Rep. Alan Powell- Legislative report for the week of March 4

We are over halfway through this legislative session, and with “Cross Over Day” quickly approaching, last week was our busiest yet.

The House passed another bill to support and provide disaster relief to farmers in South Georgia who were impacted by Hurricane Michael.

In response to the enactment of the federal farm bill, which makes growing hemp in the United States legal again, HB 213 passed the House to give Georgia’s farmers another crop option. Commercial hemp has over 200 industrial uses and contains no substance that could be used in the production of drug.

The Low THC Oil Cultivation bill passed out of Committee. Four years ago, the General Assembly determined that medical cannabis can be beneficial in treating some illnesses, but the patients who applied for state cards to possess it had no legal way to obtain it. This bill addresses this issue by providing for the highly regulated manufacture and distribution of low THC oil to card-holding patients within the state.

The House adopted House Resolution 214 this week to reauthorize the House Rural Development Council (RDC) for two more years so that we can continue to address these issues.

The General Assembly is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget for the next fiscal year, and on Thursday, the House fulfilled that obligation by passing House Bill 31, the Fiscal Year 2020 budget.

House Bill 31, the FY 2020 budget, is set by a revenue estimate of $27.5 billion, which is a 3.95% increase over the FY 2019 current budget.

FY 2020 Budget Highlights:

  • $2,775 pay raise for certified teachers and certified personnel
  • $174,000 to hire two school safety threat assessment trainers to work with local school systems to develop threat assessment plans
  • I$78.4 million in the Department of Community Health for Medicaid growth
  • Recognizes an increase of $38.6 million in new revenue for transportation, an increase of 7% over the current year budget

We will return to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 4, for week eight of the 2019 legislative session.