Jan. 28, 2025
The Honorable Michael P. Boggs, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, delivers his State of the Judiciary address to a joint session of the Georgia General Assembly on Tuesday. Image: Georgia House of Representatives
Legislators looked back on Tuesday with the unveiling of a portrait of former Representative Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), the longtime Dean of the House who retired in 2022 after 48 years in the Georgia House of Representatives. First elected in 1975, Dean Smyre served in numerous majority and minority leadership roles in the House along his path to becoming the longest serving member of the body. But Smyre is perhaps best remembered for his warmth and wise counsel to legislators and lobbyists of all stripes, which he still provides throughout the Capitol’s hallways and alcoves. Speaker John Burns shared heartfelt remarks, stating, “On more than one occasion, he brought us all together to advance strong common sense legislation that created a better quality of life for countless Georgians all over this state.”
The legislature also looked ahead on Tuesday as the Honorable Michael P. Boggs, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, delivered his State of the Judiciary address.
Committee meetings also continued on Tuesday, with full recaps of the most relevant convenings in this #GoldDomeReport.
House Judiciary Committee
The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Stan Gunter (R-Blairsville), convened for its first meeting of the biennium on Tuesday. After adopting its rules for the session, the committee considered the following legislation:
Representative Leverett presented the bill to the committee, explaining that the committee and House passed the legislation previously on several occasions. He further explained that the bill is needed due to the lack of available professionals to participate in these cases, which can cause them to stall and languish. Elizabeth Appley representing the Georgia Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, Robin Pingeton of the United Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Georgia, and Julianna McConnell representing the Service Providers Association for Developmental Disabilities spoke in favor of the legislation. Sheila Jeffery and LJ Young spoke in opposition of the bill. Jessica Cowell, a member of the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities, spoke in opposition and urged caution in the expansion of the list of professionals without specialized training or consideration of alternatives like supported decision-making. Judge Kristin Poland, speaking on behalf of the Council of Probate Court Judges of Georgia, offered support for the bill and explained the guardianship and conservatorship process for the committee, noting that the evaluations are only part of the process.
There was substantial conversation amongst members of the committee about whether the professionals proposed for addition to the list are appropriately trained and qualified to opine on the need for a guardian or conservator. However, the committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.
Representative Ford presented the bill to the committee alongside Chief Judge Clayton A. Tomlinson. Judge Tomlinson noted that the circuit has the highest need of any circuit in the state, and it last received a judgeship in 1979. Funding for the new judge is included in Governor Brian Kemp’s budget proposal for FY 2026, and the bill has an effective date of July 1. The committee recommended the bill DO PASS and be sent to the Rules Committee.
The committee did not hear HB 85 or HB 86 as previously noticed.
House Appropriations - Human Resources Subcommittee
This afternoon, Chairman Katie Dempsey (R-Rome) and her subcommittee met to take up issues around the FY 2025 Amended budget. The room was filled to capacity and folks spilled into the hallway as this subcommittee took up some of Georgia’s human services' needs. The subcommittee is dedicated to vetting the causes brought forward according to Chairman Dempsey and will dive deeper in the FY 2026 Budget at a later time. Individuals serving on this subcommittee are Emory Dunahoo, Victor Anderson, Mike Cameron, Mary Margaret Oliver, Karen Mathiak, and Lydia Glaze (who is new to the Subcommittee).
Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Candice Broce presented her agency’s budget requests. 2 million Georgians are touched annually by the department’s 230 offices statewide. The department has overseen adult protective services, child support, child welfare services, and more. Some highlights were touched — including three new memory assessment clinic locations; 44,000 investigated reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults. In child support services, they saw a higher number of participants in the fatherhood program, benefitting 1,000 children, and collected more support than in FY 2023 (received more than $60 million). Conducted child protective services investigations — seeing fewer foster care children, finalized 1,306 DFCS adoptions, served fewer children in hotels, and maintained success with the support of legislators, providers, and foster parents. 235 children were served in hotels, a reduction of more than 77%. The highest number was 19 in a hotel and that was in October 2024. Murphy Harpst is the pilot for the first Quality Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) and DHS has launched an effort to find missing foster youth. Child welfare has a $1.12 billion total budget. Family Independence has 1.4 million people receiving SNAP. They hired 1,085 caseworkers to conduct eligibility. Disaster SNAP (with four phases) has begun with a disbursement of more than $126 million in benefits across 55 counties, assisting approximately 267,000 households and 598,000 individuals. This office’s budget is $595 million. Technology has been a priority of the agency with the update of Georgia Gateway, Communicare, and modernizing the invoicing portal for RBWO providers to improve payment and accuracy and have also worked at scanning and digitizing paper financial records. $3.76 million adjustments are included in the recommendations — $1.7 million is included for CASAs (no longer will block grant dollars be used). Georgia Pathways’ eligibility is receiving funds to help with integration into the state’s eligibility system. Medicaid disability determinations are to be made differently and contractors are no longer used; therefore they have needed resources to work with pending cases as well as new ones. They also requested dollars for out-of-home care — significant growth in expenses because children have higher needs — complex, Medicaid, Title IV-E, TANF, Social Services Block Grant, etc. On any given day, there are 15,650 children in foster care — insurance premiums are making it challenging for providers to survive. The children have more complex needs that require more. The average cost is $2,650 per month for each child in out-of-home care. There are new requirements for the use of funds — Title IV-E can only be used for 14 days unless a statutory exception exists but now there are two new ones in Georgia. $44 million deficit — DHS meets children where they are. Growth has exceeded base funding. It is the most accurate forecast. Federal dollars cannot plug the needs. Child care licensing has the need for additional funds due to recent additions of QRTPs and commercial sexual exploitation centers are two new licensure types. Rep. Oliver asked about the vacancy and turnover rates — what are those? Her concern was a high vacancy rate; Broce said that the agency was doing well due to pay raises for staffing. Ms. Broce also mentioned the special victims unit, not a year old, and that funding has been absorbed by the agency as there have not been new dollars. Arrest powers sought by the agency were inquired about; Fulton County Sheriff has deputized an individual who can execute exigency warrants to help locate missing children. Law enforcement is not issuing warrants but they can pursue exigency warrants to get information from Instagram and Meta used to help locate children. Rep. Oliver asked about the frozen funding by the federal government and its impact to state — Medicaid and SNAP are not affected by the federal pause by the Trump Administration, but some of the other programs are awaiting guidance per Commissioner Broce.
Chairman Dempsey asked about the impact to PSSF grants with the federal pause. Payments required under the law, however, cannot be paused per Commissioner Broce.
Representative Dunahoo expressed thanks to Commissioner Broce. How does the state spend $1,500 for a hotel room? The costs are for the room, what it takes to feed and transport the child, and behavioral aide(s) for approximately $1500. The state has made changes to help providers get paid the extra funds to serve the children. He also asked about CASA (which is about 70% privately funded). The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant has been used.
Staffing and help for those involved with the hurricanes was also brought up.
The Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kevin Tanner also presented to the subcommittee. Several lives are touched in Georgia and he thanked the subcommittee for increased funding and programs over the last few years. Hepatitis C screening services’ funding is being reduced by $375,000 and there's a change in funding for the state’s first IDD center (which is located in Macon and currently under construction) — an amount of $1.59 million is asked to be reduced and the center can still open in March as planned. Adult forensic services, particularly Dodge County which had 30 beds opened, were brought online and can return more than $400,000. A transfer of funds was asked to plan for a new BHCC in North Fulton — a request of $500,000 was made to be transferred. Georgia is working on strengthening its crisis response serving individuals with developmental disabilities. They are focusing on reducing the numbers of individuals in emergency rooms — working from reducing from 40 to 20 with the goal of zero with the Macon facility. The Savannah Child and Adolescent Crisis Stabilization Unit was updated by its new CEO, Ashley Allen. It will be a 16-bed facility and will be opened next year but the groundbreaking has occurred. One of the biggest challenges is 800 folks waiting in jails for a hospital bed. 641 total forensic beds with 60% occupied by reason of insanity and are under a court order. By 2034, there will be zero beds for the forensic population. There is a 232-bed gap for forensics — males wait time is 367 days and 376 days for females. The Dodge County Restoration Facility (a former DJJ YDC) is now open providing security and clinical services.
Representative Glaze asked about the BHCC in Fulton County. She asked about the number of beds for that BHCC; Tanner indicated it will be likely 24 beds but there are no operational funds. Fulton County has not provided operational funds per Tanner.
