New Bills Introduced in Week Four
SENATE
SB 436 (Dem) Promotes transparency about utility consumption by businesses by prohibiting the use of nondisclosure agreements by local governments and temporarily halting new tax breaks for data center equipment. SUPPORT
SB 495 (Dem) The “Age-Appropriate Design Code Act” proposes to regulate how online platforms handle minors’ data and exposure to sensitive content.
SB 497 (Rep) Expands the Parents’ Bill of Rights. This bill would create a mandatory notification system that notifies parents when students receive “non-instructional services” from school employees such as counselors, nurses, psychologists, and social workers, and require that all non-instructional services must be kept in students education records. OPPOSE—kids less likely to seek counseling if they know parents will be notified
HOUSE
HB 60 (Dem) The “Healthy Start Act” proposes to provide free meals to reduced-price eligible students and require districts to participate in federal programs that provide free meals for students in high-poverty schools. STRONGLY SUPPORT
HB 215 (Rep) The “Voter List Integrity Act,” proposes to prohibit Georgia from participating in multistate voter list maintenance organizations and switch to using direct state-to-state compacts, specifically organizations that may encourage voter registration outreach. OPPOSE—takes GA out of ERIC, a multi-state communication geared to avoid multi-state voter registrations-election deniers believe in conspiracies surrounding ERIC, when in fact it helps to avoid duplicate registrations—see also HB 1227 below
HB 675 (Rep) State-level criminal offenses related to material support of terrorism to be defined as violent felony acts intended to intimidate civilians, influence government policy, or affect government conduct.
HB 963 (Rep) Restricts foreign nationals from contributing to, controlling, or participating in any Georgia campaign to bring about the approval or rejection by the voters of any proposed question which appears on the ballot
HB 1053 (Dem) Repeals mandatory cooperation with federal immigration authorities by state/local law enforcement while creating protections for immigrant crime victims seeking federal immigration relief. STRONGLY SUPPORT
HB 1118 (Rep) Provides paid 80 hours of maternal birth leave for state government and local education agency employees in the 3 weeks following childbirth.
HB 1138 (Rep) The “Increasing Access to Contraceptives Act” proposes to authorize pharmacists to provide contraceptives, require insurers to cover longer prescriptions, and protect physicians from civil liability, criminal charges, and professional discipline. STRONGLY SUPPORT—surprisingly positive bill brought by Republicans
HB 1226 (Rep) Amends Georgia’s self-defense laws to give stronger presumptions and immunity in favor of the person using use of force resulting in death, seems to soften definitions in favor of law enforcement. STRONGLY OPPOSE—clearly a response to the killing in MN to favor law enforcement in the event of its use of deadly force—goes way too far to reduce accountability
HB 1227 (Rep) Amends Georgia’s voter registration laws regarding voters who were previously registered to vote in other states-registration form includes disclosure of registration in another state.
HB 1269 (Rep) Requires K-12 students to receive grade level appropriate instruction in digital literacy.
HB 1270 (Rep) Allows law enforcement to install and use mobile tracking devices in searches with warrants. OPPOSE—encroaches on right to be free of unreasonable search and seizure, privacy invasion, possible tool for ICE to exploit
HB 1275 (Rep) Amends developments in stem cell therapies to not involve stem cells from abortions. OPPOSE—imposes religious beliefs and potentially intimidates researchers, limits research options
