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By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Ending 2021 session with an emphasis on financial responsibility Rep. Jon Burns
Fellow Georgians, Our last day of the 2021 legislative session was March 31. As always, the last day, or “Sine Die,” is one of our busiest days at the Capitol. (“Sine Die” means without a specific date planned to resume; so, adjourning the House “Sine Die” means we do not plan to resume the session soon.)
The House acted on more than 90 bills on Sine Die, including Senate Bill 6 and Senate Bill 220, both of which I will highlight here. These two bills demonstrate the House Republican Caucus’s commitment to fiscal responsibility in government and for Georgia families. As we move through the rest of this year, I will review some of the essential details in the budget and additional pieces of legislat
Committee Reports
House Education Committee
The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville), met to consider the following legislation today:
SB 59, authored by Senator John Albers (R-Alpharetta), amends Title 20 relating to funding for local charter schools and charter systems. The bill changes the percentages for calculating FTE funding under Code Section 20-2-165.1, and also requires certain federal fund allocation and facility usage or stipends for local charter schools by local education agencies.
Senator Albers presented the bill to the Committee, and the Georgia School Board Association and Georgia Association of Educational Leaders expressed concerns about Section 5 of the bill. Chairman Dubnik held the bill to ensure the language is correct and noted that he intends to act on the bill at the next meeting.
Floor Action
The House took up the following measure today:
SB 5 - Professions and Businesses; patient protection measures for patients undergoing sedation in certain settings; provide- Representative Lee Hawkins (R-Gainesville) presented the legislation, addressing in particular “medispas.” Dentists, which do conscious sedation, are now required to have certain equipment. It does not prohibit a person who is duly licensed as a physician assistant in Georgia, who has completed an anesthesiologist assistant program approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board from administering conscious sedation nor deem such physician assistant to be engaged in the unlawful practice of dentistry, pursuant to their job description as approved by the Georgia Composite Medical Board, provided that such sedation is administered under the direction and responsibility of an anesthesiologist. The legislation also The bill passed by Substitute with a vote of 160-5; it now requires the Senate to agr
Floor Action
The House took up the following measure today:
SB 4 - Drug Abuse Treatment and Education Programs; patient brokering; prohibit; definitions; exceptions; penalties; provide PASSED 151-0
The Senate took up the following measures today:
SB 274 - Bartow County; homestead exemption; school district ad valorem taxes for educational purposes; provide PASSED 51-0
SB 275 - Bartow County School District Ad Valorem Taxes; homestead exemption; increase exemption amount PASSED 51-0
Committee Reports
Senate Judiciary Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Brian Strickland (R-McDonough), met late Wednesday to consider the following legislation:
HB 112, authored by Representative Trey Kelley (R-Cedartown), amends multiple Code sections to extend COVID-19 liability protections for one year from their current expiration on July 14, 2021, to July 14, 2022.
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.