more transparency regarding their vehicle. The bill would also improve the allocation process by defining what would be considered a reasonable quantity of vehicles distributed to dealers, ensuring that smaller dealerships would have access to a fair quantity of vehicles and parts. Lastly, SB 81 would set guidelines for manufacturers that opt out of participating in franchise systems and choose to sell directly to the public, such as Tesla and Rivian. These manufacturers would still be allowed to make direct sales to the public but could not operate their own dealerships or enter into sales contracts from their showroom under the franchise law. This legislation seeks to remedy any gaps in the law, ensuring more equal opportunities for consumers and businesses alike.

We also passed the following Senate bills during the ninth week of session:

Senate Bill 138 , which would revise certain requirements of service between a qualified municipality and its county during the transition period, which is the period of the transition of governmental services from a county to that municipality. A qualified municipality would be a new municipality created by local Act that becomes law on or after January 1, 2024. The county would be required to have 15 or more municipalities for the provisions to apply. The bill would require the county to provide police or law enforcement services within the boundaries of the municipality until the municipality notifies the county of their intention to assume those services. If more ad valorem tax is collected within the municipality boundaries than the costs for police services provided by the county, the county would have to pay the excess funds to the municipality. During the transition period, the municipality would assume ownership over any road rights of way within its boundaries. The county would be responsible for maintenance of those roads during the transition period at the municipality’s discretion. The county would also be responsible for any infrastructure designed to temporarily retain 1,000 gallons or more of storm water, dams or detention ponds within the municipality, unless otherwise agreed upon. The county would reimburse the municipality a certain percentage of those fees collected of any permitting or application process within the municipality that is not completed when the municipality assumes that service. Any Service Delivery Strategy (SDS) that is in place upon the creation of the municipality would not be required to be renegotiated. The bill would allow the municipality to opt into any service provided to another city under the present SDS. If any service is assumed by the municipality in the middle of the county’s tax year, the county would give the municipality a proportional share of any tax or fee collected within the municipality. Certain insurance taxes could be collected by the municipality if all necessary legal steps have been taken to do so within 18 months of a referendum incorporating the municipality. The county would also be required to reimburse any legal expenses resulting from legal action taken against the municipality that is found to be related to actions of the county during the transition period. If a court finds that a county violates any mentioned responsibility, the sovereign immunity of the county would be suspended for one year from the date of the judicial ruling;

Senate Bill 139 , which would annex certain described property into the City of Mulberry;

Senate Bill 144 , which would allow pesticides registered with the Department of Agriculture commissioner that display a label approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or is consistent with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act human health risk assessment to be considered a sufficient warning of health risk. Provisions regarding this new subsection would not be applicable when the EPA has discovered that a manufacturer has knowingly withheld, misrepresented, concealed or destroyed certain health risks in order to obtain EPA approval.

My House colleagues and I will return to the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 18th to continue our important work advocating for your needs and interests. With less than 10 legislative days remaining, we are in the final stretch of this legislative session with our final day, or Sine Die, scheduled for April 4th. The next few weeks will be critical as we work to make decisions that will impact the future of our state.

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the bills being considered by visiting my Capitol office, calling 404-656-0213, or emailing karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 8 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 21:30:39 GMT

March 3 - 7, 2025

This week, the Georgia House of Representatives returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 3rd, kicking off the busiest week of the 2025 legislative session so far. Thursday, March 6th marked Crossover Day, a critical deadline for legislation to move from one chamber to the other. The House worked late into the evening, passing a record 75 bills and resolutions on Crossover Day alone that are now awaiting consideration in the Senate. With many pieces of legislation to consider, it was a week of intense activity and crucial decision-making as we worked to ensure that we had every opportunity to advance sound legislation to address the pressing needs of our state and its citizens.

We began the week by fulfilling our constitutional duty with the final passage of House Bill 67 , the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, which largely prioritizes recovery efforts in the wake of the catastrophic Hurricane Helene. The storm’s widespread destruction prompted an urgent need for recovery, and this budget allocates critical funding to help rebuild affected communities. Set by a revenue estimate of $40.5 billion, including $2.7 billion in surplus funds, the budget provides a $4.4 billion increase, or 12.2 percent, over the original Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget. Notable allocations include $113 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund to continue the state’s emergency response efforts, $50 million for debris removal and $285 million in disaster relief for farmers and timber producers. While Hurricane Helene relief is a top priority in the AFY 2025 budget, addressing the needs of the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC) is also a key component of this budget. HB 67 provides a total infusion of $345.9 million for the department, including $215 million in new funding to make essential safety, security and technology upgrades to GDC’s infrastructure. These upgrades are necessary to ensure the safety of both inmates and correctional staff, including $17.5 million for security technology to detect and prevent the introduction of contraband. The budget also prioritizes staffing and security, providing $50.9 million for new correctional officer positions. Additionally, $10.5 million will be allocated for new body cameras and tasers, enhancing safety for both officers and offenders. These tools will be linked to an Over Watch Logistics Unit (OWL), funded at $7.2 million, that will continuously monitor security cameras across the state, enabling a rapid response to disturbances. With a focus on immediate recovery and long-term restoration, this amended budget ensures that Georgia’s response to both Hurricane Helene and essential public safety needs is comprehensive and sustained. This funding is not only necessary but essential for rebuilding lives, homes and communities across Georgia. Governor Kemp signed the amended budget on Thursday after its final passage in the House and Senate.

A key focus in the Georgia House this week was prioritizing the state’s education system, safeguarding Georgia’s children and enhancing school safety. As a result, the House passed House Bill 268 , a comprehensive measure aimed at improving the safety, health and well-being of students and school communities across Georgia. HB 268 would implement a range of initiatives to reaffirm our dedication to fostering an environment where children can thrive without fear. First, the bill places an emphasis on improving the sharing of student records between schools and from state agencies, an impactful aspect of the bill that would allow schools to receive timely access to crucial educational and medical information for students. HB 268 would require schools to utilize an anonymous reporting app to give students a safe and confidential way to report concerns to allow schools to respond more quickly and effectively to the needs of at-risk students and would create mental health coordinator positions for each school district to connect students facing mental health challenges with available resources. The bill would also establish a statewide behavioral threat assessment indicator to quickly identify potential risks to school safety and address them before they escalate, while also increasing penalties for terroristic threats and mandating that schools suspend and provide counseling for students who make credible threats. Furthermore, HB 268 would require local schools to implement Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), suicide and youth violence prevention training, making sure students are not only protected but also equipped with the tools and resources to manage their behavior and emotions in a healthy manner. HB 268 would also create an Office of Safe Schools to provide resources and training to help schools foster safer environments, develop policies to prevent violence and, by July 1, 2026, coordinate with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to develop a state-wide behavioral threat management process for local school systems and law enforcement agencies. These behavioral threat management teams (BTAM) would be trained on identifying specific behaviors that are known indicators of a youth at risk and possibly in need of supportive interventions or services. BTAM teams would be formed at the discretion of the local school superintendent and sheriff’s office and would consist of experts in counseling and mental health, school administration and law enforcement. If a student poses a threat of harm, the BTAM team would immediately notify the superintendent, local law enforcement and the Office of School Safety. Additionally, the bill would develop a comprehensive School and Student Safety Database (S3), which would centralize critical information to manage safety concerns related to credible threats against Georgia’s schools and students, while ensuring the privacy and security of such data. HB 268 would empower Georgia schools to be better prepared for emergencies, giving families peace of mind knowing that their children are safe at school and that comprehensive and effective plans are in place to protect and provide support services to Georgia’s students.

As the House prioritized public safety in schools this week, we also took up a bipartisan measure aimed at incentivizing safe, responsible firearm storage through the passage of House Bill 79 , the Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage Tax Credit Act. This bill would introduce new provisions under Georgia law, offering taxpayers a credit of up to $300 for eligible expenses related to firearm safety training and secure storage devices. Proper firearm storage is crucial in preventing accidents, unauthorized access and theft. The tax credit program, with an annual aggregate cap of $3 million, would encourage responsible firearm ownership by providing financial incentives for individuals to participate in safety courses and invest in secure storage solutions. HB 79 would outline a clear path toward creating safer homes and communities across Georgia, reduce preventable tragedies and provide a cost-saving incentive for Georgians.

In an effort to improve our state’s criminal justice system, the House unanimously passed House Bill 123 , which would eliminate the death penalty as a punishment when sentencing individuals who have intellectual disabilities (ID). Under current Georgia law, those with intellectual disabilities can be subject to the death penalty if found guilty of a crime in capital cases, meaning cases where the defendant could face the death penalty. Under HB 123, the accused individual would be able to file a pretrial notice asserting their intellectual disability, which could lead to a pretrial hearing. The court could then determine whether the person has an intellectual disability based on a preponderance of the evidence. Currently, the defendant would have to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” that they have an intellectual disability, but HB 123 would move the standard of proof to a “preponderance of evidence,” meaning that the defendant would need to prove that their claim is more likely true than not. If the defendant is found to have an intellectual disability, the state would be barred from seeking the death penalty as punishment. This update to the law would increase efficiency during the pretrial phase and reduce the risk of an individual who has an ID from being misidentified as an individual without this disability. Defendants with intellectual disabilities oftentimes do not fully understand the consequences of their actions, unlike defendants without these disabilities. HB 123 has been a longstanding priority in the House, reflecting a continued effort to create a fairer and just criminal justice system.

We also passed legislation to improve maternal health outcomes with House Bill 89 , which would enhance oversight and coordination of maternal care services. The bill would grant the Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) access to psychiatric records of deceased mothers to better understand mental health’s role in maternal mortality. Mental health conditions are a leading cause of death in mothers, and by allowing the MMRC access to mental health records, the committee could make informed recommendations and policy decisions to improve future health outcomes for pregnant women. HB 89 would also establish the Regional Perinatal Center Advisory Committee to consider and make recommendations to the commissioner of the Department of Public Health (DPH) concerning the addition, reduction or transition of regional perinatal centers in the state. The advisory committee would be composed of between 11 and 21 members and appointed by the DPH for four-year terms. Beginning July 1, 2026, and every four years thereafter, DPH, in collaboration with the advisory committee, would review and make recommendations on the adequacy of the regional perinatal system and consider hospital and labor and delivery closures. The assessment would also ensure that perinatal facilities can stabilize mothers and infants before transport, focus on regional maternity care coordination, the timely evaluation and referral of high-risk pregnancies, the availability of adequate transport systems and the provision of essential perinatal services. When changes to these perinatal centers are approved by DPH at the recommendation of the committee, DPH would be able to submit a budget request seeking appropriations to implement such changes. Lastly, the bill would move deceased mothers’ autopsies under the scope of the Georgia Investigative Bureau or regular medical examiner offices, rather than perinatal facilities due to liability concerns. Currently, there are six perinatal centers across the state, and DPH has determined that they each require a review of their provided services. This committee would help ensure that we are doing everything we can to reduce maternal mortality cases in Georgia. It is critical, especially for mothers in underserved communities, to receive the care and support they need to successfully care for themselves and their babies.

The House fulfilled one of Governor Kemp’s legislative priorities this session with the passage of House Bill 112 , which would provide a one-time income tax refund for taxpayers who filed returns for both the 2023 and 2024 tax years. This refund amount would be the lesser of their 2023 state income tax liability or a fixed amount determined by their filing status: $250 for single filers or married individuals filing separately, $375 for heads of household and $500 for married couples filing jointly. Taxable nonresidents and part-year residents would receive a prorated refund based on the portion of their income taxable in Georgia, as reported on their 2023 form. With an estimated total distribution of $7.6 million, the measure underscores the House’s commitment to returning taxpayers’ hard-earned money back into their pockets.

The House also unanimously passed House Bill 262 , a necessary measure to strengthen the resilience of Georgia’s healthcare infrastructure, by creating a grant program to acquire and install backup generators for affected rural hospitals – acute care hospitals located in rural counties with fewer than 100 beds and located in any region where the governor declared a state of emergency after July 1, 2024. Under this legislation, the Department of Community Health, in collaboration with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, would set grant criteria and make award decisions. These grant amounts would be determined on a case-by-case basis to best meet each hospital’s specific needs, with priority given to affected rural hospitals lacking backup generators and the means to install them. In response to vulnerabilities exposed by Hurricane Helene and other recent storms in our state, this legislation would ensure that rural healthcare facilities can continue to operate and provide uninterrupted essential medical services during power outages.

House Bill 465 also passed unanimously in the House this week and aims to protect missing individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). HB 465, the Autism Missing Person Alert System Act, would add ASD to the list of conditions eligible for triggering the Mattie’s Call state-wide alert system. Established by the Georgia General Assembly in 2006, Mattie’s Call is an emergency missing alert for disabled or elderly persons, and this investigative tool can only be activated by a local law enforcement agency. By including autism spectrum disorder in the alert system, local law enforcement would be provided with vital guidance to prioritize searches in waterways and public roadways, areas where missing individuals with ASD may be more vulnerable. Additionally, the alert would ensure that distinctive autism-related behaviors are disclosed to help identify the missing person more quickly and effectively. This bill is necessary to assist law enforcement in receiving proper, clear training on how to handle missing person situations involving individuals with ASD, ensuring they are better equipped to manage these unique and potentially challenging circumstances. The unanimous passage of HB 465 reflects a strong commitment to enhancing safety and support for individuals with autism and their families.

My colleagues and I also passed legislation this week to reform school-zone speed enforcement by implementing greater transparency and a fairer citation process. House Bill 651 would limit automated speed camera operation to a four-hour window around school starting and dismissal times and enforce a 10-mph buffer above the school-zone speed limit before a citation is issued. Proper signage, including flashing yellow lights and radar speed detectors, would also be in place to ensure drivers receive clear warnings. A key change in this bill is the redistribution of civil citation revenue, with 50 percent of funds going directly toward school safety measures, such as surveillance, cybersecurity and crossing guards. The remaining revenue would still support local governments, but there would be greater accountability so that citation funds are not funneled to improper uses by private companies and local governments. There have been cases of Georgians across the state receiving citations well after school hours when these speed limits are not being enforced, unjustly charging individuals with speed violations. Under this bill, the first offense would be $75 and the second offense $125, and the bill strikes the previously instated $25 administrative fee, which would ensure more transparency of these fines. Furthermore, the bill would remove provisions that allowed unpaid citations to affect vehicle tag renewals and reinforce a driver’s right to contest citations in court. Lastly, the bill would require the Department of Public Safety to review speed enforcement measures on state highways, with the goal of preventing unwarranted fines. Alternatively, the House also passed House Bill 225 this week, which would remove automated school-zone speed cameras altogether, with the goal of outright banning unjust citations. The House sent both bills to the Senate for its consideration in hopes that at least one of the two bills will receive final passage to address the House’s desire to reform this practice.

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the bills being considered by visiting my Capitol office, calling 404-656-0213, or emailing karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 7 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 23:30:14 GMT

February 24 - 28, 2025

The Georgia House of Representatives reconvened at the State Capitol on Monday, February 24th to resume our legislative duties. During our seventh week of session, we convened for four legislative days, while Tuesday was set aside for a committee workday. While the House did not convene on Tuesday, my colleagues and I were diligently working to move legislation through the committee process. This week, the House voted on several bills and resolutions – the most of any week so far. I would like to highlight a few notable pieces of legislation that passed the House this week as we gear up for Crossover Day next week.

With the unanimous passage of House Bill 428 , the House took a significant step in supporting Georgians and their growing families. This legislation would codify the right to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in our state’s law, reinforcing our commitment to making Georgia the best place to live, work and raise a family. Many couples face the heartbreaking challenge of infertility, with the Centers for Disease Control reporting that 19 percent of women experience this struggle. IVF has provided a safe and effective path to parenthood for many, and in 2021 alone, more than 2,300 children were born in Georgia through this medical intervention, and members of the House shared stories of their personal connections to this life-changing medical procedure. These testimonies underscored just how vital IVF is for families struggling with infertility, making our vote to protect this right even more meaningful. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in ensuring that those who rely on IVF have the legal protection and support they need to grow their families through this procedure.

House Bill 307 demonstrates the House’s dedication to improving literacy in Georgia. Passed with bipartisan support this week, HB 307 would amend the Georgia Early Literacy Act to include dyslexia, renaming it the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act. During the 2023 legislative session, the House passed House Bill 538 , and HB 307 builds on that legislation to further support students at risk of not achieving grade-level reading proficiency or who exhibit characteristics of dyslexia. The bill aims to align instruction with the science of reading principles. HB 307 would also remove outdated language related to programs that do not align with these science-based standards and would prevent the three-cueing method from being used in Georgia. The bill would make it clear that any three-cueing curriculum, defined as any model for teaching students to read based on meaning, structure and syntax and visual cues (also referred to as MSV), would not be considered high-quality instructional material, ensuring that only effective, research-based approaches are used. Importantly, HB 307 would not ban the use of picture books, pictures or the practice of calling attention to pictures or using flash cards in instruction. These methods could still be used as supplemental tools but not as a primary means of literacy instruction. Additionally, HB 307 would create the Georgia Literacy Coach Coordination Council to ensure that Georgia’s literacy coaches receive quality instruction that is standardized. This legislative measure would further strengthen Georgia’s efforts to improve literacy outcomes and ensure all students receive evidence-based, high-quality reading instruction. By focusing on early literacy, especially for students at risk of falling behind, we ensure that every child has the tools needed to succeed academically and beyond.

Another significant bill that passed out of the House this week was House Bill 124 , which would mandate that the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) provide health insurance coverage for children diagnosed with Pediatric Acute Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infection (PANDAS). Under this bill, all SHBP policies renewed or issued on or after July 1, 2025, would be required to include coverage for the purposes of diagnosis, treatment, appropriate management or ongoing monitoring of a covered person’s disorder. Both PANS and PANDAS are rare diseases that have previously not been recognized under the SHBP as covered conditions, and this legislation would help ensure that affected families and patients have answers and receive the care they need. Moreover, this legislation would align Georgia with 29 other states that have adopted similar coverage mandates. In 2019, the House established the House Study Committee on PANS and PANDAS through the adoption of House Resolution 590 . The study committee’s mission was to examine and identify the barriers to diagnosing and treating PANS and PANDAS, while also raising awareness and improving access to testing, diagnosis and timely medication and care. Advocates and patients have long pushed for awareness and health coverage for these rare diseases, and I am proud of the House’s leadership in addressing this issue and delivering on our promise to Georgia’s families by supporting those affected by these rare diseases.

We also took an important step to protect Georgia’s children by passing House Bill 171 , a measure aimed at addressing the growing concern surrounding computer-generated obscene material involving children. As technology evolves, so do the ways in which individuals may exploit and potentially harm children, with artificial intelligence (AI) playing an increasingly prominent role. HB 171, also known as the Illegal AI Activities Act, would create a new criminal offense for the distribution, solicitation or possession with the intent to distribute obscene computer-generated material that depict a child. This would include any AI-generated images, videos, drawings, sculptures or paintings that are obscene and feature realistic depictions of what appears to be a child. Individuals convicted of this crime would face a prison sentence between one and 15 years. In addition, HB 171 would give judges the discretion to impose specific probation rules, including special protections for minors. These specific probation rules could include being monitored remotely and imposing restrictions on using drones or prohibiting the individual from running for a local school board position. Additionally, HB 171 would enhance sentences for certain crimes when they involve the use of AI. For example, crimes such as stalking, aggravated stalking, exploitation of a disabled adult, child exploitation and theft, among others, would carry increased penalties if AI is used in the crime. If AI is determined to be the proximate cause of the crime—meaning it played a direct role in facilitating the offense—those convicted could face up to 12 additional months in prison or a fine of up to $5,000 for misdemeanor offenses. For felony crimes, this penalty enhancement could result in a minimum of two extra years in prison. By passing HB 171, the House took a strong stand to guarantee that emerging technology is used responsibly, closing a loophole to ensure that those who attempt to use AI technology for criminal purposes are held accountable.

To support Georgia’s veterans, the House passed House Bill 108 , the Safeguarding American Veteran Empowerment Act (SAVE Act), which would provide various protections for veterans applying for veterans’ benefits, while also encouraging free-market business practices. Georgia has a large veteran population, many of whom are eligible for benefits but face delays, denials or difficulty navigating the claims process. Currently, there is a backlog of appeals of more than 300,000 benefits claims at the Veterans Affairs (VA), and most appeals take five to 10 years to resolve. Because of this, many veterans have decided to pay third-party claims consultant companies, who in turn, have been able to provide quicker and more effective services than the VA. However, HB 108 seeks to ensure that these businesses operate within a regulated framework to prevent exploitation of our veterans. This exploitation has manifested in the form of charging veterans to assemble claims packets, charging upfront fees, making false promises or failing to deliver services. To combat these predatory practices, the bill would prohibit businesses from compensating individuals for referrals to their services, require a written agreement that discloses fees and informs veterans of free alternatives, such as those available through the VA and the Department of Veterans Services and cap fees at no more than five times the monthly increase in awarded benefits and no upfront charges would be allowed. The bill would also ban companies from employing doctors to influence medical evaluations in the claims process and prohibit the use of international call centers for handling veterans’ personal information and mandating background checks for anyone handling this sensitive data. Furthermore, businesses offering these services would be required to comply with Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act, subjecting them to oversight by the Attorney General’s Office. Violators of the bill’s provisions would face daily fines of up to $2,000 per violation, and the Attorney General’s Office would have the authority to enforce these penalties and ensure compliance with the law. To this end, we owe it to the women and men who have served our great country, and this bill would safeguard and expedite their rights to VA benefits, while also ensuring that businesses are held to ethical standards when helping our veterans with claims needs.

The House also passed House Bill 253 , or Ethan’s Law, with bipartisan support, to protect Georgia families during the reunification process. Under current law, superior court judges could order children to attend reunification camps outside of Georgia, which would not only remove the child from the state’s jurisdiction but also violate certain parental rights. Parents with sole custody could be directed, under court order, to send their children across state lines for reunification with a parent who was previously deemed unfit for custody. Ethan’s Law would prevent such practices by prohibiting juvenile courts from ordering family reunification or unification treatments, programs or services, including camps, workshops, therapeutic vacations or educational programs. The bill would define these treatments as educational or experiential workshops that may involve youth transporters or private transportation agents. Additionally, the legislation would ensure that such programs cannot be ordered if they would result in a violation of court orders, involve the use of force or threat of force by private youth transporters, put the child’s safety at risk, require no-contact periods between the child and their parent or guardian or involve out-of-state stays. With the passage of HB 253, the House took crucial action to protect parental rights, as well as the safety and well-being of Georgia’s children.

We also turned our attention this week to passing legislation that seeks to improve health outcomes for Georgians. The House passed House Bill 373 , which would mandate insurance coverage for annual prostate cancer screenings for high-risk men, including digital rectal examinations and prostate-specific antigen tests. Given that early detection significantly improves outcomes for prostate cancer, this bill would prioritize preventive care over late-stage, often costly treatments. The bill would define high-risk men as men who have a first-degree relative who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, who developed prostate cancer, whose death was a result of prostate cancer, who has been diagnosed with a cancer known to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer or who has a genetic alteration known to be associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. It would further define high-risk men as men with a family history of prostate cancer between 40 and 49 years old, men who are 50 years and older and other men, as determined by a physician. By defining risk categories and ensuring coverage for these essential screenings, HB 373 would allow for greater chances of early detection and would ultimately save lives as a result.

We also passed the following bills and resolutions during the seventh week of session:

House Bill 14 , which would designate corn bread as the official state bread of Georgia;

House Bill 34 , which would require the Office of the Secretary of State to institute a unified system for tracking the continuing education credits completed by licensees of the various boards under the Secretary of State’s purview. Beginning on January 1, 2026, a professional licensing board would not renew a license until the applicant has complied with all applicable continuing education requirements;

House Bill 66 , which would amend state law relating to alternative ad valorem taxation of motor vehicles and title ad valorem tax fee by defining “special modified rental vehicle” as a motor vehicle significantly modified at a manufacturing facility operated by the owner of the vehicle that would be rented or leased without a driver to businesses, and the rental or lease transaction of which would be subject to state and local sales and use taxes. A person applying for a certificate of title for a special modified rental vehicle would be required to pay 50 percent of the title ad valorem tax fee at the time it is due and 50 percent within 12 months of filing the application;

House Bill 78 , which would allow the Firefighters Pension Fund to invest up to 20 percent of assets in alternative investments. HB 78 would also allow the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) of Georgia to invest up to 10 percent of assets in alternative investments;

House Bill 94 , which would require every health benefit policy renewed or issued after January 1, 2026, to include coverage for expenses related to starting fertility preservation when a medically necessary treatment may cause infertility;

House Bill 113 , which would require the Georgia Technology Authority to maintain a list of concerned goods produced by a foreign company of concern or a foreign country of concern. State entities would be prohibited from purchasing concerned goods from a foreign company of concern, a foreign country of concern or a third-party vendor or reseller;

House Bill 115 , which would establish procedure and policy for discovery and subsequent removal of vessels abandoned or left unattended on public property or in public waters of this state;

House Bill 131 , which would revise self-serving storage facility advertising requirements so that storage facility owners attempting to enforce a lien would not be required to advertise an auction once a week for two consecutive weeks but would instead be required to publish an auction advertisement once in the legal organ for the county or in any other commercially reasonable manner. The advertisement would be deemed commercially reasonable if at least three independent bidders attend the auction;

House Bill 134 , which would amend state law relating to sales and use tax by eliminating language that excludes the local portion of sales and use tax from a 50 percent exemption on the sales price of a manufactured home that has been converted to real property;

House Bill 136 , which would amend state law relating to tax credits for contributions to foster child support organizations and would expand qualified expenditures for the credit to include wraparound services for aging foster children and justice involved youth who meet one of the following criteria: are enrolled in a public or private postsecondary education institution; enrolled in a program to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent; enrolled in a vocational school or participating in a registered and compliant apprenticeship program. HB 136 would add to the definition of “aging foster children” to include former foster children between 16 and 25 years old who were in foster care for at least six months after the age of 14. HB 136 would define “justice involved youth” as those between the ages of 18 and 25 who are currently or previously committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and were placed, or are currently placed, in a nonsecure facility or community setting. The bill would include membership services provided to justice involved youth as a qualified expense and would limit the number of contributions that could be used for expenses other than qualified expenses to no more than 10 percent. The annual compensation threshold to receive the credit would be increased from $500 to $1,200 per year, and payments made to employees of a qualified mentorship organization that provide services other than mentorship would be a qualified expense. Corporations contributing under this program would be limited to credits totaling no more than 30 percent of the entity’s income tax liability. The bill would further add business enterprises that would be eligible for the credit for qualified expenditures related to wraparound services. The bill would raise the aggregate cap for credits under this program from $20 million to $30 million and would eliminate the ability to carry forward any unused tax credit. Furthermore, the bill would allow for the Division of Family and Children Services to decertify an organization that does not meet program requirements or has violated any other law. An organization seeking to be certified, but isn’t a licensed child-placing agency, would be required to demonstrate it has operated an aging out program and provided services to at least 50 aging foster children or justice involved youth over the course of at least two calendar years. After receiving certification, the organization would annually demonstrate that it is continually providing these services. The bill would add that each qualified organization would be required to post on its website a certification, signed by the organization’s chief executive officer, to include a description of how qualified contributions were utilized. HB 136 would become effective on July 1, 2025, and would be applicable to all taxable years beginning on January 1, 2026;

House Bill 143 , which relates to water permits for agricultural use and would remove language from state law that requires permittees to have an acceptable type of water measuring device within one year of the updated effective date on a revised permit. The bill would also remove other language that requires the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Department of Natural Resources to document the withdrawal or lack of irrigation infrastructure at a given site and would further allow trained and certified EPD staff to install water-measuring devices at no charge to the permittee. EPD would also be allowed to undertake other repairs and replacements of these devices when necessary;

House Bill 153 , which would amend state law relating to sales and use tax exemptions for certain manufacturing equipment by extending the sunset date for an exemption on maintenance and replacement parts of machinery or equipment used with mixed concrete from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2031;

House Bill 156 , which would define the term “vertiport” and include vertiports in the definition of “landing field.” The bill would also grant the Department of Transportation authority over vertiports;

House Bill 163 , which would require food service establishments to clearly denote items on their menus that contain cell cultured meat, such as food products designed to share characteristics with actual meat products, plant-based meat alternatives or both;

House Bill 164 , which would repeal the sunset on the allowable 10 percent variance on weight limitations upon a vehicle or load hauling certain commodities within certain areas of the state. The legislation would allow for enforcement of dimensions and weight of vehicles by local law enforcement officers trained to do so. HB 164 would require that any violation found during enforcement of weight and load provisions related to licensing or fuel tax registration and identification requirements be reported to the Georgia Department of Revenue by the officer or employee observing the violation;

House Bill 169 , which would amend current law relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and forest land conservation use property to sunset a provision that would allow for solar energy generation to be a permissible use of property that would be subject to a conservation use covenant on July 1, 2036. Any related contracts, including contracts that contain an option contract for the lease of solar energy generation for the purpose of heat or electricity, entered into prior to July 1, 2026, would continue until the sunset date;

House Bill 172 , which would clarify eligibility for the Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program to include former students and specifies that applicants must have practiced in the required specialty for 10 years or less. The maximum award amount for repayment would be increased from $80,000 to $90,000, to be paid in increments of $30,000 per 12 months of service;

House Bill 176 , which mirrors legislation previously introduced, would define the term “final judgement” to include cases in which some counts would be ordered “dead docketed” so that the case would not remain pending and unable to be appealed. This would be a response to the Supreme Court of Georgia’s decision in Seals v. Georgia (2021). The bill would provide that statutory authority for the applicable appellate courts hear direct appeals from guilty pleas on appeal. The bill would allow a defendant who missed the deadline for filing a motion for a new trial or notice of appeal, but is still within 100 days of that deadline, to file an out-of-time motion for that new trial or notice of appeal, if they could meet certain requirements. The requirements would be: 1) the defendant must file an initial motion that would later allow for the out-of-time motion, if approved; 2) the defendant must show the court one of the following rationales for missing the deadline: A) has the consent of the state, B) can show excusable neglect, C) can show that failure to timely file the motion for new trial or notice of appeal was due to the deficient performance of their counsel or D) can show other good cause; and 3) if the judge grants the initial motion, then the defendant would have 30 days to file the out-of-time motion for new trial or notice of appeal with that judge. The judge would have the discretion to allow for extensions of time on this motion. Further, those who had their original out-of-time appeal dismissed due to the Supreme Court of Georgia’s decision in Cook v. State (2022), or a case following its precedent, for leave to file another motion until June 30, 2026. An indigent defendant would be entitled to representation for both the original motion and, if approved, the subsequent out-of-time motion for new trial or notice of appeal. The bill would clarify that when a defendant substantially amends their motion for a new trial, then the prosecution would be given 10 days to respond and present evidence, although the court would have discretion to provide a longer amount of time. The bill would allow a person to withdraw their guilty plea that results in a conviction after the term of the court ends, so long as it would still be within 30 days of the entry of the judgment, to address caselaw that said the defendant lacked jurisdiction to allow the defendant to withdraw their guilty plea when the term of court in which that defendant was sentenced expired;

House Bill 182 , which would prohibit group life insurance policies in Georgia from excluding or restricting liability for the death of an insured individual who is an active-duty service member unless the death is directly or indirectly caused by war or a related act or hazard;

House Bill 187 , which would be a modernization update to the licensing code for electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors and utility contractors. The bill would make the following changes: 1) revise requirements for State Construction Industry Licensing Board members; 2) revise what plumber classifications can install, maintain, alter or repair medical gas piping systems; 3) exempt any licensed conditioned air contractor who also is a registered professional engineer from certain continuing education requirements; 4) remove the cap on continuing education that both the Division of Electrical Contractors and the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers can require; 5) require each division to make all reasonable efforts to provide continuing education online or through home study courses; 6) clarify that any licensed master plumber or company that holds a valid utility contractor license can construct, alter or repair any plumbing system that extends from the property line up to five feet of any building; and 7) allow for applicable licensee’s partners, officers and employees to continue operating for 60 days after the death of a licensee, in addition to allowing the applicable division to provide one additional 60-day grace period. The bill would also revise dates and timelines, add references to Internet advertising and would revise fine amounts;

House Bill 208 , which would create four specialty license plates. The first would honor the Shepherd Center, with funds raised disbursed to Shepherd Center, Inc.; the second would honor Georgia veterans and their families, with funds raised disbursed to the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation; the third would support the Department of Natural Resources State Parks and Historic Sites Division, with funds raised allocated to the same division; and the fourth would promote the conservation and enhancement of black bass populations, with funds raised allocated to the Georgia Natural Resources Foundation;

House Bill 222 , which would require a bond to include the full name, email address and phone number of the principal and each surety;

House Bill 227 , which would rename low THC oil as medical cannabis throughout Georgia law. It would also allow for information to be distributed to physicians and current card holders. Additionally, the bill would remove the end-stage requirement from the allowed conditions;

House Bill 232 , which would enter Georgia into the Interstate Massage Compact. The Georgia Board of Massage Therapy would administer the compact, which would become effective upon passage by the seventh member state and would allow those who are licensed in a member state to practice in other member states;

House Bill 233 , which would designate Brunswick stew as the official state stew of Georgia;

House Bill 240 , which would prohibit engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices when using a mortgage trigger lead, or a consumer report whose issuance is triggered by a credit inquiry, to solicit a consumer who has applied for a loan with another mortgage lender or broker. Those acts or practices would include: failing to state in the initial solicitation that the person is not affiliated with the mortgage lender with which the consumer initially applied; failing to conform to applicable law relating to prescreened solicitations using consumer reports; using the information of consumers who have opted out of prescreened offers of credit or who are on the federal do-not-call registry or soliciting a consumer with an offer of certain rates and terms while knowing that those rates and terms would subsequently change to the consumer’s detriment;

House Bill 241 , which would revise law related to convenience fees by authorizing a lender or merchant to collect, in lieu of the actual cost, a fee which would not exceed the average of the actual cost incurred for a specific type of electronic payment, or a fee of up to five dollars, whichever is greater;

House Bill 254 , which would allow a marker to be placed on State Capitol building grounds and state archives building grounds that would commemorate the patriots of the Revolutionary War. The placement location would be subject to approval by the Capitol Arts Standards Commission for placement on Capitol grounds and by the Board of Regents for archives building grounds. No public funds would be used for the design and procurement of the markers;

House Bill 267 , known as the Riley Gaines Act, which would amend current law to provide for separate restrooms and changing areas for males and females during athletic events in schools and post-secondary institutions. Schools and post-secondary institutions would be required to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals unwilling or unable to use a restroom or changing area designated for such individual’s sex. The bill would also provide for separation according to sex for sleeping arrangements on school trips. All public schools, local school systems and post-secondary education institutions participating in competitions or athletic events would be required to designate each team, competition or athletic event as for males, females, co-educational or mixed sex. The bill would also provide for legislative findings on the importance of certain distinctions between the sexes and would require any collector of vital statistics throughout Georgia to identify each individual as either male or female and to replace the term “gender” throughout Georgia law with “sex;”

House Bill 287 , which would update multiple sunset dates and authorize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to issue free courtesy hunting or fishing licenses to paralyzed or disabled individuals participating in approved organized events. HB 287 would also introduce a new fee structure for resident shellfish crew licenses. It would create two categories: one for up to 10 harvesters at an annual fee of $200 and another for unlimited harvesters at an annual fee of $400;

House Bill 303 , which would create the Original 33 Memorial Act, which would allow a monument honoring the Original 33, the Black legislators expelled from the General Assembly after the end of Reconstruction, to be placed on Capitol grounds or in another prominent place. This would be subject to the availability of private funds;

House Bill 308 , which would add a definition for “miniature on-road vehicle” and would list its characteristics including: can transport people; operates between 25 and 45 miles per hour; has an overall width of 80 inches or less; is designed to travel on four plus wheels; uses a steering wheel; contains a non-straddle seat; has a gross vehicle weight of less than 4,000 pounds and is not designed to be a golf cart, multi-purpose off-highway vehicle or all-terrain vehicle. The bill would exclude miniature on-road vehicles manufactured 25 years prior to a registration application from having to comply with federal emission standards unless the vehicle has been modified by an importer registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Further Code sections pertaining to license plates, license fees, registration, taxation returns and vehicle operations would be revised to include miniature on-road vehicles;

House Bill 329 , which would authorize certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants to perform artificial insemination as delegated by a physician or surgeon;

House Bill 352 , also known as the Georgia Gestational Diabetes Management Act, which would include patients with gestational diabetes on the list of those eligible for Medicaid covered by continuous glucose monitors. HB 352 would also remove the eligibility requirement for daily insulin administration;

House Bill 377 , which would revise provisions regarding when manufactured homes become real property, specifically through a certificate of permanent location. When a certificate of permanent location is filed, the commissioner would notify the holders of all listed security interests that a certificate has been filed and the certificate of title has been surrendered. The filing of a certificate of permanent location and the surrender of a certificate of title would not impair the rights and remedies of a prior interest holder until the interest has been satisfied. Additionally, the filing of a certificate of permanent location and the surrender of a certificate of title would not impose additional licensing or conduct requirements on the lien or security interest holder;

House Bill 392 , which would revise dates related to the establishment of the Georgia Tax Court with the initial chief judge serving an initial term beginning on April 1, 2026, and persons would be able to petition the court for relief beginning on and after July 1, 2026. All contested cases pending before the Georgia Tax Tribunal as of June 30, 2026, would be automatically transferred to the court as of July 1, 2026. Any petitioner with a case pending before the tribunal that does not wish for the case to be transferred to the court would make a written demand to the tribunal on or before December 31, 2025, with proceedings to conclude prior to June 30, 2026;

House Bill 410 , which would remove language from state law related to administrative processes and regulatory oversight within the Georgia Department of Insurance. The bill would also move agency license renewals from an annual schedule to a biennial schedule;

House Bill 414 , which would allow the State Ethics Commission to request documentation or information from a person located out of state. The commission would be authorized to petition the superior court to obtain such documentation or information if said person refuses to comply;

House Bill 422 , which would require the state employees’ health insurance plan to include at least two high deductible health plans. The bill would allow enrolled employees to make pretax contributions to their health savings accounts. Government entities outside the scope of this bill would be encouraged to offer similar pretax contribution options for their employees;

House Bill 423 , which would provide for Next Generation 9-1-1 systems and services and would require all new 9-1-1 systems to conform to wireless enhanced 9-1-1 standards. The bill would revise the duties and responsibilities of the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority, would add members to the board of directors and would revise the role of the executive director of the authority;

House Bill 444 , which would designate the month of April of each year as Georgia Native Plant Month;

House Bill 475 , which would refine Georgia’s film tax credit program by further specifying the “qualified production activities” that are eligible for tax incentives. The bill would also authorize the Department of Economic Development to charge fees associated with the project certification process;

House Bill 495 , which would transfer authority of the Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation from the University System of Georgia to the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The center’s director would be appointed by the Department of Agriculture commissioner. It would have a Georgia Rural Development Council composed of 12 members, six of which would be appointed by the governor, three of which who live in different geographic areas of the state and would be appointed by the speaker of the House and three of which who live in different geographic areas of the state and would be appointed by the president of the Senate. The bill would further outline duties of the center, including producing an annual report, providing information and research and conducting meetings at least once per quarter;

House Resolution 121 , which would dedicate the Georgia Forestry Commission building located in Dry Branch Georgia as the John W. Mixon Georgia Forestry Building;

Senate Resolution 7 , which is a Senate road dedication package held over from the 2024 legislative session.

The Georgia House of Representatives will reconvene on Monday, March 3rd, marking the start of our eighth week of the legislative session. On Thursday, March 6th , my fellow House members and I will convene for Legislative Day 28, also known as Crossover Day. This is the critical deadline for bills and resolutions to pass out of their chamber of origin in order to remain eligible for final passage before the conclusion of the session on Legislative Day 40, or Sine Die.

