This year’s edition of tort reform arrived under the Georgia Gold Dome on Wednesday, bringing plaintiffs’ lawyers and civil defense attorneys to the battle lines while onlookers quietly.
Georgia Gold Dome Report: Georgia State Legislative Day 13 natlawreview.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from natlawreview.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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.
House Small Business Development Committee
Chairman Mike Cheokas (R-Americus) and his Committee and adopted its Committee Rules. This Committee will operate with four subcommittees: 1) Barriers to Regulation (chair is Representative Tim Barton (R-Calhoun)); 2) Retail Hospitality (chair is Representative Bill Yearta (R-Sylvester)); 3) Incentives and Education (chair is Representative Dale Washburn (R-Macon)); and 4) Agribusiness (chair is Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven)).
The Committee heard presentations from NFIB, Nathan Humphrey, which indicated that the small business climate in Georgia was overall good Georgia has AAA bonds; low tax rate; it is a “right to work” state; has a solvent unemployment trust fund; has a workers’ compensation fund; and is a diversified economy. NFIB’s Humphrey pointed out the COVID-19 response and allowing businesses to open; the passage of HB 486; passage of covid liability protection law, SB 359; and the $1.5 billion for unemploymen