NEWSLETTER: Week 8 of the Legislative Session

Crossover Week

The House kicked-off the eighth week of the 2024 legislative session on Monday, February 26. We dedicated an entire day of work in our committees to make sure bills made 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.

One piece of bipartisan legislation we passed was 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. 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.

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). Ensuring adequate support and financial resources for those on the front lines would improve their mental health and resilience.

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. 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.

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. 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. 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. Adults with disabilities may not be able to secure full-time employment needed to live independently so it is important we 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. I have provided a detailed overview of this budget in previous newsletters.

With Crossover Day now behind us, the House of Representatives will shift its focus to reviewing legislation that has passed 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 returned to session for Legislative Day 29 on Monday, March 4.

Rep. Anulewicz speaks on behalf of the Georgia-Japan Caucus alongside Consul General Japan Mio Maeda. — *Honoring the birthday of the Emperor of Japan with Consul General Japan Mio Maeda on behalf of the Georgia-Japan Caucus*

Legislation in the Works

I am proud to cosponsor HB 1424, the Right to Contraception Act, along with Representative Marvin Lim. Senator Elena Parent has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

This landmark legislation aims to ensure comprehensive access to contraception for all Georgians, affirming the state's commitment to reproductive health and autonomy. The announcement comes days after the Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF ruling that classifies frozen embryos as children, directly impacting the broader spectrum of reproductive healthcare.

We know that IVF is on the chopping block, and we know that it is just a matter of time for contraception, as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has specifically stated that the court should consider overturning the Griswold V. Connecticut, the landmark Supreme Court opinion that affirmed the right to privacy as it relates to contraception.

The Right to Contraception Act is a vital measure in response to nationwide threats to peoples’ right to contraception. The legislation seeks to protect and preserve Georgians’ right to contraception, including condoms, the pill, and IUDs. Survey after survey reveals that over 90 percent of adults support the availability of contraception, demonstrating substantial backing from voters across the political spectrum. This remarkable cross-party consensus underscores a common recognition that contraception is an essential healthcare requirement, transcending partisan debate.

It is not a question of if, but when. Being able to sponsor this legislation is important to me as a Georgian, as a woman, and as the mother of a teenage girl.

You can watch my full remarks on HB 1424 HERE.

House Bill 381 This bill would give Georgia workers comprehensive protections for workplace harassment. It builds on House Bill 1390, which I passed in 2022 and which gave Georgians a codified definition of sexual harassment for the first time.

House Bill 1184 This bill provides for evidentiary privilege for victim-centered programs and victim-offender dialogues that are critical to the healing process for so many victims and survivors of crimes. HB 1184 is supported by groups that include Street Grace, the Georgia Justice Project, the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.

I Hear You!

I have heard from many constituents on the following bills:

House Bill 1121. This bill would limit how cities and counties could regulate short-term rentals. It is unlikely to move forward this session.
Senate Bill 390. This deeply concerning bill passed the Senate earlier on Crossover Day. It targets our public libraries, and I am in opposition to this legislation.
House Bill 71 and House Bill 1338. Both of these bills relate to the Okefenokee Swamp. I am impressed at how many residents here in Cobb have shared their concerns about protecting our marshlands and swamps. I support HB 71 but have concerns that HB 1338 does not do enough to ensure that the Okefenokee is protected from future surface mining. Neither of these bills were heard on Crossover Day.
House Bill 1128. would undermine LGBTQ protections in Georgia and I absolutely oppose this bill. This bill did not Crossover.

Around the District

*Visiting the offices of Cobb County Elections & Registration with members of the Cobb County Legislative Delegation*

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.

Under the Gold Dome

Recognizing Scrappy the Owl and KSU President Kat Schwaig at KSU Day at the Capitol. Hooty-hoo!

It was wonderful to see Junior League of Atlanta President Chris Brodnan along with her littlest advocate when they visited the Capitol for GEARRS Strolling Thunder