LEGISLATIVE REPORT
March 22, 2024
In Today’s Edition:
- Panther Intern Breakfast
- 2024 Legislative Kickball Game
- Senate Committee Passes FY 2025 Budget
- Legislation Tracker
- Intern Spotlight: Q&A with Myla Cash-Williams
- Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Michael James Walker
- Upcoming Events: Legislative Calendar
Panther Intern Breakfast
L to R: Leah Soller, Aubree Pope, Ibunkun Ogunkunle, Vikram Sehgal, Rachel Altman, Petros Yemane, Pounce, President Blake, Artemio Gutierrez, Blanca Garcia, Jinnefer Lin, Nicholas Parra, Myla Cash-Williams, Freddie Haythorne and Dylan Djomale.
On Thursday, the Office of Government and Community Affairs hosted the annual Panther Intern Breakfast at the Georgia State Capitol. During this event, GSU students interning at the Capitol are invited to celebrate their achievements with President Blake. Students enjoyed sharing their favorite internship experiences and asked President Blake questions about university leadership and higher education policy.
2024 Legislative Kickball Game
On Tuesday, Georgia lawmakers returned to Center Parc Stadium to participate in the annual legislative kickball game. This is always a fun event where members of the General Assembly and staff can escape from the Capitol for fellowship outside of their legislative duties. Under the leadership of Lt. Governor Burt Jones, the Senate defeated the House of Representatives with a score of 8-6 after seven innings. Speaker Jon Burns promised to even the score next year and looks forward to hosting tryouts for his 2025 team. Thanks to GSU Athletics who make this annual event possible!
Senate Committee Passes FY 2025 Budget
The Senate Appropriations Committee released their version of the FY 2025 budget on Thursday. The state’s operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year is almost $36 billion and begins July 1, 2024. Some items of interest to Georgia State University and the University System of Georgia (USG) include $66 million in the USG Teaching program to restore original FY 2024 formula funds, a 4% cost of living adjustment for eligible state employees (not to exceed $3,000), and additional funds to support the Dual Enrollment program. The FY 2025 budget now moves to the full Senate for a vote on Tuesday and then a conference committee will be appointed with members from each chamber to work out the differences before lawmakers adjourn on March 28.
Legislation Tracker
Tuition Grants
HB 56, sponsored by Rep. Jesse Petrea
(R-Savannah), would provide for undergraduate full tuition grants to children and spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and prison guards who were killed in the line of duty who attend institutions of the University System of Georgia and who meet certain eligibility requirements. The bill passed the Senate Higher Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Research and Economic Development Act
HB 1026, sponsored by Rep. Leesa Hagan (R-Lyons), would enact the “Richard H. Smith Georgia CHIPS Advancement in Research and Economic Development Act”; to provide for grant and loan programs to incentivize and attract semiconductor companies to locate or relocate to Georgia and for research and development and advanced packaging incentives to support these relocations. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 49-2 and now goes back to the House to agree or disagree with the changes.
Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan
SB 469, sponsored by Sen. Jason Esteves
(D-Atlanta), the “College Success 529 Expansion Act” would increase the maximum amount of contributions allowed per beneficiary of savings trust accounts for higher education expenses. The bill passed the House by a vote of 155-0 and now goes back to the Senate to agree or disagree with the changes.
Workforce EXCELeration Act
SB 112, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), would create a private-public partnership to develop a pilot program to allow students 21 years of age or older who have aged out of public high schools to attain a high school diploma instead of a GED. The program would be administered in partnership with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The bill passed the House by a vote of 143-24 and now goes back to the Senate to agree or disagree with the changes.
Accelerated Career Diploma Program
SB 440, sponsored by Sen. Matt Brass
(R-Newnan), would provide for the Accelerated Career Diploma Program and establish and provide for the ACE Grants pilot program. The bill passed the House by a vote of 168-0 and now goes back to the Senate to agree or disagree to the changes.
Combating Threats from China Act
HB 185, sponsored by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens), would require the university system to report certain funding received from a foreign adversary, a foreign entity of concern, or a foreign individual of concern. The bill passed the Senate by 50-0 and now goes back to the House to agree or disagree with the changes.
Georgia Higher Education Assistance
HB 985, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Martin
(R-Alpharetta), abolishes the Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation and transfers any obligations, liabilities, or assets to the Georgia Student Finance Authority. The House has agreed with the Senate changes and the bill now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
HBCU Planning Districts
SB 235, sponsored by Sen. Sonya Halpern
(D-Atlanta), would create the HBCU Innovation and Economic Prosperity Planning Districts Commission and provide for advisory committees for specified planning districts. The bill was heard before the House Higher Education Committee, but no vote was taken.