The opioid settlement was also discussed by Commissioner Tanner as the trustee of the funds. Georgia with other states entered into litigation and is to receive a $638 million settlement over 18 years. 25% or $159 million goes to local participating governments which will determine how dollars will be used. 75% or $479 million will flow through the trust. This settlement was set up to prevent future harm of opioids and includes approved uses — harm reduction techniques, etc. When the settlement was reached, there was negotiation for the regional structure and each has a regional advisory council (3 to 7 members by the governing bodies). All “RACs” are elected and include someone with “lived experience” and at state level has folks who have been appointed by the governor and local governments. Qualifying local grantees are the large counties. A private contractor has been hired and grant opportunities were opened (based on a “gap analysis”). $50 million is planned to be released in the first year. $250 million in requests, however, were received. 128 projects were approved in the funding requests. Rep. Oliver noted its administration of the opioid trust and how it differs from the Tobacco Settlement funds’ administration. DeKalb County has put funds on the table to get crisis beds.
IDD connect system does not function well per Commissioner Tanner. Thus, a new contract is let to replace this system. It will also track data and how individuals are served.
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities’, Darcy Robb, presented her FY 2025 Amended requests. Nine new members of the Council were appointed by Governor Kemp over the summer. Inclusive Post-Secondary Education funds are used by the council so that those individuals can get an education with their peers. Asked that the amended funds include more for NOW and COMP waivers, but there is a need for growth. These waivers allow individuals with developmental disabilities the ability to live in their homes and communities so they can work and contribute. 13,711 receive waivers and 7916 are on the waiting list. Almost 225,000 million families support individuals with developmental disabilities. Guidehouse conducted a study on the waivers, which included a public listening session, that discussed experiences. It is difficult to get a waiver. It is difficult to get on the planning list. Some states have little or no waiting list for these waivers (Tennessee and Oklahoma). High school graduation is frequently the target time to begin a waiver — 68% of people on NOW/COMP are 21 or older. Georgia’s needs score assessment (how badly does the person need a waiver) based on unmet need does not account for urgency and severity and people on the list and their families do not know what their needs score is. With the rate study investment in 2024, providers have capacity for more waivers. 1,000 waivers requested which would cost $27 million. More will be requested in FY 2026. The lack of waivers is what falls on the families and individuals and support.
Commissioner Patricia Ross with Department of Veterans Services overtime costs for nursing — particularly costly in Milledgeville was accented. The CPI was suggested last year but not approved for the homes. It is difficult to address retention of the nurses. She asked $1.5 million for status quo — $50,000 to add a bed — to maintain the current bed count. The subacute therapy unit is complementary to the work that the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities does but focuses on the veteran population. The War Veterans Home is the number one priority — demand for skilled care is increasing but bed count is decreasing per Commissioner Ross and the federal government will match funds (State has to pay at least 50%). They have lost beds but both their homes have waiting lists (a total of more than 400). Nursing home care for veterans is a state function; the VA funds portions through a grant match. Georgia is 1500 beds short for veterans. Georgia only has 13% of that. Georgia is also significantly behind other states around it — South Carolina is opening its sixth home and has half the veteran population. 25 veterans on behavioral health “watch,” and the subacute unit will be a plus to help those individuals. All of the individuals served are Georgia residents. About 60% of the department’s funds come from federal funds — the “pause” implemented by the Trump Administration is a concern as the impact now is unknown. 1.1 million Georgians are veterans and those serving are 12.7 Georgians are military or affiliated (1.39 million). While the agency has done several internal efficiencies — like digitizing military separation documents, contracting accounting services, eliminating fax lines, transitioning high-cost leases, etc., funding is needed. New offices will open with the Perry Clinic (March date). The Bainbridge and Lyons offices were closed. They are looking for space in Gwinnett to name a couple of statewide reach options. Cemeteries received federal dollars and spaces should be enough for the next 10 years. Ms. Ross also mentioned the PACT Act about getting benefits for funds for veterans — much done with outreach (56 events), assisted 806 veterans connected to care, and 438 individuals had on-site claims assistance. The suicide prevention coordinator position was approved last year. 73 individuals were identified as high/moderate risk for suicide and connected to community partners. They also have a suicide prevention summit annually to identify the signs and prevent suicide (65 counties were represented). There is also a suicide mortality review grant (done in connection with Kennesaw State). The agency also works with homeless veterans and directly assisted 30 veterans with getting shelter and facilitated referrals. The transition and employment coordinator has focused on younger veterans, working with colleges and university systems.
Rep. Dunahoo noted the struggle with the funding. He apologized that the prior administration provided funds for illegal immigrants.
Rep. Cameron noted the heroes present at the hearing. He inquired about the homeless coordinator and work done.
Rep. Anderson discussed the transition coordinator position and work done to help individuals move to civilian life.
