NEWSLETTER: Week 7 of the Legislative Session
Early Voting Begins
If you’ve passed the Smyrna Community Center this week you may have noticed the Advance Voting signs. In-person advance voting for the March 12 Presidential Preference Primary started on Monday, February 19 and continues through March 8. If you live in HD 42, the most convenient advance voting location is the Smyrna Community Center (200 Village Green Circle SE, Smyrna GA 30080). There is also a ballot drop box at the Community Center.
You can find all of the Cobb County advance voting locations and hours here. If you prefer to vote on the Preference Primary Election Day, March 12, you MUST go to your assigned polling location, which will be open from 7 AM until 7 PM. For more information, please visit CobbElections.org.
Legislative News
On Tuesday, February 20, the House reconvened for another week of the 2024 legislative session. During week seven of the session, we met in the House Chamber for three days. 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.
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.
To help confront the opioid crisis in Georgia, the House passed House Bill 1170, 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.
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.
Finally, the House advanced legislation 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. House Bill 1077 will 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.
We also passed the following House bills and resolution during the seventh week of session:
House Bill 472, 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
House Bill 579, 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
House Bill 896, would allow a former spouse after divorce to petition the court 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 907, 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
House Bill 994, 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.
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.
Saying goodbye to my friend and colleague, Rep. Penny Houston who is retiring this year
