Feb. 8, 2024
It may not be shooting fish in a barrel, but nabbing catfish with a bow and arrow will soon be legal if one Georgia legislator has his way. Representative Jason Ridley (R-Chatsworth) introduced House Bill 1173 on Thursday, legalizing the taking of any species of catfish from the waters of the state at any time of day or night with a bow and arrow. We'll see a TLC reality series coming if the bill passes, but legislators should also consider legalizing the currently prohibited poisonous and exploding arrowheads for catfishing — if they really want to blow the ratings out of the water.
The House and Senate floors were both active on Legislative Day 17 with legislators on both sides of the building engaging in vigorous debate on bills. In the House, the incorporation of the City of Mulberry (SB 333) was the main draw. In the Senate, a lengthy debate on Governor Brian Kemp’s labor union legislation (SB 362) had to be paused so Senators could take a lunch break. And in a metaphor for how most lawmakers and lobbyists feel one month into the 2024 Legislative Session, Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) broke his gavel. Still, we soldier on in this #GoldDomeReport.
The House took up the following measures on Legislative Day 17:
The Senate took up the following measures on Legislative Day 17:
House Education Committee
The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Chris Erwin (R-Homer), convened on Thursday to consider one measure:
Bonner presented the bill to the committee, which recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.
House Ways and Means Committee
Chairman Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) called the full Ways and Means Committee to order to discuss the following measures:
House Appropriations Committee
Chairman Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin) and the Appropriations Committee met for a short meeting this afternoon to address funding for Georgia’s Medicaid program. Representative Shaw Blackmon (R-Bonaire) presented HB 991 regarding the Hospital Medicaid Financing Program and specifically extending the current sunset date on that program. Currently, the hospital provider tax is to expire on June 30, 2025. The proceeds of this tax are used as matching funds to draw down federal funds for Georgia’s Medicaid program. Blackmon’s bill moves that date to June 30, 2030, as found in O.C.G.A. 31-8-179.6. The committee took no testimony and gave the legislation a DO PASS recommendation, moving it forward to the House Rules Committee.
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Chairman Ben Watson (R-Savannah) and members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee met at 5 p.m. on Wednesday to address the following:
The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the House:
H.B.1170 |
Public Health, Department of; require certain state government buildings, courthouses, and university buildings maintain and make accessible opioid antagonists |
Rep. Lee Hawkins (R-027) |
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H.B.1171 |
Sales and use tax; clothing and school related supplies during the last two weeks of July each year; exempt |
Rep. James Burchett (R-176) |
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H.B.1175 |
Physical therapists; granting licenses and disciplining licensees; revise provisions |
Rep. Chas Cannon (R-172) |
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H.B.1176 |
Insurance; coverage of infant formula when a woman is medically unable to breastfeed; provide |
Rep. Trey Kelley (R-016) |
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H.B.1177 |
Revenue and taxation; statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes when current year assessed value exceeds base year value; provide |
Rep. Ron Stephens (R-164) |
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H.B.1178 |
Georgia Utility Transparency Act; enact |
Rep. Becky Evans (D-089) |
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H.B.1179 |
Insurance; step therapy protocols may not be required for medications prescribed for the treatment of serious mental illness under health benefit plans; provide |
Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-045) |
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H.B.1180 |
Income tax credit; film, gaming, video, or digital production; revise a definition |
Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-004) |
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H.B.1181 |
Income tax; limit carry-forward periods of certain income tax credits |
Rep. Chuck Martin (R-049) |
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H.B.1182 |
Income tax; low-income housing tax credits; revise |
Rep. Clint Crowe (R-118) |
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H.B.1183 |
Education; local school systems to provide certain information to parents and guardians of students in grades six through 12 on Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes; require |
Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-013) |
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H.B.1184 |
Evidence; privilege for participation in victim centered programs; provide |
Rep. Teri Anulewicz (D-042) |
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H.B.1185 |
Revenue and taxation; statewide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes when current year assessed value exceeds the inflation rate; provide |
Rep. Beth Camp (R-135) |
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H.B.1186 |
Education Coordinating Council; school and school system ratings; provisions |
Rep. Scott Hilton (R-048) |
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H.B.1187 |
Crimes and offenses; change references to assistance and guide dogs to service dogs |
Rep. Brad Thomas (R-021) |
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H.R.1021 |
Local government; option to offer a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes when current year assessed value exceeds base year value; provide - CA |
Rep. Ron Stephens (R-164) |
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H.R.1022 |
Local government; option to offer a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes when current year assessed value exceeds the inflation rate; provide - CA |
Rep. Beth Camp (R-135) |
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H.R.1034 |
Georgia's Community Service Boards; Community Service Boards Day at the state capitol; February 13, 2024; recognize |
Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-013) |
The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the Senate:
S.B.464 |
School Supplies for Teachers Program; establish |
Sen. Clint Dixon (R-045) |
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S.B.465 |
Homicide; the felony offense of aggravated involuntary manslaughter; provide |
Sen. Russell "Russ" Goodman (R-008) |
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S.B.466 |
Obscenity and Related Offenses; limitations of defense that a sexually exploitive visual medium is digitally altered; provide |
Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-050) |
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S.R.570 |
Senate Supporting Safety and Welfare of All Individuals in Department of Corrections Facilities Study Committee; create |
Sen. Randy Robertson (R-029) |
The General Assembly will reconvene for Legislative Day 18 on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024, at 9 a.m.
The House is expected to take up the following measures on Legislative Day 18:
The Senate has not set a Rules Calendar for Legislative Day 18.
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