I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the bills being considered by visiting my Capitol office, calling 404-656-0213, or emailing karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 6 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:21:52 GMT

February 18 - 21, 2025

The Georgia House of Representatives began the sixth week of the 2025 legislative session on Tuesday, February 18th after Presidents’ Day on Monday. By the end of the week, we reached Legislative Day 21, meaning that we are now more than halfway through the session. This week, my colleagues and I convened for four legislative days, passing a total of 25 bills as we continue to advance legislation to the Senate in preparation for Crossover Day on Thursday, March 6th. Legislative Day 28, or Crossover Day, serves as a crucial milestone in the session as it is the final opportunity for bills and resolutions to pass out of their respective chambers and remain eligible to become law.

To start the week, the House unanimously passed House Bill 223 , reaffirming our commitment to addressing agricultural losses from Hurricane Helene, particularly among those working in the timber industry who were heavily impacted by the storm’s damage. HB 223 is similar to legislation that the Georgia General Assembly passed after Hurricane Michael caused much damage and destruction to Southwest Georgia in 2018. Similar to Michael, following Helene, many in the timber industry incurred significant economic expenses for salvaging downed timber, site clearance, restoration and reforestation. This bill would provide much-needed relief to these hardworking tax-payers as they try to rebuild from the storm’s damage. HB 223 would exclude federal disaster relief payments, federal assistance grants and federal crop insurance related to Hurricane Helene recovery from counting toward taxable net income for tax years 2024 through 2029. Furthermore, the bill would provide a tax credit for timber losses and a sales tax exemption for building materials used to repair or replace greenhouses or structures used for the production of animals, such as poultry houses or livestock barns. The bill includes $200 million in income tax credits, and if timber producers re-plant following loss, they would be granted up to $400 of credit per acre of property losses. By exempting federal disaster relief payments from taxable income and providing tax credits for timber losses, the bill aims to ensure that those who suffered catastrophic financial setbacks can begin rebuilding without an added tax burden. Expanding on our efforts to support our state following Helene’s devastation, the House also unanimously adopted House Resolution 42 , which would ratify the executive orders issued by Governor Brian Kemp following the suspension of the collection of motor and diesel fuel taxes between September 24 and October 16, 2024. Hurricane Helene was one of worst storms in our state’s history, and with the unanimous passage of these two pieces of legislation in the House, my colleagues and I recognize the critical need to help our fellow Georgians.

The House unanimously passed legislation this week to strengthen Georgia’s First Offender Act and ensure that individuals who make a single, isolated mistake are given a chance to move forward without that mistake continuing to affect their lives. Originally enacted in the 1960s, the First Offender Act was established to offer a second chance to those who commit non-violent offenses, with the goal of helping individuals rebuild their lives without being hindered by a permanent criminal record. House Bill 162 would require that, starting July 1, 2025, any individual sentenced under the First Offender Act would automatically have their records sealed and restricted. Once an individual is cleared of guilt and discharged as a first offender, their records would be sealed within 60 days. Anyone cleared of guilt and discharged as a first offender prior to July 1, 2025, would be allowed to petition the court to have all records sealed and made unavailable to the public within 90 days of filing the petition. If an individual’s First Offender status is revoked, their records would be unsealed, and authorities, such as law enforcement and detention centers, would have the authority to release those records. HB 162 marks a necessary step in providing hope to those who may be affected, highlighting the need for second chances in certain instances.

House Bill 283 , which also passed in the House this week, would allow individuals the choice of whether or not to sign a traffic citation when pulled over by an officer. Currently, the law states that those who do not sign their citation must post a cash bond. Instead, HB 283 would allow individuals the option to refuse to sign without facing immediate arrest or the need to post bond as long as they agree to appear in court. It was noted that many individuals mistakenly believe that signing a citation is an admission of guilt, but this legislation seeks to clarify that refusing to sign would not affect legal proceedings. The goal of this bill is to reduce negative encounters between citizens and law enforcement, decrease taxpayer costs, free up law enforcement for higher priority tasks and reduce unnecessary jail occupancy. By allowing drivers the right to refuse to sign without immediate legal consequences, the bill would prioritize individuals’ rights, de-escalate situations and promote public safety.

We also focused on further solidifying Georgia’s position as a leader in workforce readiness with the passage of House Bill 192 , the Top State for Talent Act. HB 192 would build on the successes of numerous workforce development initiatives, such as Georgia’s High Demand Career List, compiled by the State Workforce Development Board, the Georgia MATCH Program and legislation passed last year that strengthens articulation agreements. HB 192 would repurpose a grant program to help schools adjust their career, technical and agricultural education programs to match the High Demand Career List, which would create a more unified and streamlined approach to workforce development. Cultivating workforce readiness is necessary for ensuring that Georgia’s labor force meets the evolving needs of its competitive economy. As such, HB 192 would also establish a system where the High Demand Career List would directly inform the Georgia Department of Education’s development of career education courses for students in grades six through 12. Additionally, the bill would require the creation of a report on articulation agreements to eliminate redundancy, which would ensure students do not repeat coursework for skills they have already mastered. The Top State for Talent Act would strengthen Georgia’s position as a national leader in workforce development, driving growth and prosperity for Georgia’s economy by creating a clear pipeline of skilled talent that is prepared to meet the demands of the future workforce.

House Bill 148 also received unanimous passage this week to update the certification process for public accountants in Georgia. Currently, in order to obtain licensure to be a certified public accountant (CPA) in Georgia, individuals are required to complete five years of education, along with one year of experience, in addition to passing the required certification exams. HB 148 would update these requirements by reducing the education requirement to a four-year college degree with a concentration in accounting, along with two years of relevant work experience. Alternatively, individuals could still obtain licensure by completing a master’s degree with a concentration in accounting or taxation and one year of experience. HB 148 would also update existing mobility practice privileges to allow accounting firms to perform certain work without the need to maintain an office in Georgia. This change would modernize the CPA licensure process and enhance flexibility for accounting professionals and firms, which would contribute to the expansion of Georgia’s workforce and provide more opportunities for qualified individuals to serve as CPAs.

This week, we also took a significant step to ease a burden on Georgia families by unanimously passing House Bill 181 , which would remove unnecessary costs and delays for families seeking a Georgia Certificate of Foreign Birth for children who have already completed the foreign adoption process and received U.S. citizenship. Currently, when a family adopts a child internationally and the adoption is recognized and verified by the federal government, thus granting the child U.S. citizenship, Georgia law requires adoptive families to undergo a “re-adoption” or “domestication” process. This process can involve hiring an attorney, navigating the court system and obtaining a report of adoption — essentially an acknowledgment of the adoption. The report must then be submitted to the Georgia Department of Vital Records to obtain the Certificate of Foreign Birth. This re-adoption process can be redundant and costly for families who have already invested significant resources in adopting a child internationally. Additionally, without the Certificate of Foreign Birth, adoptees are left with only their birth certificate from their country of origin, which can present challenges when using it for identification purposes. HB 181 would address this by allowing children who have automatically acquired U.S. citizenship through foreign adoption and who hold a Certificate of Citizenship to skip the extra step of obtaining a report of adoption to receive a Certificate of Foreign Birth. HB 181 would update the process to be quicker and less expensive for Georgia families by eliminating the need for unnecessary legal steps.

My House colleagues and I also turned our attention to enhancing protections for household pets through the passage of House Bill 177 , which would allow for a protective order in cases of family violence or dating violence to include provisions for the care, custody and control of any household pet. This would apply to pets owned by either party or by a child living in the household. Under HB 177, the individual accused of violence toward a household pet could also be ordered to stop harassing, injuring, taking or hiding the pet. Family and dating violence can often have a significant impact on household pets, with animals sometimes being harmed or threatened as a means of controlling or intimidating victims. HB 177 would ensure that victims of domestic violence are not forced to leave their pets behind when seeking safety, thus removing a common barrier that often prevents victims from escaping abuse. Additionally, the bill would give judges the tools to inform victims of their legal rights regarding their pets, helping them better understand the parameters of the protective order and reinforcing their ability to protect both themselves and their animals.

We also passed the following bills during the sixth week of session:

House Bill 38 , which would provide Georgia College Completion Grant (GCCG) eligibility to students who have completed 70 percent of a four-year program or 45 percent of a two-year program. The sunset date for the GCCG program would be extended from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2029;

House Bill 51 , which would authorize the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to finance and manage projects related to natural gas facilities, including outside any certified areas of a nonmunicipal gas company. This would include the storage, supply and distribution of natural gas, pipelines, storage tanks, natural gas distribution systems, associated equipment, vehicles, properties, furnishings and devices. The bill would also empower the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to create and enforce rules and regulations to fulfill its responsibilities and add “natural gas systems” to the personal liability of the authority’s members, officers and employees;

House Bill 53 , which would update criteria for veterans to be eligible for burial in a Georgia veterans cemetery. Members would qualify in accordance with the federal Burial Equity for Guards and Reserves Act of 2021, provided the member died after August 1, 1990, and completed a full term of service with an honorable discharge. Reserve and National Guard members who died during service, as well as immediate family members, would also be eligible. The Department of Veterans Service may charge burial fees;

House Bill 58 , which would define the term “ticketed entertainment event” and would make it illegal to fly an unmanned aircraft over or within 400 feet of a ticketed entertainment event without proper consent. It would specify that anyone found guilty of violating the terms of this bill would be punished as a misdemeanor;

House Bill 73 , which would change future elections for the board of education of Seminole County to be nonpartisan;

House Bill 85 , which would revise superior court judicial compensation to have the annual salary of each superior court judge set by the General Assembly with that salary not exceeding 90 percent of the annual salary fixed for judges of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The new structure would also cap the locality pay for each superior court judge at no more than 10 percent of the state annual salary. In the event the annual salary exceeds $201,060, the maximum locality pay would be capped at 10 percent and further reduced by a fixed percentage if the annual salary exceeds that dollar amount. The bill would not alter retirement benefits that were previously in existence. Superior court judges in office on July 1, 2025, would opt into this compensation structure by filing written notification with the Council of Superior Court Judges of Georgia and the governing authority of each county comprising the judge’s judicial circuit. A superior court judge who does not exercise this option would maintain the existing compensation structure for that judge. All local laws, ordinances and resolutions in effect that tie a state, county or local salary to that of any superior court judge’s salary would be suspended until July 1, 2026, with that state, county or local salary remaining the same during that period of suspension. That salary would remain unchanged until the suspension is terminated, local legislation sets the compensation or local ordinance becomes effective;

House Bill 86 , which would revise salaries for justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, the judge of the State-wide Business Court and the judge of the Georgia State Tax Court. Fixed dollar amounts would be repealed and replaced with a base salary equal to that of judges of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia with each justice of the Supreme Court not receiving more than 100 percent of that base salary, each judge of the Court of Appeals not receiving more than 99 percent of that base salary and the judge of the State-wide Business Court, as well as the judge of the Tax Court, not receiving more than 95 percent of that base salary;

House Bill 90 , which would amend Georgia law related to bona fide conservation use property to increase the maximum acreage to qualify as a bona fide conservation use property from 2,000 acres to 4,000 acres. These changes would be effective on January 1, 2027, only if the related constitutional amendment is ratified by voters in the statewide election held in November 2026;

House Bill 92 , which would update Georgia law related to base year homestead exemptions by changing the date by which local governments must follow certain procedures to opt out of the base year homestead exemption from March 1, 2025, to March 31, 2029. Local governments would be required to opt out by March 31st of any given tax year for the opt out to be applicable to that same tax year. The last of the three required public hearings related to opting out of the program would be required to occur within 30 days of the effective date of the opt-out resolution. Relating to requirements for annual notices of current assessments, the bill would allow for a levying or recommending authority to provide an estimate for the current year’s taxes utilizing the previous year’s millage rate and current assessment if the estimated rollback rate is not certified by the time the annual notice is given. Additionally, local governments may provide, as part of the annual notice of assessment, an estimated amount of ad valorem taxes owed for the current year. The bill would also allow for a homestead exemption applicant to complete an application for an exemption during or in lieu of an appeal of a homestead reassessment;

House Bill 116 , which would rename the Motor Carrier Compliance Division within the Department of Public Safety and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement and would update further language to reflect this change;

House Bill 117 , which would require all commercial food service establishments that serve shrimp to conspicuously display “FOREIGN IMPORTED” or “FOREIGN IMPORTED SHRIMP” by each menu item containing imported shrimp;

House Bill 147 , which would define the term “artificial intelligence” and revise the responsibilities of the Georgia Technology Authority. It would require the authority to conduct an inventory of all systems that utilize artificial intelligence and are in use by any state agency. Inventory would include information such as the system’s name, vendor details, general capabilities, independence in decision making and whether impact assessments were conducted before implementation. The authority would be mandated to develop and establish procedures that govern the development, implementation and assessment of artificial intelligence systems used by agencies to prevent unlawful discrimination against individuals or groups. The authority would also be required to prepare an annual report regarding the inventory of artificial intelligence systems in use by agencies and to make this report available to the state offices specified in the bill;

House Bill 155 , which would provide guidelines and requirements for objecting to a proposed annexation and the arbitration process that follows;

House Bill 167 , which would revise restrictions relating to hunting feral hogs, bears and deer. The bill would make the color fluorescent pink an acceptable outer garment color that can be worn while hunting these animals under specific circumstances;

House Bill 196 , which would require health insurers to reimburse a pharmacy for a drug dispensed to a covered person on the State Health Benefit Plan based on the national average drug acquisition cost. Additionally, the bill would require a professional dispensing fee that is not less than the professional dispensing fee paid by the state under the Social Security Act;

House Bill 205 , which would require the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency to develop a list of unmanned aircraft systems approved for use within this state;

Senate Bill 16 , which would prohibit any member of the governing authority of a local government to engage directly or indirectly in a bail bond business within the jurisdiction of their respective government.

The Georgia House of Representatives will resume its work on Monday, February 24th for our seventh week of the session. Tuesday, February 25th will be dedicated to our first committee workday where the day will be packed with committee meetings to review legislation before we reach Crossover Day. I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the bills being considered by visiting my Capitol office, calling 404-656-0213, or emailing karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 5 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 20:41:22 GMT

February 10 - 14, 2025

This week, my colleagues and I returned to the Georgia State Capitol on Monday, February 10th to kick off the fifth week of the 2025 legislative session. The Georgia House of Representatives has been hard at work, addressing the issues that matter most to you and advancing important legislation through the legislative process. This week, we passed several bills on the House Floor for the first time this year, making progress on a range of priorities. While this week was certainly our busiest yet, we recognize that the pace will only continue to speed up as we move closer to Crossover Day. With Crossover Day, Legislative Day 28, quickly approaching, it’s a critical time for bills and resolutions to clear their respective chambers and progress through the legislative process.

The House unanimously passed House Bill 61 this week, which builds on the foundation of a similar bill, House Bill 804 , that was introduced during the 2024 legislative session but did not receive final passage. HB 61 would update current law to allow for separate license plates for ambulances and hearses, with an annual $20 license fee for motor-driven ambulances. HB 61 would also require the Georgia Department of Motor Vehicles to issue distinct license plates for these two types of vehicles—one labeled “Ambulance” and the other “Hearse.” Currently, both vehicles share the same license plate reading “Hearse/Ambulance,” a carryover from the time when hearses were also used to transport patients to hospitals. However, as ambulances and hearses now serve separate and distinct purposes, this legislation would clarify their respective roles.

Also, this week, we took an important step in enhancing the safety of our state’s judges and their families—a priority recently highlighted by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs during his annual State of the Judiciary Address—by unanimously passing House Bill 199 . The protection of our justices, judges and their spouses is crucial as they play an essential role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice in our state. HB 199 would require all state and local government entities to remove or redact any publicly available content that specifically identifies an individual as a judge, justice or judicial spouse. By addressing the need for security and privacy, HB 199 would ensure that the personal information of those serving in the judiciary remains protected. The bill would also mandate that if any publicly available content includes personally identifiable information that does not specifically identify someone as a judge, justice or spouse, it may be removed upon request by the protected person. This legislation is especially important as we have seen an alarming rise in swatting incidents aimed at elected officials and judges.

On Wednesday, we continued the work initiated by the late State Representative and former House Rules Chairman, Richard H. Smith, through the passage of House Bill 216 , the Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act, which would continue his vision of making Georgia a key player in the semiconductor industry. To that end, HB 216 would create a fund to provide grant and loan programs that support workforce education and training for careers in semiconductors, microelectronics and certain laboratories. The goal of this legislation is to build strong partnerships through education and workforce development, enabling Georgia’s residents to pursue high-demand careers in the semiconductor industry, cultivating a skilled, homegrown workforce, reducing reliance on overseas production and strengthening Georgia’s position as a leader in innovation and economic growth. The legislation received overwhelming support in the House and now moves on to the Senate for consideration.

Keeping on the theme of promoting workforce development through education, House Bill 81 also received passage in the House this week. Developed by the Council of State Governments, the Department of Defense and the National School Psychologists Association, HB 81 would create the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, which would establish a pathway for school psychologists to obtain equivalent licenses in member states to improve the availability of school psychological services to the public. Currently, barriers to licensure can cause significant shortages of qualified school psychologists, which can lead to students not receiving the quality of services necessary for their academic and emotional well-being. This legislation would enable school psychologists who qualify for an equivalent license to practice in other member states without first satisfying burdensome and duplicative licensing requirements. Additionally, HB 81 also seeks to facilitate the relocation of military members and their spouses who are licensed to provide school psychological services, as we know those individuals and their families are often relocated to different states. School psychologists play a crucial role in supporting students’ mental health, addressing behavioral concerns and providing academic interventions, all of which are essential for a student’s success. By reducing these licensure barriers, HB 81 would ensure that only qualified professionals are authorized to provide essential services to Georgia’s children, addressing the critical shortage of qualified school psychologists and improving the quality of care and support for students.

Advancing our promise to families of fallen Georgia educators, the House unanimously passed House Bill 105 , which would increase the indemnification, or financial compensation, in the event of the death of state public school personnel. Consistent with one of Governor Kemp’s priorities, HB 105 would raise the financial compensation for teachers from $75,000 to $150,000, bringing the indemnification in line with public safety officers killed in the line of duty. The payment would be made to the estate of the eligible person and given in installments of equal payments over the course of five years or in a lump sum. Only immediate family members would be eligible to receive these funds, and if there is no spouse or family, the indemnity would not be paid. By aligning this compensation with that of public safety officers, this legislation underscores the invaluable contributions of educators. While we know that no amount of money could ever bring a loved one back, by increasing the indemnification funds, immediate family members would be guaranteed better financial security following such a devastating loss.

We also passed the following House bills and resolutions during the fifth week of session:

House Bill 15 , which would revise Georgia’s banking law by modifying filing requirements to require counties of residence instead of addresses for incorporators, directors and subscribers of financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions, and would alter credit union subscriber requirements by establishing procedures for applying for a certificate of incorporation. The bill would also update provisions related to the credit union application review process, mortgage lending services and practices and criminal history checks;

House Bill 36 , which would revise Georgia guardianship law by adding physician assistants, nurses, therapists and counselors to the types of approved professionals authorized to participate in appointments of guardians or conservators, as well as those who evaluate the state of a ward or proposed ward. Additionally, definitions for gross settlement would be provided with respect to applicable financial arrangements;

House Bill 55 , which would increase the number of superior court judges in the Alapaha Judicial Circuit from two to three. The third judge would be appointed for a term beginning January 1, 2026, continuing through December 31, 2028. Their successor would be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2028;

House Bill 74 , which would amend the general powers of the Georgia Lottery Corporation and make the promulgation of licenses, rules and regulations concerning coin operated amusement machines (COAMs) and administrative hearings concerning COAMs subject to the Administrative Procedure Act;

House Bill 114 , which would address federal regulations for safe operations for drivers and vehicles transporting hazardous materials, changing the effective date from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025;

House Bill 137 , which would increase the contract value amount from $100,000 or less to $250,000 or less for certain contracts that are exempt from specified contracting and bidding requirements;

House Resolution 97 , which is a conveyance resolution for properties in 13 counties and would amend or transfer specific state-owned properties within those counties;

House Resolution 98 , which would authorize the State of Georgia, acting through the State Properties Commission, to grant easements over certain state-owned properties in 12 counties.

In addition to passing legislation this week, we also had the privilege of honoring several outstanding groups whose dedication and hard work continue to leave a lasting impact on our great state. On Monday, we paid tribute to the members of the Georgia Electric Membership Cooperatives with an Invitation Resolution on the House Floor. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, these dedicated individuals worked tirelessly to restore power to hard-hit communities, showcasing both their steadfast commitment to their neighbors and the resilience of our state. On Tuesday, we celebrated Georgia’s rich agricultural history by recognizing our tree farmers – not only for their vital contributions to our state’s agriculture industry but also for their essential role in clearing storm debris and aiding in recovery efforts. Additionally, we commended the Georgia Farm Bureau, led by former State Representative Tom McCall, for its steadfast advocacy and support of our state’s largest industry: agriculture. Then on Wednesday, we turned our attention to higher education, commemorating the 158th anniversary of Morehouse College, a beacon of commitment to Georgia’s students for decades. We honored Morehouse President, Dr. David A. Thomas, for his leadership and successes as he prepares to retire as Morehouse’s president. It’s an honor to have these incredible organizations and individuals in the House, and we are grateful for their contributions to Georgia.

The Georgia House of Representatives will reconvene at the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 18th, after the observance of Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 17th. As the legislative session progresses, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding the work being done at the State Capitol. With Rules Committee meetings picking up as well, we will continue to see more bills come up for votes on the House Floor. You can track the status of legislation and votes on the official Georgia General Assembly website and our official House X (Twitter) page .

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 4 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:24:14 GMT

February 3 - 7, 2025

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol on Monday, February 3rd to begin the fourth week of the 2025 legislative session. With Monday marking Legislative Day 10, my colleagues and I are now more than a quarter of the way through the 40-day session. As we settle into the rhythm of our legislative work, our attention is shifting toward the policy areas that will shape our priorities for the remainder of the session. This week, our efforts were focused on fulfilling our constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget. To that end, the House Rules Committee convened for the first time this year and set the first Rules calendar of the session. House Bill 67 , the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget, which outlines the state’s spending through the end of the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2025, was added to the calendar for a full vote by the House and passed that day with bipartisan support.

The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget is set by a revised estimate of $40.5 billion, including $2.7 billion in surplus funds for a total infusion of $4.4 billion, which is an increase of 12.2 percent over the original Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget. The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget emphasizes strengthening Georgia’s economy while also prioritizing early education, healthcare, higher education and public safety. One of the most critical areas addressed in the House’s version of the amended budget is the urgent need to provide ample relief and funding for Georgians impacted by Hurricane Helene. In light of the widespread devastation caused by the storm, it is essential that we continue to direct the necessary resources toward relief and recovery efforts for those who were affected. Our state’s budget remains robust, and in the following paragraphs, I will highlight some of the House’s recommendations and how they may impact our state and communities.

As we witnessed severe damage to parts of our great state, the House worked tirelessly to help communities recover and rebuild from Hurricane Helene. As such, the state allocated immediate funding to hard-hit areas, and the House’s version of the amended budget targets populations and areas that still are in need of financial intervention. In line with Governor Brian Kemp’s recommendations, the House’s version also recommends $145 million be added to the Governor’s Emergency Fund in order to continue funding our state’s emergency response efforts to the storms. The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget would also ensure that the Georgia Department of Transportation be protected from the financial impact of the motor fuel tax suspension following Hurricane Helene by redirecting the lost $98 million into the Capital Construction program. In addition, the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget recommends $200 million be allocated to routine maintenance for response efforts related to Hurricane Helene, Hurricane Debby and flooding that took place in November 2024. The House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget also includes $100 million in previously authorized funds through the Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission for relief efforts, along with an additional $150 million to support disaster relief for farmers and timber producers affected by Hurricane Helene.

Furthermore, the House’s version of the amended budget directs $50 million for the Department of Administrative Services’ property risk pool to repair state property damaged in Helene’s wake. The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene was vast, with countless homes, businesses and infrastructure left in ruins. Many Georgia families are still struggling to rebuild their lives and property after the storm’s destruction, making this funding essential for supporting recovery efforts and restoring state assets. In support of fire and environmental safety efforts, HB 67 would also direct $15.7 million to the Georgia Forestry Commission to fund the use of firefighting helicopters and environmental cab tractors.

Following the storms, rural Georgians are facing barriers to accessing quality healthcare and challenges in receiving timely medical care. To resolve this concern, the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget provides $35.6 million in one-time stabilization grants to support Georgia’s rural hospitals in their recovery efforts. Moreover, the House’s version of the amended budget includes $1.4 million for a $3,000 salary enhancement for federal eligibility caseworkers, recognizing their hard work and dedication to assisting natural disaster victims. These caseworkers play a vital role in helping Georgians navigate the complex process of securing disaster relief, and it’s important that their efforts are acknowledged. In the original FY 2025 budget, passed last session, other caseworkers received similar salary increases, underscoring Georgia’s commitment to providing continued support to those who serve our communities in times of crisis. Additionally, the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget includes $10 million in grant funds specifically allocated for relief from Hurricane Helene, further reinforcing the state’s commitment to aiding in the recovery of those impacted by the storm.

As we move forward in rebuilding our communities, it is crucial that we also ensure our economy is equipped with the necessary tools to maintain Georgia’s status as the number one state to do business. In line with our commitment to supporting rural communities, HB 67 would allocate $28 million to rural workforce housing through grants and loans. This funding aims to boost rural workforce development by increasing housing availability in these areas. Additionally, the House’s version of the amended budget recommends $20 million in grants for rural site development, which would support local economic growth and help communities create development-ready sites.

My colleagues and I remain committed to school security, and the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget includes $50 million for school security grants, which would provide $21,635 per school for one-time security expenses. When combined with the $109 million in base funding, school systems would receive a total of $68,759 per school in FY 2025. Additionally, $3 million is allocated to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) to establish funds for a school risk assessment system, with the objective of safeguarding our state’s young learners. Under HB 67, the House proposes $7.42 million in new lottery funds for the Department of Early Care and Learning to implement recommendations from the House Early Childhood Education Working Group. These recommendations include raising pay for Pre-K lead teachers and assistant teachers to align lead teacher salaries to the State Board of Education schedule and strengthening the Pre-K workforce. Additionally, the House’s version of the amended budget would allocate $160,000 in one-time funding to the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement to establish a Regional Crisis Recovery Network in partnership with the Southern Regional Education Board. This network would train counselors and deploy them to provide psychological first aid to students following traumatic events, such as natural disasters or school shootings.

In addition to prioritizing access to healthcare in Georgia’s rural communities, the House’s version of the amended budget is also focused on improving healthcare access across the entire state, ensuring that all Georgia communities have the care they need. One way the House is prioritizing this goal is by recommending a one-time $25 million investment for Mercer School of Medicine, aimed at expanding learning opportunities and training physicians to practice in rural, underserved communities where healthcare needs are most critical. Additionally, the House proposes another $25 million investment for Morehouse School of Medicine, which would support faculty recruitment and retention, modernize the medical curriculum and expand the pathway and career academy program. Furthermore, the House’s version of the AFY 2025 budget recommends $2 million be allocated to the HOPE Grant program, which would support increased usage and expanded eligibility, as well as an additional $6 million for HOPE Scholarships, bringing the total appropriation to $852 million, which would benefit more than 300,000 students across the state.

The House’s version of the amended budget also focuses on providing funding increases for several state departments. Under HB 67, the Georgia Department of Human Services would receive $22.2 million to address the growth in foster care and the rising costs associated with that care. Additionally, the House recommends $1.7 million to fund a special victim’s unit within the department, which would be focused on rescuing foster youth from sexual exploitation. The House’s version of the amended budget also allocates $1 million to the Georgia Department of Veterans Services to open a sub-acute unit for veterans with severe mental illness and brain injuries, along with $1.5 million to cover rising healthcare costs at veterans nursing homes.

The House is also dedicated to addressing the critical needs within Georgia’s corrections system, including correctional officers, staff and inmates, which remains a top priority this legislative session. As such, the House’s version of the budget recommends an infusion of $333.6 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections, including $214 million earmarked for safety, security and technology upgrades, with $35 million allocated specifically for security technology to combat contraband. Additionally, the House recommends directing $50.6 million for inmate healthcare services and $15 million for the creation of a state-owned electronic healthcare records system. Further, $10.5 million would also be allocated for new body cameras and tasers to enhance the safety of both officers and inmates, and $7.2 million would be set aside for the Over Watch Logistics Unit to provide continuous surveillance and response coordination.

HB 67 now heads to the Senate for consideration, where it will undergo a similar review process. Once the Senate has reviewed the House’s version, they may propose changes, and if that happens, the Senate’s version of the amended budget will return to the House for further review. If the two chambers cannot reach an agreement, a conference committee will be appointed to resolve any differences between the two versions. It is essential that my colleagues in both chambers work together to advance this bill, ensuring we move quickly to bring this much-needed funding to the people who need it most. Once both chambers can reach an agreement, the final version of the amended budget will be sent to the governor for signature. This same process will be followed for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget, which is what we will turn our attention to next.

Beyond the amended budget, we took time to address other legislative initiatives, such as school safety. In response to the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County on September 4, 2024, the Speaker of the House unveiled a new school safety plan earlier this week. The plan, proposed under House Bill 268 , would include the establishment of a statewide School and Student Safety Database (S3), designed to consolidate student data in order to identify potential security risks. It would also require each school district to establish risk management teams, consisting of administrators, mental health professionals and law enforcement. To further enhance safety, the plan would mandate the use of an anonymous reporting app, allowing students and staff to report concerns confidentially. The plan would also allocate $50 million in one-time school safety grants to support these initiatives and provide additional funding for the development of the S3 database. To address mental health, the plan would create mental health coordinator positions in schools and require instruction in violence prevention and suicide awareness. The plan would also encourage responsible gun ownership through voluntary tax incentives for safe storage equipment and gun safety training courses. I will update you as this legislation makes its way through the legislative process.

Aside from our legislative work, the House took time to recognize and commend individuals and groups who have contributed to the prosperity, safety and well-being of Georgia’s communities. On Tuesday, we honored firefighters from across the state during the 53rd Firefighters Recognition Day at the State Capitol, including members from the Cities of Gainesville, South Fulton, Thomasville and St. Mary’s Fire Departments. On Thursday, we celebrated Georgia National Guard Day by presenting Major General Richard Dwayne Wilson with a resolution honoring the dedication and sacrifice of the National Guard’s members. We also recognized the 50th anniversary of Morehouse School of Medicine, presenting President Valerie Montgomery Rice with a resolution for the school’s outstanding contributions to the community and the entire state.

The Georgia House of Representatives will continue its legislative work on Monday, February 10th as we begin our fifth week of session. With Crossover Day quickly approaching, we’re gearing up for a busy period ahead, where bills and resolutions must pass out of their respective chambers. As always, I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns about the work being done at the Capitol. Feel free to schedule a call or visit to discuss the issues that are most important to you and your family.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 3 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:28:05 GMT

January 27 - 31, 2025

This week, members of the Georgia House of Representatives returned to the State Capitol following a winter storm that impacted much of the southern part of the state. One of our primary responsibilities this week was to hear from Chief Justice Michael Boggs of the Georgia Supreme Court as he delivered his State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the House and Senate in the House Chamber. House Appropriations Subcommittees and full House committees also began to meet this week, ramping up the committee process. While the work flow was continuous, we also made sure to take moments to honor important occasions and reflect on significant events throughout the week.

On Monday, we began the week with a moment of reflection and remembrance, honoring the millions of innocent lives lost during the Holocaust. Through the adoption of House Resolution 50 , which designates January 27, 2025, as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the House reaffirmed our commitment to ensuring that such atrocities are never forgotten. Monday also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz- Birkenau, which served as a poignant reminder of the resilience of humanity in the face of unimaginable suffering.

Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs addressed the House and Senate on Tuesday and began his State of the Judiciary address by emphasizing the rise in public confidence in state courts, noting that more than half of Americans now give positive ratings to their state judicial systems. This statistic is encouraging as more than 95 percent of all court cases nationwide are handled in state courts. He also highlighted that Georgia courts are proactively examining the impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on our legal system and have formed a committee to assess their findings and discover what challenges or opportunities could come from the use of AI in the judicial system.

In his address last year, Chief Justice Boggs spoke about the shortage of court reporters across the state, and for much of this year, the Judicial Council’s Standing Committee on Court Reporting Matters has met with stakeholders to discuss this ongoing issue. This year, Chief Justice Boggs noted that the Judicial Council is prepared to submit a balanced proposal that would allow trial judges the option to have some court proceedings be recorded by a digital system, thus reducing the amount of time spent retrieving necessary records. When court proceedings are prolonged, victims are often subject to delays in receiving justice, and this proposal would help victims obtain closure in a timely manner. Next, he outlined the issue of legal deserts and the harm they pose to citizens in our state. Currently, there are seven rural counties in Georgia that do not possess a single licensed attorney, furthering the absence of justice for Georgians experiencing pressing legal matters such as divorce, eviction or adoption. In response, Chief Justice Boggs created the Supreme Court Study Committee on Legal Regulatory Reform, which will explore ways to bolster civil legal services for rural or low-income Georgians.

Chief Justice Boggs went on to emphasize the positive work being done to improve outcomes for veterans in our state’s criminal justice system, highlighting the work of Cobb County’s Veterans Accountability and Treatment Court program, which has worked tirelessly to decrease recidivism rates for incarcerated veterans through an 18-month program designed to address post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and other mental health issues. Chief Justice Boggs acknowledged that while these legislative-supported and local initiatives are crucial for the health and prosperity of Georgia’s judicial system, they are not the sole responsibility of the courts. He emphasized that Georgia’s courts remain stronger than ever, despite facing challenges to their mission.

The chief justice also reported that in recent years, attacks and threats targeting Georgia’s courts, including those aimed at judges, have been on the rise. He highlighted a statistic from the United States Marshals Service, which revealed that threats against federal judges have nearly tripled over the past decade. In response to this escalating trend, Chief Justice Boggs proposed a series of upgrades to physical security measures, alongside comprehensive training initiatives designed to ensure that security situations are not only effectively managed but also prevented. This year, he shared that these training sessions, available to both judges and lawmakers, have significantly enhanced their understanding of how to protect themselves in high-risk security situations. Lastly, the chief justice reiterated his appreciation for the legislature’s cooperation and support in enhancing the protection of Georgia’s judicial system, particularly by improving judicial compensation. He emphasized that this effort will be pursued once again during the legislative session through two pieces of legislation: House Bill 85 , which would address compensation for superior court judges, and House Bill 86 , which would pertain to compensation for statewide judges.

In addition to hearing the State of the Judiciary address this week, the pace of our legislative work certainly picked up as the House Appropriations Subcommittees continued meeting this week to review the sections of the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 budget. Each subcommittee carefully examines a specific section of Governor Kemp’s budget proposals, eventually passing sections of the budgets from their respective subcommittees. Each budget section will then be presented to the full House Appropriations Committee, where members will collaborate to form one unified budget before the budget bill moves on to the House Rules Committee for further consideration and scheduling of a full vote on the House floor.

In addition, several full House committees have started meeting to discuss various bills assigned to them based on policy area. Once a bill passes out of its respective committee, it moves to the Rules Committee before being added to the House calendar for a vote by the whole House. After passing the House, the bill follows a similar process in the Senate, where it may be amended. If there are differences between the House and Senate versions, a conference committee is appointed to resolve them, and the final version then returns to both chambers for a final vote. If approved, it is sent to Gov. Kemp for either his signature or veto. This is the process we follow for all legislation, including the AFY 2025 and FY 2026 budgets.

Also, this week, my colleagues and I gathered in the House Chamber for a special event for the unveiling of former Dean of the House Calvin Smyre’s official portrait at the Georgia State Capitol, celebrating his remarkable 48-year career in the Georgia House of Representatives. Smyre, the longest-serving member in the state’s history, is only the seventh African American to have such a distinction. The ceremony was attended by former Georgia governors, lieutenant governors, a United States congressman, friends, family and colleagues—many of whom spoke of Dean Smyre’s contributions to Georgia’s political landscape. Former Governor Roy Barnes and former Governor Sonny Perdue were among those present for the event, and former Governor Joe Frank Harris also shared a heartfelt letter read during the event. Dean Smyre’s legacy will now be immortalized at the State Capitol for future generations to admire.

We also took time to celebrate Lunar New Year at the Capitol, a significant cultural holiday observed by many across Asia. Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year based on the lunar calendar. The celebration, featuring a lion dance, was organized by the Georgia Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus (AAPI). During the celebration, several House Resolutions were presented to members of the AAPI community to honor and recognize their accomplishments. Among those recognized was the first Indian female Olympian to win gold in track and field in 1954. The Chinese-American Business Association of Atlanta was also celebrated on their 32nd anniversary of serving the Atlanta area. Additionally, the Chien Hong School of Kung Fu received a resolution in recognition of their lion dance performance at the Georgia State Capitol in 2024.

Finally, to end our week, we stood for a moment of silence to remember the victims of the tragic mid-air collision that took place at Reagan Washington National Airport, and, among the victims were two individuals with ties to Georgia. Sam Lilley, the first officer aboard Flight 5342, was a graduate of Richmond Hill High School in Bryan County and Georgia Southern University. Ryan O’Hara, a 2014 graduate of Parkview High School in Lilburn, was serving as a Blackhawk helicopter Crew Chief. The House mourns this profound loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their families.

We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, February 3rd for our fourth week of session. My colleagues and I will continue to consider legislation that best serves Georgians, and I will be sure to update you about our legislative work. As we continue through the session, I hope that you will reach out with your questions or concerns regarding legislation and the issues that are significant to you and your family.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 2 Legislative Session Recap 2025

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:16:11 GMT

January 21 - 24, 2025

Following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Georgia General Assembly was set to return to the Gold Dome on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, to commence “budget week” – the second week of the legislative session, which is traditionally reserved for joint hearings by the House and Senate Appropriations committees, where the governor, state leaders and agency experts present their budget recommendations to the joint committee. However, budget hearings were rescheduled after Governor Brian Kemp declared a State of Emergency on Monday in anticipation of winter storms across the state. Despite the weather setback, Gov. Kemp released his official budget report to the joint committee, and legislators and staff continued working remotely to ensure the budget process remains timely and efficient.

Passing a balanced budget is our one constitutional obligation, and each year, budget week serves as the opportunity to lay the groundwork for the state’s financial planning, covering both the remainder of the current fiscal year and the upcoming one. Gov. Kemp recently shared his official budget recommendations for the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2025 and Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budgets. To view Gov. Kemp’s formal budget proposal recommendations, please click here , and I will discuss some highlights below. These recommendations will eventually be transformed into legislation that will determine how the state allocates its revenue for AFY 2025 and FY 2026.

In his budget proposals, Gov. Kemp made it clear that his top priority is providing relief for those affected by the devastation of Hurricane Helene. As such, the governor is proposing more than $614 million in the AFY 2025 budget to support recovery efforts across the state. This includes more than $600 million allocated to a range of recovery initiatives, such as $300 million for debris cleanup and road repairs, $100 million for agriculture and timber relief, $50 million to maintain the health of the state’s property insurance risk pool for repairing state facilities and $150 million for FEMA-related expenses.

Gov. Kemp’s proposals also highlight Georgia’s recent economic performance, emphasizing the state’s continued position as the number one state for business for 11 consecutive years. The governor credits this achievement to the state’s fiscal management, which has allowed Georgia to return more than $7.6 billion in tax relief to citizens through property tax cuts, motor fuel tax reductions and income tax rebates. To build on this accomplishment, the governor’s budget proposals include a one-time tax rebate of $1 billion for the 2024 tax year, along with a phased income tax cut that would reduce the rate from 5.75 percent to 4.99 percent. In his report, the governor further proposes a subsequent reduction in tax rates to 5.19 percent by 2025, which would be expected to save taxpayers approximately $745 million annually. With these measures, Georgia taxpayers could benefit from more than $9.7 billion in cumulative savings since 2021.