Higher Education In Prison
SR 770, sponsored by Sally Harrell
(D-Atlanta), a resolution creating the Senate Higher Education in Prison Study Committee. The bill passed the Senate Higher Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Career Readiness Education
HB 282, sponsored by Rep. Mesha Mainor
(R-Atlanta), would provide for a minimum course of study in career readiness education for students in grades six through twelve to include instruction and training experiences focused on employability and career readiness skills. The bill passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Increase School Safety
SB 32, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte
(R-Dallas), would require local education agencies to implement a mobile panic alert system capable of connecting disparate emergency services technologies to ensure real-time coordination between multiple state and local first responder agencies in the event of a school security emergency. The bill passed the House Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the House Rules Committee.
Protecting Children on Social Media Act
SB 351, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas), would require local boards of education to adopt, implement, and enforce social media policies. The bill passed the House Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the House Rules Committee.
Student Technology Protection Act
HB 338, sponsored by Rep. Chris Erwin
(R-Homer), would require the State Board of Education’s comprehensive character education program address methods of promoting safe and appropriate use of technology and digital citizenship. The bill passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Student Athlete Mental Health Risk
HB 1104, sponsored by Rep. Omari Crawford (D-Decatur), would provide for mental health screenings in addition to or in conjunction with preparticipation physical examinations for student athletes in grades six through twelve. The bill passed the Senate Education and Youth Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
AEDs in Public Schools
HB 874, sponsored by Rep. Lee Hawkins
(R-Gainesville), would require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all public K-12 schools and provide for the establishment of emergency action plans to address a person in cardiac arrest. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 48-0 and now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Georgia Promise Scholarship Act
SB 233, sponsored by Sen. Greg Dolezal
(R-Alpharetta), the “Georgia Promise Scholarship Act”, would provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,500 per school year for each participating student. Families could use the funds to pay for tuition at a participating school, tutoring, curriculum and other approved educational expenses. This would only apply to children who attend schools that rank in the lowest 25 percent of the state’s school rating system. The Senate agreed with the changes from the House and the bill now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Paid Parental Leave
HB 1010, sponsored by Speaker Pro Team Jan Jones (R-Milton), would increase the number of hours permitted for paid parental leave. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 42-6 and now goes back to the House to agree or disagree with the changes.
Film Tax Credit
HB 1180, sponsored by Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton), amends the film tax credit by limiting transferable credits and increasing criteria required to receive an additional 10% credit. The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee, and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Tax Relief
HB 1015, sponsored by the Governor’s Floor Leader Rep. Lauren McDonald
(R-Cumming), would cut to the state income tax from 5.75 percent to 5.39 percent. The bill passed Senate by a vote of 40-12 and now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
HB 1019, sponsored by Rep. Matt Reeves (R-Duluth), would double the homestead exemption from $2,000 to $4,000. The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee, and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
HB 2021, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Daniel (R-Locust Grove), would increase the child tax deduction from $3,000 to $4,000. The bill passed the Senate Finance Committee, and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Sports Betting
SR 579, sponsored by Sen. Bill Cowsert
(R-Athens), proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Georgia so as to authorize and require that the Georgia General Assembly provide by law for sports betting in this state. The resolution was heard before the House Higher Education Committee, but no vote was taken.
American Library Association
SB 390, sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker III (R-Perry), would prohibit the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, and city, county, and regional public library trustees from using any public or privately donated funds on any materials, services, or operations offered by the American Library Association or any of its affiliates. The bill was heard before the House Higher Education Committee, but no vote was taken.
Teledentistry
HB 441, sponsored by Rep. Katie Dempsey (R–Rome), would authorize and regulate teledentistry in this state by licensed dentists pursuant to permits issued by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-0 and now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Occupational Therapist
HB 809, sponsored by Rep. Alan Powell
(R-Hartwell), would authorize occupational therapists to perform dry needling as a physical agent modality if certain training and education requirements are met. The bill passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Impaired Healthcare Professionals
HB 1264, sponsored by Rep. Ron Stephens
(R-Savannah), would authorize the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists, as well as the Georgia Board of Nursing, to establish professional health programs. These programs would be responsible for monitoring and rehabilitating impaired healthcare professionals, ensuring their fitness to continue practicing while maintaining public safety. The bill passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Marriage and Family Therapist
SB 373, sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker III (R-Perry), would streamline the licensure process for marriage and family therapists by introducing an expedited license by endorsement for qualified individuals from other states who are in good standing and do not have a disqualifying criminal record. The bill passed the House by a vote of 159-0 and now back to the Senate to agree or disagree with the changes.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurses
HB 1046, sponsored by Rep. David Clark (R-Buford), would authorize advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to order home healthcare services. The bill also specifies limits on the number of APRNs or PAs a delegating physician can authorize or supervise at any given time, with certain exceptions for specific healthcare settings such as hospitals, educational institutions, public health departments, community health clinics, and emergency medical services systems. The limit is raised from 4 to a maximum of eight combined physician assistants or advanced practice registered nurses at a time. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 49-0 and now goes back to the House to agree or disagree with the changes.
