State Rep. Alan Powell – 2022 Legislative Newsletter – Week Ten 

By State Representative Alan Powell, HD 32 

The House reconvened on 3/15/22, Crossover Day, spending the day debating and voting, passing almost 60 bills and resolutions by the time we adjourned around 11 p.m.

House Bill 1354: Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act: Streamlines and standardizes the compensation process for wrongful accused

House Bill 1435: Education; need-based financial aid program:

• Allows part-time and full-time college students to apply for a need-based financial aid program to fill an outstanding financial aid gap (money remaining after qualified institutions account for the cost of attendance and other funds). Students could apply for up to $2,500 in grant funding to cover this gap;
• Eligible undergraduate students would be required to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), complete 80 percent of credit requirements towards a specific degree, and meet other standard state scholarship and grant requirements.

House Bill 1482: Revises the eligibility criteria for project-specific capital outlay grants for low-wealth school systems, which is a grant program that allows K-12 school systems access to funding for school construction.

House Bill 1184: Allows local school systems, charter schools, special chartered schools, and the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice to administer nationally recognized college entrance exams, like the ACT or SAT, to 11th-grade students who choose to participate.

House Bill 202: Removes the sunset from Joshua’s Law, and sets a 3% fine.

House Bill 424: Establishes a tax credit for contributions to approved foster care support organizations that assist children aging out of foster care. This tax credit would have an annual aggregate cap of $20 million, and the different tax credit amounts are outlined for different types of tax filers.

House Bill 830: Allows a sheriff to be compensated by a supplement for official services by up to two courts.

House Bill 937: Requires the Georgia Department of Community Health to provide Medicaid coverage for mammograms at no cost to the patient as long as the screening is recommended based on the patient’s health status.

House Bill 1041: Updates our laws related to tax credits for contributions to rural hospital organizations by increasing the annual aggregate cap from $60 million to $75 million.

House Bill 1350: Requires an estate representative to send notice to all beneficiaries within 30 days of issuance of letters and would require the filing of notices with the probate court within 60 days of issuance of letters. This bill would also ensure compliance and amend the Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration laws.

House Bill 1358: Repeals the requirement for a weapons carry license for those who are not otherwise ineligible to possess and carry a firearm.

House Bill 1387: Suspends a driver’s motor vehicle registration if penalties from overtaking a school bus or speeding in a school zone are not paid.

House Bill 1404: Instructs the Georgia Department of Community Health to submit a waiver request to the federal Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to allow private mental health institutions to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement.

House Bill 1405: Revises the Zoning Procedures Law to establish procedures and notice requirements for specified zoning hearings before quasi-judicial entities. This bill would also require local governments to provide hearings when a zoning decision is granted or denied.

House Bill 1421: Requires fees collected for the disposal of solid wastes and hazardous wastes to be annually appropriated to the Hazardous Waste Trust Fund.

House Bill 1443: Allows for a mobile food establishment, such as a food truck, permitted in one county to operate in other counties in the state, and would specify provisions for permitting and inspections of food truck operations.

House Bill 1478: Allows for the option to submit certificate of title applications electronically.

House Bill 1496: Allows sheriffs in possession of impounded and unclaimed livestock, to donate an animal to a rescue organization or private individual, in addition to being able to auction or euthanize the animal.

House Bill 1528: Prohibits the possession, transport, or sale of used, detached catalytic converters by unauthorized individuals. Unauthorized individuals in possession of these catalytic converters would be subject to item forfeiture, and each unlawfully possessed item would be considered a separate offense.

House Bill 1553 Bishop’s Law: Requires offenders convicted of murdering a peace officer in the line of duty to be housed in a high-security prison.

House Bill 1425 Medical Cannabis: This bill is a compromise to fix a flawed application process for licensure to produce.

I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or concerns regarding legislation we have discussed or passed thus far. 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.