In addition to tax relief, Gov. Kemp’s budget proposals emphasize the importance of maintaining a robust Revenue Shortfall Reserve, which would allow the state to make certain one-time investments. As such, the governor’s AFY 2025 budget proposal includes $2.7 billion in reserve funds, with a portion of those funds directed toward certain infrastructure projects. The governor also places a strong emphasis on supporting water and transportation infrastructure, as his proposals suggest $1.6 billion be set aside for development in these areas. This would include $743 million for capital construction and freight infrastructure through the Georgia Department of Transportation. The governor’s budget proposals also suggest a boost in funding for local communities, recommending $1.1 billion be added in the AFY 2025 budget for economic development initiatives. This would include an extra $250 million for local road assistance grants, which would more than double the annual investment in local transportation. In addition, Gov. Kemp’s budget proposals include $250 million in increased funding for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to support water infrastructure projects, as well as $501.7 million for coastal water investments aimed at fostering long-term growth in Georgia’s coastal communities. Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, this funding would help rebuild water infrastructure and support economic projects along our state’s resilient shores.

In line with his infrastructure priorities, Gov. Kemp’s budget proposals recommend an additional $60 million for the Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank, which would provide low-interest loans and grants to support local transportation improvements. His budget proposals also call for an additional $48 million for the OneGeorgia Authority, which would continue support for rural workforce housing and site development programs. These initiatives have already facilitated 22 projects and are expected to generate up to 1,607 new housing units. Georgians should be afforded the opportunity to live where they work, and this investment helps citizens take a step toward that reality.

Furthermore, the governor’s budget proposals focus on meeting the evolving needs of Georgia’s education system. His AFY 2025 and FY 2026 budget proposals include more than $1 billion combined in new investments across all levels of education, from Pre-K through higher education, which would fully fund Georgia’s education sector. Specifically, Gov. Kemp’s budget proposals include a request for more than $141 million in FY 2026 to fully fund the first year of Georgia’s new Promise Scholarships, along with $174 million for the State Health Benefit Plan and $115 million for the Teachers Retirement System to cover the employer share of healthcare and retirement benefits.

Healthcare remains a top priority in the governor’s budget recommendations. His FY 2026 proposal includes $324 million to support growth in Medicaid enrollment and utilization, with $36 million earmarked to cover pharmacy benefits for treatments such as gene therapies for sickle cell disease. Additionally, the governor’s plan calls for $150 million to increase funding of medical schools, aiming to strengthen Georgia’s healthcare workforce and advance medical research. By investing in our medical schools and healthcare institutions, we can enhance the quality of care for Georgians while building a stronger, more capable healthcare workforce.

Public safety and corrections are also priorities in Gov. Kemp’s budget proposals, which address the challenges facing Georgia’s correctional system in the wake of the pandemic, including rising healthcare and staffing costs. In response, the governor’s budget proposals recommend a historic $603 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections to recruit and retain staff, improve facility security and address the physical and mental health needs of inmates. To maintain the well-being of both those who serve in our correctional facilities and the public, it is equally important to support our dedicated state employees through strong retirement systems. As such, the governor’s budget proposals also focus on state pensions, recommending an additional $725 million to further strengthen Georgia’s retirement systems, building on progress made during the 2024 legislative session. This would include $500 million for the Employees’ Retirement System to improve the funded ratio of the state’s retirement funds.

In addition to receiving Gov. Kemp’s formal budget recommendations this week, two Appropriations Subcommittees convened, and the Joint Appropriations Committee held a hearing on Thursday morning to discuss community development block grants. When we return to the State Capitol next week, several more House Appropriations Subcommittees are slated to meet and will begin the process of reviewing their specific sections of the budget.

I hope you and your family have stayed safe during the recent winter weather. We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, January 27, 2025, and I look forward to continuing to work on policies that will benefit our community. As session progresses, please keep up with any topic that is important to your family or community on the House website here .

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 1 Legislative Session Recap 2025

deborah@pipelinesocialmedia.com (Deborah Arnold) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:14:59 GMT

January 13 - 17, 2025

The 40-day Georgia legislative session gaveled in on Monday, January 13 and legislators quickly handled ceremonial and preliminary duties that accompany new terms.

The House reelected Rep. Jon Burns, R-Newington, as Speaker and Rep. Jan Jones, R-Milton, as House speaker pro tempore. On the Senate side, Sen. John Kennedy, R-Macon, was reelected president pro tempore of that chamber.

The chambers also set the entire calendar for the year. Legislative Day 40, also known as Sine Die, is scheduled for April 4. Crossover Day, or Legislative Day 28, when bills must pass out of one chamber to survive, is March 6.

Here is a recap of what else happened this week:

Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his State of the State address on Thursday. You can watch it here . During the speech, Kemp made a strong push for tort reform and hinted at a special session if it is necessary. Kemp also threw his support behind legislation to lower the income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, which would save $7.5 billion over the next decade.
Earlier in the week at the Georgia Chamber’s annual Eggs and Issues breakfast, Kemp outlined his priorities for this session.
Gov. Kemp, along with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Speaker Burns, announced their education platform, which “fully funds K-12 formula earnings, provides funding for additional school safety grants, enhances mental health support and crisis counseling, and boosts technical education and transportation funding.”
Speaker Burns announced his priorities for the year in a pre-session press conference, where he highlighted “revisiting tax cuts, advancing child literacy initiatives with collaboration from the Senate and governor’s office and ensuring the protection of gender-specific sports participation.”
Lt. Gov. Jones named chairmen for the 2025-2026 legislative session. Many chairmen remained the same from last session. New chairs include: Sen. Billy Hickman, R-Statesboro, will serve as chair of the Education and Youth Committee, Sen. Sam Watson, R-Moultrie, will serve as chair of the Ethics Committee, Sen. Max Burns, R-Sylvania, will serve as chair of the Higher Education Committee, Sen. Mike Hodges, R-Brunswick, will serve as chair of the Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee and Sen. Clint Dixon, R-Gwinnett, will serve as chair of the State and Local Governmental Operations Committee.
The House has added two new committees, the Rural Development Committee, which will be chaired by Rep. Leesa Hagan, R-Lyons, and the Special Committee on Resource Management, to be chaired by Rep. Brad Thomas, R-Holly Springs.
A full listing of updated committees can be found here .
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler, R-Rome, expects to draft legislation to make the floating homestead exemption created by House Bill 581 mandatory — eliminating the option to opt out. The exemption was overwhelmingly adopted by voters last fall after being put on the ballot by lawmakers, but many — if not most — local governments are planning to opt out during the next three months.
New legislation has been introduced to exclude tips from taxation. Senate Bill 2 was drafted by Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming.
Next week, lawmakers will be in adjournment for budget hearings. The next day of the session, Legislative Day 6, will be Monday, January 27.

Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 12 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 14:18:07 GMT

March 25-29, 2024

The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol for the final week of the 2024 legislative session on Monday, March 25 for a busy committee work day. After working in our committees on Monday to finalize legislation, the House convened for Legislative Day 39 on March 26, and then, the session came to an end after we completed Legislative Day 40 on Thursday, March 28, also known as Sine Die. It was a very busy week as we worked late into the nights carrying out the people’s business and making progress for Georgians statewide, and I will share some of the bills that we voted on from the Rules calendars in our final days, as well as highlight legislation that received final passage in the General Assembly.

On the last day of the session, we gave final passage to the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget, which will become effective July 1, 2024, fulfilling our sole constitutional obligation of the session. Set at a revenue estimate of $36.1 billion, representing a historic increase of $3.7 billion, or 11.4 percent, over the previous fiscal year’s budget. The passage of this budget marks a significant milestone in Georgia's commitment to addressing the diverse needs of its citizens and reflects a robust investment across various sectors for the state’s growth and prosperity.

The FY 2025 budget demonstrates a significant commitment to Georgia's education sector, prioritizing key initiatives essential for advancing K-12 education. Notably, HB 916 fully supports the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program with a historic allocation of $14.1 billion in state funds. This budget also includes measures to boost teacher salaries, earmarking $373.6 million to raise the state base salary schedule by $2,500. Moreover, funds are allocated for salary increases for school nutrition workers, bus drivers, school nurses and Regional Education Services Agencies (RESA) staff, along with $8.5 million designated for $1,000 salary supplements for school custodians. Additionally, $6.3 million is allocated to the school nutrition program to cover breakfast and lunch costs for reduced-paying students, and $2 million in school nutrition formula funds is provided to local school systems to maintain affordable meal prices, addressing key priorities outlined by the House. The budget also prioritizes literacy with $6.1 million for reading grants, including literacy coaches and pay supplements. School safety receives $109 million for the School Security Grants program, providing $45,000 grants to each school. Additionally, $200 million is allocated for student transportation, addressing increased operating costs, with total funding reaching $353.5 million in FY 2025. This increased funding reflects the House's commitment to enhancing education and safety measures in Georgia.

Additionally, Communities in Schools receives an extra $1 million to support students academically and non-academically, with a focus on improving attendance, behavior and graduation rates. The FY 2025 budget allocates more than $57.5 million in new lottery funds to the Department of Early Care and Learning. These funds will implement recommendations from the House Early Childhood Education Working Group, including reducing class sizes, increasing start-up grants for new classrooms, providing classroom replenishment grants, enhancing transportation funding, boosting operating funds for private Pre-K providers and improving pay for Pre-K lead and assistant teachers. These strategic investments highlight the House's commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and outcomes for all students in Georgia.

My legislative colleagues and I also made significant strides to increase funding for Georgia's higher education system to enhance educational excellence, workforce development and student preparation. As such, the budget includes $1.5 million for the David Ralston Center for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Georgia, addressing workforce needs for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, HB 916 allocates an extra $15 million for the Dual Enrollment program, supporting high school students' access to college-level courses. We've prioritized healthcare infrastructure investments to enhance health outcomes and meet public health demands statewide, allocating $500,000 to Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center for Maternal Health Equity for infant mortality research. Additionally, the budget includes $1 million for supplemental illness-specific insurance for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). HB 916 also boosts funding for various Medicaid providers, with $5.6 million for therapists, $12.6 million for primary care providers, $392,173 for optometrists and $648,829 for pharmacists. Additionally, the budget allocates $10.5 million for dental services and $603,883 for dialysis treatment of acute kidney injuries among the Medicaid population. To tackle housing challenges, the budget allocates funds to Georgia's economic development sector. Specifically, within the Department of Community Affairs, $1 million is earmarked for the accountable housing initiative, aimed at providing stable housing for the homeless while ensuring long-term affordability. Additionally, the House supports the governor's proposal to allocate $3.7 million for enhanced homelessness services through federal grants. Furthermore, $6 million is appropriated for the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative, which aims to improve housing options in rural areas to meet the workforce's needs.

The budget includes $3.2 million for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to establish the Macon Crisis Stabilization Diagnostic Center, which will be the state's first crisis support center for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Additionally, HB 916 provides $500,000 to assist homeless Georgians through housing vouchers, behavioral health services and rapid rehousing initiatives. The budget also supports veterans with funding for a coordinator to aid homeless veterans and $1 million for behavioral health services for active-duty military personnel and veterans through the Georgia Veterans Service. Furthermore, HB 916 shows a commitment to protecting Georgia's children by allocating $1 million to expand the capacity of court-appointed special advocates and $1 million to enhance forensic and mental health services at the state's Child Advocacy Centers.

HB 916 allocates significant funding for public safety initiatives, particularly aimed at strengthening law enforcement, preventing crime and supporting victims. Notably, the bill sets aside $45.9 million for a $3,000 salary increase for law enforcement officers in 21 state agencies, demonstrating a commitment to attracting and retaining skilled professionals in law enforcement. Additionally, the FY 2025 budget includes $10 million for the Georgia Department of Corrections to establish 400 transitional center beds at the Metro Re-entry Center, aiding inmates' reintegration into society post-release. The budget also directs $12.7 million to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to support 48 domestic violence shelters and $2 million for 28 sexual assault centers, covering administrative and facility costs to ensure compliance with state standards. Lastly, HB 916 appropriates $4.3 million to the CJCC for hiring a dedicated sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator, reinforcing the integrity of forensic medical examinations crucial for prosecuting sexual assault cases.

Additional notable investments in the FY 2025 budget include $260 million for a four percent cost-of-living adjustment for state employees; $5 million for third-party ballot-text auditing technology to enhance election verification and transparency; and $2.4 billion to bolster Georgia's transportation system, improving mobility, reducing congestion and ensuring the safety and efficiency of roads, bridges and transit networks. The FY 2025 budget now awaits signature by Governor Kemp.

The House also gave final passage to many other important measures this week, sending many bills to Governor Kemp to be signed into law. I will highlight a few of the bills that we sent to the governor’s desk.

First, we gave final passage to House Bill 404 , also known as the “Safe at Home Act.” This legislation, introduced during the 2023 legislative session, is a top priority for me and my House colleagues. This bipartisan legislation seeks to safeguard the rights of both renters and landlords in Georgia. HB 404 would mandate that rental properties must meet certain standards for human habitation. Specifically, the bill would prohibit landlords from shutting off a rental home’s air conditioning utilities prior to an eviction. The bill would also limit security deposits to no more than two months’ rent and would require landlords to provide a three-business day notice before initiating eviction proceedings for unpaid rent or charges. Additionally, eviction notices would be required to be visibly posted on the renter’s door in a sealed envelope. Georgia renters have the right to live in homes that meet certain minimum health and safety standards, and overall, this bill would provide greater protections for tenants under state law and hold landlords accountable for keeping their properties safe for renters.

The House voted to give final passage this week to House Bill 663 , the “No Patient Left Alone Act.” HB 663 would require the presence of designated essential caregivers with patients in long-term care facilities during treatment. Under this bill, both minors and adult patients would have the right to have an essential caregiver to be physically present at all times while that patient remains in the hospital or facility. Importantly, these caregiver rights could not be terminated, suspended or waived by the hospital or long-term care facility, the Department of Public Health or any governmental entity, regardless of emergency declarations by the governor. This legislation was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which prevented many Georgians from visiting their loved ones in such facilities. This legislation would ensure that patients are never left alone without their family or caregiver by their side to provide crucial support and advocacy for their loved one.

House Bill 993 , which received final passage this week, aims to safeguard Georgia’s minors from potential harm by introducing measures against online grooming. This legislation would impose criminal consequences on individuals who knowingly and intentionally use electronic means to groom minors, persuading, inducing, enticing or coercing them into committing sexual offenses or acts of human trafficking. Perpetrators of this crime would face felony imprisonment ranging from one to five years. Importantly, these penalties would apply regardless of whether the crimes occur within our outside of Georgia, as long as it involves a minor residing in Georgia. HB 993 would address the growing threat of online exploitation and grooming, which would provide crucial protection for Georgia’s vulnerable children against online predators.

Furthermore, my colleagues and I voted to give final passage to legislation that would expand paid parental leave benefits for our state employees and teachers, recognizing their invaluable contributions to our state’s workforce. House Bill 1010 would increase the number of hours of annual paid parental leave for state employees from 120 to 240 hours, or six weeks, doubling the amount of paid leave that these workers currently receive. This extended leave could be used following the birth of a child or when a child is placed in a home following foster care placement or adoption. This House-led initiative underscores the importance of family bonding during these critical life events and would help our state attracts and retains a top-tier public workforce.

On Thursday, House Bill 451 also received final passage to support our state’s first responders. HB 451 would require a public entity to provide supplemental, illness-specific insurance to certain first responders diagnosed with occupational post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This coverage would be available once per an individual’s lifetime, and it would include a $3,000 cash benefit and an income replacement disability benefit provided 90 days after diagnosis, if needed. First responders are often exposed to traumatic and potentially life-altering situations in the line of duty. This legislation would support those diagnosed with PTSD by reducing some of the financial burdens of treatment and allow them to continue serving their communities without compromising their well-being.

Furthermore, the House continued our commitment to passing measures that would put money back into the hands of hard-working Georgians. With that, we granted final passage to House Bill 1019 , which would increase the statewide homestead exemption for all ad valorem taxation for state, county and school purposes from $2,000 to $4,000. Individuals would be eligible for the exemption if they reside in the home as their primary residence. The statewide homestead exemption has not been updated in several years, and this bill would help homeowners with the rising costs of homeownership.

Finally, House Bill 1021 received final passage, and this measure would allow each taxpayer to deduct $4,000 from their Georgia taxable income for each dependent. The current allowable deduction per dependent is $3,000. HB 1021 would provide another way for Georgians to keep more of their hard-earned money and help reduce the financial burdens of caring for dependents.

The House passed Senate Bill 395 , which would make opioid antagonists, like Narcan, exempt from classification as a dangerous drug when used for overdose prevention. SB 395, named “Wesley’s Law,” would allow for visitors and school employees to possess and administer an opioid antagonist if the person believes someone is suffering from a drug overdose on school property or at a school-sponsored activity. Public schools would be required to make a reasonable effort to maintain a supply of opioid antagonists and notify emergency medical services and the student’s guardian after administering an opioid antagonist. Furthermore, this bill would allow opioid antagonists to be sold and supplied in vending machines. Additionally, harm reduction organizations and people who dispense, supply and administer opioid antagonists would be immune from liability when acting in good faith. Also, the bill would require government buildings, courthouses and schools with automated external defibrillators to provide opioid antagonists to assist in the event of an opioid overdose. An individual who experiences an overdose can lose their life quickly, so this bill would make these drugs more readily available so that this life-saving treatment can be administered before it’s too late. This bill also received final passage and has been sent to the governor for his consideration.

Lastly, the House passed Senate Bill 384 , which would support those living with disabilities and seeks to boost state government employment for these individuals. This bill would make it so that our state government becomes a model employer for hiring individuals with disabilities by encouraging state agencies to consider best practices relating to the recruitment, hiring, advancement and retention of a broad range of qualified individuals with disabilities at all levels and for all occupations. In doing so, SB 384 would create the Georgia as a Model Employer (GAME) Program, which would be developed and implemented by the state’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator. Notably, the GAME Program would include: technical assistance and training for state agency human resources personnel and hiring managers for the recruitment, hiring, advancement and retention of qualified individuals with disabilities; assistance with implementing plans for reasonable accommodations by state agencies under the ADA; and developing evaluation forms and reports for the purpose of data collection and analysis relating to individuals with disabilities employed by state agencies. Each state agency would be required to submit a plan to increase employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities by September 1, 2025, and by September 1 of each year afterward, and the state ADA coordinator would also submit an annual report on the progress of state agencies. This bill would help bolster our workforce by encouraging state agencies to hire more qualified individuals living with disabilities.

Now that the 2024 legislative session has come to an end, Governor Kemp will have 40 days to sign or veto legislation that received final passage by the House and Senate. These measures will become state law upon his signature, and any legislation not signed or vetoed within 40 days of Sine Die will automatically become state law. To keep up with which bills the governor signs into law this spring, please click here .

During the interim, my legislative colleagues and I will continue to examine current and emerging issues facing Georgians that may need to be addressed in next year’s session. Even though this legislative session has come to a close, I hope you will let me know how I can continue to support our district and what issues are important to you and your family in the months ahead.

I am looking forward to spending the remainder of the year back home in House District 74 now that session is behind us. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 11 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 16:50:59 GMT

March 18-22, 2024

My House colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 18, 2024, to begin the eleventh week of the 2024 Legislative Session. This week, we convened in the House Chamber for three legislative days and continued to give passage to a number of Senate bills. There are now only two legislative days remaining in the session until we reach Sine Die on Thursday, March 28, 2024. These finals legislative days are among the busiest days of the entire session as we finalize our legislative business for the year before the Sine Die deadline.

This week, the House took legislative action to combat the growing fentanyl crisis in our state. My colleagues and I unanimously passed this important, life saving measure, Senate Bill 465 , which would create the crime of aggravated involuntary manslaughter when someone intentionally manufactures or sells a controlled substance that contains fentanyl and fentanyl is determined as the sole cause or a contributing factor in a victim’s death. In the prosecution of this crime, the government would not need to prove that the defendant knew fentanyl was present in the drug. Anyone who violates this offense would be found guilty of a felony and subject to imprisonment between 10 and 30 years. Additionally, SB 465 would create a felony crime for unlawfully possessing, purchasing, delivering or selling a pill press or tableting machine if there is reasonable cause to believe that the item will be used to manufacture a controlled or counterfeit substance. A person who commits this crime would be subject to imprisonment between one and 10 years. Under current law, if someone selling drugs claims that they had no knowledge of fentanyl presence in a drug that caused an overdose, that person would not be charged with this felony crime. This bill would update the law so that those who sell drugs and counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl are held accountable for overdoses. SB 465 is known as “Austin’s Law,” named after a young man who died tragically after unknowingly taking a substance laced with fentanyl. His parents joined us in the House Chamber while we honored his life with the passage of the bill. Later in the day, our counterparts in the Senate voted to give this legislation final passage, sending this important bill to Governor Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.

The House has focused its efforts on improving and expanding mental health services across our state in recent years, and this week, we continued those efforts by giving final passage to Senate Bill 480 . This legislation would provide student loan repayment assistance to mental health and substance use providers who offer services to underserved youth or practice in geographic areas of the state that lack adequate services. Specifically, SB 480 would allow mental health and substance use providers to apply for student loan repayment through the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce. SB 480 would incentivize professionals to work in areas of critical need, which would ensure access to vital mental health and substance use services for Georgians in need in all corners of our state. To be eligible, applicants would be required to be legal residents of Georgia with non-defaulted student debt, and the repayment amount would be determined by the workforce board, covering a maximum duration of five years. We know that there is a pressing need for increased mental health and substance use providers and services in Georgia, particularly in rural and underserved areas where access to such services are limited. SB 480 now awaits signature into law by Governor Kemp.

We also gave unanimous passage to Senate Bill 440 , bipartisan legislation that would make revisions to Georgia’s Accelerated Career Diploma program, which is part of the state’s dual enrollment program for qualified high school students. SB 440 is a result of the work of the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages, which was established in 2023 in response to requests from Georgia students, families, communities and employers. Throughout last summer and fall, this joint study committee conducted numerous meetings across the state to explore and identify potential solutions for increasing dual enrollment opportunities for highly skilled talent at younger ages. As such, SB 440 would simplify the dual enrollment program and improve academic flexibility to better align with pathway programs. Under this legislation, this diploma path would only be available for an associate’s degree in applied science within Georgia's Technical College System (TCSG) or TCSG programs included in the State Workforce Development Board’s high-demand career list. Additionally, SB 440 would introduce the Dual Enrollment ACE (Accelerated Career Education) grant program, which would provide financial assistance to eligible students participating in the Accelerated Career Diploma Program. These students would be exempt from the 30-hour dual enrollment cap, and the bill would allow dual enrollment funding to be distinguished between academic and technical students. Through these changes, this legislation seeks to simplify this important program and encourage greater student participation so that more students are workforce-ready upon their high school graduation.

We also turned our attention to strengthening public safety in our state with the passage of Senate Bill 493 , which would introduce several provisions related to the protection of minors and certain regulations concerning individuals on Georgia’s sex offender registry. First, SB 493 would make it a crime for a person to use an unmanned aircraft, such as a drone, to intentionally photograph an individual, particularly a minor, without parental consent. Individuals who are found guilty of this crime would be subject to a minimum fine of $1,500, and subsequent violations would lead to felony charges and imprisonment between one and 30 years, accompanied by fines ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. The bill would also prohibit a person who is on the sex offender registry from knowingly owning or operating a drone used to photograph or observe any person in any way that violates that person's reasonable expectation of privacy. SB 493 would also allow certain individuals on Georgia’s sex offender registry to petition the superior court to be removed from the registry after reaching the age of 80 years old and completing all prison, parole, supervised release and probation for the offense. SB 493 would not only be crucial for protecting Georgia’s minors from registered sexual offenders but would also play a significant role in building safer and more secure communities for all Georgians.

My colleagues and I also took action to continue our efforts to support victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. Senate Bill 324 would create a victim-centered address confidentiality program within the Office of the Secretary of State. This program would allow certified participants to utilize an address confidentiality card instead of disclosing their personal address to governmental entities in order to prevent their confidential address from being published. By making victims’ addresses confidential from public record, we can ensure that victims and survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, human trafficking or sexual assault could remain protected from their perpetrators as disclosure could increase the risk that the victim would be threatened or physically harmed by another person. Further, this legislation would prohibit courts from issuing or approving mutual protective orders in certain instances and would provide for the issuance of dating violence protective orders. This bipartisan measure is a crucial step toward providing more protection and support to these victims in our state, allowing them the opportunity to safely rebuild their lives without fear.

Finally, the House passed Senate Bill 464 to improve literacy rates among our students and provide financial relief to educators to purchase classroom supplies. SB 464 would make changes to the Georgia Early Literacy Act to require the Department of Education (DOE) and Georgia Council on Literacy to identify up to five universal reading screeners to help identify students who are experiencing literacy problems. In addition, the bill would make one of these screeners available for free for public schools and local school systems. The second part of SB 464 outlines the School Supplies for Educators Act, which would establish a program to provide financial and technical assistance to educators to purchase school supplies. The State Board of Education would be tasked with establishing this program for the DOE to allocate funds for eligible educators, to be used at their discretion, for the online purchase of school supplies. SB 464 would help to ensure that we are supporting our students and improving literacy outcomes for Georgia’s young learners. Furthermore, this bill would also lessen the financial burden that many teachers face when supplying their classrooms with necessary learning materials and supplies.

We also gave passage to the following Senate bills this week:

Senate Bill 112 , which would create the Workforce EXCELeration Act, which would provide for a pilot program to establish a high school diploma program for adult learners. The program would be facilitated by the State Board of the Technical College System of Georgia. The pilot program would be required to include at least two distinct programs and would be automatically repealed on June 30, 2029;

Senate Bill 169 , which would revise the hearing dates for school suspensions. A hearing would be held no later than 10 school days from the beginning of the suspension unless there is an agreement between the parents and school system, in which case the hearing would be held no later than 15 days after the beginning of the suspension. A hearing could be held later than 15 days upon written request to the school system by a parent or guardian;

Senate Bill 230 , which would add a new item to the bill of rights for foster parents, which would say that they have the right to a reasonable and prudent parent standard when determining the ability of a child in foster care to engage in certain extracurricular activities. This would clarify that foster parents would have the right to a certified volunteer advocate of the foster parent's choosing during an investigation and also during meetings, as well as the right to a fair, timely and impartial investigation. It would also change the date that the Department of Human Services should develop a grievance procedure for dealing with grievances of foster parents from 2007 to 2024;
Senate Bill 259 , which would transfer Banks County from the Piedmont Judicial Circuit to the Mountain Judicial Circuit effective January 1, 2025;

Senate Bill 293 , which would revise the selection and qualifications of district health directors. The commissioner of the Department of Public Health would appoint district health directors to serve as chief executive officers of each local health department in the respective district. The director would be licensed to practice medicine or have a master's degree in public health or a related field. If the director is not licensed to practice medicine, then a licensed physician would serve as the chief medical officer. If a position for district health director becomes vacant, the commissioner could appoint an interim without board approval until a permanent director is appointed and approved by the county boards of health;

Senate Bill 328 , which would amend several provisions under the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit Fund. The bill would increase the minimum monthly dues from $25 to $35 and the maximum monthly dues from $50 to $70; would require members to pay the full actuarial cost of creditable service for service prior to becoming a member of the fund; would increase the normal death benefit from $3,000 to $5,000; would increase the death benefit if an officer would be killed in the line of duty from $5,000 to $10,000; and would increase the disability benefit from $257 to $455 per month;

Senate Bill 340 , which would amend current law related to the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption to extend the sales and use exemption to diesel exhaust fluid used for agricultural purposes;

Senate Bill 362 , which would prohibit companies that receive economic development incentives from: voluntarily granting recognition rights for the employees solely on the basis of signed labor organization authorization cards, if a secret ballot could have been used; voluntarily disclosing an employee’s personal contact information to a labor organization without prior consent; or requiring a subcontractor to engage in these activities. Any employer who would receive economic incentives and would engage in any of the prohibited conduct would be required to repay all economic incentives received over the life of the project. This would apply to any agreement between the state and an employer starting on January 1, 2025. The Department of Community Affairs would be authorized to investigate allegations of prohibited conduct if the company receives economic incentives;

Senate Bill 366 , which would amend current law to require that the general appropriations bill be referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee upon its first reading in the Senate and, if amended or passed by committee substitute, would not be considered until the bill has been placed on members’ desks for at least 24 hours. The bill would also require the governor’s budget report to be made available by the House Budget and Research Office and Senate Budget and Evaluation Office to their respective chambers. SB 366 would increase the number of economic analyses from 10 to 12 and would clarify that an economic analysis must be conducted if the sunset date of a tax credit or exemption is within two years and would be a state expenditure of at least $20 million, according to the most recent Tax Expenditure Report. Selections for any excess reports would be equally divided between the chairs of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees. SB 366 would also require the Department of Audits and Accounts to post a list of economic analyses to be conducted and establish a mechanism to collect relevant data from stakeholders. The department would share the data to the contracted researchers, but neither the department nor the contracted researchers would be bound to utilize all provided data in the completed economic analyses. The bill would clarify the criteria with which the Department of Audits and Accounts and contracted researchers may review and evaluate the selected tax incentive programs. SB 366 would require the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance committees to meet by January 31 of each year to review economic analyses completed the prior year;

Senate Bill 368 , which would prohibit foreign nationals from making contributions to a candidate, campaign committee, independent committee or political action committee, as well as prohibiting those entities from accepting contributions from foreign nationals. The bill would prohibit persons from acting as agents of a foreign principal unless they have properly registered themselves with a proper registration statement. Whenever an agent of foreign principal appears before an elected official, agency, officer or General Assembly committee to testify or advocate for the interests of the foreign principal, the agent would affirmatively state they are acting as an agent and would disclose the identity of the foreign principal;

Senate Bill 373 , which would amend the definition of "supervisor" related to professional counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists to remove the requirement that an applicant should be a psychiatrist or a psychologist. It would also remove the requirement that applicants to become a professional counselor should have a doctoral degree in order to be licensed. Further, an associate professional counselor would be required to have 90 quarter hours in relevant education rather than 80 hours in order to be licensed. The Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists would be required to issue expedited licenses by endorsement within 30 days from the date of application for those individuals who would have the same type of license in another state and meet other requirements, such as being in good standing. This would not apply to licenses for an associate marriage and family therapist;

Senate Bill 376 , which would amend current law related to dependency proceedings to require that a court determine whether the parent has made substantial progress toward completion of the case plan at the initial 75-day period review. During a review that is after an initial 75-day review, the bill would require the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to develop a case plan within 14 days of the review. The bill would also require that the court review and adopt the revised case plan within 45 days of the review or at a previously scheduled hearing. The bill would also revise current law relating to termination of parental rights, which would narrow one of the situations in which termination of parental rights may not be in the best interests of a child adjudicated as a dependent. The bill would limit that situation to only include when a relative intends to be a permanent placement for that child as part of a permanency plan and in which the timeline is consistent with the developmental needs of the child. SB 376 would require the court, at least 30 days prior to the 15 ^th month that the child has been in foster care and when the court deems appropriate, to review DFCS’s determination that terminating the parental rights would not be in the best interests of the child. The court could appoint an attorney guardian ad litem who could file a petition to terminate parental rights on behalf of the child. The court would also be permitted to make additional rulings at its own discretion;

Senate Bill 398 , which would revise operations related to the Georgia Joint Defense Commission. The number of members would be increased from 19 to 23 with the addition of the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia, a representative of a defense industry contractor designated by the president of the Senate, a member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and a representative of an organization engaged in military or defense research designated by the governor. The director of the Governor’s Defense Initiative would also be replaced by the Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, who would serve as the committee chairperson;

Senate Bill 401 , which would require each juvenile court to collect data on all cases in which a child is alleged or adjudicated to be a dependent child placed in foster care. This data would be incorporated into the Georgia Juvenile Data Exchange and the form of entry would be specified by the Administrative Office of the Courts. This data would include various dates related to the disposition of cases and deadlines imposed by statute. The bill would require each juvenile court to maintain a “ready-accessible docket” that would be accessible by the parties and to utilize its local case management system to collect required data. By April 15, 2025, the Administrative Office of the Courts would be required to put together a report for the General Assembly. Further, a petition to terminate parental rights would have to be immediately filed and docketed when presented to the clerk of a juvenile court;

Senate Bill 412 , which would increase the fines that the Office of the Secretary of State could issue to charitable organizations that violate relevant rules. A willful violation would have a maximum fine of $10,000 issued for a single violation or a maximum fine of $100,000 for multiple violations in a single proceeding or series of proceedings. The secretary of state could seek to impose these penalties through an administrative manner directly or through a superior court;

Senate Bill 420 , which would prohibit a person who is not a U.S. citizen or legal resident, is an agent of a foreign government designated as a foreign adversary and has been out of the country for a period of time preceding the acquisition of land from acquiring directly or indirectly any possessory interest in agricultural land or land within a 10-mile radius of a military installation, excluding residential property. Any possessory interest in agricultural land acquired by a nonresident alien through inheritance would be disposed of within one year after acquisition, and any interest acquired in the collection of debts would be disposed of within two years after acquisition. A broker would timely disclose to their client the requirements regarding relevant land acquisition. Violations would be considered a felony with punishment of a fine of less than $15,000 and imprisonment of between one to two years. SB 420 would also allow an interest in real estate to be transferred through a transfer-on-death deed, permitting a deed to transfer ownership of an interest upon death of the record owner. The transfer-on-death deed would be executed, acknowledged and recorded in the office of the clerk of superior court of the county where the real estate is located prior to the death of the record owner. A transfer-on-death form is provided in the bill;

Senate Bill 422 , which would increase the limit on the amount of investments an electric membership corporation could make or maintain in a gas affiliate from 15 to 25 percent of its net utility plant;

Senate Bill 424 , which would create the West Georgia Judicial Circuit, which would be composed of Carroll and Heard counties, out of the Coweta Judicial Circuit, which is currently composed of Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties. The district attorney of the new circuit would be appointed by the governor for a term beginning January 1, 2025, with the first election held at the 2026 general election. The allocation of judges, the transfer of cases, county supplements and circuit-wide costs paid by each county would be provided in the bill;

Senate Bill 426 , which would permit a claimant to join in the same action the motor carrier and the insurance carrier only when one or more motor carriers in question are insolvent or bankrupt, or personal service against the driver of the vehicle of the motor carrier could not be carried out after reasonable diligence. An amended complaint joining an insurance carrier would be served on the insurance carrier with the insurance carrier able to file an answer within 30 days of service;

Senate Bill 433 , or the Donor Intent Protection Act, which would require a charitable organization or trust that accepts a contribution pursuant to an endowment agreement to not violate the terms of any donor-imposed restriction. If a donor-imposed restriction is violated, the donor, the donor's lineal descendants or the donor's legal representative could bring a civil action within four years after discovering a breach of the endowment agreement. If a court finds a violation, the court would be authorized to order a remedy consistent with the charitable purposes expressed in the endowment agreement. The court, however, would not be authorized to order the return of the contribution;

Senate Bill 454 , which would revise the child support award calculation worksheet and rates and would clarify that the definition of custodial parent applies to the parent who earns the lesser amount of gross income and would change the process of editing child support awards to include a low-income adjustment system rather than a deviation. The bill would allow disability benefits received by the child from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to count against the noncustodial parent’s final child support amount;

Senate Bill 455 , which would remove the requirement of the step therapy protocol for the treatment of serious mental illness. The bill would require acceptance of payment for health care items or services regardless of when authorization is obtained. The bill would require reimbursement to an independent pharmacy be no less than the average reimbursement for retail chain pharmacies;

Senate Bill 456 , which would add disabled persons to the central caregiver registry. A “disabled person” would be defined as someone who is mentally or physically incapacitated, has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia;

Senate Bill 469 , which would revise the maximum account balance allowed related to contributions to savings trust accounts for higher education expenses. The bill would increase the income tax deduction cap related to higher education savings trust account contributions;

Senate Bill 472 , which would enact the Combatting Organized Crime Act and would revise current law relating to high-volume third-party sellers, sellers and third-party sellers;

Senate Bill 479 , which would revise judicial compensation so that the base salary for judges would be related to the annual salary fixed for judges of the U.S. district court for the northern district of Georgia on July 1st of the second proceeding state fiscal year. Each supreme court justice would receive a maximum of 100 percent of the federal district judge's salary, each court of appeals judge would receive a maximum of 95 percent of the base salary, the judge of the state-wide business court would receive a maximum of 92 percent of the base salary, and each superior court judge would receive a maximum of 90 percent of the base salary. Locality pay would be provided to judges in lieu of and not in addition to any prior county supplements, but in no event would the annual locality pay exceed 10 percent of the state annual salary. Each superior court judge in office on July 1, 2024, could opt-in to the new salary framework as well as any existing locality pay by October 1, 2024, through filing written notification to the council of superior court judges and the governing authority of each county comprising the judge's judicial circuit. From July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, all local laws providing compensation for a state or local official that tie that compensation to a superior court judge's compensation would be suspended with respect to any compensation increase. As of July 1, 2025, that suspension would be terminated and would not entitle any official to retroactive compensation;

Senate Bill 496 , which would amend current law relating to tax credits for the rehabilitation of historic structures to extend the sunset date of the program to December 31, 2029, and clarify the definition of a historic building or structure to require the structure to be certified by the Department of Community Affairs as having met certain criteria. The bill would amend current law relating to revitalization zone tax credits to extend the sunset date of the program to December 31, 2032;
Senate Bill 503 , is a clean-up bill, which would revise various grammar and terminology related to general contracting licensure and would split licenses into two separate categories for commercial and residential. The bill would change the annual volume threshold to $10 million that two of the members of the commercial general contractor division must have less than. Members would also be required to meet at least once every two months. A person applying for a residential-basic contractor license would also show that they are qualified as far as financial responsibility. The decision of the appropriate division would be conclusive except for fraud or willful or wanton misconduct. A business organization which loses a qualifying agent and that is acting under the statutory timeframe to find a new qualifying agent would be required to have its financially responsible officer or executive, who has assumed all responsibilities of the agent, swear in an affidavit that the permit application would be made in the applicable timeframe. A building inspector would not be able to issue a building permit unless the applicant has provided this affidavit. If a building inspector violates this provision, then they would be subject to a misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $1,000. The bill would revise other dates, timelines and fine amounts;

Senate Bill 505 , which would require each licensed hospital in the state to post and maintain a link to the federal related disclosures in the format established by the Department of Community Health to be updated annually and no later than July 1 of each year. The department would be directed to establish a uniform template and criteria for reporting the required documents no later than December 31, 2024, to be utilized no later the July 1, 2025. Additionally, SB 505 would require the board of a hospital authority to select one of the three proposed candidates to fill a vacancy;

Senate Bill 508 , which would direct the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide written notice to each state or local government entity that possesses personally identifiable information of a judge or justice to restrict access to that information within 30 days of written notice. Within 30 days of written notice from a judge or justice that they have left office, the office would notify those entities that the restriction would no longer applicable. The office would develop a process to regularly identify local entities that possess personally identifiable information and would establish a procedure for protected persons to submit information for inclusion in a personally identifiable information database;

Senate Bill 520 , which would add definitions for “income withholding” and “income withholding notice,” and would replace previous terms within in the Code. It would also require that an income withholding notice be provided to the payor to initiate income withholding. In cases involving Title IV-D child support withholding through an income withholding notice, all objections would be placed on the calendar for a hearing before an administrative law judge. The notice would remain in effect until the objection would be heard and a decision would be rendered;

Senate Bill 533 , which would allow the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to restore an accused person back to mental competency, so that they could stand trial in an appropriate facility within a jail. In order to use these facilities, DBHDD would have to have a mutual agreement with the local sheriff’s office.

