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Rep. Lehman Franklin: Under the Gold Dome Week 5

Week 5 at the Georgia Capitol was filled with productive legislative action, including the passage of several key bills focused on public safety, economic growth, and educational support.
Special to Grice Connect
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Rep. Lehman Franklin

Week 5 Highlights: 

On Monday, February 10, my colleagues and I returned to the capitol for another busy week, with the passage of several bills. 

  • We unanimously passed House Bill 61, which allows for separate license plates for ambulances and hearses.

  • The House also took important steps toward ensuring the safety of our state’s judges and their families by unanimously passing House Bill 199.

  • We passed House Bill 216, which will continue to help make Georgia a key player in the semiconductor industry.

  • We also passed House Bill 81, which creates the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists. 

  • House Bill 105 was also passed unanimously, which raises the amount of compensation for families in the event of a death of state public school personnel.

  • This week, we also had the privilege of honoring several outstanding groups: the Georgia Electric Membership Cooperatives, Georgia tree farmers, and the Georgia Farm Bureau. We also commemorated the 158th anniversary of Morehouse College. 

 

Other bills and resolutions passed this week:

House Bill 15, House Bill 36, House Bill 55, House Bill 74, House Bill 114, House Bill 137, House Resolution 97, and House Resolution 98. 

 

Digging Deeper

 

  • This week, I was proud to sponsor legislation to protect access to IVF treatment for Georgia families. 

    • The proposed legislation would codify protections for IVF, ensuring that Georgians struggling with infertility will always have access to the treatment.

    • You can read more about it here. I also had the opportunity to discuss the bill on Georgia Public Broadcasting’s Lawmakers program. Watch here. 

 

  • House Bill 199, which ramps up protection and privacy for our state judges, would require all state and local government entities to redact any publicly available content that identifies a judge or judicial spouse.

    • The goal is to protect the privacy and personal information of our judges. 

    • This legislation comes on the heels of an alarming rise in swatting incidents aimed at elected officials and judges. 

 

  • I also want to explain a little bit more about HB 216. This bill, titled the Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act, is a critical bill that will boost our state’s standing in the semiconductor industry, positioning us as a leader in innovation and economic growth. 

    • The legislation creates a fund to provide grant and loan programs that will support workforce education and training. 

    • The goal is to build strong partnerships through education and workforce development, enabling Georgians to pursue high-demand careers. This will allow us to cultivate a skilled, homegrown workforce in this emerging field!