Week 8 Highlights:
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On Monday, March 3, my colleagues and I returned to the House for our busiest week yet this year!
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Thursday marked Crossover Day - a critical deadline for when bills need to pass out of their respective chambers if they have a chance at becoming law.
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We worked late into the night passing a record 75 bills and resolutions.
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Our goal, as always, was to advance common-sense legislation that addresses the needs of our local communities and state!
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We started the week by fulfilling our Constitutional duty to pass HB 67, the Amended Fiscal Year 2025 budget.
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We also focused on the state’s education system, passing legislation that will safeguard and expand school safety.
Go here to learn more about all the votes we took this week!
Digging Deeper
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I’m proud to share that four of my bills passed the House by the time Crossover Day ended
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HB 77 is a public safety bill that requires oncoming traffic to pull over for a funeral procession.
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HB 78 increases the percentage of assets the Employees Retirement System and the Georgia Firefighters Pension Fund may invest in alternative investments
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HB 165 provides tax relief to those affected by damages caused by Hurricane Helene.
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HB 428 protects access to IVF treatments for Georgia families.
The AFY 2025 budget also allocates critical funding for communities devastated by the hurricane.
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Notable allocations include $113 million for the Governor’s Emergency Fund, $50 million for debris removal and $285 million in disaster relief for farmers and timber producers.
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The Georgia Department of Corrections is also a major component of this budget. The department is getting $345.9 million for improvements that will ensure the safety of both inmates and staff.
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When it comes to education, the House passed HB 268 - a comprehensive measure that aims to improve the safety, health, and well-being of school communities throughout Georgia.
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The bill emphasizes the need to improve the sharing of student records between schools and from state agencies.
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The bill requires schools to utilize an anonymous reporting app to give students a safe and confidential way to report concerns.
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It also creates an Office of Safe Schools to provide resources and training to help schools foster safer environments and prevent violence.
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There are many other aspects of this bill, and they all aim to provide school environments where kids can learn without fear!
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Related to safety, the House passed HB 79, the Firearm Safe Handling and Secure Storage Tax Credit Act. The bill offers taxpayers up to a $300 credit for eligible expenses related to firearm safety training and secure storage devices.
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If you’d like assistance in claiming the $300 credit, feel free to call my office so we can help! Call (912)-489-7383.
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Coming Up:
The chamber will reconvene on Monday, March 10. With Crossover Day behind us, we will take up legislation that was passed in the Senate.