With Sine Die now days away, the pace under the Gold Dome continues to intensify as we near the finish line of the 2024 Legislative Session. The House will return to session on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, for Legislative Day 39. With the session coming to a close soon, I encourage you to contact me to discuss legislative matters that are significant to you and your family. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 10 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 15:53:30 GMT

March 11-15, 2024

The House of Representatives got back to work on Monday, March 11 for the tenth week of the 2024 legislative session. Throughout the week, our focus remained on advancing pending Senate bills, with our committees convening frequently to review and refine proposed legislation from our Senate colleagues. With Sine Die approaching on March 28, 2024, there is growing anticipation as we near the conclusion of this session, marking the end of months of dedicated legislative work and decision-making on behalf of the citizens of this state.

My House colleagues and I began the week by taking up a bipartisan effort to enhance public safety and impose stricter penalties for criminal offenses, particularly those associated with the act of “swatting” and gang activity. Senate Bill 421 would increase penalties for repeated unlawful emergency service requests, also known as “swatting.” Swatting refers to an unlawful request for emergency service assistance that an individual knowingly and intentionally makes to a public safety agency when there is no reasonable ground for such a request to be made. Initial violations of swatting instances that occur at homes or places of worship would be classified as felonies, punishable by one to 10 years imprisonment, a minimum $5,000 fine or both. If an individual is convicted of a third or subsequent conviction, he or she would be subject to a sentence of 10 to 15 years imprisonment, a minimum $25,000 fine or both. Those convicted of this crime would be automatically liable for restitution for damages, including property damage and expenses to treat bodily injuries. SB 421 would also outline criminal offenses for when someone discharges a firearm toward another vehicle or an occupied building, without legal justification, after immediately exiting a vehicle; the bill would also outline criminal offenses for when someone discharges a firearm while inside a vehicle or after immediately exiting, without legal justification, and when that person causes damage to a building. Further, the bill would introduce the separate offense of drive-by shooting crimes when a person who is in or close to a motor vehicle that they used to drive to the location discharges a firearm at another person, motor vehicle or occupied dwelling with the intent to injure someone or cause damage to someone’s property; someone convicted of this crime would face a penalty of imprisonment between five and 20 years. Many elected officials in Georgia and across the country have been victims of swatting, and these swatting calls not only impact the victims but also take resources away from first responders and local law enforcement officers when responding to unnecessary and unlawful requests for emergency service assistance. By addressing unlawful emergency service requests and firearm-related crimes, this legislation aims to deter illicit behaviors, support our law enforcement and foster safer communities across Georgia.

The House continued our commitment to protecting Georgia’s children with the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 335 , or the Safeguarding Adopted Children from Sexual Violence Act. This legislation would expand the crime of incest to include those whose familial relationships are created by adoption. Currently, state law defines the crime of incest to be amongst those who are related by blood or by marriage. This bill would update the definition of incest to include those who are related to the perpetrator by adoption. By updating the law, we could ensure that we are protecting every child in our state from such heinous acts, regardless of whether those children are related to their perpetrator by blood or adoption. I am proud of the House for swiftly passing this bill and, consequentially, making it easier to prosecute those who commit this terrible crime against vulnerable children. The House’s passage of this bill represents final passage, sending the legislation to Governor Kemp to be signed into law.

We also passed legislation this week to aid in our fight against human trafficking in Georgia. Senate Bill 370 , championed by First Lady Marty Kemp and the GRACE Commission, would expand education and create increased awareness on human trafficking. In 2013, the governor signed a law requiring certain Georgia businesses to post notices regarding human trafficking and how victims can obtain help. SB 370 would expand this current law to add convenience stores, body art studios, manufacturing facilities and medical offices to the list of establishments that would be required to post notices containing the human trafficking hotline information. Currently, businesses that are required to post these notices include: adult entertainment establishments; bars; primary airports; passenger rail or light rail stations; bus stations; truck stops; emergency rooms within general acute care hospitals; urgent care centers; farm labor contractors and day haulers; privately operated job recruitment centers; safety rest areas located along highways in the state; hotels; establishments that offer massage or bodywork services; and government buildings where public restrooms are for the exclusive use of the government entity. Furthermore, the bill would require each board member of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy to complete at least 30 minutes of training each year on human trafficking awareness. This legislation would expand our ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking in our state and provide resources and support to human trafficking victims.

The House gave unanimous, final passage to Senate Bill 483 , which would enter Georgia into the updated version of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act (ICPC) to help ensure that children are placed in safe homes in a timely manner. The ICPC has been in existence for several decades, but this bill would allow our state to enter into an agreement under the updated version of the compact, which 16 other states have currently joined. The purpose of this revised ICPC would be to streamline communication from one state to another in regards to the placement of adopted and foster children across state lines. Specifically, the improvements to the ICPC include evaluating the suitability of prospective parent placements to ensure that children are placed in environments that are safe and conducive to their growth and wellbeing; providing the necessary support services to these families to guarantee that parents are equipped to meet the needs of their adopted or foster child; narrowing the applicability of the compact, which would focus the resources and attention where they are most needed; proposing the development of specific time frames for completing the approval process for child placements; establishing a clear rule-making authority; and clarifying state responsibilities and increasing protection for familial relationships. Notably, even if the legislation is signed into law, the compact would not go into effect until 35 states have enacted similar legislation. The process for which children are transferred and placed across state boundaries can be burdensome and lengthy for agencies, states, children and parents. This revised compact would modernize this process and shorten the long waiting periods that these families often face and, ultimately, help place children in their forever homes quicker.

On a similar note, my colleagues and I took up a bipartisan measure aimed at providing free state identification cards for eligible children between the ages of 14 and 17 who lack an address or are under the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Senate Bill 387 would enable these children to apply for an identification card independently, without requiring a parent, guardian or adult to sign or verify the application. Additionally, SB 387 would prohibit the Department of Driver Services from charging a fee for an identification card for children in DFCS custody or children receiving extended care youth services from DFCS. Providing Georgia's youth in the DFCS program with the opportunity to obtain essential documentation, like identification cards, is crucial for these children to obtain jobs and integrate into our workforce. This legislation seeks to streamline this process, make it easier for these children to obtain proper identification and improve our state’s foster care system overall. SB 387 received final passage and has been sent to the governor for his signature.

We also gave passage to the following Senate bills this week:

Senate Bill 50 , which would require the State Board of Education to create content standards in lifeguard and aquatic safety beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Local boards of education would adopt curriculum and provide instruction in lifeguarding and aquatic safety. The curriculum would have to provide sufficient training to allow students to successfully complete certification as a lifeguard upon course completion;

Senate Bill 171 , which would require directors or members of the governing board or body of a development authority to complete ongoing training;

Senate Bill 205 , which would explicitly state that the State Board of Funeral Service must reinstate the funeral director license of a licensee who has previously allowed a license to lapse for 10 years or less and who has applied for reinstatement;

Senate Bill 232 , which would modify the types and dollar amounts of fees charged and collected by probate court judges and clerks. These fees would be charged for filings such as petitions, motions, claims and certificates, as well as for different applications, licenses and certified copies. Conforming language in other sections of the law relating to filing fees, license fees and fireworks applications are contained in the bill;

Senate Bill 233 , which would create the Georgia Education Savings Authority and the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. The bill would change program weights in the Quality Basic Education formula and would allow capital outlays funds to be used for pre-kindergarten programs. SB 233 would also cap tuition fees for out of district student transfers, revise grants to low-performing schools and amend the tax credit for qualified education donations. The bill would create the Georgia Education Savings Authority, which would establish and administer student assistance programs. The bill would also create the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, which would provide $6,500 per student to families for qualified education-related expenses outside of the public school system;

Senate Bill 342 , which would allow the Department of Human Services to use records of child abuse or neglect from the child abuse and neglect registry, or from another state, to locate, recover or provide services to a child who is determined by the department to be missing or a victim of sexual exploitation. It would also amend who can have reasonable access to records of child abuse to include the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children;

Senate Bill 348 , which would change the timeframe from 180 days to 60 days for an individual to be considered unattended by a physician in an untimely or suspicious death circumstance. The bill would clarify that no individual would be deemed unattended by a physician while they are a resident of a long-term care facility;

Senate Bill 389 , which would provide state-sponsored life insurance for members of the Georgia National Guard;

Senate Bill 430 , which would repeal requirements for COVID-19 liability warning signs placed either at the entrances or premises or on entry tickets issued for public gatherings;

Senate Bill 436 , which would revise the definition of "implement of husbandry" and would add a definition for "operator" as it relates to the operation of farm use vehicles;

Senate Bill 448 , which is the annual Code revision bill to revise, modernize and correct errors or omissions to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. The bill would reflect the work of the Code Revision Commission to repeal portions of the Code that are obsolete, declared unconstitutional or preempted or superseded by subsequent laws. Lastly, the bill would provide for other matters relating to revision, reenactment and publication of the Code;

Senate Bill 450 , which would exclude certain probate court orders from the petition for review process, clarifying that state or superior courts do not have appellate jurisdiction over an order of a probate court that cannot be appealed. In certain orders, the notice of appeal filing would replace the petition for the review filing process.

In addition to voting on legislation this week, we also took time to commemorate the life and legacy of the late House Speaker David Ralston on what would have been his birthday. Speaker of the House Jon Burns and other leaders unveiled a portrait in his honor, which will be permanently displayed outside of the House Chamber in the Capitol. Accompanied by his family and esteemed guests, the House held a ceremony on the House floor to honor Speaker Ralston's enduring legacy and impact on our state. The unveiling event included remarks by former governors Sonny Perdue and Nathan Deal, as well as remarks from the current governor, Brian Kemp. The portrait will be positioned to the right of the center entrance, on the opposite side of former House Speaker Thomas Murphy's portrait. Speaker Ralston's legacy will live on for many generations, and the permanent placement of his portrait outside of the House Chamber is an abundantly fitting tribute to our former colleague.

Now that the tenth week of the legislative session has come to a close, we only have five legislative days remaining in the 2024 session. The pace is expected to intensify under the Gold Dome as we work to address outstanding issues and finalize pending legislation before the clock runs out. Despite the significant progress we have made thus far, there is still much work that lies ahead before the session's conclusion. Moving ahead, I urge you to arrange a phone call or a visit to the State Capitol to discuss any matters of importance to you and your family. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 9 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 15:18:05 GMT

March 4-8, 2024

Following an eventful eighth week of session, during which we passed 72 bills on “Crossover Day” alone, the House got back to work on Monday, March 4 for another productive week under the Gold Dome. In the ninth week, our attention shifted to reviewing and voting on Senate Bills following the “Crossover Day” deadline last week. We also continued making progress by passing the House’s version of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to send to our counterparts in the Senate. As we move forward in the final days of session, our work is more crucial than ever as we perfect legislation and ensure that the legislation we send to the governor reflects the best interests of our citizens.

This week, the House passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget, House Bill 916 , fulfilling our one constitutional obligation for the session. The FY 2025 budget will go into effect on July 1 of this year and is set at a revenue estimate of $36.1 billion, representing a historic increase of $3.6 billion, or 11.3 percent, over the previous fiscal year’s budget. The passage of this budget marks a significant milestone in Georgia's commitment to addressing the diverse needs of its citizens and reflects a robust investment across various sectors for the state’s growth and prosperity.

The House’s FY 2025 budget exhibits a substantial investment in Georgia's education sector, prioritizing various initiatives that are crucial for the advancement of K-12 education. In particular, HB 916 fully funds the Quality Basic Education (QBE) program by allocating a record $14.1 billion in state funds. This budget also includes provisions to enhance teacher salaries, with $373.6 million to increase the state base salary schedule by $2,500. Additionally, funding is reserved for salary raises for school nutrition workers, bus drivers, school nurses and Regional Education Services Agencies (RESA) staff, as well as $8.5 million for a $1,000 salary supplement for school custodians. The school nutrition program receives an additional $6.3 million to cover the cost of breakfast and lunch for reduced-paying students, and $2 million is included in school nutrition formula funds for local school systems to keep the price of meals affordable, both of which were priorities of the House. The House’s version of the budget also seeks to improve literacy rates in our state with $6.3 million appropriated for reading instruction grants to fund literacy coaches at each RESA, as well as pay supplements for literacy support coordinators and leads at school districts across Georgia. The House also prioritizes school safety in our budget, recognizing it as a fundamental component of providing a conducive learning environment for students and fostering a sense of security in the classroom, with $104 million allotted for the new School Security Grants program under the Department of Education. This new program will provide a $45,000 grant to each school for school safety and security initiatives, and those funds could be used for infrastructure expenses, operating expenses or salaries for school resource officers. Another significant investment includes $204 million in additional funding for student transportation, which also includes additional funds for transportation operations to reflect the increased cost of fuel, oil and other operating expenses, bringing the total funding for student transportation to $358.5 million in FY 2025. This funding formula for student transportation has not been updated in more than a decade, so this increased funding was another House priority. Furthermore, Communities in Schools receives an additional $1.57 million to support students academically and non-academically, aiming to improve attendance, behavior and graduation rates. The House’s version of the budget also reserves $9.5 million in lottery funds for the reduction of Pre-Kindergarten class sizes from 22 to 20 students, demonstrating our commitment to early childhood education and development. These strategic investments underscore the House’s dedication to advancing educational opportunities and outcomes for all students in Georgia.

My legislative colleagues and I also took significant steps to bolster funding for Georgia's higher education system to advance educational excellence by addressing key priorities and initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities, workforce development and preparing Georgia's students for success in higher education and beyond. The House’s version of the budget dedicates $1.5 million for the establishment of the David Ralston Center for Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities at the University of Georgia, a crucial step in addressing workforce needs and gaps in serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By establishing this center in honor of the former Speaker of the House, the state will boost the pipeline of professionals working in behavioral health across our state and serving more citizens. HB 916 also incorporates an additional $15 million for the state’s Dual Enrollment program, reflecting its growth and importance in providing high school students with access to college-level coursework.

We also made important investments in our healthcare infrastructure to improve health outcomes and address public health needs throughout the state. As such, HB 916 directs $2 million toward rural hospital stabilization grants to support healthcare access in rural communities. The House also provides $500,000 for infant mortality research at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center for Maternal Health Equity and $978,639 for expanded newborn screenings. In addition, this budget delivers funding for first responders diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder with $1 million for supplemental illness-specific insurance. Lastly, HB 916 includes increased funding for multiple providers serving Medicaid patients. This includes $7.5 million for speech therapists, audiologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists; $8.4 million for primary care physicians and obstetricians; $392,173 for optometrists;

$648,829 for independent pharmacists; and $1.3 million for physical therapy assistants and occupational assistants. Our budget also includes important funding for new services to be available to the state’s Medicaid population to include $9.6 million for dental services; $3.4 million for transportation reimbursement to emergency medical services; and $301,941 for acute kidney injuries to be treated in a dialysis setting.

To address housing challenges, Georgia's economic development sector also receives funding in the House’s budget. Within the Department of Community Affairs, the House’s version of the FY 2025 budget earmarks $1 million for the accountable housing initiative, aimed at providing stable and immediate housing solutions for homeless individuals while promoting long-term affordability. Additionally, the House supports the governor's recommendation to allocate $3.7 million to enhance homelessness services through new federal grant opportunities. Further, the House appropriates $6 million for the Rural Workforce Housing Initiative, which focuses on expanding and improving housing stock to meet the current workforce housing needs in rural areas of our state.

The House’s budget encompasses $3.2 million in funding for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to establish the Macon Crisis Stabilization Diagnostic Center, which will serve as a pivotal resource as the state's first crisis support center for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Further, HB 916 designates $2.9 million to aid Georgians experiencing homelessness, providing essential support through housing voucher slots, behavioral health services and rapid rehousing initiatives. This budget also supports our veterans with funding directed for a coordinator to assist veterans experiencing homelessness and $1 million for the Georgia Veterans Service for behavioral health services for active-duty military members and veterans. Moreover, HB 916 demonstrates our commitment to safeguarding Georgia’s children by allocating $1 million to expand the capacity of court-appointed special advocates to support children who have experienced abuse, neglect, exploitation and trafficking and $1.5 million to enhance forensic and mental health services at the state's Child Advocacy Centers.

Public safety initiatives receive considerable funding within HB 916, specifically, toward empowering law enforcement and backing programs aimed at preventing crime and aiding victims. Notably, the bill designates $50 million for a $3,000 salary increase for law enforcement officers across 21 state agencies, showcasing our commitment to attracting and retaining top talent in law enforcement. The House’s FY 2025 budget also includes a $10 million allocation to the Georgia Department of Corrections for establishing 400 transitional center beds at the Metro Re-entry Center, providing crucial resources for inmates reintegrating into society post-release. Additionally, the House directs $14.7 million to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) to support 48 domestic violence shelters, as well as $2 million for 28 sexual assault centers, covering administrative and facility costs to ensure compliance with state standards. Finally, HB 916 appropriates $4 million to the CJCC for hiring a dedicated sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator to reinforce the integrity of forensic medical examinations that are essential for prosecuting sexual assault cases.

Other noteworthy investments in the House’s FY 2025 budget include: $260 million to provide a four percent cost-of-living adjustment for state employees; $2.5 million for third-party ballot-text auditing technology to enhance election verification processes and promote transparency; $2.4 billion to support various projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the state's transportation system to improve mobility, alleviate congestion and ensure the safety and efficiency of Georgia's roads, bridges, and transit networks.

The House’s FY 2025 budget is now on its way to the Senate where it is expected to undergo additional revisions before receiving final passage.

In addition to voting on the budget, we also gave passage to a measure this week to bolster our workforce, particularly within veterinary clinics and organizations. Senate Bill 410 would require the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to allow individuals with an active veterinary license or veterinary technician license from another state to acquire a license to practice in certain shelters or clinics in our state. By December 31, 2024, the board would be required to implement a process that would allow technicians in good standing with another state to qualify for a one-time, temporary six-month license to practice in government or nonprofit shelter medicine, nonprofit sterilization clinics or nonprofit mobile sterilization programs registered in Georgia. The board would grant licenses to applicants who hold a license from another state where the training, experience and testing requirements meet or exceed our state’s license requirements and who have obtained a specialty, certification, training or other experience that meets or exceeds the requirements in Georgia. As we saw throughout the pandemic and beyond, healthcare facilities are in need of more licensed medical professionals, including those trained in veterinary medicine. Notably, this bill would help alleviate the significant backlog of spay and neutering services in veterinary practices across Georgia.

Supporting Georgia's first responders is crucial for ensuring public safety and maintaining the integrity of communities across the state, and as such, my House colleagues and I gave final passage to Senate Bill 334, the Helping Firefighters Beat Cancer Act. This legislation would facilitate the transfer of benefits granted to eligible firefighters when they transition to another fire department within Georgia. This measure would ensure that firefighters who move between departments could continue to receive access to crucial benefits aimed at supporting and providing them with adequate coverage in the event of accidents, injuries or illnesses, such as cancer from hazardous chemicals, incurred while on duty. Firefighters fearlessly serve every community across our state and are subjected to greater risks of being diagnosed with cancer by simply doing their jobs. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation to support these brave men and women and ensure that they have the insurance coverage needed.

Additionally, the House took up Senate Bill 337 , a measure that would authorize the governor to appoint honorary Georgia Colonels who would replace the governor’s aides-de-camp staff. This legislation would allow the governor to appoint one or more persons each year with the honorary title of Georgia Colonel based on their distinguished service to the state, regardless of previous military service, sex or age, and these appointments would be lifetime positions. Furthermore, SB 337 would allow the General Assembly to appoint Georgia Lieutenant Colonels. This honorary title would be bestowed through a joint resolution to one or more persons each year and would be for the duration of their life. The appointees’ selection would be based on contributions to their community, regardless of previous military service, sex or age. Such distinguished appointments would serve as a means to recognize and honor Georgia citizens who contribute to and support their communities.

We also passed the following Senate bills during the ninth week of session:

Senate Bill 19 , which would enact reporting requirements for fees, sums or other remuneration for the performance of passport duties performed by clerks of superior courts and probate judges. Both clerks and probate judges would issue written reports to counties on a quarterly basis disclosing the total amount of fees received by the clerks or probate judges during the previous quarter;

Senate Bill 144 , which would remove the requirement for a roster of all commissioned officers in the organized militia to be included in the adjutant general's annual report to the governor;

Senate Bill 332 , which would remove the requirement that the rules of the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission be approved by the Georgia Supreme Court;

Senate Bill 352 , which would revise current law to no longer make it unlawful to alter the suspension system of a motor vehicle by more than two inches above or below the factory recommendation of said vehicle;

Senate Bill 369 , which would create a license plate celebrating the United States' semi quincentennial. The design would be selected from designs submitted by students through their civics education class;

Senate Bill 375 , which would add the commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to the Behavioral Health Coordinating Council;

Senate Bill 377 , which would define and clarify qualified residential treatment programs as a type of licensed child-caring institution;

Senate Bill 443 , which would allow for a district attorney, solicitor general, city attorney or county attorney to file a public nuisance and would also seek to recover the expenses incurred by a local government for public safety from a promoter or organizer of an un-permitted event;

As we near “Sine Die,” the final day of the legislative session, I encourage you to connect with me regarding issues that are significant to you and your family that we may be considering this session. With only three weeks remaining in the 2024 legislative session, we are committed to working in conjunction with our Senate colleagues to advance legislation that positively impacts our constituents and all Georgians. Please feel free to reach out to me with any inquiries or concerns you may have. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 8 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 17:15:35 GMT

February 26-March 1, 2024

The House kicked-off the eighth week of the 2024 legislative session on Monday, February 26 with myself and fellow lawmakers gathering in the House chamber for three long days of legislative work. The House also dedicated an entire day of work in our committees so that bills could have a chance to pass out of committee and make it to the House floor for a vote. Thursday was especially important as it marked Legislative Day 28, or "Crossover Day," the deadline for bills and resolutions to pass from their originating chamber to remain eligible for final consideration by Legislative Day 40, or "Sine Die." On Crossover Day alone, the House passed 72 bills. We worked long hours this week working late into the night as we tackled a range of pressing issues for the citizens of our great state.

This week, my House colleagues and I overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation aimed at modernizing and refining healthcare regulations throughout Georgia, with a strong emphasis on addressing the unique healthcare challenges faced by rural communities. House Bill 1339 would stand as a cornerstone in this effort, proposing a comprehensive overhaul of the state's certificate of need (CON) laws. Derived from the findings of the House Study Committee on Certificate of Need Modernization, which held hearings throughout last summer and fall, HB 1339 would present a series of impactful healthcare reforms to enhance accessibility and affordability for all Georgians. As such, the bill would require the Department of Community Health (DCH) to conduct regular reviews and updates of the state health plan every five years to ensure the plan meets the evolving needs of our state. Additionally, the legislation seeks to streamline the certificate of need application process by requiring an individual to submit a letter of intent to the department at least 25 days prior to submitting an application for a certificate of need for clinical health services, shortening the timeframe that exists in current law. After receipt of a CON application, DCH would have a 120-day period to review the application, and within 30 days, an applicant would have an opportunity to meet with DCH. Any opposition to a CON application would be required to be submitted within 30 days of the receipt of the application. Further, HB 1339 would expand CON exemptions, including prolonging the allowable period for repurposing closed hospitals without a CON, raising the bed capacity expansion threshold and extending the maximum distance for healthcare facilities to relocate without a CON. Also, psychiatric or substance abuse inpatient programs or beds for Medicaid and uninsured patients would be exempt from CON requirements when an agreement is reached with a nearby hospital, and new or expanded rural hospital-based obstetric services would be exempt, as well as acute care facilities in rural counties. Moreover, the legislation would introduce measures to address noncompliance through mechanisms such as increased monetary penalties and exemption revocation. HB 1339 would also bolster rural healthcare through the expansion of rural hospital tax credits and the establishment of the Comprehensive Health Coverage Commission, which would be tasked with advising the governor, General Assembly and DCH on healthcare access and quality for low-income and uninsured communities in Georgia. This important legislation would not only address critical healthcare access and efficiency issues across the state but would also signify a significant step forward in ensuring equitable and effective healthcare delivery for all Georgians.

Also, this week, the House gave unanimous passage to House Bill 451 , which would require public entities to offer additional, illness-specific insurance to first responders diagnosed with work-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This coverage would include a $3,000 cash benefit and income replacement disability benefits, which would be provided 90 days post-diagnosis. House Bill 451 recognizes that first responders are often exposed to traumatic events in the line of duty and are at greater risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder, which, if untreated, can result in the inability to serve as a first responder, as well as grave health consequences, including death by suicide. By providing supplemental insurance coverage for first responders grappling with occupational PTSD, the legislation would acknowledge the sacrifices and challenges these individuals face in protecting the community. Ensuring adequate support and financial resources for those on the front lines would improve their mental health and resilience and would also promote the overall security and welfare of Georgia's citizens.

My House colleagues and I also championed legislation aimed at fostering a culture of firearm safety and responsible gun ownership throughout Georgia with the passage of House Bill 971 , or the Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage Tax Credit Act. Under House Bill 971, a Georgia taxpayer would be allowed to claim a tax credit for eligible expenses incurred for firearm safe handling instructional courses and the acquisition of firearm secure storage devices in the amount of the eligible expenses or $300, whichever is less. Such eligible expenses would include the purchase of one or more firearm secure storage devices for personal use and the cost of an in-person firearm safe handling training of at least two hours that includes instruction on safe handling, use and storage of firearms. Georgia taxpayers seeking this tax credit would be required to apply with the Department of Revenue for preapproval, and approval from the department would be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until tax credit cap of $3 million is reached for that year. With an annual combined cap set at $10 million, this legislation would exemplify our commitment to fiscal responsibility while actively encouraging participation in vital gun safety education programs. Moreover, HB 971 would institute a lifetime limit of $300 per individual taxpayer and prohibits the carryover of unused credits, ensuring that benefits are distributed equitably among all eligible citizens. By promoting responsible gun ownership across the state, we could cultivate a safer and more secure environment for all Georgians.

We also unanimously passed a bipartisan measure to support Georgia’s servicemembers and their families as they relocate to our state with House Bill 880 . HB 880 would bring our state in compliance with the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act by allowing the spouses of servicemembers to continue practicing their jobs without a license in certain circumstances. To qualify, the spouse would be required to hold a current license from another state and be in good standing in that state, submit an expedited license by endorsement application along with the servicemember's military orders, which could be filed prior to relocation to Georgia, as well as be employed by an in-state employer. If the license by endorsement is not granted within 30 days after the application is submitted, the spouse could still work for the in-state employer without being licensed. However, if the spouse is denied an expedited license by endorsement, he or she would no longer qualify to practice the occupation in this state. This military-friendly legislation would streamline the licensing process by providing clear guidelines for qualification and expedited application procedures, offering timely relief to military spouses seeking employment opportunities upon relocation to our great state.

As we continue our commitment to enhancing mental health services in our state, the House gave passage to House Bill 1104 , which would address mental health risks for public and participating private school student athletes. This bipartisan bill would require athletic associations, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, to post guidelines and relevant materials on their website to inform and educate students, parents and/or guardians, school personnel and coaches about mental health risks and available resources for students. In developing such guidelines and materials, an athletic association could utilize educational videos available at no cost to the state. Additionally, coaches would be required to annually view approved educational videos, if available, and review guidelines and materials related to mental health risks in student athletes. Each public school and participating private school would be required to provide information to each student athlete's parent or guardian at least once each school year regarding mental health risks and available resources. This legislation would not create any liability for local boards of education or governing bodies of a school or officer, employee or volunteer for any act or omission related to the removal or non-removal of a student athlete who displays an actual or perceived risk to their mental health or another student athlete’s mental health. Young student athletes can face tremendous pressure between sports and school, and that pressure can negatively impact mental health. Therefore, it is important that we support our student athletes through this bipartisan legislation that would educate and provide resources to address mental health concerns.

The House backed our promise to support victims of human trafficking by giving unanimous passage to House Bill 1201 , which would allow a victim of human trafficking to have their sentence vacated when related to the conditional discharge of possession of controlled substances as a first offense, as long as the crime was a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking. The victim would be able to petition the court by providing documentation from the Attorney General, detailing their status as a victim of trafficking. A defendant convicted of an offense and sentence, or a defendant who was sentenced as a direct result of being a victim of human trafficking, could petition the court to vacate the conviction and/or the sentence. If the prosecuting attorney consents in writing to the vacatur of the conviction or fails to respond to the petition within 30 days of service, the court could, without notice or hearing, issue an order vacating the conviction or sentence. If the attorney objects to the petition, the court would be required to hold a hearing within 90 days of the filing. If it is determined that the defendant committed the offense due to a result of human trafficking, then the court would issue a vacatur of the conviction and sentence, and it would result in the discharge and dismissal of the offense. If defendants are found to have committed offenses due to being a victim of human trafficking, access to criminal history record information would be restricted, and no fee would be charged to the individual by the Georgia Crime Information Center or any other entity. HB 1201 would help ensure that victims who are sentenced under The First Offender Act have the same opportunity of innocence as other victims of human trafficking. It is vital that we grant victims of human trafficking, who have been vacated of their offenses, a chance to re-enter society with clean records.

On Crossover Day, we gave unanimous passage to legislation that would allow for a designated essential caregiver to be present with a patient or resident of a hospital or long-term care facility while they are receiving care. House Bill 663 , or the “No Patient Left Alone Act,” would permit a minor or an adult who is admitted to a hospital or long-term care facility, to have a parent, guardian, person or caregiver to be physically present with them at all times while the patient remains in the hospital or facility. HB 663 would not require these designated caregivers to be allowed into operating rooms, isolation rooms, behavioral health settings or other typically restricted areas or to be present during administration of emergency care. This designated caregiver would be required to adhere to the policies of the hospital or long-term care facility, and their access could be suspended or terminated under certain circumstances. Also, the Department of Public Health would be prohibited from taking action against hospitals and facilities for granting access to visitors, harm to a visitor, failing to follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which limit visitor access and any action of a visitor or designated caregiver. Finally, these rights for caregivers could not be terminated, suspended or waived by the hospital or long-term care facility, the Department of Public Health or any governmental entity, regardless of emergency declarations by the governor. Patients who are being treated in hospitals and long-term care facilities can be in incredibly vulnerable states, and they deserve to have loved-ones or caregivers present with them in the room for support and advocacy. As we saw during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Georgians who were in these facilities could not see their loved ones. This legislation would change that to ensure that patients are never left alone without their family or caregiver by their side.

Into the late hours on Crossover Day, the House also gave unanimous passage to House Bill 499 to support disabled Georgians. HB 499 would authorize child support and insurance policies for disabled children who have become adults and have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities. HB 499 would allow a court to require either one spouse or both spouses who are in a divorce proceeding, living separately or in a state of separation to pay child support for a disabled child who has become an adult but lacks the ability to take care of themselves independently. The legal proceeding could be filed at any time after the child reached the age of 17 and a half years old. To determine the amount of support the dependent adult child would receive, the court would consider the dependent’s income and assets; existing and future needs; required care and supervision; whether a parent or another person pays for the care or supervision of the dependent or provides it; the financial resources available to each parent; any other resources available for the care of the dependent; state or federal programs the dependent receives or will receive; and the effect that court ordered support would have on the dependent’s eligibility for any state or federal programs. The obligation for child support would be modified if there was a substantial change in a parent or dependent’s ability to provide support. Notably, the child support would be in addition to the benefits or assistance the dependent may receive from a source other than his or her parents and would not impact the eligibility of a dependent to receive the maximum benefits provided by any federal, state, local and other governmental and public agencies. The court could also direct one or both parents to maintain life insurance for a disabled child who has become an adult but lacks the ability to take care of themselves independently. Adults with disabilities may not be able to secure full-time employment needed to live independently, and in these cases, especially, it is important that we can provide support for them to receive the care and supervision that they may need well into adulthood.

Finally, the General Assembly gave final passage this week to House Bill 915 , the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget, via the adoption of a joint House and Senate conference committee report. Set at a revised revenue estimate of $37.9 billion, this amended budget includes $2 billion in surplus funds, resulting in a total infusion of $5.4 billion, marking a notable 16.9 percent increase over the original budget estimate. Noteworthy investments would include unprecedented funding for the state's infrastructure, particularly for essential technology and capital projects. The Rural Workforce Housing program would receive $23.9 million to provide funding for projects that address current workforce housing needs through housing expansion or improvement. Capitol Hill building improvement projects would secure an additional $392 million, which would be allocated toward repairs and improvements to our Gold Dome for occupant safety and public access, as well as a new legislative office building. Education would also see substantial support in this budget as $102.5 million would be allocated to the Department of Education for Quality Basic Education midterm adjustments, and $8.9 million would be designated for the Summer Transition program to provide rising Pre-K students and rising Kindergarten students with extra support in language, literacy and math to close the achievement gap. Notably, the employee retirement system would receive $500 million for enhanced benefits to provide greater cost-of-living benefits to state retirees in future years, and state employees and teachers would benefit from a one-time salary supplement through an appropriation of more than $300 million. This budget would also appropriate funding for healthcare initiatives, including $178 million for a new dental school at Georgia Southern University and $50 million for the construction of a medical school at the University of Georgia. Additionally, $500 million would be earmarked for the new Freight Infrastructure Projects program to enhance the state’s rapidly growing and thriving freight network; $250 million would go to the Local Road Assistance Administration Program as a one-time infusion to support local transportation infrastructure projects across the state. HB 915 recognizes many of the House’s budgetary priorities and was signed into law by Governor Kemp on Thursday, February 29.

With Crossover Day now behind us, the House of Representatives will shift its focus to reviewing legislation that has passed by our counterparts in the Senate as we move through the final weeks of the session. We will also be tracking the progress of House legislation as it makes its way through the legislative process in the Senate to ensure final passage of our House bills. The House will return to session for Legislative Day 29 on Monday, March 4. As we move forward, I encourage you to schedule a phone call or arrange a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are significant to you and your family. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 7 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 17:56:49 GMT

February 20-23, 2024

On Tuesday, February 20, my House colleagues and I reconvened for another productive week of the 2024 legislative session. During week seven of the session, we met in the House Chamber for three days and continued to do the people’s business by voting on key legislation that aims to better the lives of Georgians. It was a short but packed week as we continued to prepare for the “Crossover Day” deadline on February 29, which is the last day that legislation can be passed out of its chamber of origin and remain eligible to be signed into law this year. With that in mind, we continued to make significant progress this week by voting on legislation to enhance public safety, behavioral healthcare and education in Georgia.

This week, my colleagues and I voted on legislation to protect some of Georgia’s most vulnerable citizens. On Thursday, the House unanimously passed House Bill 993 , which would introduce criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly and intentionally groom minors and use electronic means to persuade, induce, entice or coerce them into committing sexual offenses or acts of human trafficking. Perpetrators of this crime would face felony imprisonment ranging from one to five years, and those who commit these heinous acts could be charged regardless of whether crimes are committed within or outside of our state if it involves a minor who lives in Georgia. The General Assembly has taken decisive action in recent years to combat human trafficking in our state. By addressing the growing threat of online exploitation, HB 993 would reinforce our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our minors and upholds the state’s dedication to justice, dignity and the protection of human rights for all Georgians.

To help confront the opioid crisis in Georgia, the House passed House Bill 1170 on Thursday, which would require government buildings and courthouses that contain Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to provide opioid antagonists to assist in the event of an opioid overdose on those premises. This bipartisan legislation would apply to courthouses and government buildings that already contain AED boxes, and the opioid antagonists would be added to these boxes. These buildings would be required to maintain at least three-unit doses of opioid antagonists and ensure that these antagonists would be available during the regular business hours of these buildings. Additionally, the Department of Public Health (DPH), in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, would be required to identify and develop educational resources and guidelines on opioid-related overdoses, as well as develop a model training and implementation policy for opioid antagonist administration, both of which would be posted on the department's website. Further, every government entity that operates out of a government building would also be required to establish and implement an internal training and implementation policy for opioid antagonist administration based on the model training and implementation policy developed by DPH. This little-to-no-cost initiative would make antagonists, like Naloxone, readily available in the case of an overdose, and the inclusion of opioid antagonists in government buildings and courthouses could certainly help prevent the loss of Georgians to drug overdose. With the current alarming fentanyl presence in drugs, my colleagues and I have worked hard to combat the dangers and tragedies of drug overdoses in Georgia.

The House also passed House Bill 986 to address election interference using artificial intelligence (AI), specifically deep fake technology that is intended to deceive voters and influence the outcome of an election. Known as the “AI Transparency Protection Act,” HB 986 would introduce felony offenses for both the creation and solicitation of deep fake content through artificial intelligence-generated campaign advertisements aimed at interfering with elections. The term deep fake refers to a video recording, video file, sound recording, sound file, electronic image or photograph that is created through technological means, rather than through the ability of another person to physically or verbally impersonate such person, and appears to depict a real person’s speech or conduct that did not occur in reality. Under HB 986, any person who commits an offense of election interference through the creation and transmission of a deep fake campaign advertisement would be guilty of a felony, face imprisonment between one and five years and be subject to a fine up to $50,000. The bill would also clarify that the use of AI-generated content in campaign advertisements is not unlawful as long as the proper disclosures are displayed to indicate that AI was used in its creation. HB 986 would establish a precedent for accountability and security in Georgia's digital landscape. This proactive measure is crucial in upholding trust and preserving the integrity of democratic processes, while also ensuring that artificial intelligence contributes positively to the well-being of families, businesses and communities in the state.

As we continue to prioritize educational opportunities for Georgia’s students, the House gave passage to House Bill 995 , which would require public school systems to administer a nationally recognized multiple-aptitude battery assessment. The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is an optional test designed to predict future academic and occupational success in the military and targets 11 ^th and 12 ^th grade students. Administered during normal school hours, the assessment would be available school and system-wide at least once a school year. If students are not interested in pursuing a career in the National Guard or armed forces, parents and guardians would be able to opt their child out of participating in the assessment. HB 995 would help address declining military recruitment numbers by guiding students towards military career paths best suited for their abilities and offering them a no-cost opportunity to make the most informed decision on where their abilities may be best matched in the armed forces.

Finally, the House advanced legislation this week to improve behavioral healthcare for Georgians in order to ensure individuals have access to the resources and support needed to effectively address their mental health concerns. As such, my legislative colleagues and I turned our attention toward House Bill 1077 to establish a student loan repayment initiative tailored for behavioral health practitioners in Georgia. Under HB 1077, eligible providers would include licensed psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. While these providers are completing their internships in qualified programs, they would be eligible to apply for this loan repayment program. Participants of this loan repayment initiative would receive repayment assistance over a six-year period, with annual disbursements varying from $10,000 to $50,000, and the maximum cumulative repayment would be capped at $220,000. The legislation also seeks to incentivize these providers to treat Medicaid patients as providers would receive more loan repayment assistance based on the number of Medicaid patients served. We are seeing a shortage of mental health providers in our state, particularly among providers who accept Medicaid patients. This bipartisan initiative would play a crucial role to increase the number of behavioral health providers across our state and ensuring that all Georgians have access to the proper healthcare needed to address their mental health challenges.