Rep. Glaze indicated her support. She is married to a disabled veteran. Her interest was the PACT Act, asking about claims submitted. Commissioner Ross could not outline the funds, however, received. $27.6 million was put to the education of veterans through the university system.
Public Comment:
Tyler Mann, director of policy in DeKalb DA Office, spoke about UFISA operations (child support establishment, enforced, and collected). The state is obligated to provide the services based on a contract between the state and federal government. It is not a DeKalb County program. They would like not only supplemental dollars but also funds in the base budget. They need 23 staff members (4,500 active cases and helping 6,000 children) to seek support from parents who are in other jurisdictions; they only have 19 staff folks. $563,023 is needed for the remainder of the fiscal year. It will be a violation of the contract with the federal government if the county closes these operations. Three jurisdictions do their own (Cobb, DeKalb, and Clayton Counties due to the numbers of cases) and the remainder is handled by the state. If no funding, the operations will cease in March which will create a three-year backlog.
Elizabeth Appley, on behalf of supportive housing and others, asked for funding for the state housing voucher program. There is a serious problem with an increase of 29% from 2018 to 2024 (based on Point In Time count). People are dying for lack of shelter when there is a surplus of more than $11 billion. The Olmstead settlement obligated Georgia; only 2,200 individuals are now served. Incarceration costs are much higher per day than what a housing voucher and support costs are. Crisis services’ costs also dramatically dropped when individuals were housed. The housing voucher program is operating below pre-pandemic level of funding. There is also a waiting list for the voucher program. Housing choice vouchers are not a solution.
House Appropriations Committee - Health Subcommittee
The Health Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, chaired by Representative Darlene Taylor (R-Thomasville), met on Tuesday afternoon to hear testimony on the Amended FY25 State budget.
Russel Carlson, Commissioner of the Department of Community Health, opened testimony by acknowledging the evolving federal funding situation coming out of Washington over the previous 24 hours. Commissioner Carlson noted that the Department just learned that Medicaid is likely exempt from the freeze, so there is some reason to breathe a sigh of relief even though the situation is still fluid. He went on to discuss broadly the Governor’s proposal for the Department in the Amended FY25 spending plan. 97% of the Department’s budget goes directly to benefits, and enrollment has stabilized post-pandemic and continues to grow slowly with Georgia’s population.
Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner of the Department of Public Health, reviewed her Department’s budget, noting that about half of their funds come from federal sources (split between USDA and HHS) that could be implicated by the freeze. Dr. Toomey also discussed the Governor’s additions to the Department budget in his Amended FY24 proposal, which include funds to study the impacts of social media on mental health for children in Georgia and funds to cover the costs of mailing Low THC Oil Patient registry cards.
Chet Bhasin, Executive Director of the Georgia Board of Health Care Workforce, reviewed the Governor’s recommendations for his agency, which include $25 million each for Mercer School of Medicine and Morehouse School of Medicine and $250,000 for the Physician for Rural Areas program.
The subcommittee heard public testimony from the following:
House Appropriations Committee - Education Subcommittee
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, chaired by Representative Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville), met briefly to hear FY2025 amended budget requests from the following four departments:
Transfer funds of $265,000 to State Charter School Commission pursuant to HB 318 (2024 Session)
QBE equalization - Reduce funds to reflect a data correction for Gainesville City and Hall County Tax Digests. ($24,340,036)
Adjust funds for the Local Five Mill Share for two new State Commission Charter Schools. ($214,870)
$50,000,000 for security grants in the amount of $21,635 per school allowing local school systems to enhance security system-wide.
Quality Basic Education Program Changes
House Public & Community Health Committee
The House Public & Community Health Committee, chaired by Representative Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), also met for their first meeting of the biennium, in which they first adopted their rules. Before any other business was taken up, the committee heard a presentation from the Division of Aging and Dementia: Nancy Pitrah of the Alzhimers Associate and MaryLea Boatwright Quinn of the Division of Aging Services at the Department of Human Services shared this, the first ever report of the state of dementia in Georgia. The committee then took up just one piece of legislation.
HB 89, by Chairman Cooper, was presented by Megan Andrews, Assistant Commissioner for Policy at the Department of Community Health. This is the agency’s bill for seeking to improve maternal health. Autopsies will no longer be required to be performed at perinatal centers, which do not want to do them because of liability concerns. A maternal mortality review committee will be established to make recommendations for policy changes to improve outcomes. She noted that the department will need access to mental health records for the committee to make their full assessments. The committee recommended DO PASS.
