Rep. Alan Powell 2022 Legislative Newsletter – Week Eleven

By State Representative Alan Powell, HD 32

This week, the House and Senate Rules Committees began hearing bills that might have a chance to get a vote on the floor of the respective chamber. Next week will be a culmination of proposed legislation from both chambers and some legislation that will not pass. As of this writing, Tuesday morning, there are several bills of interest for me to report on:

Senate Bill 358: Creates a pathway for soon-to-be U. S. military veterans to transition into civilian life; and to fill vacancies within our law enforcement agencies; and allows the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to reimburse training costs when active-duty members pursue law enforcement training.

Senate Bill 396: Helps food banks purchase fresh, affordable produce from Georgia farmers. Also, allows the Georgia Department of Agriculture to implement a program for regional food banks to purchase surplus food products from Georgia farmers.

Senate Bill 341: Helps lessen the burden for doctors and their patients with chronic illnesses to obtain treatment.

• Allows these patients to go through a single authorization process that would last for a minimum of one year.
• Does not apply to opioid analgesics, benzodiazepine or medications with a typical treatment period of less than 12 months.

Senate Bill 331: Protecting Georgia Businesses and Workers Act – Prohibits local jurisdictions from enforcing any rule or ordinance that regulates the hours or scheduling  a private employer is required to provide to employees or that regulates employee output during work hours.

Senate Bill 340: Updates provisions related to medical education accreditation by replacing the “American Medical Association” with “Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education” as the accrediting body, and removes the 50-resident program requirement.

Senate Bill 346: Requires a company that submits a bid or a contract proposal with the state to certify that the company is not owned, operated, or affiliated with the Chinese government.

Senate Bill 469: Aligns Georgia’s laws with federal laws regarding requirements for visual distress signals and flotation devices on watercraft.

Senate Bill 470: Replaces the term “agent” with the term “covered employee” in the list of individuals the Department of Banking and Finance shall revoke mortgage licenses to because of a felony conviction. A “covered employee” would be defined as a mortgage lender or broker employee involved in residential mortgage loan-related activities for Georgia properties who have access to loan origination, processing, or underwriting information.

Senate Bill 493: Authorizes non-judicial foreclosures of time-share estates by an owners’ association. and outlines requirements for these foreclosures.

Senate Bill 500: Ensures the state receives the full settlement amount in statewide opioid settlements. Also, bars other litigation claims by a state entity or local government once the state enters into the opioid settlements. Bars would not apply to bellwether claims regarding the National Prescription Opiate Litigation, Case No.: MDL 2804.

Senate Bill 514: Unmask Georgia Students Act – prohibits local public and charter schools from making or enforcing any rules that require students to wear face masks or face coverings at school unless the rule would allow parents to exempt their child without disclosing their reason for opting out. Also, prohibits schools from disciplining students whose parents have elected to exempt their child from the mask policy.

Senate Bill 543: Clarifies Georgia’s slayer statute by prohibiting an individual who kills, conspires to kill, or procures the killing of an individual from subsequently claiming a right to recover from the decedent’s estate.

Senate Bill 581: Designates the Georgia State Plane Coordinate System as the system for defining and stating geographic positions for property surveying within the state. Continued use of the old system’s legal descriptions would remain valid under the new system designation.

Senate Bill 391: Constitutional carry/permitless carry – is awaiting final passage in both the House and Senate.

Other Updates:

One-time Tax Credit: The governor signed House Bill 1302 into law, to create a one-time tax credit for Georgians using $1.6 billion in undesignated surplus funds from the Amended Fiscal Year 2022 budget. Eligible Georgia taxpayers can expect to receive a tax credit based on their 2020 tax filer status. Single tax filers will receive a $250 refund, head-of-household filers will receive $375, and those who file jointly will receive a $500 refund.

Legalized Gambling:

An issue that has come up that has been discussed for several years, is to allow the people of Georgia to vote to legalize gambling in this state. This bill has been reported out as SR 135. If passed, the voters of Georgia would have the final say on this legislation.

Medical Cannabis:

Medical cannabis is currently on its way to a Conference Committee to see if this can be worked out, to correct the legislative intent to allow medical cannabis to be grown and distributed to patients with chronic illnesses.

As we continue to work with the Senate to secure the final passage of legislation this year, please do not hesitate to contact me with any thoughts you may have on legislation under consideration at your State Capitol.

You can reach my Capitol office at 404-463-3793 or email me directly at [email protected].

As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative and legislative voice at the Capitol.