We also passed the following House bills and resolution during the seventh week of session:

House Bill 472 , which would expand enhanced disability benefits to sworn officers, commissioners and deputy commissioners employed by the motor carrier compliance division of the Department of Public Safety. Currently, members in this division, game wardens at the Department of Natural Resources, officers or agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, or alcohol or tobacco officers at the Department of Revenue already receive enhanced disability benefits. The bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill. The actuarial investigation estimates the annual employer contribution rate would increase for Georgia State Employees' Pension and Savings Plan (GSEPS) members from 25.51 percent to 25.55 percent and for non-GSEPS members from 29.20 percent to 29.23 percent, for a total state cost of $6,000;

House Bill 579 , which would amend current law relating to the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Act to allow students who previously qualified for the scholarship to remain eligible throughout the students' education. HB 579 would require the Department of Education to electronically deposit payments into the accounts of participating schools;

House Bill 793 , which would allow an applicant for a license in social work who is enrolled in the last semester of their master's degree program for social work to sit for the master's social work licensing examination;

House Bill 843 , which would create a definition for "special entertainment district" as a contiguous set of properties that have either received public financing in the past or currently receive financing and that contain a minimum of 200,000 square feet of leasable space for retail sales and entertainment. Municipalities would be allowed to authorize these districts to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises on Saturday nights from 11:55 P.M. to 2:55 A.M. on the following Sunday mornings, as well as on Sundays from 11:00 A.M. to midnight;

House Bill 896 , which would allow a former spouse after divorce to petition the court by motion ex parte to restore their legal surname to the given surname on their birth certificate. The motion could be filed at any time after the judgment and decree of divorce is entered, with no publication in a legal organ required;

House Bill 904 , which would provide a modernization update to the licensing law for electrical contractors, plumbers, conditioned air contractors, low voltage contractors and utility contractors. The bill would make numerous changes, including: 1) revising requirements of State Construction Industry Licensing Board members; 2) revising what plumber classifications can install, maintain, alter or repair medical gas piping systems; 3) exempting any licensed conditioned air contractor who also is a registered professional engineer from certain continuing education requirements; 4) removing the cap on continuing education that both the Division of Electrical Contractors and the Division of Master Plumbers and Journeyman Plumbers can require; 5) requiring each division to make all reasonable efforts to provide continuing education online or through home study courses; 6) clarifying that any licensed master plumber, or company that holds a valid utility contractor license, can construct, alter or repair any plumbing system that extends from the property line up to five feet of any building; and 7) allowing for applicable licensee's partners, officers and employees to continue operating for 60 days after the death of a licensee, in addition to allowing the applicable division to provide one additional 60-day grace period. The bill would revise dates, timelines, adds references to internet advertising and would revise fine amounts;

House Bill 907 , which would outline the responsibilities of motor vehicle drivers in the event they encounter a funeral procession. The bill would require drivers on a two-lane road to pull to the edge or curb of the road to give the funeral procession the right-of-way. In order for drivers not in the funeral procession to be aware of its beginning and end, both lead and rear vehicles must display flashing hazard lights;

House Bill 934 , which would allow a self-service storage facility rental agreement to be executed and delivered electronically. If the occupant fails to sign the rental agreement within 14 days of delivery, the continued use of the storage space would be deemed an acceptance of the rental agreement and that rental agreement would be enforced against the occupant as if it had been signed, provided the agreement includes notice that the occupant's continued use is deemed an acceptance of the agreement and would be enforced against the occupant as if it has been signed. If notice has been provided to the occupant of the agreement's termination or nonrenewal, an occupant would have not less than 14 days after notice to remove all personal property from the facility. Prior to the occupant's removal, the owner may place reasonable restrictions on the occupant's use of the facility, including denying access to the facility except to remove personal property during normal business hours;

House Bill 946 , which would amend current law relating to special district mass transportation sales and use tax to allow a county and one or more municipalities that comprise at least one-half of the total population of the territory of qualified municipalities to enter into an intergovernmental agreement that would allow the special district to establish a tax rate of up to one percent. The agreement would have to provide for the proceeds to be received by municipalities in the district that have not entered into the agreement, for which a calculation for the absent municipality minimum percentage would be provided. The agreement could exist for a maximum of five years with an option for a sixth year if municipalities representing 100 percent of the district's population enter into the agreement. The bill would remove language allowing for a sales and use tax be established without an intergovernmental agreement;

House Bill 987 , which would amend current law relating to the equalization grant. The term "qualified local school system" would be amended to reduce the minimum required millage rate or effective millage rate from 14 to 10 mills, beginning July 1, 2024. School systems that receive equalization would have to meet these requirements or risk a 25 percent midterm adjustment of the initial equalization grant amount;

House Bill 994 , which would hold boat operators liable for injury or damage when negligence occurs on the part of the operator. A rented boat operator would be held liable for negligent operation. Boat livery owners would be required to carry insurance with coverage of at least $250,000 per person per occurrence and $500,000 per event;

House Bill 1001 , which would allow licensees to present their driver’s license on a wireless telecommunication device to a law enforcement officer upon their request. If a physical copy of the license is presented to the officer, the licensee would not have to present an electronic version as well. HB 1001 would not require the licensee to release their telecommunication device to the officer under this circumstance. The individual would not be considered to have consented to a search and seizure of said device;

House Bill 1020 , which would amend current law relating to tax credits for businesses in less developed areas to eliminate language requiring a qualifying census tract that contains a federal military installation to also contain an industrial park owned and operated by a governmental entity;

House Bill 1041 , which would increase the maximum bond indebtedness of the Savannah-Georgia Convention Center Authority from $50 million to $400 million;

House Bill 1049 , or the Insurance Business Transfer Act, which would allow insurance companies to transfer lines of business to other parties. Required reviews would be conducted by the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner and the Fulton County Superior Court;

House Bill 1054 , which would give an individual the option whether or not they wish to sign a citation issued by an officer to appear for a trial. If the individual refuses to sign the citation, the officer would note the individual's refusal to sign said citation;

House Bill 1069 , which would amend current law relating to standing timber assessments to allow the State Forestry Commission to request confidential reports provided to tax assessors;

House Bill 1072 , which would address pharmaceutical expiration dates, as well as the ratios of pharmacy technician to pharmacists in connection with the drug repository program. The bill states the General Assembly's intent that settlement proceeds and appropriations would be proportionately distributed based on program participation rates;

House Bill 1073 , which would repeal hearing and notice provisions relating to zoning decisions for halfway houses, drug rehabilitation centers or drug dependency treatment centers;

House Bill 1114 , which would allow the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner to collect and analyze anonymous data from insurers related to tort-related risks. A report would be required to be submitted to the governor, the House Committee on Insurance and the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee by November 1, 2024. This Code section would be repealed on January 1, 2030;

House Bill 1124 , which would provide College Completion Grant eligibility to students who have completed 70 percent of a four-year program or 45 percent of a two-year program;

House Bill 1150 , which would make it unlawful to obtain fingerprints for violations related to window tinting on motor vehicles;

House Bill 1183 , which would require school boards that provide certain health information to parents and guardians to include information about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Information would include risk factors, warning signs and recommend screenings;

House Bill 1193 , which would revise current law to allow the display of a revolving light on a stationary towing or recovery vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle or utility service vehicle. Red lights would be removed as being one of the potential colors to be flashed or revolved. HB 1193 would define what vehicles should utilize flashing or revolving lights and under what circumstances;

House Bill 1199 , which would require state auditors to provide the General Assembly with annual statistics on the architectural and engineering firms doing business with the state;

House Bill 1203 , which would entitle a landlord to use an off-duty sheriff, sheriff's deputy, marshal or POST (Peace Officer Standards & Training Council) certified officer with jurisdiction to execute a writ of possession at the landlord's sole cost and expense when an on-duty official is unable to execute the writ within 14 days of the landlord's application or request for execution. The landlord would have access to a list of authorized off-duty personnel and provide written notice to the sheriff, constable or marshal of the time of execution of the writ at least five calendar days in advance of the execution;

House Bill 1207 , which would require election superintendents to electronically send a ballot proof to candidates appearing on the ballot in order for the candidates to verify the information within 24-hours of receipt;

House Bill 1235 , which would create a definition for "self-propelled crane" and would establish the annual license fee for the operation of this vehicle to be $31. The bill would further amend other code sections for inclusion of self-propelled cranes;

House Resolution 918 , which would designate the Golden Isle Greenway Corridor as an official greenway corridor in Georgia.

The Georgia House of Representatives will resume its work on Monday, February 26, and when we return, only two legislative days will remain until we reach “Crossover Day” on Thursday. With this deadline rapidly approaching, it is important that I hear from you about issues that are significant to you and your family. I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts or concerns regarding legislation that is still up for consideration. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 6 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:44:17 GMT

February 12-16, 2024

The Georgia House of Representatives kicked off the sixth week of the 2024 legislative session on Monday, February 12. We convened in the House Chamber for four days and made significant progress as we passed 34 bills and resolutions by the end of the week to send to our Senate counterparts. By Tuesday, we reached Legislative Day 20, which means we are now more than halfway through our 40-day session. With “Crossover Day” looming on Legislative Day 28, we are focused on perfecting legislation for consideration and advancing notable measures on the House floor.

The House voted on an important measure this week, House Bill 1037 , which would create the Georgia Commission on Maternal and Infant Health. The commission would be assigned to the Georgia Department of Public Health and consist of 14 members, and the appointees would include an obstetrician, either a pediatrician or neonatologist, a midwife and a representative of a perinatal facility. The commission would be charged with soliciting views from perinatal facilities, healthcare providers and related professional associations on the state of Georgia’s perinatal care and give consideration to the current recommendations of medical and scientific organizations working on perinatal care. The commission would also be tasked with making policy recommendations regarding perinatal care programs and establishing a way to measure the quality and effectiveness of perinatal care in Georgia. Under HB 1037, the commission would submit state-wide policy recommendations based on its findings no later than June 30, 2026. Through this commission, this legislation aims to examine the causes of maternal and infant deaths in our state and provide policymakers with a more holistic view of these issues so that we can continue our work to improve maternal and infant health in Georgia.

Continuing our commitment to Georgia’s families, the House also took up legislation this week to expand parental leave for our state employees and teachers. The House first led the way on this issue in 2020, and, subsequently, House Bill 146 was signed into law in 2021 to provide state employees and teachers with up to 120 hours, or three weeks, of paid parental leave after the birth of their child or after an adoptive or foster child is first placed in their home. House Bill 1010 , which passed in the House on Thursday, would modify the current law by extending paid parental leave for state employees to six weeks, doubling the amount of time state employees currently receive. If both parents are state employees, they would each be entitled to six weeks of paid leave, with the flexibility to split these weeks over a twelve-month period. Recognizing that the current three-week period following the birth, adoption or foster care placement of a child often falls short for many parents, HB 1010 would address this by granting parents additional time at home with their families. Also, by expanding this crucial benefit to our state employees and teachers, our state could also retain and recruit the best and brightest workforce.

My colleagues and I also gave unanimous passage to House Bill 1022 , the Colton-McNeill Act, which would fortify protections for disabled minors by elevating penalties for acts of cruelty against them. The legislation would address a critical gap in existing laws, seeking to impose harsher consequences for perpetrators who target vulnerable children. Under this bill, the severity of the offense would determine the length of imprisonment, with the first degree of cruelty to a disabled minor carrying a sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years, and the second degree of the crime would result in imprisonment between 10 and 30 years. By increasing penalties, the bill would send a clear message that our state will not tolerate the mistreatment of disabled children, striving to safeguard their well-being and ensure justice for those who suffer from such reprehensible acts.

The House also turned its attention toward our state’s education system and its workforce with the passage of House Bill 282 . This legislation would provide a significant step to enhance career preparedness among middle and high school students in Georgia. By clarifying that the career course mandated by the State Board of Education must prioritize career readiness, HB 282 would underscore the importance of practical instruction and training experiences. With a focus on equipping students with essential skills for the workforce, the Department of Education would be tasked with assembling comprehensive resources and materials on career readiness and employability, ensuring that state public schools have access to vital tools for student success. With the minimum course of study slated for implementation by July 1, 2024, this legislation would pave the way for a more robust and effective approach in preparing our youth for future career paths.

This week, we also passed House Bill 874 , a bill that would require every public school in Georgia to have a functional automated external defibrillator (AED) machine on the premises of school grounds at all times and during school-related functions. This crucial legislation highlights the importance of safeguarding the well-being of Georgia’s students by ensuring teachers and school staff have access to this vital, lifesaving equipment. Additionally, HB 847 would require schools in Georgia to create a written emergency action plan, conduct at least two emergency action practice drills annually and designate an internal response team to provide necessary training to team members and potential users of an AED. By guaranteeing the presence of AEDs and establishing protocols for their use, HB 874 would empower teachers and school staff to respond effectively in emergency situations. This bipartisan measure would align with Georgia’s commitment to prioritizing Georgia’s students and creating environments where timely medical intervention can significantly increase the chances of saving young lives.

We also passed the following House bills, resolutions and Senate bill during the sixth week of session:

House Bill 53 , which would remove the State Board of Registration for Foresters from within the Secretary of State and would establish the board as a separate entity administratively attached to the State Forestry Commission, beginning on January 1, 2025. Individuals nominated to the board by the governor would be required to be confirmed by the Senate. The board may issue cease and desist orders, as well as impose a fine of no more than $500 for violations. The bill would set the registration fee for a license at $200 and would allow for the amount to be adjusted according to the Consumer Price Index;

House Bill 300 , which would require solar power facility agreements to provide procedures for the decommissioning of a solar power facility;

House Bill 409 , which would authorize specified local authorities that operate public water or sewer systems to dispose of or grant easements in specified instances;

House Bill 461 ,which would update current law relating to the imposition of regulatory fees by local governments to require the proceeds of regulatory fees collected by a local government to be used for the related regulatory activity and not the general operations of the local government. HB 461 would eliminate the ability for a local government to impose a fee for construction projects classified as renovation based on the cost of the project and instead would require the use of square feet for the calculation of a fee for an "extensive renovation project," which is defined as a project valued at $75,000 or more to renovate an existing structure;

House Bill 516 , which would increase the minimum amount for a public road construction or maintenance contract that prohibits negotiation to $500,000. The bill would allow for exemption of the requirement to accept written public comment for 30 days in the event that the public has been afforded the opportunity for comment during the environmental phase of a public-private partnership. If the public is afforded the opportunity for comment during the environmental phase of a public-private partnership, the requirement that the department hold a public hearing would also be waived. HB 516 would provide an exception to final approval of projects by the board when it has previously approved the proposal based on a determination that the proposal provided the apparent best value to the state. HB 516 would also amend current law governing the length of modular unit transporters to allow for an increased length from 80 feet to 84 feet when a permit is purchased;

House Bill 546 , which would amend the definition of "pharmacy care" within the Georgia Pharmacy Practice Act to allow for changes to a prescription drug order. The bill would allow a pharmacist to adapt a prescription drug order, under certain circumstances, by changing the quantity of medication prescribed, changing the dosage form of the prescription and completing missing information on a prescription drug order. Adaptions would be required to be documented and done with patient consent;

House Bill 576 , which would prohibit an individual's vaccine status from being used to determine priority status on an organ transplant waiting list;

House Bill 809 , which would allow occupational therapists to perform dry needling;

House Bill 814 , which would amend current law relating to computation of taxable net income to exclude any grants for investments in broadband infrastructure received as part of 47 U.S.C. 1702, the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, or the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This change would be applicable to all tax years beginning on January 1, 2022;

House Bill 872 , which would allow for dental students to be eligible for the service cancelable loan program when they agree to practice in rural counties with a population of 50,000 or less;

House Bill 873 , which would codify the ability of juvenile courts to establish a juvenile treatment court division as an alternative to the traditional judicial system for juvenile delinquency cases or child in need of services (CHINS) cases. A case may be assigned to these new courts: 1) if the prosecutor or other petitioner consents prior to the entry of adjudication or disposition; 2) as part of a disposition in a case; or 3) upon modification or revocation of probation or a new petition. Each new juvenile treatment court division would establish a planning group to develop a work plan. Planning groups would be required to include: judges, prosecutors, sheriffs, public defenders, community supervision officers and probation officers. The Council of Accountability Court judges would establish standards and practices for these divisions, taking into account current research and findings published by experts on children's health needs/treatment options. The council would also create and manage a certification/peer review process to ensure local divisions are adhering to standards/practices. Further, they would create a waiver process that divisions would need to apply for if they want an exception to standards/practices. The council would also create a certification process to allow a court to demonstrate a need for additional state grant funds for one or more part-time judges to operate these divisions. Divisions established on and after July 1, 2026, would be certified or receive a waiver if they have good cause. The council would also be required to develop and manage an electronic system for performance measurement that accepts data in a consistent manner. On or around July 1, 2026, and every three years afterward, the council would conduct a performance peer review of the divisions to improve the polices/practices. The court that institutes the division could request that one or more prosecutors and one or more defense attorneys serve in the division, and the clerk of the juvenile court would serve as the clerk of the division. The act would become effective on July 1, 2024;

House Bill 909 , which would automatically restrict and seal the record of an individual’s offense after July 1, 2024, who was sentenced under the First Offenders Act. If first offender status is revoked, then a court would unseal the records, and courts, law enforcement agencies, jails and detention centers could disseminate the records. Those who were exonerated of guilt and discharged as a first offender prior to July 1, 2024, could petition the court to have the records sealed, and those records would be automatically sealed;

House Bill 912 , which would update current law relating to the definitions of motor vehicles and traffic to change the definition of "multipurpose off-highway vehicle" to mean any self-propelled, motorized vehicle originally intended for off-highway use and to not include any all-terrain vehicles, low-speed vehicles, passenger cars or personal transportation vehicles. Additionally, HB 912 would create an exemption for multipurpose off-highway vehicles from ad valorem taxation, beginning on January 1, 2025;

House Bill 925 , or the "Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency (PRAISE) Act," which would prohibit any governmental entity from discriminating against and closing a place of worship during an emergency or health or safety determination. It would afford to religious institutions and places of worship the same degree of freedom to meet as is afforded to the most favored entity or set of entities. HB 925 would provide for civil action for relief for any person or entity burdened or impaired by violations of this law;

House Bill 947 , which would revise judicial compensation so that the base salary for judges is related to the annual salary fixed for judges of the U.S. district court for the northern district of Georgia on July 1st of the second proceeding state fiscal year. Each supreme court justice would receive a maximum of 100 percent of the federal district judge's salary; each court of appeals judge would receive a maximum of 95 percent of the base salary; the judge of the state-wide business court would receive a maximum of 92 percent of the base salary; and each superior court judge would receive a maximum of 90 percent of the base salary. Locality pay may be provided to judges in lieu of and not in addition to any prior county supplements, but in no event would the annual locality pay exceed 10 percent of the state annual salary. Each superior court judge in office on July 1, 2024, could opt-in to the new salary framework, as well as any existing locality pay by October 1, 2024, through filing written notification to the council of superior court judges and the governing authority of each county comprising the judge's judicial circuit. From July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, all local laws providing compensation for a state or local official that tie that compensation to a superior court judge's compensation would be suspended with respect to any compensation increase. None of the provisions of HB 947 would repeal or amend any local law. As of July 1, 2025, that suspension would be terminated and would not entitle any official to retroactive compensation;

House Bill 977 , which would set the risk-limiting audit probability limit at a decreasing percentage beginning with eight percent in 2024 and concluding with a rate of two percent in 2030. The bill would clarify which contests, in addition to specified top of the ballot contests, must be selected for a risk-limiting audit and how they are selected;

House Bill 984 , which would allow certified law enforcement officers within the Department of Insurance and the office of the safety fire commissioner to use a department vehicle while off-duty under certain circumstances. The bill would also allow for developmentally or physically disabled individuals to remain on their parent or guardian's insurance beyond the cutoff age;

House Bill 988 , which would define the term "artificial intelligence" and revise the responsibilities of the Georgia Technology Authority. It would require the authority to conduct an inventory of all systems that utilize artificial intelligence and are in use by any agency. Inventory would include information such as the system's name, vendor details, general capabilities, independence in decision-making and whether impact assessments were conducted before implementation. The authority would be mandated to develop and establish procedures that govern the development, implementation and assessment of artificial intelligence systems used by agencies to prevent unlawful discrimination against individuals or groups. The authority would be required to prepare an annual report regarding the inventory of artificial intelligence systems in use by agencies and to make this report available to certain state offices;

House Bill 991 , which would reauthorize the Hospital Medicaid Financing program until June 30, 2030;

House Bill 997 , which would require an individual disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle by notice from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to be reinstated only when they have received notification from the FMCSA;

House Bill 1033 , or the “Utility Worker Protection Act,” which would add enhanced penalties for protection of utility workers harmed while acting within the course/scope of their employment or while performing official duties. The bill includes a definition for "utility worker," which includes independent contractors and would apply to both private and public entities. The sentencing enhancement is added to the following crimes: simple assault, making it a high and aggravated misdemeanor; aggravated assault, making the term of imprisonment between three and 20 years; simple battery, making it a high and aggravated misdemeanor; and aggravated battery, making the term of imprisonment between one and 20 years. These enhancements would apply to all offenses committed on or after July 1, 2024;

House Bill 1044 , which would increase the contract value amount from $100,000 or less to $250,000 or less for specified contracts that are exempt from specified contracting and bidding requirements;

House Bill 1058 , which would address federal regulations for safe operations for drivers and vehicles transporting hazardous materials and would change an effective date from January 1, 2023, to January 1, 2024;

House Bill 1083 , which would extend deadlines for the implementation of updated adult mental health licensure rules and regulations;

House Bill 1162 , which would amend current law relating to income tax definitions by providing an update to the definition of "Internal Revenue Code" to include provisions from the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 and the Veterans Auto and Education Improvement Act of 2022, which was signed into law on January 5, 2023;

House Resolution 449 , which would recognize the fourth Wednesday in February as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Awareness Day;

House Resolution 804 , which would propose an amendment to the Georgia Constitution to change the payable date of temporary loans for counties and municipalities from December 31 of each year to within 12 months of the initial funding;

House Resolution 1019 , which would establish the Georgia House of Representatives' support for increased protection for America's borders in the pursuit of ending illegal immigration;

Senate Bill 353 , which would allow for the call of a caucus for a Department of Transportation board election to be sent via email rather than by mail. The bill would clarify language relating to contracting for public-private partnerships and alternative contracting methods. The bill would amend current law governing the length of modular unit transporters to allow for an increased length from 80 feet to 84 feet when a permit is purchased. Current law would be amended to allow any coroner or county medical examiner to delegate to medical personnel the power to perform the duties of the coroner or county medical examiner when an accident on an interstate highway or limited-access road results in a death and a significant disruption to the flow of traffic. The Department of Transportation would be added to the code section relating to when public disclosure is not required by a state agency and would add the data of vehicle information or personally identifiable information to those records that are not required to be disclosed.

The Georgia House of Representatives will reconvene for our seventh week of session on Tuesday, February 20. I encourage you to reach out with your questions or concerns regarding any legislation that we are considering. You are welcome to schedule a phone call or plan a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are important to you and your family. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 5 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:52:58 GMT

February 6-9, 2024

The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol on Tuesday, February 6 for a busy fifth week of the 2024 legislative session. The House assembled for four days, and our days are certainly getting longer and busier as we move further along in the session. This week, we successfully gave passage to several bills and also continued our committee work each day. Some highlights of the week include the passage of the House’s version of the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget (AFY 2024), among other bills, as well as the convening of a joint legislative session for the annual State of the Judiciary address.

The Amended Fiscal Year 2024 budget, or House Bill 915 , is set at a revenue estimate of approximately $37.5 billion. Governor Kemp’s estimate for the amended budget includes $2 billion in surplus funds, bringing the total to $5 billion, and marking a 15.6 percent increase from the original estimate. The Amended FY 2024 budget provides substantial investments in technology, capital improvements, safety and security initiatives, economic development projects and human capital enhancements.

The House’s amended budget continues to prioritize economic development in our state and has aligned with the governor’s proposal to allocate funding for several key economic development initiatives. In the House’s version of the AFY 2024 budget, $23.9 million is designated to the Rural Workforce Housing program, aimed at enhancing and expanding the availability of workforce housing. Additionally, the House’s amended budget would provide $250 million for low-interest loans to the Georgia Fund, which would be dedicated to water and wastewater infrastructure development in local communities. Moreover, the House agrees with the governor to provide $100 million for economic development initiatives through the Regional Economic Business Assistance program, as well as another $100 million to the OneGeorgia Authority for rural economic development and site enhancement projects. Both of these important programs work to make our state more attractive to businesses that are considering expanding or relocating in Georgia.

In addition, the House’s amended budget directs $178 million toward establishing a new dental school at Georgia Southern University in Savannah and $50 million for the construction of the Medical School at the University of Georgia. HB 915 also provides $4.75 million to support necessary funding for staff and facility operations within the Quick Start program; this program addresses the growing workforce needs of our state by providing customized workforce training. The Amended FY 2024 budget includes $19.5 million for the Technical Education program within the Technical College System of Georgia to fund renovation and start-up costs for three Workforce Accelerator site locations in order to sustain the electric vehicle industry in the state.

My colleagues and I remain committed to prioritizing our state’s education system, recognizing its crucial role in shaping the future of Georgia’s students. The House’s AFY 2024 budget includes a $102.5 million allocation to the Department of Education (DOE) for the midterm adjustment of the Quality Basic Education Formula, reflecting an increase of 825 students from the previous year. As our student population grows, it’s imperative to furnish the DOE with the necessary resources to effectively support our students’ needs. HB 915 also proposes $1.57 million to expand the Communities in Schools program, which is dedicated to supporting students in areas like attendance, behavior, academic performance, retention and graduation. Furthermore, this amended budget includes $8.9 million in lottery funds to sustain the Summer Transition Program through the Department of Early Care and Learning to provide support to rising Pre-K and kindergarten students in subjects like language, literacy and math to ensure they are better prepared for academic success.

The House also provided important funding in this amended budget to support transportation projects and initiatives throughout the state. As such, HB 915 includes $3.9 billion for transportation infrastructure, and, of this, $509 million is dedicated to the new Freight Infrastructure Projects program to enhance Georgia’s growing freight network. Additionally, $200 million is allocated as a one-time deposit for the Local Road Assistance Administration Program to improve local transportation infrastructure projects statewide. Furthermore, the House appropriated $4.25 million in this budget to continue upgrading the state-owned rail lines to Class II standards, facilitating faster train speeds and improved integration of lines.

There are several other noteworthy appropriations contained in the House’s amended budget. HB 915 earmarks $110,000 for the implementation of visible watermarks on all paper ballots to enhance election security, which is a result of the House’s recent passage of House Bill 881 . Retired and current state employees also receive special attention in our amended budget; HB 915 appropriates $500 million to improve the health and funding ratio for the Employees Retirement System of Georgia, as well as $300 million for a one-time salary supplement of $1,000 for state employees and teachers. The House also acknowledges the prevalence of mental health challenges among Georgians by allocating $2 million to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to implement alternative transportation methods for those facing a mental health crisis, and $1 million is designated for the Georgia Department of Veterans Services to support the Veterans Mental Health Services Program. Additionally, the Georgia Department of Corrections would receive $4.6 million to establish 400 transitional beds at the Metro Re-entry Center, which offers crucial resources to former inmates upon release, including employment assistance, access to social services, housing support and programming for family reunification. The House’s version of the AFY 2024 budget now heads to the Senate and will likely undergo changes before receiving final passage.

In addition to voting on the amended budget this week, the House also gave unanimous passage to a legislative package aimed at providing Georgians and their families with much-needed tax relief. On Thursday, the House took up House Bills 1015 , 1019 and 1021 . First, HB 1015 would lower the individual income tax rate effective on January 1, 2024, from 5.49 percent to 5.39 percent, which would return another $1 billion to Georgia taxpayers. Next, HB 1019 would increase the statewide homestead exemption from $2,000 to $4,000, provided the owner resides in the home as their primary residence. Lastly, HB 1021 would increase the child tax deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. With rising childcare costs, this legislation would allow for an extra $1,000 deduction per child, which could help alleviate some of those costs for parents. Each of these measures would help foster Georgia’s economic success story by returning more dollars back into the pockets of our taxpayers.

My colleagues and I also unanimously passed House Bill 1035 , bipartisan legislation that would allow for the sale and supply of opioid antagonists, like Narcan, in vending machines, while protecting those who dispense, supply and administer these opioid-overdose reversal drugs from liability when they act in good faith. This legislation would build on Georgia’s 911 Medical Amnesty Law, legislation enacted nearly a decade ago that provides immunity from arrest, charge or prosecution for possession of certain drugs, alcohol and drug paraphernalia for any person who seeks medical assistance in good faith for someone experiencing an overdose. Under current law, pharmacists could face charges for distributing drugs like Narcan via vending machines, but this bill would change current law to protect pharmacists in these situations. This measure is not intended to encourage the use of drugs or participate in illegal drinking, but rather, the legislation would give Georgians, especially college students, a lifesaving opportunity should they need it. These vending machines would first be installed on Emory University’s campuses with other college campuses sure to follow. Finally, this legislation would allow our state’s public health commissioner to expand standing orders to allow new opioid antagonist drugs to be made available over the counter. This bill would certainly save lives in Georgia by expanding access to these critical overdose reversal drugs.

This week, we also focused our efforts on passing legislation that would maintain and expand the eligibility and update funding mechanisms for the Realizing Education Achievement Can Happen (REACH) scholarship. First, the legislation, House Bill 970 , would expand eligibility of the scholarship to victims of human trafficking. Also, this bill would authorize REACH participating school systems to designate REACH scholars each school year to receive the $10,000 scholarship without a limit on the number of recipients from each school, subject to available appropriations. Finally, HB 970 would realign state and local funding by requiring REACH participating school systems to provide $1,000 toward the funding of the scholarship, and the state would be responsible for appropriating the remaining $9,000 toward the scholarship through Georgia Student Finance Authority. I was proud to support this important measure that would encourage and expand higher education opportunities for our students.

We also passed the following House and Senate bills during the fifth week of session:

House Bill 158 , which would rename the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit, which is comprised of DeKalb County, to the DeKalb County Judicial Circuit, effective January 1, 2025;

House Bill 385 , which would expand the definition of “uniformed services” to include the U.S. Space Force and Space Force Reserves. It would allow members serving in the Space Force or Space Force Reserves to obtain creditable service for any period of time in which their membership in a public retirement system or fund was interrupted. The employee and employer would be required to pay their respective contribution for the period of service time. The bill is certified by the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts as a fiscal retirement bill, and an actuarial investigation determined there would be no cost to enact this legislation;

House Bill 456 , which would increase the term for municipal court judges from one year to two years, unless the municipal charter provides for a longer term. If the term is memorialized in a written agreement, the agreement would not include a geographic limitation on the judge’s eligibility to serve and would not contain any provision that a judge serve in an at-will capacity;

House Bill 871 , which would amend current law relating to homestead exemptions for qualified disabled veterans to allow the unremarried surviving spouse or minor children of a disabled veteran to continue receiving the homestead exemption granted to the disabled veteran, regardless of whether the unremarried surviving spouse or minor children relocate to any other county in the state;

House Bill 876 , which is the annual housekeeping bill for the Department of Banking and Finance to modernize Georgia’s banking laws. This bill would provide revisions to and would update terminology and definitions in Georgia banking law. HB 876 would add language relevant to departmental approval of transactions and acquisitions so that unless the department has objected to the transaction, the department would forward written confirmation to the Secretary of State that the legal requirements have been satisfied. The bill would add annual registration requirements with the Secretary of State for foreign banks and would include definitions relevant to merchant acquirer limited purpose banks. HB 876 would repeal language with respect to 'registrants' and 'registration requirements' while maintaining 'licensees' and 'license requirements' in code;

House Bill 883 , which would authorize county boards of health to conduct meetings by teleconference;

House Bill 945 , which would require state health plan insurers to continue coverage when a hospital that is in-network becomes out-of-network with the insurer before the end of the plan year. This would apply to contracts on and after July 1, 2024;

House Bill 959, which would update the Spencer Pass Law to provide guidelines when drivers are approaching and passing a stationary motor vehicle when individuals are present outside of the vehicle or the vehicle is flashing its hazard lights;

House Bill 982 , which would authorize the State Workforce Development Board to develop and approve a high-demand career list;

House Bill 992 , which would increase the number of superior court judges for the Houston Circuit from three to four, with the additional judge being appointed for a term beginning July 1, 2024, and the first election for that judgeship taking place at the 2026 nonpartisan judicial election;
House Bill 1026, which would designate the Southeast Georgia Soap Box Derby in Lyons, Georgia as the official soap box derby of the State of Georgia;

House Bill 1034, which would designate the fourth Friday in November as National Sugarcane Syrup Day;

House Bill 1048, which would designate cornbread as the official state bread;

Senate Bill 333 , which would authorize a local referendum for the creation of the city of Mulberry. The referendum would be voted on by call of the Gwinnett County election superintendent in a special election on the date of the general primary election in 2024. The call would be made at least 30 days prior to the election date. The government for the city would be composed of a city council consisting of five council members each serving four-year terms. The mayor would be appointed from and by the city council. The city council members would be elected through a non-partisan municipal general election in odd numbered years held every four years. Council members would not serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The city council would be authorized to appoint directors of departments and agencies. The charter would create the Municipal Court of the City of Mulberry to be presided over by a chief judge.

Aside from passing legislation this week, we held a joint session of the House and Senate on Wednesday where Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs delivered the annual State of the Judiciary Address to the members of the General Assembly. Chief Justice Boggs provided a comprehensive update on the state of Georgia’s judicial system, highlighting its continued strength in recent years. He reported a decline in pending serious violent felony cases alongside a notable increase in overall jury trials, indicating positive trends within the judiciary.

Chief Justice Boggs commended the efficacy of American Rescue Plan Act grants in managing caseloads, noting an average 11 percent decrease in pending serious violent felony cases across Georgia. However, he also underscored the pressing challenges faced by the judiciary, including shortages in court reporters, prosecutors, public defenders, court staff and sheriffs’ deputies, and he acknowledged Governor Kemp's focus on workforce development in addressing these critical issues affecting the judicial branch. Emphasizing the necessity of proper compensation for Georgia’s judges to attract and retain talent, Chief Justice Boggs highlighted the findings of a comprehensive compensation study led by a Judicial Council Committee. The recommendations of this committee, embodied in House Bill 947 , were unanimously supported by the Judicial Council, and Justice Boggs urged our legislative consideration of this measure. Furthermore, Chief Justice Boggs drew our attention to the concerning rise in threats against judges nationwide. He applauded the efforts of Georgia’s law enforcement officers and highlighted a joint letter from the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators urging federal lawmakers to enhance judicial safety measures. Chief Justice Boggs also proposed legislation, modeled after similar laws in 31 other states, aimed at safeguarding the personal information of judges to ensure their safety and security. He encouraged the House to work to expand that legislation to cover other elected officials as well. Lastly, Chief Justice Boggs stressed the importance of locally based lawyers in rural communities to provide essential civil legal services, particularly to survivors of domestic violence. Efforts are underway within both the AFY 2024 and FY 2025 budgets and within the Supreme Court to address the shortage of lawyers in rural areas. In conclusion, Chief Justice Boggs expressed gratitude to the General Assembly for their dedicated service to the people of Georgia and remarked that the state of our judiciary is strong overall.

The Georgia House of Representatives will resume its legislative work on Monday, February 12 to begin our sixth week of session. The pace under the Gold Dome is surely picking up as we approach the looming “Crossover Day” deadline. Crossover Day is the last day that a bill can pass out of its chamber of origin and still be eligible for consideration this session. As we approach this deadline, I encourage you to reach out with your questions or concerns regarding any legislation that we are considering. You are welcome to schedule a phone call or plan a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are important to you and your family. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 4 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:49:10 GMT

January 29-February 2, 2024

On Monday, January 29, the Georgia General Assembly reconvened at the State Capitol for the fourth week of the 2024 legislative session. This week, the House convened for four days and reached Legislative Day 14 by the end of our week, which means we are now more than a quarter of the way through the legislative session. Perhaps the most significant news this week came on Tuesday morning when my colleagues and I learned the heartbreaking news that we had lost one of our own, a dedicated statesman, the honorable House Rules Chairman, Richard Smith (R-Columbus). While we mourned the loss of our friend and colleague, we continued our legislative work as Chairman Smith would have wanted and gave passage to several bills this week and also saw Governor Kemp sign one of the first bills into law from this session.

Born in Wrightsville, Georgia, Chairman Richard Smith was no stranger to public service, serving in numerous roles throughout his career, both at the local and state levels. Our colleague was a member of the Georgia General Assembly for 20 years and a dedicated representative to his constituents. On Tuesday morning, Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp joined us in the House Chamber to reflect on Chairman Smith’s life and service to our state and his community. Speaker of the House Jon Burns also recounted his admiration and respect for Chairman Smith, and members of the Columbus House Delegation reflected on his leadership and service to the community. With a heavy heart, we bowed our heads to remember Chairman Smith and his family during this time.

Following this news, the House adopted a revised adjournment resolution, House Resolution 978 , that amends the current schedule for the legislative session. This update to our session schedule was made to allow members of both the House and Senate to attend Chairman Smith’s funeral and pay our respects. With that, the House will not be in session on Monday, February 5, 2024, and will now be in session on Friday, February 16, 2024, to make up for this change.

As we carried on with our legislative business for the week, the House took up House Bill 878 to provide the proper procedure for motorists passing a United States Postal Service (USPS) vehicle. Current law includes procedures that motorists should take when passing sanitation vehicles, but this bill would update current law to include procedures for passing USPS vehicles that are in the process of delivering mail. Due to a number of accidents in these situations, HB 878 would require a motorist to slow down and, if safe, pass on the left adjacent lane as they approach a postal service vehicle with its flashing lights on. If the motorist is unable to pass the USPS vehicle, this legislation would require them to slow down, stop and wait for the postal service vehicle to re-commence its route. This change in our law would provide greater safety for our postal service workers, as well as other drivers on our roadways. This bill passed overwhelmingly by a vote of 165-1.

On Wednesday, House Bill 976 passed almost unanimously to address concerns related to election security. This bill would require all election ballots to be printed on paper that includes a visible watermark security feature, and this visible watermark would identify the ballot as an official Georgia ballot. Currently, all ballots have an invisible watermark that is not visible to the human eye, but this bill would ensure that a watermark security feature would be visible to the naked eye. If this bill receives final passage and is signed into law, this enhanced security feature would be implemented in time for the general election in November 2024, and the low, one-time cost to implement this change would be included in this year’s amended budget. Election security continues to be a topic of discussion amongst the Georgia General Assembly and Georgia’s voters, and this legislation seeks to address some of those concerns and restore confidence in our elections.

We also unanimously passed House Bill 985 , which would abolish the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation and transfer its obligations and liabilities to the Georgia Student Finance Authority. This corporation no longer has a purpose due to the retirement of portfolios and programs administered by the corporation, which is the reason this legislation is needed. Currently, there is approximately $28 million in reserves in the corporation that could be released to the Georgia Student Finance Authority and utilized for education purposes if the corporation is abolished. These funds would transfer to the Georgia Student Finance Authority and would be held in a separate reserve, and the Georgia Student Finance Authority would not be able to utilize these funds without direction from the governor and General Assembly. If HB 985 receives final passage and is signed into law, this would go into effect on June 30, 2024.

We also passed the following House bills during the fourth week of session:

House Bill 881 , which would amend the provisions that govern the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC) to remove the requirement that the Supreme Court of Georgia review and approve the rules and regulations of the PAQC. The grounds for discipline would also be amended to clarify that a mental or physical incapacity must adversely affect the performance of the district attorney's (DA) or solicitor general's (SG) duties in order to be punishable. Further, medical leaves of absence would only qualify as a ground for discipline if the absence, or the aggregate time of the absences, is at least 10 months or more in a 12-month period. The bill would clarify that decisions by the PAQC hearing panel are appealable to the superior court of the county or counties in which the DA or SG practices or practiced in, with the appeal using an arbitrary, capricious or abuse of discretion standard. That decision could be immediately appealed to the Supreme Court of Georgia;

House Bill 884 , which would increase the number of superior court judges in the Douglas Judicial Circuit from three to four. The fourth judge would be appointed for a term beginning July 1, 2024, continuing through December 31, 2026. Their successor would be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2026;

House Bill 905 , which would remove the authority for administrative officers and quasi-judicial officers to exercise zoning powers in specified circumstances. The bill would remove the authority for quasi-judicial boards or agencies to hear and render decisions on special administrative permits and conditional use permits;

House Bill 906 , which would increase the number of superior court judges in the Tifton Judicial Circuit from two to three. The third judge would be appointed for a term beginning July 1, 2024, continuing through December 31, 2026. Their successor would be elected at the nonpartisan judicial election in 2026.

