Gold Dome Report — Legislative Day 26 | Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP jdsupra.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from jdsupra.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Committee Reports
House Small Business Development Incentives and Education Workforce Subcommittee
Subcommittee Chairman Dale Washburn (R-Macon) called up one bill, HB 611, authored by Representative Mike Cheokas (R-Americus). HB 611 seeks to provide a new definition in O.C.G.A. 50-5-121(3) for the term, ‘small business.’ This legislation was brought to the General Assembly by Scott Hilton with the Georgia First Commission. The new definition creates three tiers:
Tier 1 - 10 or fewer employees or $1 million or less in gross receipts per year;
Tier 2 - 100 or fewer employees or $10 million or less in gross receipts per year; and
Tier 3 - 300 or fewer employees or $30 million or less in gross receipts per year.
The Republican-controlled Georgia Senate approved four elections bills Tuesday, the first of many expected in the legislative session following Democratic victories in November and January. The biggest change would see absentee by mail applications verified using a form of ID.
Floor Notes
House
Modified Structured Rule
HB 68 Professions and businesses; certain military certifications; extend time to qualify (RegI-Clark-147th) Bill PASSED 163-0.
HB 119 Professions and businesses; chiropractors may own professional corporations with physicians; provide (RegI-Hawkins-27th) Bill PASSED 163-0.
HB 161 Local government; downtown development authorities; remove provision providing perpetual existence to such authorities (GAff-Tankersley-160th) Bill PASSED 165-0.
HB 241 Insurance; revise meaning of property insurance; change parameters under which certain contracts or agreements may be canceled (Substitute) (Ins-Gambill-15th) Bill PASSED166-0.
HB 286 Local government; restrict ability of county governing authorities to reduce funding for county police departments(Substitute)(GAff-Gaines-117th) Bill was postponed.
Committee Reports
Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Chairman Ben Watson (R-Savannah) and the Health and Human Services Committee took up one proposal, SB 116, authored by Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula). The legislation seeks to enact in Chapter 5 of Title 49 the “Maternity Supportive Housing Act.” The legislation would allow nonprofits to own and operate housing for women who are ages 18 and older and who need a place to live while pregnant and for up to 18 months after the child is born; pregnant women can bring their existing children to these homes. These facilities would be different than homes provided to younger girls (typically those in foster care who become pregnant). Senator Robertson noted that it was to exclude government interference; there is a need for these homes as waiting lists exist. Senator Robertson reminded the Committee as a former law enforcement officer he knew well the pipeline to prison and this would perhaps help alleviate some of this