The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the House:
H.B.122 |
Persons and their rights; life from the moment of conception is accorded same rights and protections guaranteed to all persons; provide |
Rep. Charlice Byrd (R-020) |
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H.B.123 |
Criminal procedure; pretrial proceedings in capital offense cases where the death penalty is sought when the accused has an intellectual disability; provide |
Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R-157) |
|
H.B.124 |
Insurance; require coverage for healthcare services for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders; provisions |
Rep. Mitchell Scoggins (R-014) |
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H.B.125 |
Crimes and offenses; online menacing of a peace officer; provide for offense |
Rep. Mike Cameron (R-001) |
|
H.B.127 |
Education; number of accumulated sick leave days for teachers and other school personnel; increase from three to five |
Rep. Brent Cox (R-028) |
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H.B.129 |
Ad valorem tax; bona fide conservation use property; remove a limitation on leased property as to certain entities |
Rep. Chas Cannon (R-172) |
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H.B.130 |
Pay As You Earn Education Program Act; enact |
Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-011) |
|
H.B.132 |
Council of Municipal Court Judges; office of senior municipal court judge; provide |
Rep. Matt Reeves (R-099) |
|
H.B.133 |
Student Character Development Act; enact |
Rep. David Clark (R-100) |
|
H.B.136 |
Income tax; contributions to foster child support organizations; expand tax credit |
Rep. Mark Newton (R-127) |
|
H.B.137 |
Contracts; increase dollar value of certain public works contracts exempt from provisions relating to retention of contractual payments |
Rep. Victor Anderson (R-010) |
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H.B.138 |
Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council; establish basic and in-service training courses on de-escalation techniques and methods |
Rep. Yasmin Neal (D-079) |
|
H.B.139 |
Pharmacies; prohibit drug manufacturer and wholesalers from preventing a licensed pharmacy from acquiring drugs from entities that participate in a particular federal drug discount program |
Rep. Todd Jones (R-025) |
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H.R.57 |
Sex Trafficking Awareness Day at the state capitol; February 11, 2025; recognize |
Rep. Sandra "Sandy" Donatucci (R-105) |
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H.R.67 |
Georgia's Clean Energy Transition, Workforce Development, and Green Job Creation by 2050; support |
Rep. Kim Schofield (D-063) |
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H.R.68 |
Quality Basic Education and Full-Time Equivalent funding formulas; support revision |
Rep. Lydia Glaize (D-067) |
|
H.R.69 |
Biomedical Research Day; every third Thursday in April; recognize |
Rep. Imani Barnes (D-086) |
The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the Senate:
S.B.27 |
Stalking; offense of doxxing; penalties; protective order; provide |
Sen. John Albers (R-056) |
|
S.B.28 |
"Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025"; enact |
Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-027) |
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S.B.29 |
DNA Sampling, Collection, and Analysis; collection of DNA samples of individuals arrested for the commission of a felony at the time such individuals are booked or otherwise processed by a detention facility; provide |
Sen. Rick Williams (R-025) |
|
S.B.30 |
Hospitals and Related Institutions; hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; prohibit prescribing or administering |
Sen. Ben Watson (R-001) |
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S.B.32 |
Obstruction of Public Administration; convicted of doing violence in the obstruction or hindering of law enforcement officers; provide for a mandatory minimum sentence |
Sen. Rick Williams (R-025) |
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S.B.33 |
"Georgia Hemp Farming Act"; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits |
Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-032) |
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S.B.34 |
Public Service Commission; costs incurred by an electric utility as a result of providing electric services to commercial data centers from being included in any rates; prohibit |
Sen. Chuck Hufstetler (R-052) |
|
S.B.35 |
Property Insurance Policies; notice required to be given a policyholder before the nonrenewal of his or her homeowners' insurance policy; increase the number of days |
Sen. Larry Walker (R-020) |
|
S.B.36 |
"Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act"; enact |
Sen. Ed Setzler (R-037) |
|
S.B.37 |
"AI Accountability Act"; enact |
Sen. John Albers (R-056) |
|
S.R.39 |
Georgia Career and Technical Student Organizations Day; February 5, 2025; recognize February 2025 as Career and Technical Education Month |
Sen. Chuck Payne (R-054) |
|
S.R.50 |
Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers (GYSTC); commend |
Sen. Freddie Sims (D-012) |
The General Assembly will reconvene for Legislative Day 8 on Wednesday, January 29, at 10 a.m.
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