In addition to voting on the bills mentioned above, my colleagues and I also joined Governor Brian Kemp as he signed House Bill 30 , legislation addressing antisemitism in our state and adding antisemitism as a category covered by our hate crimes law, on Wednesday. This was an important step for the Jewish community in Georgia, many of whom were on hand at the Capitol for this historic bill signing ceremony. This bill immediately became law upon Gov. Kemp’s signature.

Also, this week, my colleagues and I took time to recognize and honor our United States Armed Forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice to serve our country and protect its citizens. On Sunday, January 28, three Army reservists stationed at Fort Moore, just south of Columbus, Georgia, lost their lives in a drone attack while stationed overseas in Jordan near the Syrian border. Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah; Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton; and Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, all Georgia residents, gave their lives in service to our great nation. On Wednesday morning, my House colleagues and I paused for a moment of silence to remember these three brave Georgians whose legacies shall not be forgotten. On that same day, the House also recognized the Third Infantry Division of Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, one of the most decorated infantry divisions in the history of the United States, during a special invitation resolution in the House Chamber. The Third Infantry Division has one of the most successful combat records of any United States Army division and has served terms in both world wars, Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq. Brigadier General Jeremy Wilson, Deputy Commanding General for Maneuvers, addressed the House to express his gratitude to the State of Georgia for their continued and consistent support of our men and women in the United States Armed Forces. House Resolution 907 was read and presented to the Third Infantry Division, recognizing January 31, 2024, as Third Infantry Division Day at the State Capitol.

The Georgia House of Representatives will resume its legislative work on Tuesday, February 6 to begin our fifth week of session. The pace under the Gold Dome is surely picking up, and next week promises to be another busy week on Capitol Hill. As your state representative, I hope that you will reach out with your questions or concerns regarding any legislation that we are considering before session ends on March 28. You are welcome to schedule a phone call or plan a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are important to you and your family. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 3 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 22:03:21 GMT

January 22-26, 2024

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the Gold Dome for the third week of the 2024 legislative session on Monday, January 22. It was an action-packed week as the House Rules Committee held its first meeting, we voted on our first set of bills of the session, and several House committees held meetings. As we are now in the second session of the 157 ^th Georgia General Assembly, or the second year of the biennial, any bills that did not receive passage during the 2023 legislative session are still eligible for consideration. As such, we also gave final passage this week to an important measure that carried over from last session.

On Friday, the House passed House Bill 502 , or the “Georgia Cosmetic Laser Services Act.” HB 502 would update the definition of “cosmetic laser services” in state law as a result of the development of new dermatological procedures that were not encompassed in the previous definition, including energy-based medical procedures using an ultrasound, cryolipolysis, microwave or radio frequency devices. In addition, HB 502 would revise the supervision requirements by allowing cosmetic laser practitioners at the assistant laser practitioner level to practice without the on-site supervision of a senior laser practitioner; however, a senior laser practitioner would still provide a supervisory role to these assistant laser practitioners. This bill passed almost unanimously by a vote of 153-1.

House Bill 804 passed unanimously in the House this week. This legislation would require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue two distinct license plates to ambulance and hearse owners: one for ambulances that indicates “Ambulance” and one for funeral vehicles that indicates “Hearse.” Currently, the license plates issued for both vehicles reads “Hearse/Ambulance.” Many years ago, hearses were used to transport people to both hospitals and funeral homes. Today, ambulances and hearses serve separate purposes, so this legislation would confirm their distinctive transport roles. For each motor driven hearse and each motor driven ambulance, the cost for the license plates would remain at $20 annually. If passed and signed into law, this bill would become effective on January 1, 2025.

The House also voted on House Bill 434 , which would create the licensure of radiologist assistants in our state. Under this bill, the Georgia Composite Medical Board would establish criteria for licensure and licensure renewal for radiologist assistants, as well as establishing rules and regulations related to the qualifications, scope of practice and supervision of these healthcare workers. Radiologist assistants work alongside radiologists, and their work assists in improving efficiency and productivity for radiologists. By creating this licensure, this legislation would help to recruit and retain the healthcare workforce in Georgia, while also improving healthcare delivery and shortening patient wait times. This bill passed by a vote of 152-2.

Lastly, the House gave final passage this week to an important measure previously introduced and passed by the House during the 2023 legislative session. House Bill 30 addresses antisemitism in our state and would add antisemitism as a category covered by our hate crimes law. Under HB 30, the internationally recognized definition of “antisemitism,” as adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), would become part of state law. Additionally, this bill would require all state agencies that enforce criminal or noncriminal law or regulation that prohibits discrimination to consider the definition of antisemitism during that enforcement. The final passage of this bill is a victory for our friends in the Jewish community and was especially timely given the rise in antisemitic acts in our state and across the country. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation and proud of the House for leading on this vital effort. HB 30 now heads to Governor Kemp’s desk to be signed into law.

Aside from our work in committees and on the House floor, it was a busy week under the Gold Dome with many events, activities and recognition of special guests. This week, the Japanese Consulate in Atlanta held a 50-year celebration at the Capitol and received a special recognition while the House was in session. My colleagues and I also welcomed guests for Korean American Day who were recognized by the House during session. Events were also held at the Capitol this week for Addiction Recovery Awareness Day and Mental Health Day to raise awareness for these important initiatives. Finally, we honored National Guard Day in the House with a special invitation resolution recognizing January 25 as National Guard Day at the State Capitol. Members of Georgia’s National Guard joined us on the floor of the House Chamber and were honored for their heroic acts and selfless service to our state and nation.

We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, January 29 for our fourth week of session. My colleagues and I will continue to consider legislation that best serves Georgians, and I will be sure to update you about our legislative work. As we continue through the session, I hope that you will reach out with your questions or concerns regarding legislation and the issues that are significant to you and your family. You are welcome to schedule a phone call or plan a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are important to you and our community. You can reach me at 404-656-0213 and via email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative!

Week 2 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 18:41:29 GMT

January 15-19, 2024

On Tuesday, January 16, my legislative colleagues and I returned to the State Capitol to begin “budget week.” Each year, the Georgia General Assembly is tasked with one constitutional obligation which is to pass a balanced budget, and, as such, the second week of the legislative session is historically devoted to joint House and Senate Appropriations Committee hearings to begin the state budget process. To kick-off budget week, Governor Brian Kemp presented his formal recommendations to the joint committee for the current and upcoming fiscal year budgets, and the governor’s proposal will ultimately be incorporated into legislation that will guide how our state allocates its spending. You can watch a video archive of the governor’s budget proposal presentation here , and I will recap some of his proposal below.

As we start the state budget process, my colleagues and I will begin drafting two budget bills. The first bill, the Amended Fiscal Year 2024 (AFY 2024) budget, will appropriate spending for the remainder of the current fiscal year ending on June 30 and accounts for any differences between last year’s projected revenue estimate and actual revenue obtained. Based on updated revenue estimates, the AFY 2024 budget will include approximately $5.06 billion in additional revenue that our state can utilize over the next six months. This adjustment brings the total appropriation for the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to $37.51 billion. The second bill, the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY 2025) budget, will determine state spending for the upcoming fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2024, and ending on June 30, 2025. This FY 2025 budget is set at a revenue estimate of $36 billion.

As Gov. Kemp discussed his budget proposal with the joint committee, he recapped Georgia’s achievements in recent years and highlighted that more than $5 billion has been directly returned to Georgia taxpayers through tax rebates and suspension of the state’s motor fuel tax in addition to enacting the largest income tax reduction in Georgia history. He also noted that because of sound financial investments, Georgia has remained the number one state in which to do business for 10 consecutive years and remained one of only a few states to have a AAA bond rating. Gov. Kemp highlighted that his AFY 2024 and FY 2025 budget proposal will help further our state’s historic economic development for years to come.

The governor touched on the state’s current economic status, noting that Georgia is situated to support a full range of new and expanding industries, including agriculture, manufacturing and logistics. As our state continues to grow, maintaining a safe, efficient and reliable transportation infrastructure network is crucial, as well as the need to support our growing workforce. As such, the governor proposes a $1.5 billion investment in the AFY 2024 budget for the Georgia Department of Transportation to maintain our roadways, accelerate construction on “shovel-ready” projects and expedite existing projects. These funds would be allocated for local maintenance and improvement grants and for infrastructure projects to promote economic development, while also enhancing efficiency and safety for freight and logistics. Additionally, the governor’s AFY 2024 budget proposal includes $250 million for the Georgia Environmental Financing Authority’s Georgia Fund to support critical water and wastewater infrastructure development through low-interest loans to local communities across the state. His proposal also appropriates $250 million in additional funds for economic development grants provided through the Regional Economic Business Assistance (REBA) grant program and OneGeorgia Authority. This funding would support economic development projects, promote investment in Georgia businesses, expand grant opportunities for rural site development, as well as provide further grant opportunities to address workforce housing in our rural communities.

Gov. Kemp continues to prioritize K-12 teachers and the state’s public workforce by maintaining quality retirement and health care benefits for these workers, and we can see this reflected in his budget proposal. His proposal includes a historic $1 billion investment in the state’s retirement, risk and health portfolios. This includes a $500 million investment in the Employees’ Retirement System to provide greater flexibility in establishing cost-of-living adjustments for state retirees. The FY 2025 budget proposal also allocates $244 million to K-12 schools for teacher’s health insurance without requiring reductions in coverage or further increases in their out-of-pocket costs. In an effort to recruit and retain state employees and K-12 teachers, Gov. Kemp also proposes $306 million in the AFY 2024 budget to provide a $1,000 pay supplement, as well as $630 million in FY 2025 to provide a four percent cost-of-living adjustment to state employees; K-12 teachers and other certified employees would see a $2,500 salary increase under the governor’s plan.

Also, on the topic of education, the governor noted in his presentation that the state has not significantly updated the formula for public school transportation in almost 20 years. As a result, school systems have absorbed the annual costs associated with providing students with transportation to and from school each day. To address this issue, the governor’s FY 2025 budget proposal appropriates nearly $205 million to update the public transportation formula to provide significantly more state support for school transportation needs. With our students in mind, Gov. Kemp proposes $11 million for K-12 literacy initiatives, including regional literacy coaches and screeners for K-3 students to ensure that our young learners are able to read on grade level. Lastly, the governor intends to continue to address school safety needs to make certain that our students can learn in a safe environment with $104 million in FY 2025 to establish a new, annual school security grant program. This FY 2025 budget proposal would provide local schools with a combined total of more than $1.4 billion in additional funding to meet growth needs, bolster teacher pay, maintain quality health and retirement benefits and improve safety.

A few other noteworthy items in Gov. Kemp’s AFY 2024 and FY 2025 budget proposal include: $1 million to expand access to mental health services for Georgia’s military service members, veterans and their families, as well as a total increase of $205 million for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and other entities that address mental health in our state; $9 million for a new behavioral health crisis center; $4 million for the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund Commission for rehabilitation of victims of sex trafficking; $1 million to expand the maternal health pilot program in rural communities; $42 billion to provide a $3,000 salary increase for select POST certified law enforcement officers; $3 million for equipment and vehicles to implement the Georgia Electric Vehicle Charging Program; and $10 million to begin reducing the pre-K classroom size from 22 to 20 students.

In addition to hearing from Gov. Kemp during budget week, we also had the opportunity to hear from state agency leaders and department heads, each outlining and advocating for their budgetary needs for the remainder of the fiscal year and the upcoming fiscal year. We also heard from Georgia’s fiscal economist who provided a comprehensive overview of Georgia’s economic forecast for this year. The important presentations will assist us as we begin the next phase of the state budget process and work to ensure that we create budgets that meet the diverse needs of our state and its citizens.

Now that the joint budget hearings have concluded, the House Appropriations subcommittees will begin to meet to review specific portions of the budget and delve deeper into the state agencies’ budget needs. Since the Georgia Constitution requires budget bills to originate in the House, each House Appropriations subcommittee will pass their respective portions of the AFY 2024 and FY 2025 state budgets, which will collectively result in two complete budget bills to be approved by the full House Appropriations Committee. After being approved by the full House Appropriations Committee, each budget bill will be scheduled for a vote on the House floor by the House Rules Committee. After each budget bill is voted on and passed out of the House, these bills will be transmitted to our counterparts in the Senate and will undergo the same process. There will likely be changes to the governor’s original proposal as the House and Senate continue to work through the budget process, and I will keep you updated as these bills are voted on and finalized.

My colleagues and I will reconvene for legislative day six of the session on Monday, January 22. We expect to have another busy week ahead as the pace of the session continues to pick up and as House committees begin to meet more frequently to consider legislation. As we move forward, I encourage you to visit me at my Capitol office, or contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the state budget bills, the legislative process or any other measures being considered under the Gold Dome. I welcome any opportunity to hear feedback from my constituents. My office phone number is 404-656-0213, and my email address is karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov . Please reach out to me any time.

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative!

Week 1 Legislative Session Recap 2024

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 21:44:35 GMT

January 8-12, 2024

The 157th Georgia General Assembly convened for the 2024 legislative session on Monday, January 8, 2024, which marked the start of the second year of our biennial General Assembly. With only 40 legislative days to accomplish the people’s business, my colleagues and I did not waste any time at the State Capitol this week. In addition to convening in the House Chamber each day this week, our House committees also began holding meetings to consider legislation that carried over from the 2023 legislative session, as well as new legislation that has been introduced. Also this week, many of my colleagues and I attended the Georgia Chamber’s annual Eggs & Issues legislative event, and Governor Brian Kemp presented his annual State of the State address before a joint session of the House and Senate.

On Thursday, members of the House and Senate gathered in the House Chamber to convene for a joint session to welcome Gov. Kemp as he presented his assessment on the current condition of our state government in his annual State of the State Address. This gathering provides a unique opportunity for our governor to reflect on the foundation of the state, as well as present his legislative priorities for the year ahead, which include implementing tax cuts, fostering a strong workforce through enhancing educational opportunities, as well as maintaining safe, effective learning environments for all Georgia students and teachers, among other things. You can watch a video archive of the governor’s address here , and I will share a few highlights below.

Prior to discussing his priorities for the session, the governor reflected on the progress our state has experienced since his last address. Over the last year, Georgia’s government has provided nearly $5 billion of direct relief to taxpayers in the form of tax refunds, gas tax suspensions and homestead tax exemptions. The governor applauded the state’s work to maintain a Triple-A bond rating, while simultaneously creating more than 171,000 new jobs and approximately $74.5 billion of investment over the last five years. To build off of this job growth and economic prosperity, the governor announced his plans to speed up the implementation of the largest tax cut in state history. This proposed tax cut would decrease our state income tax to 5.39 percent starting this year and represent a savings of $3 billion for Georgia taxpayers over the next decade.

In his address, Gov. Kemp discussed his desire to prioritize school safety across the state. The governor remarked that since 2019, Georgia’s government has allotted $185 million to all Georgia schools to help ensure the highest level of safety. To build on that investment, the governor is proposing a permanent appropriation in the state budget for school security, and Gov. Kemp indicated that his budget proposal includes $104 million, specifically for school safety improvements. With these funds, schools will be able to determine how to use that money in order to best meet the security needs of their individual schools.

Not only is school safety a primary issue for the governor, but public safety also remains a top priority. The governor stressed the importance of supporting our law enforcement as they sacrifice their lives every day to protect our own. Last year, the governor signed a budget that included a $6,000 pay raise for all state law enforcement officers, and this year, the governor intends to work with the General Assembly to once again provide a pay raise for state law enforcement officers. To that end, the governor announced that his budget proposal includes a request for a $3,000 pay raise for State Patrol officers, as well as Georgia’s correctional officers and other state law enforcement agencies.

Similarly, the governor urged my colleagues and I to follow through on last year’s efforts to pass legislation for the peace officer loan repayment program. Peace officers play a vital role in supporting the safety and security of Georgia’s residents. The governor also plans to continue efforts to combat human trafficking in Georgia. Under the leadership of First Lady Marty Kemp and the GRACE Commission, eight pieces of legislation that target traffickers, while also supporting victims, have been signed into law. These efforts have enabled Georgia’s GBI HEAT unit to investigate 369 cases of human trafficking since its creation. I will update you throughout the session of any legislative action regarding these two important initiatives.

The governor went on to outline his priorities surrounding health care, recapping the strides made to lower health care costs, expand access and incentivize more health care providers to give care. Since the passage of the Patients First Act in 2019, 87 percent of Georgia counties now have three or more health care insurance carriers, whereas prior to 2019, no Georgia county had more than two. The governor continued by expressing his gratitude for the Georgia Access and the reinsurance program for their efforts to grow enrollment in the private sector from 460,000 to more than 1.2 million Georgians today. Gov. Kemp also touted the achievements of the Mental Health Parity Act, a fitting capstone to the late Speaker David Ralston’s years of service to the Georgia House of Representatives. As a result of this legislation, Commissioner Kevin Tanner and the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) carried out Speaker Ralston’s legacy with the 9-8-8 crisis hotline campaign, which gave more Georgians access to the services and help they need. To build on this achievement, the governor is proposing a total increase of $205 million for DBHDD and other entities that address mental health in our state. With these appropriations, Georgia will be spending $1.6 billion on mental health care – more than ever before.

Finally, Gov. Kemp discussed his plans to bolster retention and recruitment efforts across the state by proposing pay increases for all state employees and teachers. In his remarks, Gov. Kemp highlighted the importance of maintaining an efficient state government, while staying ahead of Georgia’s continued economic growth – none of which would be possible without the dedication and workmanship of Georgia’s state employees and teachers. To that end, Georgia’s state workers and teachers would see a four percent pay increase under the governor’s proposal. In addition to supporting Georgia’s current employees, the governor intends to allocate $500 million to shore up the state retiree fund, ensuring our state keeps its promise to our retirees and maintains solid financial footing. The governor closed his remarks with applauding the state of our state for being strong, growing and full of opportunity.

In addition to hearing Gov. Kemp’s State of the State Address on Thursday, the House voted to adopt an Adjournment Resolution, House Resolution 779, to set our calendar for this legislative session. Each session is comprised of 40 non-consecutive days, and this year’s calendar sets our final day of session, or “Sine Die,” on Thursday, March 28. We have an aggressive schedule this year and much work to be done prior to the final swing of the gavel. You can find a copy of our complete legislative calendar here .

Finally, to conclude our week, my colleagues and I gathered alongside Gov. Kemp, Speaker Burns and Lt. Gov. Jones for a Celebration of Service event to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King’s vision for progress and unity transcended history for all Georgians and all Americans. His dedication to spreading peace and equality in our nation serves as an everlasting example of how we as legislators should conduct ourselves as we work to grow and support the needs of Georgia’s residents.

Now that the 2024 legislative session has begun, I will spend most of my time over the next few months at the State Capitol. After we celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, my colleagues and I will return to the Capitol on Tuesday, January 16 to begin our work on one of the most important pieces of legislation of this session: the state budget. Before leaving the Capitol for the weekend, my colleagues and I received the governor’s budget books, which include his budget recommendations for the amended and full fiscal year budgets. We will review these recommendations over the weekend, and the House and Senate Appropriations committees will hear directly from the governor to discuss his recommendations on Tuesday morning. The Appropriations committees will continue to meet throughout next week to discuss budget requests from our state agency heads, and I look forward to sharing updates with you about the budget process.

As our House committee meetings get underway throughout the session, you can attend these meetings in person or watch live streams of all official House committee and subcommittee meetings on the House website. You can always find the meeting schedule and live streams at https://www.legis.ga.gov/schedule/house .

The official House Facebook and Twitter accounts also provide useful information and daily updates throughout the session, including press releases, meeting announcements and legislative actions from the House floor. These valuable resources can help you stay engaged and informed on our work while we are in session.

I welcome you to reach out to me with your thoughts and opinions on issues or policies as we move throughout the 2024 session. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or you may email me directly at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for House District 74.

Week 12 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 17:42:17 GMT

March 27th - March 29th, 2023

The Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol for the final two days of the 2023 legislative session on Monday, March 27. Then, on Wednesday, March 29, the session came to an end as the House and Senate completed Legislative Day 40, which is also known as “Sine Die,” a Latin term meaning “without assigning a day for further meeting.” During these two eventful days, my colleagues and I worked late into the night to vote on legislation that will impact communities across our state. I will share some of the bills that we voted on from the Rules calendars, as well as highlight a few House bills that received final passage this week. Now, all of the bills that received final passage before we adjourned Sine Die will go to Governor Brian Kemp for his final consideration.

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

Before we adjourned on Sine Die, the state legislature approved a Conference Committee Report for House Bill 19 , or the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) budget, fulfilling our one constitutional obligation of the session. Effective July 1, this final version of the FY 2024 budget is set at a revenue estimate of $32.4 billion, which is $2.2 billion, or 7.4 percent, more than the Fiscal Year 2023 budget. More than 50 percent of this state budget is dedicated toward funding our state’s K-12 and higher education systems and includes $13.1 billion to fully fund the Quality Basic Education program and an additional $50.2 million in lottery funds to bring the HOPE factor rate for scholarships and grants up to 100 percent of last year’s tuition costs. I am also excited to announce that certified teachers and school employees would experience a $2,000 increase to the state base salary schedule through this budget. Nearly a quarter of the FY 2024 budget would go toward health and human services, and within this crucial budget area, we included $42.2 million for Medicaid reimbursement rate increases for providers. To ensure the House’s public safety priorities are reflected in this budget, this conference committee report includes $23.5 million for a total compensation increase of $4,000 for more than 3,900 law enforcement officers across 12 state agencies; front-line state officers would receive an additional $2,000 salary adjustment in certain departments. Finally, almost 10 percent of the FY 2024 budget would go toward economic development and general government services, and seven percent of the budget would support transportation infrastructure improvements. This robust budget is full of bipartisan initiatives, and you can find more highlights from the FY 2024 budget here. HB 19 has now been sent to the governor for his consideration.

Improving Juvenile Court Proceedings/Foster Care System

During Legislative Day 39, we passed a Senate bill to help standardize the process for children who may be taken into the state’s custody. To help avoid placing children in foster care unnecessarily, Senate Bill 133 would clarify several of Georgia’s code sections to improve juvenile court proceedings for children who are in need of services, also known as “CHINS,” or for child delinquency or dependency proceedings. Under this bill, prior to placing a child in the custody of the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS), the court would first consider what state services have been provided to the child or the parent/guardian or what services may be available to allow the child to remain in their home. A judge would also consider what efforts have been made to secure the placement of a child other than in custody of DFCS or if a child protective services report was made. After a child is ordered into the custody of DFCS, the bill would mandate that a preliminary protective hearing take place within 72 hours of the placement and require all parties to provide copies of medical, psychological and educational assessments and reports of the child or the child's parent/guardian to DFCS, which would give the state more time to act quickly to find a place for a child in need of an alternate living situation. In recent years, the state has struggled to find housing and foster families for children with complex needs, which has resulted in these children staying in hotels and other temporary spaces. If Gov. Kemp signs this bill into law, DFCS and our court systems could do a better job ensuring that children receive appropriate care, have placement options identified in a timely manner and, hopefully, provide services that could avoid placing them into foster care altogether.

Water Safety Plans for Swimming Lessons

We also unanimously passed a measure that aims to prevent drowning accidents during swim lessons. Senate Bill 107 , or Izzy’s Law, would require the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to develop a model safety plan for private swim instructors to utilize by January 1, 2024. This safety plan would include minimum standards for student-to-instructor ratios, secondary supervision recommendations, parent or legal guardian attendance, as well as the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification. Private swim instructors would be required to use DPH's model aquatic safety plan or have their own water safety plan in place by April 1, 2024. Violations of SB 107 would be considered a misdemeanor charge with a minimum fine of $200 for the first and second violation, as well as a $1,000 maximum fine for third and subsequent violations. This legislation is named after Izzy Scott, a four year old boy who drowned on his second day of swimming lessons at a private pool in Georgia. Following the tragic death of this young boy, Izzy’s family found that our state laws lacked safety standards for these private swim instructors, which initially prevented prosecutors from bringing charges against the instructor. We were honored to have Izzy’s family join us in the House gallery this week to watch the passage of this important legislation. If SB 107 is signed into law, Izzy’s Law would ensure that swim instructors have a plan in place to help prevent future drowning accidents from happening to the children entrusted to their care. This bill received final passage before the session adjourned.

Building Georgia’s Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

The House also overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 146 to provide a regulatory framework for elective vehicle (EV) charging stations and allow our state to regulate these charging stations to the same extent as gas pumps. SB 146 would provide that the sale of electricity at EV charging stations would be similar to the sale of gasoline, and this Senate measure would establish an excise tax set by the Georgia Department of Revenue to ensure that our state collects revenue similar to revenue that is typically collected from gasoline sales. The bill would give the Georgia Department of Agriculture regulatory authority over EV charging stations, including inspecting these stations. All EV charging stations would be required to charge vehicles on a per kilowatt-hour basis as a retail sale and include meters to record the total kilowatt-hours. These charging stations would also be required to provide accurate readings of electricity to their customers. Furthermore, electric utilities could not provide, own, operate or maintain any publicly available charging station unless it is done through a separate legal entity. As the EV market continues to grow in Georgia, its infrastructure must be able to efficiently and fairly support EV drivers, and SB 146 would lay the necessary groundwork for this developing industry. This bill received final passage this week and has been sent to Gov. Kemp for his consideration.

Reestablishing the Criminal Case Data Exchange Board

On Legislative Day 40, we passed legislation to help to dedicate state resources toward making sure that the state’s criminal case information is accurate, up-to-date and easily accessible to the appropriate parties. Senate Bill 272 would reestablish the state’s Criminal Case Data Exchange Board, which previously operated under the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council and later within an organization under the Council of Superior Court Clerks, to now operate within a board under the Judicial Council and its Administrative Office of the Courts. The board would help review the state's criminal case data exchange and management systems; make recommendations to improve data sharing with the public, employers and law enforcement; provide regular advice and counsel to the Judicial Council of Georgia; and update uniform standards. The Criminal Case Data Exchange Board would also report its progress and findings to the General Assembly annually. By December 2024, the board would conduct a feasibility study with criminal justice experts to develop a system for tracking and analyzing criminal history data regarding recidivism, criminal plea agreements and immunity defenses, and this board would also study a system to track human trafficking charges and whether those charges resulted in convictions or pleas of lesser or related charges; the board would share these results with the legislative, judicial and executive branches. The reestablishment of the Criminal Case Data Exchange Board would help improve the accuracy and accessibility of critical case information and provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of the state's criminal justice system, helping to inform data-driven decisions related to criminal justice policy and practice. The Senate agreed to the House’s updated version of SB 272 , which means this bill is also on its way to the governor’s desk.

2023 Study Committees

Each session, the House establishes study committees that work throughout the summer and fall to examine specific policy issues and/or topics that are important to Georgians. Before the session ended, the House adopted several measures to create new study committees that will certainly keep us busy until the 2024 legislative session. On Monday, my colleagues and I adopted House Resolution 488 to reauthorize the House Rural Development Council (HRDC) for the next two years. Created by the late Speaker David Ralston in 2017, the HRDC will continue to work with rural communities to find ways to encourage economic growth and job creation and develop effective legislative solutions targeted toward supporting these communities. We also approved Senate Resolution 175 to create two study committees this interim, including the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages. This education-focused study committee will examine existing and potential dual enrollment opportunities to develop highly skilled talent at younger ages. SB 175 also establishes the Joint Study Committee on Service Delivery Strategy (SDS), and this group will explore how to assist local governments as they create SDS plans for their communities. The House adopted House Resolution 603 to create the House Study Committee on Certificate of Need (CON) Modernization, which will address how our 40-year-old CON laws can be improved to meet today’s health care needs. Finally, House Resolution 519 was also adopted to create the House Study Committee on Fishing Access to Freshwater Resources, and this group will examine recent issues that have hindered public access to our rivers and other waterways. In the coming weeks, Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) will appoint various House members on both sides of the aisle to serve on these legislative study committees.

Final Passage of House Bills

My colleagues and I also gave final passage to a flurry of House bills on Legislative Day 40, and I would like to make you aware of just a few of these bills that are on their way to the governor’s desk. House Bill 88 , or the Coleman-Baker Act, would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough review of an original cold case murder investigation dating back to 1970 upon written request to determine if a new investigation could produce new leads or identify a likely perpetrator. This bill also sets guidelines for how agencies should process requests for these reviews and how to handle any full reinvestigations. Additionally, the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government would create a tracking system and public website about these applications and investigations. HB 88 would also allow a coroner or medical examiner to issue a death certificate with a non-specific cause of death. House Bill 120 would update the list of individuals with a suspended, revoked or canceled license who are eligible to apply for a limited driving permit by including individuals convicted of driving under the influence of a controlled substance or marijuana and those in non-compliance with a child support order. House Bill 163 would establish a student loan repayment program for full-time medical examiners employed with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Division of Forensic Sciences; these medical examiners would be eligible for up to $120,000 in student debt repayment, which would be repaid in annual installments over five years. House Bill 188 , or Mariam’s Law, would implement several changes related to sexual offenses in Georgia. This bill would change the name of the Sexual Offender Registration Review Board to the Sexual Offender Risk Review Board (SORRB), add definitions of certain sexual felonies and add punishments for such crimes; this bill would also create harsher penalties for individuals previously convicted of sexual felonies who are convicted again, and electronic monitoring would be required as a condition of probation for such individuals. The bill would also improve how the state handles sexual offenders who move to Georgia and clarify SORRB’s risk assessment evaluation process/timelines for sexually dangerous predators. House Bill 414 would create the Veterans Mental Health Services Program, a grant program that would fund behavioral health services to service members, veterans or family members through non-profit community behavioral health programs; the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities would administer this competitive grant program. House Bill 538 , or the Georgia Early Literacy Act, would require schools systems to teach high-quality literacy instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education in grades kindergarten through third grade based on the science of reading. The Georgia Department of Education would develop and provide training to these teachers, and teachers who are licensed or commissioned by the state to teach literacy instruction would be required to receive training by July 2025. Students across the state would also take a universal reading screener assessment to monitor their progress in foundational literacy skills multiple times a year. The General Assembly also adopted a Conference Committee Report on House Bill 189 to provide a 10 percent weight variance for trucks when hauling agricultural or farm products within a 250 mile radius of the farm or point of origin outside of the 13 county metro Atlanta region; this variance would increase the truck limit weight from 80,000 pounds to 88,000 pounds on Georgia roads. While a number of House bills did not receive final passage before we adjourned, the General Assembly will have a chance to take up these House bills again during the 2024 legislative session. I will provide a more comprehensive review of bills that received final passage in the coming weeks, as well as an update about which of those bills are signed into law.

Signing Bills into Law

Although the 2023 legislative session has officially come to an end, I look forward to sharing more updates about different bills that made it across the finish line this session and are on their way to becoming official laws. Over the next 40 days, Gov. Kemp will sign or veto measures that received final passage by the House and Senate this session. Any bill the governor signs will become law, and any legislation not signed or vetoed within this 40-day period will also automatically become law. House bills that did not receive final passage this session have been sent back to their respective committees, and these bills will be eligible for consideration again next year. I hope that you will contact me if you have any questions regarding potential new state laws or if you have any suggestions for future legislation.

Let’s Keep in Touch

I am excited to spend the remainder of the year back home in House District 74 now that session is behind us. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or by email at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 11 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 14:52:37 GMT

March 20th - March 24th, 2023

On Monday, March 20, the Georgia House of Representatives reconvened under the Gold Dome for our last full week of the 2023 legislative session. The end of session is quickly approaching, and we will reach Legislative Day 40, also known as “Sine Die,” on March 29. While some might assume that our official business is winding down in these final days, we have actually ramped up our House efforts to perfect and pass legislation before the legislative session comes to an end next week.

I am excited to announce that the Georgia House of Representatives passed legislation this week to help support women with high-risk pregnancies, particularly in underserved communities, in an effort to address infant and maternal mortality. Senate Bill 106 , or the “Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act,” would create a Medicaid program to provide virtual maternal health clinical services to women with high-risk pregnancies through the Georgia Department of Public Health’s (DPH) pilot home visiting program. Georgia currently has evidence-based home visiting programs that provide family-centric support services to at-risk pregnant women and families with children up to five years of age, but SB 106 would offer these services virtually to Medicaid recipients. These at-home interventions can reduce the risk of preterm birth and improve the management of various risks during pregnancies, such as gestational diabetes, hypertension and depression. By allowing virtual check-ins, we could improve maternal health outcomes in our state in several ways and make it easier for the program’s workers to reach high-risk pregnant women living in rural or underserved areas.

We gave unanimous final passage to Senate legislation this week to ensure that Georgia businesses do their part to help spread awareness and stop human trafficking in Georgia. Senate Bill 42 would revise the penalty for certain businesses that fail to post required signage about the human trafficking hotline, which handles tips about potential sex and labor trafficking and reports such incidents to law enforcement. Under this bill, a business would have 30 days to post the appropriate signage if a law enforcement officer notifies the business of its noncompliance. The fine for this violation currently has a maximum of $500, and this bill would increase the fine to between $500 and $1,000. For multiple violations, the fine would also increase and range between $1,000 and $5,000. Currently, these fines are discretionary, meaning they are not always enforced, and this bill would guarantee that these businesses comply with this crucial law. Recognizing and reporting potentially dangerous situations are the first steps to ending human trafficking in our state. To report suspected human trafficking in Georgia, you can call the statewide 24-hour hotline at (866) 363-4842.

This week, we passed a bipartisan Senate measure to support Georgians as they rebuild their lives after prison. Senate Bill 218 would allow state identification cards to be issued to inmates after they have completed a term of incarceration. The Georgia Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Georgia Department of Driver Services would work together to process these ID cards, which would look like any other state-issued ID and would not include any stigmatizing information about their status as a past offender. Additionally, when an inmate is released from a DOC facility, the individual could request documentation regarding programs he or she completed at the request of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles or the DOC. These individuals could also request documentation if they have obtained a state-approved high school equivalency diploma, other educational degrees and their institutional work record, including skills obtained through job training. Providing this necessary documentation and identification through this legislation would enable these Georgians to gain employment and start to rebuild their lives after incarceration.

The House also unanimously passed Senate Bill 93 to prohibit the use of certain foreign-owned social media platforms on state-owned devices. This ban would only apply to social media platforms that are owned or operated by a foreign adversary or by a company which is domiciled in, has its headquarters in or is organized under the laws of a foreign adversary. The prohibition would also stand when a foreign adversary has substantial control over the content moderation practices of the platform or if the platform uses software or an algorithm that is controlled or monitored by a foreign adversary. Gov. Kemp previously issued a memo to state agencies in December to prohibit employees from using TikTok on their state-owned devices, such as cellphones or laptops, and this legislation would make his ban an official law. Gov. Kemp and other proponents of this legislation aim to prevent TikTok from accessing critical, private information or collecting data about our state government’s operations.

My colleagues and I also approved legislation on the House floor that would amend Georgia’s “Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act,” which was a House-led initiative in 2020 aimed at increasing affordable, quality health care options for Georgians. Senate Bill 20 , or the “Consumer Access to Contracted Healthcare (CATCH) Act,” would update this law to require insurers to contract with and maintain a sufficient and appropriate number of participating network providers, including primary and specialty care, pharmacies, clinical laboratories and facilities. Furthermore, if a network plan offers coverage for mental health or substance use disorders, the insurance company would also need to maintain contracts with a range of providers that specialize in mental health or substance abuse services. Additionally, insurers would be prohibited from denying preauthorization of services rendered by an in-network provider just because the referring provider is out-of-network. The bill would also give the state’s insurance commissioner the authority to review network adequacy, which is a health plan's ability to deliver the benefits promised through reasonable access to enough in-network primary and specialty care and all other health care services included under the terms of the contract. This legislation builds upon our work to provide Georgians with access to quality health care by setting better network adequacy standards so that our citizens get the most out of their health insurance plans.

On Thursday, the House passed Senate Bill 86 to expand access to the HOPE grant program to high school students who are already preparing themselves to join our state’s workforce by earning college credit before graduation. SB 86 would allow eligible dual enrollment students to access HOPE grant funds for eligible career, technical and agricultural education (CTAE) courses, regardless of whether a student has reached the maximum credit hour cap to receive these funds. To ensure this grant funding is put to good use, the Georgia Student Finance Commission would collaborate with the Technical College System of Georgia to collect and report certain data related to the dual enrollment program to track the program’s impact. Local CTAE courses are crucial to supporting high-demand career fields throughout our state, and these funds would help students pay for the necessary technical training to launch their careers and contribute to our state’s workforce.

We passed Senate Bill 26 , or the Georgia Electric Vehicle Future Act, to advance the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the state. This legislation would authorize the Georgia Department of Economic Development to establish and support a statewide electric vehicle manufacturing program, which would focus its efforts on developing, marketing and promoting investments and job creation for Georgia’s EV industry. Our state’s economic development arm would also work with our state’s transportation department and technology and tollway authorities to build out the appropriate infrastructure, such as EV charging stations, to support this growing industry. Additionally, this legislation would establish the Georgia Electric Vehicle Manufacturing Commission. Comprised of private sector and public officials, this commission would serve as an oversight body for our state-led EV initiatives, work to develop policy recommendations for the General Assembly to consider, as well as coordinate with our higher educational systems to determine our workforce needs and help train future workers for this industry. The Georgia Electric Vehicle Future Act would promote public-private partnerships to develop forward-looking EV solutions, support this job-producing industry and strengthen Georgia’s position in EV manufacturing and innovation.

We also gave final passage to Senate Bill 61 to permanently allow Georgia’s private sector workers to continue to utilize their paid sick leave to care for a family member in need. This legislation would remove the end date of the current provision under the Family Care Act that requires employers to allow employees to use up to five days per calendar year of earned sick leave for the care of an immediate family member who is ill. The current law was set to expire this July, and SB 61 would ensure that eligible Georgians can continue to take their earned time off to take care of their sick family members.

Next week, the Georgia General Assembly will convene for two legislative days before the 2023 legislative session adjourns “Sine Die” on Wednesday, March 29. My House colleagues and I will be hard at work during these final two legislative days to pass meaningful legislation for our state and its citizens, which will surely be our busiest and longest days of the entire session. Before we complete our legislative business for the session, I urge you to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or input on any measures being considered in the House or Senate. I can be reached at my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 or at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 10 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 16:06:17 GMT

March 13th - March 17th, 2023

The Georgia General Assembly reconvened for the 10 ^th week of the 2023 legislative session on Monday, March 13. During these final days of session, my colleagues and I have turned our focus toward reviewing Senate legislation that passed before the Crossover Day deadline last week. As such, we were extremely busy considering Senate bills in our respective House committees, and we passed a number of these bills on the House floor this week.

On Tuesday, the House passed Senate Bill 3 , or the “Reducing Barriers to State Employment Act of 2023,” to help attract more prospective state employees with different educational and professional backgrounds. SB 3 would require the Georgia Department of Administrative Services (DOAS) to regularly assess and reduce unnecessary educational, experiential and training requirements for positions within our state agencies and departments. While this bill does not entirely eliminate education requirements for state jobs, the DOAS would specifically work to reduce the number of job postings that require a four-year college degree as a condition of employment. The state and private sector are competing for top talent, and, through this bill, our state agencies could avoid creating artificial barriers that limit our ability to attract the best candidates, especially for positions in emerging fields that may not have existed a few years ago.

We also passed a bipartisan Senate measure to improve infant and maternal health outcomes in Georgia. Supported by the Georgia Department of Public Health, Senate Bill 46 would require prenatal syphilis and HIV testing to be administered by health care providers at multiple points throughout a pregnancy. The state already requires this testing to take place after a baby is born, but this bill would require medical providers to test for these two infections during a pregnant mother’s first appointment and again between 28-32 weeks of gestation. Pregnant mothers can pass syphilis to their unborn babies, which can cause serious complications for the baby if left untreated. Fortunately, testing for syphilis early in pregnancy can help identify the infection and allow for early treatment, which could significantly reduce the risk of transmission to the baby and prevent these serious complications. Similarly, HIV can also be transmitted from a pregnant mother to her unborn baby during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding. However, if the mother is identified as HIV-positive during pregnancy, she can receive treatment to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby. While many health care providers already provide early syphilis and HIV testing, this bill would ensure that providers across the state give pregnant mothers this optional testing at earlier stages of their pregnancy to protect their own health and the health of their baby.

Additionally, the House passed legislation to protect vulnerable senior citizens in Georgia from falling victim to financial exploitation. Senate Bill 84 would require investment advisors or supervisory professionals to notify the Secretary of State’s Office if they suspect that an adult over 65 years old with mental or physical incapacitation, dementia or Alzheimer's disease is being exploited financially. The investment advisor could also inform one of the victim’s designated contacts about the situation if such person is not considered a suspect. To prevent individuals from taking advantage of these vulnerable citizens, the investment advisor could delay/deny suspicious disbursement requests. After stopping a suspicious payment, the advisor would have one week to investigate the request and report these findings to the state. This bill would also protect investment advisors from liability if they deny suspicious payments in good faith to safeguard their clients from financial exploitation. Unfortunately, the financial exploitation of vulnerable senior citizens is not uncommon, and HB 84 would help the state identify and stop perpetrators of this type of financial abuse.

I also want to share that the House passed bipartisan Senate legislation to ensure that Georgia children can set up lemonade stands in their neighborhoods without a permit. Senate Bill 55 , also known as the Lemonade Stand Act, would allow children to sell non-consumable goods, pre-packaged food items and non-alcoholic beverages, such as lemonade, without requiring permits, licenses or incurring taxes as long as the annual revenue is less than $5,000. Lemonade stands are a cherished tradition for Georgia children, and this legislation would allow these young entrepreneurs to operate without the hassle of permits and taxes.

My colleagues and I also took time on the House floor to honor our friend and former colleague, the late Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), who passed away unexpectedly last November. On Tuesday, March 14, Speaker Ralston’s family joined us on the House floor as we remembered the late speaker on what would have been his 69 ^th birthday. Before his passing, Speaker Ralston was the longest-serving active speaker of a state house in the nation. He was also the second-longest serving speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives in state history. During his tenure, Speaker Ralston was a steadfast champion for job creation and economic development, especially for rural communities in Georgia. He also cared deeply about improving the health and wellbeing of Georgians and led the fight for historic reforms to address mental health care, maternal mortality and adoption reform. Even though he is no longer with us, his legacy will be felt throughout our state for generations to come.

In other news, Governor Brian Kemp signed House Bill 18 , or the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 (AFY 2023) budget, this week. Set at a revenue estimate of $32.56 billion, this finalized amended budget includes many of the House’s priorities to support economic development projects, public safety initiatives, as well as recruitment and retention efforts for our public workforce. HB 18 immediately went into effect upon the governor’s signature and will direct our state spending through June 30, 2023. You can learn more about how state funding will be spent in the remainder of this fiscal year here.

This week, Gov. Kemp also signed into law two other House bills to support Georgia taxpayers. First, the governor signed House Bill 162 to provide a one-time income tax refund to Georgians who filed returns for both the 2021 and 2022 tax years. Similar to the tax refund last year, individual tax filers could receive a maximum refund of $250, head of household filers could receive a maximum refund of $375, and married individuals who file jointly could receive a maximum refund of $500. The Georgia Department of Revenue is expected to begin issuing these refunds this spring based on each filer’s tax liabilities. Gov. Kemp also signed House Bill 311 to give local governments an optional temporary tax relief mechanism for local property damaged by a natural disaster, such as a tornado or hurricane. An assessment of the damaged property would be required before being eligible for temporary tax relief, and local governments would not be required to implement this temporary tax relief. I will keep you updated on which bills the governor signs into law in the weeks and months ahead.

The House of Representatives also passed the following Senate bills this week:

Senate Bill 21 , which would expand the Georgia Veterans Service Foundation board of directors to include seven to 13 board members, and at least four members would be required to have served in the armed forces, National Guard or reserves; the bill would reduce the term of board members to three years, require the board to meet quarterly, as well as allow the Georgia Department of Veterans Services commissioner to appoint a chief executive officer;
Senate Bill 23 , which would revise various committee names and state authority titles and repeal several inactive authorities, committees, advisory councils, offices and commissions; the bill also specifies how these entities’ assets should be devolved following repeal; the bill would also remove certain language regarding pre-filing legislation in the Georgia General Assembly;
Senate Bill 27 , which would prohibit insurers from requiring ophthalmologists or optometrists to provide a discount on eye services that are not covered in order to receive increased payments, better reimbursements, preferential treatment or any other benefit;
Senate Bill 116 , which would limit municipal leases for the operation of an arena, sports field, stadium or other recreational facility to no longer than 20 years; these leases would not be subject to renewal but would be subject to bids or auctions after the initial lease expires;
Senate Bill 120 , which would update the Uniforms Carriers Act’s effective date to January 1, 2023, to comply with federal law;
Senate Bill 128 , which would allow the Peace Officers’ Annuity and Benefit fund to increase the maximum amount of assets invested in alternative investments from 10 percent to 15 percent; SB 128 has been certified as a non-fiscal retirement bill;
Senate Bill 134 , which seeks to streamline some of the procedures in the foster care system by updating evidence codes for juvenile proceedings; specifically, the bill would allow minors to provide unsworn testimony for cases regarding the termination of parental rights; this measure would also make it easier to present medical testimony by shortening the time frame that a medical narrative must be introduced;
Senate Bill 140 , which would prohibit Georgia’s medical providers from providing sex reassignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapies to minors under the age of 18 in a licensed institution for the treatment of gender dysphoria with certain exemptions; exceptions would include the treatment of sex development disorders, androgen insensitivity syndrome and some other medical conditions; minors who began hormone replacement therapies before July 1, 2023, would be exempt; licensed physicians in violation would be held administratively responsible by the medical board;
Senate Bill 193 , which would allow the Georgia Department of Community Affairs to determine locations that are eligible for state and federal broadband funding.

We completed our work for the week on Thursday, March 16, which marked Legislative Day 35. My colleagues and I will return for our last full week of session on Monday, March 20. As we continue to work with the Senate to ensure the final passage of meaningful legislation, I encourage you to contact me with any questions or concerns you might have about legislation before we adjourn on March 29. You can call my office at (404) 656-0213 or email me at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 9 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 15:28:39 GMT

March 6th - March 10, 2023

The Georgia House of Representatives reconvened for the ninth week of session and Legislative Day 28, otherwise known as Crossover Day, on Monday, March 6, 2023. Crossover Day is a crucial deadline for the House and Senate as this is the last day for bills to pass out of their chamber of origin in order to remain eligible for consideration this session, and as a result, the House took up legislation well into the night to send to our Senate counterparts. By the time we adjourned just before midnight, my colleagues and I passed more than 50 bills and resolutions in one day. Following Crossover Day, we continued to convene on the House floor throughout the week, where we passed a balanced state budget for the next fiscal year and heard Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs deliver the State of the Judiciary address.

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget – Sent to the Senate
Each legislative session, the General Assembly has a constitutional obligation to pass a balanced state budget, and this week, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 19 , or the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) budget. The FY 2024 budget will go into effect on July 1 and is set at a revenue estimate of $32.4 billion, which is $2.2 billion, or 7.4 percent, more than the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 2023) budget. This budget reflects many of the House’s priorities that focus on keeping Georgians safe, healthy and prosperous, and I want to bring your attention to just a few of our major budgetary initiatives.

As usual, funding for education makes up more than half of the FY 2024 budget. Georgia’s K-12 public school system would receive a record-setting $13.1 billion to fully fund the Quality Basic Education (QBE) formula. Within this QBE funding, the Georgia Department of Education would be allocated $6.3 million to cover the cost of breakfast and lunch for reduce-paying students, which is expected to provide free breakfast for approximately 32,000 children and free lunch for 64,000 children. This budget would also make significant investments to support higher education, especially for programs that support our high-demand medical career fields. This version of the FY 2024 budget would provide substantial support for graduate and undergraduate medical education using a total of $5.2 million for various residencies, training programs, medical school slots and fellowships. In addition, hospitals that start graduate medical education residency programs would be supported with a total of $3.1 million, and $3.4 million would go toward supporting loan repayment programs for providers practicing in rural areas and educating future providers. HB 19 would also provide an additional $26.7 million to bring the HOPE Scholarship program factor rate to 95 percent of the previous year’s tuition costs; this funding would provide more financial relief to every student that is eligible for the scholarship.

Another portion of the House’s FY 2024 budget is dedicated to providing much needed pay raises for our state’s public workforce. This budget includes $13.2 million to provide $4,000 in targeted salary adjustments for state law enforcement officers across various agencies to help increase competitiveness with surrounding states. Other state employees and teachers would receive $2,000 raises, and certain agencies that need additional support recruiting and retaining workers would be able to provide even higher raises for critical positions. All of our retired state employees would receive a one-time $500 payment through this proposed budget.

To promote a safer Georgia, we set aside $2.7 million for a cold case specialty unit for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and $1.5 million for 21 additional positions in the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences to address the backlog of firearm, chemistry and toxicology evidence processing. The state’s 28 sexual assault centers would also receive $2.5 million for dedicated sexual assault nurse examiner positions at each of these vital centers. The House’s version of the budget also reserves $1.25 million for a satellite Georgia State Patrol post in Atlanta’s Buckhead area to address crime and provide a faster response to crime in the northern corridor of our state’s largest city.

Numerous Medicaid rate increases are also included in this state budget. The state’s Medicaid program would receive a total of $35.1 million for reimbursement rate increases for health care providers, including primary care, OBGYN, home and community based services, speech pathology, audiology therapy and more. The Medicaid program would also receive $2.8 million to cover adult dental services to increase access to oral health care; currently, the state only extends dental coverage for emergency dental care for Medicaid recipients.

Services for our more vulnerable populations, such as those with developmental disabilities or behavioral issues, would also receive an increase in funding in the House’s version of the budget. This budget would add funding to increase the number of slots for the New Options Waiver (NOW) and Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program (COMP) to a total of 375 slots; this Medicaid waiver program provides incredible support to help those with intellectual or developmental disabilities to live and thrive on their own. The House also recognizes the need for emergency mental health care in this budget, and as such, we included $29 million to support the establishment of behavioral health crisis centers in Fulton County, Augusta, Dublin and Rome. To retain our state’s mental health care workforce, the House dedicated $10.1 million in this budget to increase salaries for state psychiatric hospital staff to bring them closer to market salary. Finally, HB 19 includes $2.25 million to increase staffing resources for the 988 suicide and crisis hotline.

Now that the House has passed the FY 2024 budget, our Senate counterparts will begin making adjustments to this budget to reflect their priorities and help finalize the legislation. I will keep you updated as the full budget continues to make its way through the legislative process.

Amended Fiscal Year 2023 Budget – Sent to the Governor

We also voted overwhelmingly this week to adopt a Conference Committee Report to give final passage to House Bill 18 , or the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 (AFY 2023) budget. Once this bill is signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp, HB 18 will immediately go into effect and will determine our state spending through June 30. The AFY 2023 budget is set at a revenue estimate of $32.56 billion, which is an increase of $2.36 billion, or 7.8 percent, over the original FY 2023 budget. With another year of tremendous revenue growth in mind, the House and Senate agreed to a finalized amended budget that includes many of the House’s priorities to support economic and capital projects, safety and security initiatives and human capital investments. After passing the amended budget, we also voted to immediately send this bill for Gov. Kemp to review and sign into law in the coming weeks.

House Bill 538 – Georgia Early Literacy Act

Last fall, the House Study Committee on Literacy Instruction held several hearings to examine the extent of early reading education programs across the state. Following this study committee’s recommendations, the House passed legislation on Crossover Day to require evidence-based literacy instruction in our public schools. House Bill 538 , or the Georgia Early Literacy Act, would require school systems to teach high-quality literacy instructional materials in Kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. The State Board of Education would oversee this new standard of literacy instruction, and the Georgia Department of Education would train teachers on the science of reading so that teachers have the necessary skills and knowledge to teach young students how to read. The bill defines the science of reading as the body of research that identifies evidence-based approaches of explicitly and systematically teaching students to read, including foundational literacy skills that enable students to develop reading skills required to meet state standards. This bill would also require students across the state to take universal reading screener assessments to monitor their progress in foundational literacy skills throughout the school year. This legislation would help our schools identify young readers who are struggling with their foundational reading skills earlier and ensure that our teachers our equipped with evidence-based instruction plans to keep these students reading at grade level.

House Bill 462 – Raise the Age Act

The House also passed legislation to ensure that minors who come in contact with our criminal justice system are not prosecuted as adults before they turn 18 years old. House Bill 462 , or the “Raise the Age Act,” would expand the jurisdiction of the state’s juvenile court system to include 17-year-old Georgians who are charged with a crime. However, Georgia’s superior court system would maintain jurisdiction over minors who are charged for criminal gang activity or a felony offense for a second or subsequent time. The bill would also establish a 12-member implementation committee that would work with state agencies and interested parties to help implement this potential law. These 17-year-olds may not have the same cognitive and decision making abilities as adults, and treating these minors as juveniles in the criminal justice system would provide a better opportunity to rehabilitate them and reduce the likelihood of reoffending later in life. As of 2021, a total of 47 states had amended their laws to treat 17-year-olds as juveniles in their criminal justice systems, and the Raise the Age Act would align Georgia’s laws with nearly every other state in the nation.

House Bill 82 – New Tax Credit for Rural Health Care Providers

Several hours into Crossover Day, my colleagues and I took up bipartisan legislation to help bring more doctors to rural Georgia and address the shortage of health care providers in these parts of the state. House Bill 82 would create a new $5,000 annual tax credit for physicians and dentists who decide to practice in a rural county in the next five years. Eligible providers could claim a total of $25,000 in tax credits over five years as long as they continue to practice in a rural county. The new credit would only be available to physicians and dentists who begin practicing in rural areas after May 15, 2023, unless the providers moved to a rural area after practicing in non-rural areas for least three years. These rural doctors and dentists could also qualify for a prorated tax credit if they have practiced for less than a year, ensuring they do not miss out on one whole year of the tax credit. The House has made significant strides to expand health care access to rural Georgians, and this legislation would continue to help attract and retain doctors in these areas, which would certainly improve the quality of health care for rural residents.

House Bill 196 – Expanding Access to Medical Cannabis

We also passed House Bill 196 to provide a better pathway for Georgians struggling with chronic diseases to have access to medical cannabis products. The first portion of HB 196 would increase accountability for the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission, which oversees and issues licenses for the cultivation, production, manufacturing and sale of low-THC oil. The commission would be subject to Georgia’s Administrative Procedures Act, state purchasing laws and open and public records requests, and commission members would submit annual financial disclosure reports to promote transparency with their activities. Additionally, this bill would authorize the commission to issue several new Class 1 and 2 production licenses, and previous applicants who missed out on the initial round of licensing would have the chance to secure a license. To ensure Georgians have a place to obtain these products, the commission could issue dispensing licenses for manufacturers to sell their products directly to patients, and Georgia dispensaries would be permitted to sell these products from any licensed manufacturer in the state. The number of patients participating in the Low THC Oil Registry is also growing, and as such, this bill would allow the commission to authorize additional production licenses as the registry continues to hit certain registration milestones. HB 196 would also add ulcerative colitis and myasthenia gravis to the list of conditions eligible for low THC oil in Georgia. The state legislature first passed legislation several years ago to establish a pathway for these Georgians to legally obtain medical cannabis products, but our state experienced some challenges when trying to launch this industry. HB 196 would resolve some of the issues to help spur the production of this vital medicine so that eligible patients can start getting the treatment that they need.

House Bill 30 – Protecting Against Antisemitic Crimes

House Bill 30 also passed on the House floor on Crossover Day to add an official definition of antisemitism to Georgia law, which could help prosecute crimes committed against the Jewish community. Under HB 30 , the Official Code of Georgia would adopt the internationally recognized definition for “antisemitism” as adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) on May 26, 2016. According to the IHRA’s website, this working definition reads, “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” The bill would also direct all state agencies to consider antisemitism as evidence of discriminatory intent for any law or policy which prohibits discrimination. This legislation has been sent to our Senate counterparts for their consideration.

State of the Judiciary Address

Later in week nine, the House and Senate convened for a joint legislative session for the annual State of the Judiciary address. During his first address to the joint session, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael P. Boggs provided insightful remarks regarding the current challenges and the overall state of Georgia’s entire judicial system. Chief Justice Boggs highlighted that the judicial system is continuing to work to reduce the crushing backlog of criminal and civil cases that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic; he also noted that it could take years before the courts reach more manageable case numbers. Furthermore, Chief Justice Boggs brought our attention to the workforce shortage our judicial system faces, including a lack of judges, prosecutors, public defenders and court reporters, which continues to impede efforts to address the case backlog. Rural areas of our state are especially having a hard time recruiting and retaining these vital public servants who are essential to the judicial system. In spite of these challenges, our civil and criminal courts are continuing to provide innovative, alternative resources for vulnerable people who interact with the legal system, such as veterans, human trafficking victims and low-income families. Additionally, our judicial system is specifically looking into the cross-section of mental illness and the criminal justice system to identify ways to divert non-violent offenders who are struggling with mental illness. Finally, the chief justice shared that judicial security will be an issue of focus over the next year and that the General Assembly can expect legislative recommendations to consider next session to address these security concerns. I was inspired by the chief justice’s remarks this week, and I look forward to partnering with the state’s judicial branch to develop legislative solutions that target these ongoing issues.

Final Days of Session Ahead

We only have a handful of legislative days left in this session, and we will spend the remainder of our time considering bills that were passed by our Senate counterparts before the Crossover deadline. The House will also give final approval to House legislation that could undergo changes by the Senate in our last two and a half weeks. I encourage you to contact me regarding bills that may be up for consideration during these final days of the session before we complete our work on March 29. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0213 and karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 8 Legislative Session Recap

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 15:40:07 GMT

February 27 - March 8

On Monday, February 27, my House colleagues and I started a long yet productive week of the 2023 legislative session, where we met for four days in the House Chamber and devoted an entire day to working in our respective committees. With Crossover Day coming up next week, we worked longer hours each day to thoroughly review and vote on key pieces of legislation, and I look forward to sharing more about some of these bills that aim to address important issues facing our great state.

Last session, the House of Representatives championed the Mental Health Parity Act to reform Georgia’s mental health care delivery system and improve client outcomes for those with severe mental illness. Building upon this monumental bill’s foundation, the House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 520 this week to continue to streamline and improve the state’s behavioral health care system and expand its workforce. To that end, this year’s bipartisan mental health bill would create new state authorities and pilot programs to help develop standardized terminology for serious mental illness, improve sharing and collecting data among law enforcement and state agencies, as well as establish rules for transferring data in compliance with federal and state law. Additionally, HB 520 would authorize the state’s Behavioral Innovation and Reform Commission to establish a task force to build a continuum of care. Specifically, this task force would conduct a statewide bed study for inpatient treatment centers to better understand and address the lack of inpatient options for struggling individuals; this task force would then make recommendations on needed capacity building, youth specific care and autism spectrum-related care with the ultimate goal of increasing bed capacity for those who need inpatient care. This innovative task force would also examine laws and regulations that may affect those who interact with the behavioral health and criminal justice systems, as well as study the benefits of expanding inpatient treatment options for child and adolescent substance misuse. This legislation also includes a funding mechanism that would allow the Georgia General Assembly to appropriate funds in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget for crisis services in several counties. HB 520 would expand the state’s loan forgiveness program for mental health care providers to include those already in working in this field. By implementing these initiatives, the bill seeks to reduce barriers to care, ensure that individuals receive appropriate treatment for their conditions and decrease recidivism rates for those with mental illness who come into contact with our criminal justice system. These are just a few of the major provisions included in HB 520 , which is now headed to the Senate for its consideration.

This week, the House also passed bipartisan legislation to expand mental health care options for veterans living in Georgia. House Bill 414 would create the Veterans Mental Health Services Program, which would serve as a competitive grant program to improve access to mental health services for service members, veterans and their family members in Georgia. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities would administer these grants to eligible non-profit community behavioral health programs that demonstrate their ability to provide high-quality services to veterans and their families. The grant program would prioritize applicants that are located within 50 miles of a military base and have already made capital investments into veteran services. The Veterans Mental Health Services Program would be a significant step towards improving access to mental health services for our veterans and their families to ensure that these Georgians have the support they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

My colleagues and I also unanimously passed a historic bill to protect the rights of both Georgia’s renters and landlords and ensure that rental properties are kept in a safe and healthy condition. First, House Bill 404 would require rental properties to be “fit for human habitation” upon signing a lease, and landlords would be required to maintain their properties throughout the duration of the lease. Another provision of the bill would prohibit landlords from turning off a rental home’s air conditioning system prior to an eviction to force tenants to move out. HB 404 would also prohibit landlords from requiring a security deposit that exceeds two months' rent. This legislation also seeks to balance the needs of landlords and their tenants during an eviction process. If a tenant fails to pay rent or charges owed to the landlord, the tenant would have a three business day period prior to an eviction proceeding being filed, which would give tenants time to try and resolve the issue before being evicted. Furthermore, the bill would require an eviction notice to be posted visibly on the tenant’s front door in a sealed envelope or delivered based on stipulations in the rental agreement to ensure that the tenant is aware of the eviction proceeding and has an opportunity to respond. Georgia renters have the right to live in homes that meets certain minimum health and safety standards, and overall, this bill would provide greater protections for tenants under state law and hold landlords accountable for keeping their properties safe for renters.

Next, we passed House Bill 440 , which would allow public and private schools to keep lifesaving medications on hand for students who have diabetes. HB 440 would allow public and private schools in Georgia to stock and administer glucagon, a medication used to treat severe hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, in people with diabetes. HB 440 would allow prescribers, such as physicians and nurse practitioners, to provide standing orders or prescriptions for ready-to-use glucagon to schools so that this medication can be rapidly administered to students in an emergency. This legislation would also allow a public or private school to work directly with glucagon manufacturers or third-party suppliers to obtain the products for free or at fair market or reduced prices. Severe hypoglycemia can be life-threatening and may require immediate treatment with glucagon, especially in situations where a student with diabetes does not have their medication with them. By allowing schools to stock glucagon, this bill would improve access to treatment for students who have a diabetic emergency at school.

The House also passed a major bipartisan bill this week to establish the regulatory framework for Georgia’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, which could encourage more businesses, such as convenience stores, to offer EV charging stations across the state. Under House Bill 406 , the sale of electricity at EV charging stations would be similar to the sale of gasoline, and the bill would give the Georgia Department of Agriculture regulatory authority over EV charging stations, including inspecting these stations. This bill would require all EV charging stations to provide accurate readings of electricity charged to each vehicle on a per kilowatt-hour basis as a retail sale and include meters to record the total kilowatt-hours. HB 406 would also establish an excise tax set by the Georgia Department of Revenue to ensure that our state collects revenue similar to revenue that is typically produced from gasoline sales. The number of EV drivers in Georgia has skyrocketed in recent years, along with EV manufacturing, and it’s imperative that we lay the groundwork for a statewide EV charging infrastructure. HB 406 would ensure that EV charging stations operate efficiently and fairly to support the growth and development of EVs in Georgia, which could have numerous benefits for the environment, public health and the economy.

Then, my colleagues and I passed legislation to allow for reinvestigations of cold case murders in an attempt to help solve these cases. House Bill 88 , or the Coleman-Baker Act, would require law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough review of an original cold case murder investigation upon written request to determine if a new investigation could produce new leads or identify a likely perpetrator. This review would examine what procedures may have been missed in the original investigation, whether new or old witnesses should be interviewed, if forensic evidence was properly tested, as well as update the case file using the most current investigative standards. If a new investigation is warranted, agencies could open a new investigation that would be overseen by a new officer. Each law enforcement agency would develop their own written application process for these reinvestigations that keeps applicants informed, and agencies would have six months to review an application and complete its case file review to determine whether or not to proceed with a full reinvestigation. Additionally, the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government would create a case tracking system and public website with information about these applications and investigations. To provide families with some closure when their loved one’s cause of death is inconclusive, this bill would allow a coroner or medical examiner to issue a death certificate with a non-specific cause of death. HB 88 could solve murders that date back to 1970 and could ultimately help bring justice to families and victims of cold case murders in this state.

On Day 27, the House passed legislation to help attract and retain qualified medical examiners in the field of forensic sciences by providing financial support to those burdened with student loan debt. House Bill 163 would create a student loan repayment program for full-time medical examiners who work for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's (GBI) Division of Forensic Sciences. This program would provide these examiners with up to $120,000 to repay their student loans if they work for GBI for five years. The Georgia Student Finance Authority would implement the program using state funds appropriated by the General Assembly. GBI only has nine full-time and two part-time medical examiners to handle all of its forensic testing for the entire state, and each examiner currently handles nearly double their appropriate case load. Across the country, states are facing shortages of these critical workers, and this repayment program could help incentivize prospective and current medical examiners in Georgia to join or remain in this field.

The House also passed House Bill 147 , or the Safe Schools Act, to address how Georgia schools prepare for acts of violence on campus. First, this bill would require the Professional Standards Commission to work with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to create an endorsement for eligible certificated school professionals who complete a voluntary training program on school safety and anti-gang identification. Under this bill, schools would be required to submit their school safety plan to GEMA/HS. Additionally, the bill would require schools to conduct intruder alert drills by October 1 of each school year and report to GEMA/HS when these drills are completed. Finally, students would be required to participate in these drills, but schools could allow a parent/legal guardian to elect for their child not to participate. The goal of this legislation is to improve school safety and preparedness and reduce incidents of violence and gang activity on school grounds.

When we return to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 6, my colleagues and I are scheduled to complete Legislative Day 28, otherwise known as Crossover Day. Crossover Day is the deadline for legislation to be passed out of its chamber of origin to remain eligible for consideration to become law this year. I hope that you will continue to reach out this session so that I can address any concerns you might have about legislation that we are considering. You can call my Capitol office number at 404-656-0213 or email me at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 7 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 18:56:13 GMT

February 21 - February 24, 2023

The Georgia House of Representatives reconvened on Tuesday, February 21 for the seventh week of the 2023 legislative session. My colleagues and I went straight to work on Tuesday morning to ensure that good, sound legislation could pass before the clock runs out. Each day spent on the House floor this week grew longer than the last, and we were able to pass and send more than 30 House bills to the Senate for its consideration by the end of the week.

We passed legislation this week that would allow the state to return up to $1 billion in undesignated income tax revenue back into the pockets of Georgia taxpayers for a second year in a row. Similar to legislation from last year and proposed by Governor Brian Kemp, House Bill 162 would provide a one-time tax refund through the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 budget to every eligible taxpayer for the 2022 tax year. The one-time tax refunds would range from $250 for single filers, $375 for head-of-household filers and $500 for married couples filing jointly. The refund would only be given to taxpayers who filed income tax returns for both the 2021 and 2022 tax years and would not be available to nonresident alien individuals, those claimed as a dependent during the 2021 and 2022 tax years or an estate or trust. Georgians are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, but our state has been fortunate enough to see record tax revenues, resulting in this undesignated revenue surplus. Georgians will surely benefit from these extra state funds, and I look forward to examining other ways we can support families and individuals for the long run.

Additionally, we unanimously passed House Bill 167 to help parents with child support orders make good on their outstanding payments. In Georgia, parents who fail to pay their child support will have their driver’s license suspended until they pay the full outstanding amount. Due to these license suspensions, there are currently thousands of Georgia parents who cannot drive themselves to work to earn money to make their child support payments. To resolve this issue, HB 167 would amend the list of individuals with a suspended, revoked or canceled license who are eligible to apply for a limited driving permit by adding individuals not in compliance with a child support order, which would enable these individuals to drive only for certain purposes like going to and from work. Under this legislation, these individuals would be able to petition the court to apply for one of these limited driving permits, and judges could revoke the limited driving permit if the parent abuses the permit or fails to make child support payments. HB 167 has the full support of the Georgia Department of Human Services’ Division of Child Support Services, and this bill would help ensure that parents are able to earn the money they need to support their children.

For the last several years, the House has passed a number of bills to improve telemedicine, which continues to be a popular health care option for Georgians, especially those in rural or underserved areas of our state. This week, we took up another telemedicine measure to ensure Georgians could get their contact lens prescriptions renewed without visiting the doctor as often in-person. House Bill 203 would allow state-licensed optometrists or ophthalmologists to conduct vision exams to renew contact lens prescriptions electronically for patients who are between 21-50 years old and do not have certain preexisting health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. HB 203 would also require that patients have in-person eye exams every two years to remain eligible for these electronic prescriptions. This legislation would help make care more convenient and affordable for Georgians who use contact lenses, while also ensuring they still receive the same level of care from their providers as those used in traditional in-person clinical settings.

Finally, the House passed House Bill 207 to close a loophole in Georgia’s boating accident laws, including laws that address accidents that result in criminal charges. Under this bill, if a boating accident occurs, the operator of each boat involved would be required to immediately stop, remain at the scene and provide their name, address, registration, as well as their government-issued ID upon request, to the operator of the vessel struck. The involved vessel operators would also be responsible for rendering assistance to any injured person and notifying emergency medical services and law enforcement if necessary. These operators could only leave the scene immediately if they need help notifying the police or emergency responders. HB 207 would also outline criminal charges if an operator flees the scene of a boating accident that results in death, disappearance or a serious injury that requires medical treatment. This crime would be considered a felony and could result in a one to five year prison sentence. To keep Georgians safe on the water, the other portion of this bill would require boats to carry the necessary U.S. Coast Guard approved nighttime and daytime visual distress signals when operating in state coastal waters. Our lakes and waterways have become much more congested in recent years, and this congestion has resulted in a growing number of serious and even deadly boating accidents. Current law allows boating accidents to be reported within 48 hours of the accident, but HB 207 would close this loophole to ensure that our boating accident laws mirror our motor vehicle accident laws.

We will return for another eventful week of lawmaking on Monday, February 27, but the clock is ticking for House bills to pass for the first time and still remain eligible to become law this year. To make the most of our time next week, we will convene for four legislative days and designate an entire day to working in our House committees. While I will be extremely busy in the days ahead, my number one job is to be your voice at the Capitol. As such, I am always happy to speak with you about any legislation that is up for consideration. You can reach my Capitol office at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or 404-656-0213.

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 6 Legislative Session Recap

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 18:47:58 GMT

February 13 - February 17, 2023

On Monday, February 13, the Georgia General Assembly returned to the State Capitol for another productive week of session. During week six of the 2023 legislative session, we met in the House Chamber for four days and reached Legislative Day 20, marking the halfway point of the session. We only have 20 legislative days left to complete our business, and the “Crossover Day” deadline is rapidly approaching. With that in mind, my colleagues and I voted on many bills on the House floor that aim to better the lives of each and every Georgian, including legislation that would directly serve the citizens in our House district.

The first bill we passed this week seeks to improve the maternal health of extremely low-income pregnant women. House Bill 129 would expand the eligibility criteria for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to pregnant women. This federal program provides monthly cash assistance to extremely low-income families with the goal of moving these families toward economic freedom and self-sufficiency. In Georgia, the average TANF household includes three individuals, such as a mom and two children, but this vital program is not currently eligible to pregnant women. Extending these benefits to pregnant mothers is one of Governor Brian Kemp’s priorities for this session, and I am glad that the House took a step toward alleviating some of the financial burden for these expectant mothers so that they can focus on their prenatal health.

We passed another bipartisan measure this week that would encourage better health outcomes for all Georgians, especially those with cancer. House Bill 85 would require health insurance benefit policies in Georgia to cover biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, management or ongoing monitoring of a disease or condition, such as cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, biomarker testing analyzes a patient’s tissue, blood or other biospecimen to look for genes, proteins and other substances, which are called biomarkers or tumor markers. Each person’s cancer has a unique pattern of biomarkers that can help clarify a diagnosis and even determine the best treatment for an individual. While biomarker testing is most commonly used for cancer, it could soon be used for other conditions, such as Alzheimer’s. This legislation would afford Georgians coverage for this innovative approach to testing and help individuals figure out if treatment would be effective or not, saving them valuable time and money.

Next, my colleagues and I passed House Bill 143 , which would require the Georgia Department of Community Health to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as a pharmacy benefit through Medicaid. Medicaid recipients would be eligible for this benefit if they have a diabetes mellitus diagnosis and use insulin daily or have a history of problematic hypoglycemia. Furthermore, the patient or caregiver would be required to participate in training for the device, and an in-person or telehealth visit would be required before and after the initial prescription to continually assess the patient’s diabetes treatment plan. CGMs can make it much easier for those living with diabetes or hypoglycemia to better understand their blood sugar patterns and manage their health, but this modern equipment can be extremely expensive without insurance coverage. As such, this legislation would ensure that CGMs are included as a pharmacy benefit for the state’s Medicaid patients so that those individuals have access to these crucial and lifesaving devices.

To support our school systems, particularly those in rural areas of our state, we passed House Bill 81 to revise the qualifications and implementation of grant funding opportunities for low-wealth K-12 school systems to help build and maintain their schools. This legislation would update the eligibility criteria for existing project-specific capital outlay grants, which fund school construction and maintenance projects. To be eligible for this grant funding, the local school system would have to be currently, or within the last three years, ranked in the bottom 25 percent of special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) collections and in property value. For local school systems that rank in the bottom 25 percent of SPLOST collections, the system would also have to commit five years of their SPLOST revenues toward the applicable project. To ensure that this funding goes to schools that need it the most, the bill would require that educational facilities be at least 35 years old to receive funding for consolidation projects, and schools systems could only receive these grants every 10 years after their need has been met. With low SPLOST revenues, many school systems in rural Georgia cannot afford to build new facilities on their own, but these grants would help rural school systems upgrade old buildings and aging infrastructure to offer safer learning environments for our students and teachers.

My colleagues and I also passed House Bill 87 , or the “Completion Special Schools Act,” to create additional educational pathways for at-risk students to earn their high school diplomas. HB 87 would authorize the State Board of Education (BOE) to adopt policies to allow the establishment, funding and operation of “completion special schools.” These completion special schools would allow students who are behind on high school credits, at-risk of dropping out of high school or have already dropped out to enroll in these non-traditional schools to earn their diplomas with greater flexibility through online instruction or night classes. This new educational model would help more Georgia students by increasing the number of completion special schools throughout our state, and it would allow state funding already set aside for these students to flow into the new schools. These new completion schools would also allow students who turn 18 to self-enroll in courses until they are 22 years old. To incentivize the creation of new completion special schools, this bill would allow the state to appropriate up to $5 million in grant funding in the state budget to get these news schools off the ground. HB 87 would also authorize the state’s three existing alternative education charter schools to transition into this new completion school model before the next school year. Lastly, if these new completion special schools fail to comply with our state’s requirements, the state could permanently or temporarily dissolve the school. Many school superintendents support this bill as a way to help raise graduation rates across the state and produce a more skilled workforce. I was proud to vote “yes” on this legislation that would allow struggling high school students to cross the finish line to earn their high school diplomas.

We also passed the following House bills during the sixth week of session:

House Bill 76 , which would revise the licensing requirements for an associate marriage and family therapist to allow the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education to set coursework requirements, minimum training hours and the type of clinical experience applicants must have; this bill would also update the clinical experience requirements for associate marriage and family therapists that are already licensed and/or hold a qualifying master’s or doctorate degree;
House Bill 91 , which would require a personal estate representative to notify all beneficiaries about a will and file such notices with the probate court within a certain timeframe; this bill also includes a citation process if the personal estate representative fails to comply;
House Bill 132 , which would allow the use of ungraded lumber to build non-habitable accessory structures on property zoned or primarily used for residential or agricultural purposes;
House Bill 139 , which would restrict the disclosure of the home address, date of birth and home phone number of a non-sworn employee of a law enforcement agency if he or she testifies for the prosecution in a criminal case and would instead allow the disclosure of the employee’s current work location/phone number;
House Bill 176 , which would increase the monthly payments for superior court reporters as a contingent expense and travel allowance;
House Bill 182 , which would align the Georgia recording statute regarding deeds and other instruments with Georgia’s current savings statute, allowing an improperly executed instrument to be corrected by having the savings statute apply to both attestations and acknowledgments;
House Bill 193 , which would increase the public works construction contract value amount from $100,000 or less to $250,000 or less if the contract is exempt from specific contracting and bidding requirements;
House Bill 215 , which would create licensure requirements for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and would define APRNs as persons registered with the Georgia Board of Nursing as a certified nurse midwife, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist in psychiatric/metal health or a recognized APRN before June 2006; this bill would also make practicing as an APRN without licensure a misdemeanor and allow APRNs and physician assistants to prescribe handicap stickers to patients.

The Georgia House of Representatives will resume its work on Tuesday, February 21, and when we return, we will only have eight legislative days remaining until the “Crossover Day” deadline. As such, these next several days will be some of the most consequential of the session as we try to pass House bills while they are still eligible to become law. In the coming days and weeks ahead, I hope you will reach out to me with your thoughts or concerns regarding legislation that is still up for consideration. You can contact my Capitol Office at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or 404-656-0213.

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 5 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 14:44:45 GMT

February 6 - 10, 2023

The Georgia House of Representatives kicked off the fifth week of the 2023 legislative session on Monday, February 6. With more than a month of session behind us, the pace certainly picked up this week. More bills made their way out of their respective committees and onto the House floor for a vote, and we saw the passage of several House bills that would impact Georgia’s infrastructure, roadways and transportation laws.

My colleagues and I overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation this week to protect our critical infrastructure overseen by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), including the Port of Savannah. House Bill 35 would give the GPA’s security employees the ability to preserve and protect its properties, projects and certain areas surrounding its coastal campuses. Specifically, GPA security personnel and peace officers would have the authority to investigate criminal incidents and handle traffic offenses within one mile of their properties, including making arrests and controlling and investigating pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents. This legislation would also support the surrounding communities by allowing local law enforcement to dedicate less resources to this state authority’s operations and easing some of the burden on local law enforcement that comes with having such a successful port system along our coast. Local municipalities impacted by the port system have also expressed their support for HB 35, and this legislation has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.

Additionally, we passed House Bill 52 on the House floor this week to update several other transportation and infrastructure laws. First, to protect the privacy of Georgians, this bill would exempt the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) from open records when a driver’s data on public roadways reveals their vehicle information or other personally identifiable information. This provision would ensure that no one could use the Open Records Act in an attempt to obtain an individual’s personal information from this agency. This legislation would also make changes to how fatal car accidents are handled on our interstate highways and limited-access roads. HB 52 would allow coroners or county medical examiners to delegate medical personnel to perform certain duties when one of these serious accidents causes a significant disruption to traffic, which would give medical examiners more flexibility and allow medical personnel to arrive to the scene in a more timely manner. This would also help clear up accidents more quickly, while still ensuring that accurate information is documented from the scene. Additionally, under this bill, the state would be able to provide permits to mobile home manufacturers to transport units that are up to 84 feet in length; Georgia is home to nine mobile home manufacturing facilities, and by allowing the transportation of these longer units, this industry could remain on par with our neighboring states. Finally, this legislation would authorize GDOT board election notifications to be sent via email instead of mail, and this bill would also update language in our laws to help streamline GDOT’s process for public-private partnership contracts and alternative contracting methods. Many times, our job as state legislators is to make sure existing laws keep up with our state’s ever-changing needs, and this legislation would ensure that our transportation department’s operations are in line with our latest infrastructure challenges and needs.

On Thursday, we passed legislation to update two laws that would affect Georgia drivers. Currently, Georgia’s Spencer Pass Law requires drivers to safely change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary emergency or service vehicles on our roadways so that drivers do not pass directly next to stopped emergency vehicles. This week, we passed House Bill 119 to update this law to also require drivers to move over for any disabled vehicle, such as another car or tow truck, that displays flashing hazard lights and/or yellow, amber, white or red lights if it is safe to do so. A number of drivers and workers who provide crucial services to drivers have been killed by passing vehicles over the years, and this legislation aims to keep these drivers and roadside workers safe from other motorists. Then, we passed House Bill 120 to update the list of individuals with a suspended, revoked or canceled license who are eligible to apply for a limited driving permit, which restricts where and when these individuals are allowed to drive. Under HB 120 , individuals convicted of driving under the influence of a controlled substance or marijuana could also apply for one of these limited driving permits. Both of these measures seek to promote and enhance safety on Georgia’s busy roads and will now be reviewed by our Senate counterparts.

The House passed four more bills this week that I will briefly highlight. House Bill 55 serves as the annual revision for our state’s banking and finance laws, which gives us a chance to remove redundancies and update certain terminology in Georgia law each year. House Bill 77 would add a fourth superior court judge in the Dougherty Judicial Circuit; this fourth judge would first be appointed for a year and a half, and a nonpartisan successor would be elected in 2024. To comply with federal law, House Bill 175 would update the state’s Uniform Carriers Act effective date to January 1, 2023. Finally, we passed House Bill 183 to authorize temporary operating permits to be issued in lieu of temporary license plates in certain situations.

While we were in the House Chamber this week, my colleagues and I took time to honor Mr. Louis Graziano on his incredible bravery as a U.S. soldier in World War II. Born in 1923, Mr. Graziano is the last surviving World War II veteran to witness Germany's surrender. Mr. Graziano was a master sergeant and fought in the third wave of the Omaha Beach invasion on D-Day. After D-Day, he also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he almost lost his feet to frostbite, and he took part in the June 6th invasion of Normandy in 1944. He then served at the Special Headquarters Command in Reims, France, where he witnessed Germany sign the surrender document and then took the Germans to meet General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mr. Graziano’s visit to the State Capitol coincided with his 100 ^th birthday, and I was inspired to meet this American hero and hear his incredible story.

By the end of this week, we reached Legislative Day 16 and are almost halfway through the 40-day legislative session. We will return to the State Capitol on Monday, February 13 for another packed week of lawmaking as we get closer to the infamous “Crossover Day,” which is the last day a bill can pass out of the House or Senate for the first time and still remain eligible to become law this year. As your representative, it is extremely important for me to hear which issues are significant to you and your family, especially before the Crossover Day deadline. If you find yourself in Atlanta during the legislative session, please feel free to schedule a visit to my Capitol office. You may call my Capitol office at 404-656-0213, or email me at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 4 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 18:19:24 GMT

January 30 - February 3, 2023

Monday, January 30, marked the start of the fourth week of the 2023 legislative session. This fast-paced week brought about significant progress as several House committees met throughout the week to consider legislation, including the House Rules Committee, which determines what bills should be debated and voted on the House floor once bills have passed out of their respective committees. The House also convened for another four legislative days in the House Chamber this week, and before our week was over, we voted on our first bill of the session: the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 state budget.

Each session, the Georgia General Assembly is constitutionally required to pass a balanced state budget, and on Thursday, we passed House Bill 18 , or the Amended Fiscal Year (AFY) 2023 budget. During the 2022 legislative session, the legislature passed the original Fiscal Year 2023 budget, which went into effect last July and set state spending at $30.2 billion based on projected revenue estimates. Now, my colleagues and I must also pass an amended state budget based on the actual revenue obtained to fund our state operations through the end of the fiscal year in June. Due to revenue collections being higher than expected, the AFY 2023 budget recognizes approximately $2.36 billion in additional revenue, or 7.8 percent more than the initial FY 2023 budget, and brings the total appropriation for the AFY 2023 budget to $32.56 billion. This is the second year in a row that the state has experienced such a large growth in revenue for an amended budget, and with this increase in funding, the House was able to provide additional one-time investments to keep Georgians safe, healthy and prosperous over this coming year.

First, the House’s version of the AFY 2023 budget recognizes many of the governor’s recommendations to support economic and workforce development initiatives throughout the state. Under HB 18 , the Georgia Department of Community Affairs would receive $166.7 million to help launch large economic development projects, including the new Rivian and Hyundai manufacturing facilities. Our higher education institutions that train and produce future workers for our top job producing industries would also benefit from the House’s AFY 2023 budget.

The AFY 2023 budget includes $6.25 million for the Technical College System of Georgia to design a new electric vehicle training center in Newton County, $56.2 million to finish building the new electric vehicle Quick Start training center in Bryan County and $10.6 million to support an existing training center in the Chatham County area. To address the major demand for pilots and other aviation workers, the Middle Georgia State University Aviation Program would receive $5.7 million this year to purchase aircraft and construct t-hangers that are needed to expand the program. For our workforce housing needs, HB 18 repurposes $35.7 million in existing grant funding to establish the Rural Workforce Housing Fund; this program would help local authorities bring new affordable housing developments to rural areas. Finally, the Savannah Logistics Innovation Center would receive $650,000 to support the logistics and supply chain industry to keep up with the growing demand near our state’s largest port.

Georgia’s K-12 education system also receives special attention in the House’s version of the AFY 2023 budget. HB 18 includes $128.2 million for the Quality Basic Education formula’s midterm adjustment to meet the education needs of 12,939 new students, account for charter system growth and expand the Special Needs Scholarship. The governor recently announced his plans to dedicate $50,000 per school in one-time grant funding to allow every public school to make security improvements, and the House’s amended budget includes even more funding to bring the total for these security grants to $60,000 per school. This budget also supports our K-12 teacher workforce pipeline by including $5 million in grant funding to encourage paraprofessionals with bachelor’s degrees to become certified teachers; these grants would be offered to soon-to-be teachers enrolled in a certification program after January 1, 2023. HB 18 would also allow for schools to apply for $50,000 in matching funds to implement character education programming, which would ensure that our students have more well-rounded interpersonal skills.

The House’s budget would also allow the state to provide more support to the employer portion of the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) for teachers and school employees. To adjust for the rising costs of health care, this budget increases the SHBP monthly employer match for certified employees from $945 to $1,580 starting this year, totaling $424.8 million in this budget. For the first time since the Great Recession, this budget also includes funding for the employer cost for the SHBP plan for non-certified school employees, which has previously been paid using only local school system’s budgets. To that end, the House allocated $100 million to reflect a three-year phase-in for the employer contribution for non-certified school employees starting in January 2024. These two funding initiatives would ease the financial burden of school systems for both certified and non-certified employee health plans.

Additionally, the House’s AFY 2023 budget dedicates state funding towards organizations and programs that provide critical health care services to Georgians, including services to support our vulnerable and at-risk populations. Georgia’s only public teaching hospital, the Medical College of Georgia Hospitals and Clinics, would receive $105 million to implement a new electronic medical record system; this major upgrade would enable doctors to electronically prescribe medications, improve communication with other health systems, allow patients to access their medical records, enhance telehealth services and streamline insurance billing and revenue collection. This budget also includes $2 million to support private psychiatric contract beds so adults struggling with severe mental health issues can receive the care they need, as well as $1.97 million to open offline psychiatric beds at the state’s Georgia Regional Hospital in Atlanta. Furthermore, the Georgia Department of Human Services would receive $5 million to help find alternative housing for youth in our foster care system who have complex needs, and this budget would also provide $825,000 to coordinate outreach to address homelessness in the Atlanta area. Finally, the House’s amended budget allocates $250.8 million for the state’s Medicaid program, which has experienced an increase in enrollment during the pandemic.

The AFY 2023 budget also sets aside funding to address several public safety initiatives. HB 18 includes $2.4 million to improve security at domestic violence shelters located in nearly 50 cities across the state. These vital shelters could spend these funds on safety training for staff, agency safety assessments or upgrades on security systems, privacy fences, bulletproof windows and more. Another $2 million in one-time funds is also included in this budget for these domestic violence shelters to offset the loss of federal grant funds. Next, HB 18 includes $4 million in new funding for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council’s Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund, which provides up to $25,000 in compensation to support victims of violent crime. The governor’s AFY 2023 budget proposal includes $51 million to address emergency maintenance and repairs on the state’s correctional facilities and prisons, and the House’s version of the amended budget supports the governor’s recommendation and adds another $5 million to support these efforts.

Other highlights in the House’s AFY 2023 budget include $1 billion for the governor’s new Homeowner Tax Relief Grant program, which would provide one-time property tax relief for qualifying homesteads for the tax year beginning January 1, 2023. This budget also reflects the need to take care of our retired state employees who dedicated their careers to serving the state by including $14.5 million for a one-time benefit adjustment for retired state employees. Lastly, this budget includes funding to ensure future elections continue to run smoothly and efficiently. The Secretary of State’s Office would receive nearly $5 million to maintain our voting equipment and make improvements to the Georgia Online Voter Registration system.

During Legislative Day 11, my House colleagues and I also took time to recognize the 49th anniversary of the Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta. Our relationship with Japan has produced nearly $8 billion in imports and exports, and nearly 600 Japanese-affiliated companies employ more than 40,000 Georgians in our state. Consul General Mio Maeda joined us in the House Chamber to celebrate this strategic partnership between our governments, and he noted that our relationship is not limited to economics. Nearly 1,000 Georgia public school students are studying the Japanese language, eight Georgia colleges have Japanese language programs, and 534 Georgians have participated in Japan’s Japanese Exchange and Teaching program since 1987. We enjoyed the consul general and his colleagues’ visit to the Capitol this week, and I commend their efforts to strengthen cultural, educational, political and economic ties between Georgia and Japan.

In other news, the House Page Program resumed at the State Capitol this week following a three-year hiatus due to the public health emergency. For more than 50 years, the Page Program has provided an exclusive opportunity for Georgia’s students between 12 and 18 years old to visit our Capitol and serve in the House Chamber. The experience of a legislative page has also sparked many political aspirations and has been a connective link between elected leaders and young students. This program is highly competitive, and I encourage students from House District 74 who may be interested to apply as soon as possible. Parents and students can learn more about the application process here: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/page-program .

The House will reconvene on Monday, February 6, for Legislative Day 13, and my colleagues and I will be busier by the day as the session progresses. Now that the AFY 2023 budget has passed in the House, this legislation will undergo the same consideration process in the Senate, and the House will shift its focus towards creating a full budget for the upcoming fiscal year. We will also continue to see many more bills reach the House floor in the days and weeks ahead, and I encourage you to reach out to me about any legislation that interests you. My Capitol office phone number is 404-656-0213, and my email address is karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative.

Week 3 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:02:30 GMT

January 23-27, 2023

The Georgia House of Representatives returned to the Gold Dome for the third week of the 2023 legislative session on Monday, January 23. This week brought more exciting and important work as the House met for four legislative days. We voted on our first set of local bills of the session, and several House committees held their first meetings. Members of the House and Senate also came together for a joint session to hear Governor Brian Kemp deliver his fifth annual State of the State address.

On Wednesday, the House Chamber was packed full as the legislature convened for Gov. Kemp’s State of the State address. This annual gathering provides a unique opportunity for our governor to present his assessment on the current condition of our state government, as well as present his legislative priorities for the year ahead, which include investing in our classrooms, workforce, public safety and health care. I will share a few highlights below.

Before discussing his priorities for the session, the governor reflected on the foundation we have built together and the progress our state has experienced over the last year. In less than a year, the state announced four of the largest economic development projects in our state’s history, and these projects combined will create more than 20,000 jobs and spur more than $17 billion in investment just in rural Georgia. The governor also touted that 17,500 new jobs and $13 billion in investment have been announced in just the last few months, and 85 percent of these jobs will support various regions of our state, not just metro Atlanta. To support both new employees and existing communities where these new jobs will be located, the governor announced his plans to establish the Rural Workforce Housing Fund, which would help local development and housing authorities usher in new affordable housing developments in these areas. I look forward to partnering with the governor and my legislative colleagues this session to explore other ways to support our growing workforce and provide affordable living opportunities for workers across our state.

This next year, one of the governor’s top priorities includes passing legislation that supports our K-12 public school systems. First, Gov. Kemp seeks to dedicate an additional $1.9 billion in the current and upcoming budgets solely for education needs, including fully funding the Quality Basic Education formula. He also plans to reinforce the teacher workforce pipeline by providing a $2,000 pay raise in the FY 2024 budget for teachers and certified school personnel, among other measures. The governor previously worked with the state legislature to raise teacher pay by $5,000 during his first term in office, and the proposed $2,000 pay increase would make the average teacher’s salary in Georgia more than $7,000 higher than the Southeast regional average. The governor will also partner with the House and Senate this session to provide grant funding to encourage paraprofessionals to pursue a full teaching certification, which would result in nearly 5,000 certified teachers joining the ranks.

In addition, the governor plans to invest in our state’s workforce pipeline by fully funding Georgia’s HOPE scholarship and grant awards at 100 percent of tuition at Georgia’s public higher education institutions. With strong support from both sides of the aisle, this would be the first time in more than a decade since the program provided scholarships at 100 percent of tuition. The governor also noted that he will continue to focus on apprenticeships, dual enrollment pathways and degrees that align with the state’s job creators over the next year.

Our state has also made monumental investments over the last four years to create safer communities for Georgians to live, work and raise a family. During the governor’s first term, the General Assembly helped create the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Gang Task Force and the attorney general’s Gang Prosecution Unit to take violent offenders out of our communities. Just six months after launching the new prosecution unit, more than 50 gang members have been indicted. To ensure continued success, the governor will push for legislation this session that would increase penalties for individuals who try to recruit children into a gang. Georgia’s First Lady, Marty Kemp, will also continue working with the Grace Commission, House and Senate leaders, the attorney general and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to end human trafficking in Georgia, while also making the state a safe haven for victims. This session, Gov. Kemp and First Lady Kemp announced their support for increasing penalties for organizations that fail to provide resources on how to spot human trafficking and what actions to take to stop it. I will provide updates on these important criminal justice measures as they come before the House.

The governor went on to outline his plan to address the growing needs of our health care workforce. During his address, the governor shared that 67 counties in Georgia have less than 10 physicians operating within county lines, and the state’s nursing shortage continues to impact our health care system. As such, the governor proposed allocating more than $4.5 million in the state budget for loan repayment programs to recruit and retain health care workers here in Georgia. He also urged the General Assembly to fund 102 additional residency slots at hospitals across the state by investing $1.7 million in the state budget, and these new slots would exceed the initial goal for the state’s residency program. The General Assembly recognizes the vital work our health care heroes do every day, and I appreciate Governor Kemp for working with us to address the state’s health care worker shortages.

This session, the governor will also continue his work to offer insurance coverage to more Georgians, as well as expand vital state programs that support our more vulnerable populations. The state’s reinsurance program, which launched during the governor’s first term, has reduced premiums by an average of 12.4 percent statewide for the 2023 reinsurance plan compared to premiums without the program, representing an average premium reduction of nearly $1,000 for participants. Furthermore, reinsurance program participants in rural counties have seen their premiums drop from 25 to more than 40 percent. The governor also took time to update my colleagues and me about the Patient’s First Act, which enabled our state to submit federal waivers to explore innovative solutions for health care coverage. Before the Patient’s First Act, zero counties in our state had more than two health insurance carriers. Now, 86 percent of counties have three or more carriers, and enrollment in the individual marketplace has increased to more than 700,000 citizens, more than doubling the enrollment amount since 2019. The governor also announced that the state is on target to launch the Georgia Pathways to Coverage Program this July, and this program could help approximately 345,000 Georgians qualify for health care coverage for the first time without impacting those who qualify for regular Medicaid. To launch the program this summer, the governor proposed including $52 million in the upcoming fiscal year budget, which would go into effect this summer. Finally, we learned that the governor will support legislation this session to allow eligible pregnant women to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits before giving birth. Currently, expectant mothers are unable to receive TANF benefits until after the child is born, but providing these vital cash assistance benefits sooner would allow these moms to focus on their growing babies instead of worrying about financial burdens.

In addition to hearing the State of the State address this week, my colleagues and I welcomed two very special groups in the House Chamber. On Monday, the Consul General of the Republic of Korea Yoonjoo Park joined us to honor of Korean American Day at the State Capitol. The consul general provided special remarks to highlight the strong bond of friendship between his nation and the state of Georgia, and we will continue to foster this relationship as we invest in future-oriented industries. According to Consul General Park, more than 100 Korean companies, including Kia, SK Battery America and now Hyundai, are operating in our great state. These companies have produced more than 15,000 jobs in the last five years and have spurred a cumulative investment of approximately $21 billion in Georgia. I am proud to live in a state that promotes mutually beneficial relationships with other nations, like the Republic of Korea, and it was an honor to celebrate the economic advancements made in our state because of this strong alliance. Additionally, the House recognized Georgia National Guard Day at the Capitol on Thursday. Several Georgia National Guard leaders joined us in the House Chamber during their visit to the Gold Dome, and Brigadier General John Gentry commended the House for its continued support over the years. The guard’s motto is “always ready, always there,” and Georgia’s 15,000 guardsmen continually fulfill their mission to always be ready to serve our citizens, especially over these last several years. From serving at our local food banks to protecting our cities during civil unrest, our state defense force steps in when our communities need it the most, and I commend the guard for their service to our state.

Finally, several House committees began meeting this week to adopt committee rules and even discuss some of the first bills of the session. Every bill that comes before us faces an extensive evaluation process by its assigned committee, and many of the bills this session will undergo changes throughout the committee process to help perfect the legislation. As we continue through the session, I hope that you will reach out with your questions or concerns about legislation that may come before the House, including bills that are in the committee process. You are also welcome to schedule a phone call or plan a visit to the State Capitol to discuss matters that are important to you and your community. You can reach me at 404-656-0213 and karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov .

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 2 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 16:15:03 GMT

January 17-20, 2023

My colleagues and I returned to the Georgia State Capitol for the highly anticipated “budget week” on Tuesday, January 17. To begin the state budget process, the Georgia General Assembly devoted the entire second week of session to holding joint House and Senate Appropriations hearings. During the first hearing of the week, Governor Brian Kemp gave opening remarks that highlighted his budget recommendations for the current and upcoming fiscal year budgets, which will become legislation that will ultimately guide our state’s spending. Throughout the week, we also heard directly from state agency leaders regarding their budgetary requests, as well as the state economist, who provided a comprehensive overview of Georgia’s economic forecast for this year. Our second week under the Gold Dome was certainly busy as we worked to strategically invest our state revenues to best serve the needs of all Georgians.

Each legislative session, as required by our state constitution, the General Assembly must pass a balanced state budget. After reviewing Gov. Kemp’s budget proposals presented this week, my colleagues and I will begin drafting two budget bills: the Amended Fiscal Year 2023 (AFY 2023) budget and the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) budget. First, the amended budget directs spending for the remainder of the current fiscal year and uses a more accurate estimate of state revenue to account for any differences between the projected estimate and actual revenue obtained. Based on updated revenue estimates, the AFY 2023 budget will include approximately $2.3 billion in additional revenue that our state can utilize over the next six months; this is great news for our state and reflects the hard work that the governor and the legislature has done in the aftermath of the global pandemic.

Next, the FY 2024 budget will determine state spending for the entire upcoming fiscal year beginning on July 1, and this full budget is set at a revenue estimate of $32.4 billion. The governor’s version of the current and upcoming fiscal year budgets includes a range of budgetary items that prioritize the education, health and safety of Georgians, as well as investments that will help keep Georgia a competitive state to live, work and raise a family.

To that end, Georgia has experienced record-breaking growth in new jobs and investment across our state, and the governor predicts that our state is ready to weather any economic storm that may come this year. However, Georgians across our state are feeling the effects of 40-year high inflation that’s plaguing the entire country, and as such, his budget recommendations pave the way for providing financial relief to Georgians amid this record high inflation. Due to the positive economic outcome from the previous fiscal year and encouraging projections for our future, the governor recommends allocating $1 billion in undesignated funds from the AFY 2023 budget to provide a one-time tax refund to every eligible taxpayer in our state; these one-time tax refunds would range from $250 for single filers to $500 for joint filers. Furthermore, Gov. Kemp also announced his plans to create the one-time Homeowner Tax Relief Grants program using $1.1 billion in the AFY 2023 budget. Every eligible homeowner would have a chance to receive a $20,000 exemption for their assessed home value on their 2023 property tax bill, and the governor estimates that this exemption would result in an average savings of $500.

Educating Georgia’s young learners continues to be a top priority for the governor heading into his second term, and investing in our future workforce is certainly reflected in his budget priorities for both budget years. The amended budget includes an additional $745 million and more than $1.1 billion is included in upcoming fiscal year budget for K-12 education. These investments would fully fund the Quality Basic Education program, increase salaries for certified personnel by $2,000 during the next school year, as well as provide $15 million in grant funding in the year’s amended budget to help paraprofessionals pursue a teaching certification. Teachers today are preparing our state’s leaders of tomorrow, and it is crucial that we invest in those who devote their careers to our students. To enhance school safety and address security needs, the governor also recommends dedicating $115 million in the amended budget to provide $50,000 school safety grants to every K-12 school across our state. Ahead of the next school year, funding for school counselors would also see a boost of $26.9 million to help address our students’ mental health and emotional well-being. His version of the amended budget also includes $25 million for learning loss grants to allow individual schools to create programming that is geared towards closing learning gaps due to the pandemic. Finally, to address the increasing costs of college tuition, the governor proposes using $61.2 million in the FY 2024 budget to fully fund the Georgia’s HOPE scholarship and grant awards at 100 percent of tuition at all Georgia public higher education institutions. Gov. Kemp estimates that full-time students would save an average of $444 annually while earning their degrees, and these saving would help ensure more students than ever can reduce the out-of-pocket costs of college and remove barriers from achieving the education necessary to equip our future workforce.

During the previous fiscal year, our state benefited from a record number of economic development projects that total more than $21.2 billion in direct investment to Georgia, including the Rivian and Hyundai electric vehicle plants that will call our state home. To develop a highly skilled workforce for these facilities and other job-creating projects, the governor’s amended budget proposal includes $130 million to develop two new QuickStart EV training facilities overseen by the state’s technical college system. Additionally, he also recommends dedicating $166.7 million in the AFY 2023 budget for the state’s Regional Economic Business Assistance program, which would assist local governments with providing incentives to businesses looking to grow their footprint. The governor also seeks to move $35.7 million in existing funds for the OneGeorgia program to establish a Rural Workforce Housing Fund; this new fund would allow local development and housing authorities prepare land for housing developments that would help make the housing market more affordable for local workforces.

Furthermore, the governor’s budgetary recommendations seek to improve health care access and affordability in Georgia through a few different measures. First, the governor’s FY 2024 proposal includes $52 million to implement the Georgia Pathways to Coverage program to expand health insurance access to uninsured residents; this program was established through the Patients First Act, legislation which was passed by the General Assembly in recent years. The governor also seeks to further support the state’s reinsurance program using $92 million in both budget proposals. The reinsurance program has reduced premiums by an average of 12.4 percent for the 2023 reinsurance plan compared to premiums without the program, allowing participants to see an average annual premium reduction of $995 or $83 per month. Starting in April 2023, the state will examine Medicaid eligibility for plan participants, which was previously delayed by the federal government due to the Public Health Emergency. To ensure every vulnerable citizen is cared for during this complicated process, the governor proposes $8.4 million in the AFY 2023 budget and $3.2 million in FY 2024 budget to pay for additional caseworkers and other associated costs needed for this redetermination process.

Keeping every Georgian safe is another top priority of Gov. Kemp this session. During the last legislative session, the governor set aside funding in his budget proposal to build a new state prison that is more secure and costs less to maintain. While the new prison is being constructed, the governor allocates funding in both budget proposals to help maintain the current correctional facilities. His amended budget includes $51 million and the upcoming fiscal year includes $26 million in bond funds to address emergency maintenance and repairs on existing facilities and prisons. An additional $25 million in is included in the FY 2024 budget proposal to prepare a new state prison that aims meet the correction system’s space needs.

The governor also recognizes the importance of appropriating state funding to retain the bright individuals who make up Georgia’s public workforce. Gov. Kemp’s FY 2024 budget would provide assistance to dedicated law enforcement agencies as they ramp up their retention and recruitment efforts. Gov. Kemp recommends investing $3.2 million in a loan repayment plan for 800 state and local law enforcement officers starting in the upcoming fiscal year; the plan would offer a loan repayment of up to $20,000 per officer in exchange for five years of service; these loan repayment programs would help local law enforcement agencies attract officers to their ranks in this competitive job market. I also want to highlight the governor’s plan to invest in our state employees, who ensure our state operations run efficiently and effectively as it serves citizens. In the governor’s FY 2024 budget plan, approximately $243 million would be used to provide state employees with a $2,000 cost-of-living increase. It’s crucial that our state government remain a competitive employer with other government entities, and these funding initiatives would help retain public workers and avoid costly recruiting and training costs.

Now that the joint budget hearings have concluded, the House Appropriations subcommittees will begin to meet separately to review specific portions of the budget and delve deeper into the state agencies’ budget needs. Since the Georgia Constitution requires the budget bills to originate in the House, each House Appropriations subcommittee will pass their respective portions of the AFY 2023 and FY 2024 state budgets, which will collectively result in two complete budget bills to be approved by the full House Appropriations Committee. Then, each budget bill will need to be scheduled for a vote on the House floor by the House Rules Committee. After the budget bills make their way through the House, these bills will be transmitted to our counterparts in the Senate, where each bill will undergo the same process. There will likely be changes to the governor’s original proposals as the House and Senate continue to work through the budget process, and I will keep you updated as these bills are finalized.

The House will be back in session on Monday, January 23, and we have another busy week ahead as the pace of the session continues to pick up. As we move forward, I encourage you to visit me at my capitol office, or call me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the state budget bills, the legislative process or any other measures being considered under the Gold Dome. As your state representative, I want to know what issues are most important to you, your family and our neighbors, and I welcome any opportunity to hear feedback from my constituents. My office phone number is 404-656-0213, and my email address is karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov Please reach out to me any time.

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Week 1 Legislative Session Recap 2023

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 15:59:00 GMT

January 9-13, 2023

On Monday, January 9, 2023, the Georgia General Assembly convened for the first day of the 157th Legislative Session. Since Monday marked the start of the 2023-2024 legislative term, the first day of session began with members of the Georgia House of Representatives taking the oath of office, and this year, we had the honor of being sworn in by Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs. Once we were sworn in, we immediately took up our first order of business, which was to elect a Speaker of the House and Speaker Pro Tempore who will guide our chamber over the next two years, and we also voted on legislation that sets our legislative calendar for this session. After hearing the nominations, Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) was elected to serve as the 75th Speaker of the House of Representatives by acclamation. Speaker Burns is now the presiding officer of the House, where he will determine the leadership and membership of House committees, assign legislation to committees, call legislation for debate on the House floor and enforce the rules of the House. Additionally, Speaker Pro Tempore Jan Jones (R-Milton) was re-elected to her respective position by acclamation. Following the death of Speaker David Ralston in November 2022, Pro Tem Jones served as the 74th Speaker of the House for the remainder of the 2021-2022 legislative term, making her the first female Speaker of the House in state history.
Also on Monday, the House and Senate voted to adopt an Adjournment Resolution, Senate Resolution 6 , to set our calendar for this legislative session. Each session lasts 40 non-consecutive days, and this year’s calendar sets our final day of session, or “Sine Die,” on Wednesday, March 29. We have an aggressive schedule this year and much work to accomplish before session ends this spring. You can find a copy of the full legislative calendar here.
Later in the week, the House and Senate convened for a joint legislative session for the inauguration of Governor Brian Kemp for his second term in office. Citizens from across the state gathered as Gov. Kemp took the oath of office at the Georgia State Convocation Center in Atlanta. During this joint session, Gov. Kemp also administered the oath of office to Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones and other statewide constitutional officers who were elected this past fall. In his inaugural address, the governor discussed his goals for his next term in office and reflected on the recent accomplishments of our state, which has emerged from the global pandemic stronger than ever due to the resilience of our citizens and the leadership of all of our elected officials. During his address, the governor also announced his goals to partner with the Georgia General Assembly this session to create better schools, safer streets, good paying jobs and greater economic opportunities.
Finally, on Friday, the House began the session day with a moment of silence for the thousands of Georgians who were impacted by the severe storms that swept across the state on Thursday afternoon. The governor issued a State of Emergency on Thursday evening, which authorized the state’s emergency management and public safety agencies to mobilize first responders and begin rescue and recovery efforts. Please keep the families impacted by these storms in your thoughts and prayers as the state’s recovery efforts continue.
I will be working diligently on behalf of our entire district now that the 2023 legislative session is officially underway. I hope you will take the opportunity to review updates like this throughout the session to stay informed on legislative matters that may affect you, your family and our community. The House website, www.legis.ga.gov/house , has a number of publicly available resources to help you stay up-to-date on the work we are doing at your state Capitol. You can watch a live stream of the House floor proceedings, view live and archived committee meetings and review proposed legislation that comes before the House. I also want to encourage you to follow the official House Twitter and Facebook accounts, which provide daily updates on House floor votes and other important announcements about session.
I would be remiss if I did not congratulate the University of Georgia Bulldogs on their back-to-back College Football Playoff National Championship title this week. These elite national champions represented Georgia well as they dominated the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs in Los Angeles. The first day of session coincided with game day, and the House made sure to wish the Dawgs the best of luck before kick-off.
After we celebrate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, my colleagues and I will return to the Capitol on Tuesday to begin our work on one of the most important pieces of legislation of this session: the state budget. Before leaving the Capitol on Friday, my colleagues and I received the governor’s budget books, which include his budget recommendations. We will review these recommendations over the weekend, and the House and Senate Appropriations committees will hear directly from the governor to discuss his recommendations on Tuesday morning. The Appropriations committees will continue to meet throughout next week to discuss budget requests from our state agency heads, and I look forward to sharing updates with you. As we move throughout the legislative session, I welcome you to reach out to me with your thoughts and opinions about legislation, including the state budget. Your feedback is crucial to developing good, sound policies for our state, and I look forward to discussing my legislative goals for this session with you. I can be reached at karen.mathiak@house.ga.gov or by phone at 404-656-0213.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the 2023-2024 legislative term.

IRA Will Hurt Taxpayers in Georgia

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 15:16:50 GMT

IRA Will Hurt Taxpayers in Georgia

Inflation is ravaging the American economy, in large part, because Washington has gone on an unprecedented spending spree since Joe Biden took office.

In 2021, Congress passed both a $1.9 trillion Covid relief package and a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, thereby pumping huge sums of money into the economy and causing demand for goods and services to exceed supply. Gorgia's two Democratic senators, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, supported both bills. Prices have been soaring ever since.

Yet even as inflation reached a 40-year-high in June and was running at an annual rate of 8.5% in July, lawmakers were determined to keep pouring fuel on the fire. President Biden has just signed the "Inflation Reduction Act" into law -- legislation that could not have passed without the support of Warnock and Ossoff.

Lawmakers say the legislation will reduce inflation by cutting federal spending on Medicare drugs -- even as it extends hugely expensive pandemic-era Obamacare subsidies.

But they've got their math wrong.

The bill will appropriate tens of billions of dollars in new spending starting in January on Obamacare subsidies that Congress created in 2021 -- as part of that $1.9 trillion "relief" package that caused inflation to soar. By contrast, most of the Medicare changes don't kick in until 2025 or later. So the bill will certainly prove inflationary in the short term.

In Washington, evidently you can put out a fire with a little more gasoline.

Speaking of which, as all Americans are painfully aware, pump prices skyrocketed by nearly 50% to record highs this summer. ^[1] Meanwhile, grocery prices jumped 13.1% between July 2021 and July 2022, the biggest year-on-year gain in 43 years. ^[2]

Georgians are feeling some of the worst pain. In July, the inflation rate in Atlanta was the third highest of the 23 largest metropolitan areas in the country. ^[3] Since January 2021, when Democrats took over in Washington, through May of this year, inflation has cost the average Georgia household more than $7,000 a year.

The Federal Reserve has been hiking interest rates in a belated effort to get a grip on inflation. That's something the Fed has to do, but that doesn't mean it isn't painful. Higher rates are contributing to slower economic growth, higher mortgage rates, and a slowdown in new home construction. The U.S. economy contracted by 1.6% the first quarter of this year, and decreased another 0.6% the second quarter -- meeting the classic criterion for an economy in recession, two quarters of negative growth.

It's no wonder that in a recent Ipsos poll, 32% of Americans listed "the economy, unemployment, or jobs" as the most important issue facing the country -- outpacing crime, a distant second at 10%, even though we're also in the midst of a murder wave. ^[4] Folks in Georgia are especially focused on inflation. In a June 2022 Quinnipiac University poll, 41% of Georgians said inflation is the top issue facing the state. ^[5]

Georgia's Senators Warnock and Ossoff failed to hear us on our No. 1 issue. If they had listened, they would have dropped their support for this inflationary law -- and all Georgians would be better off. ^[6]

^[1] https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf (pg. 3)

^[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-07-12/online-us-inflation-slows-in-june-but-food-prices-hit-new-high#xj4y7vzkg

https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/inflation-hits-americans-grocery-bills-food-prices-accelerate

^[3] https://www.cbs46.com/2022/08/10/atlanta-has-3rd-highest-inflation-growth-rate-among-23-major-cities-survey/

^[4] https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/bidens-economic-woes

^[5] https://poll.qu.edu/images/polling/ga/ga06292022_gqqc38.pdf

^[6] https://www.jec.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/republicans/analysis?id=11CBFC43-AB92-4834-AE86-35B5DE9AECB7

How much longer can short-term band-aids stave off Medicare’s long-term bleed?

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 17:53:30 GMT

How much longer can short-term band-aids stave off Medicare’s long-term bleed?

To say the Covid pandemic disrupted our healthcare system would be a massive understatement.

According to the CDC , 41% of US adults avoided at least some medical care due to concerns related to the pandemic. Those who reemerged to seek medical care most likely saw a very different healthcare landscape.

Sad to say, this may only be the tip of the iceberg. Going forward, it may be increasingly difficult for patients with Medicare to see a health care professional, especially in rural parts of Georgia like Spalding County.

Circumstances in Washington have aligned in such a way that cuts to Medicare provider reimbursement in 2023 could total nearly 10%. Three factors are contributing to these drastic cuts.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed a 4.42% cut to payments. In addition, Congressional Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rules will trigger an automatic 4% cut to all Medicare provider payments whenever federal spending hits a certain level. These cuts will kick in next year.

To date, Congress has treated these cuts with temporary Band-Aids. For example, it suspended Medicare sequestration cuts in 2020 and 2021. It can do so again this year, but time is running out.

It is certainly true that politicians on both sides of the aisle must find a way to come together and address the serious crisis in Medicare’s payment system by putting forward reforms that establish sustainability for physicians and other health professionals, and ensure Medicare patients maintain access to quality care. But the system should not be taken to the brink of destruction and threaten patients and their caregivers alike with devastating short-term consequences in order to usher in meaningful, long-term reform.

For health care professionals who bill under the Medicare physician fee schedule, the cost of running a practice has risen 39% over the last 2 decades while payments, adjusted for inflation, shrunk by half . Over that same period, payments for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient and outpatient visits increased upwards of 60%.

Physicians and other Medicare providers need to make a significant commitment in order to comply with the Medicare Merit-Based Incentive Payment (MIPS) system. A JAMA Health Forum study found that “an average of $12,811 per physician was spent to participate in MIPS in 2019. Clinicians and administrators spent more than 200 hours per physician on MIPS-related activities.”

Given these significant financial costs and time commitments, coupled with diminishing Medicare payments, it is increasingly difficult for many providers to justify participating in Medicare. At this rate, rural Georgians will be hard pressed to find someone willing and able to treat them.

Congress must step in.

First things first, it should pass new legislation to prevent the scheduled 4.42% cuts and provide an inflation-based, payment update on January 1, 2023.

Then, when a new Congress convenes, it needs to undertake a top-to-bottom reform of the Medicare payment system to establish a new model commensurate with the contributions these health care professionals make toward high-value care and rewards associated cost savings across the health care system, such as preventing hospitalizations. This reform effort also needs to ensure financial stability by permanently establishing baseline positive updates that reflect costs associated with providing high-quality care.

Small, temporary Band-Aids don’t work when the patient is suffering from a gaping wound. And that’s where we are headed with regard to Medicare’s current payment model. Rural Georgia is at risk of losing those who provide quality care to our 1.7 million patients with Medicare.

Georgia’s federal delegation should lead the charge on this important reform effort.

Karen I. Mathiak is an American chiropractor and politician from Georgia. Mathiak is a Republican member of Georgia House of Representatives for District 73.

Protecting your Property is our Priority

whitestarstrategies@gmail.com (Philip Nichols) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 14:29:39 GMT

Few things are as important as your personal security. This goes beyond your front door, and effects every element of your life. Discover the key factors for ensuring a safe life for you and your family.

Having a blog on your website is a way to increase engagement with your website visitors. Once you get the hang of it, blogging can also be a productive break from your regular routine.

Here are the top 4 reasons for having a blog on your website. There are, of course, many more reasons why blogging is great. We’re just saving those for an upcoming blog...

1. Blogs help drive traffic to your site.

Regardless of what your site is all about, you surely want people to visit it. After all, that’s why you spent so much time building it. When you enrich your site with a blog, you add additional dimension to the blog, a place that you can update regularly and keep in contact with your visitors. Having a blog also increases the number of indexed pages in your site. Every blog you add brings another indexed page to the site. The more pages you have, the more opportunities there are that your website will show up in search engines.

2. Blogs help convert traffic into leads.

If you convince people that they need your product or service through your blog, you’ll be transforming that fantastic traffic you brought (see above) into potential customers. You could use your blog to promote webinars, distribute ebooks & white papers or invite people to answer a survey. At the end of the day, your blog can ensure that visitors get value for their visit.

3. You establish authority.

When people read what you’ve written, they gain confidence in you and your product. You may be able to answer pressing questions about your product or ease worries that are related to your industry. Regardless of what you convey in your blog, if you do it in a professional manner, you’ll increase your customers’ respect and trust.

4. Good in the long run.

Writing a blog today is an easy way of investing in your future. Because nothing looks as good as a successful blog that has been operating for several months or years. Your blog is going to there to stay, so while you may be eagerly awaiting comments related to your most recent blog, your next potential customer may actually be wooed by reading a blog you wrote three months previously. 3. You establish authority.When people read what you’ve written, they gain confidence in you and your product. You may be able to answer pressing questions about your product or ease worries that are related to your industry. Regardless of what you convey in your blog, if you do it in a professional manner, you’ll increase your customers’ respect and trust.4. Good in the long run.Writing a blog today is an easy way of investing in your future. Because nothing looks as good as a successful blog that has been operating for several months or years. Your blog is going to there to stay, so while you may be eagerly awaiting comments related to your most recent blog, your next potential customer may actually be wooed by reading a blog you wrote three months previously.

No, Not All Locks Are Created Equal

whitestarstrategies@gmail.com (Philip Nichols) — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 14:29:39 GMT

You may think that all locks are the same, but they aren’t. And no one knows this better than professional burglars. That’s why making sure you choose only high quality locks to protect your personal items is of utmost importance.

Having a blog on your website is a way to increase engagement with your website visitors. Once you get the hang of it, blogging can also be a productive break from your regular routine.

Here are the top 4 reasons for having a blog on your website. There are, of course, many more reasons why blogging is great. We’re just saving those for an upcoming post.

1. Blogs help drive traffic to your site.

2. Blogs help convert traffic into leads.

3. You establish authority.

4. Good in the long run.

Writing a blog today is an easy way of investing in your future. Because nothing looks as good as a successful blog that has been operating for several months or years. Your blog is there to stay, so while you may be eagerly awaiting comments related to your most recent blog, your next potential customer may actually be wooed by reading a blog you wrote three months previously.