Health Care Workforce
SB 480, sponsored by Sen. Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick), would establish a student loan repayment program for mental health or substance abuse professionals who provide services to underserved youth or unserved geographic areas. The bill passed the House by a vote of 167-2 and now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Georgia Defense Commission
SB 398, sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick
(R-Marietta), would move the Georgia Defense Commission under the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Includes the Chancellor of the University System of Georgia or his or her designee. The bill passed the House by a vote of 169-1 and now goes back to the Senate to agree or disagree to the changes.
Military Spouses
HB 880, sponsored by Rep. Bethany Ballard (R-Warner Robins), would allow military spouses to use an existing occupational or professional license in good standing from another state to obtain employment. The House has agreed with the Senate changes and the bill now goes to Governor Kemp for his signature and final approval.
Veterans
SB 449, sponsored by Sen. Larry Walker III
(R-Perry), would streamline the certification and licensing process for military medical personnel transitioning into civilian roles within the healthcare sector in Georgia. Military medical personnel who have served as medics, medical technicians, or corpsmen within 24 months of seeking certification may be exempt from certain examination requirements to become certified nursing aides. The bill passed the House Regulated Industries Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the House Rules Committee.
Nicotine Vapor Products Directory
HB 1260, sponsored by Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens), would require the Commissioner of Agriculture to establish and maintain a directory of nicotine vapor products authorized for sale in this state. The bill passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Artificial Intelligence
HB 988, sponsored by Rep. Brad Thomas (R-Holly Springs), would provide for an annual inventory of artificial intelligence usage by state agencies. The bill passed the Senate Science and Technology Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
SR 476, sponsored by Sen. John Albers
(R-Roswell), would create the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence. The resolution passed the Senate Science and Technology Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Senate Rules Committee.
Trust Fund for Homeless Act
HB 1410, sponsored by Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Dacula), known as the State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless Act would establish a stable housing accountability program. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 45-1 and now goes back to the House to agree or disagree with the changes.
Intern Spotlight: Q&A with Myla Cash-Williams
Q: Where is your hometown?
A: I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.
Q: What is your major?
A: I am majoring in Political Science with a Pre-Law concentration along with a minor in Criminal Justice.
Q: What are some of your duties as a legislative intern?
A: As a legislative intern in the GSU Office of Government and Community Affairs, I attend committee hearings, conduct research, draft policy briefs and assist with maintaining the bill tracking database.
Q: What have you learned from your intern experience?
A: My experience as a legislative intern has highlighted the significance of the moving parts that constitute governmental work. Ranging from the smallest details to the largest goals; I have come to appreciate that every aspect counts. I have been privy to seemingly minor actions that have a major impact on policy decisions. Whether it’s drafting a memo, attending a meeting, or even just answering emails; every task plays a crucial role in the bigger picture. This experience has highlighted the importance of attention to detail and the interconnectedness of various efforts in achieving our goals.
Q: How will this experience help you in your future career plans?
A: This experience will be instrumental in my journey toward becoming an attorney. It has honed my communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills, which are a necessity for achieving success in law. Understanding how laws are made has given me insight into how organizations work, and hearing different perspectives has taught me to be empathetic, which is crucial for advocating for others.
Alumni Spotlight: Q&A with Michael James Walker
Q: What was your graduation year and degree?
A: I graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D) in 1999.
Q: What has your career path looked like since you graduated from Georgia State University?
A: I have enjoyed a diverse practice since graduation from GSU College of Law in 1999. I have practiced both Civil and Criminal law and have worked in both the public and private sectors and as in-house and external counsel. For the majority of my career, I have been an education attorney representing large public school systems in the metro Atlanta area. Public school systems are interesting organizations with a uniquely important mission. It has been both professionally and personally fulfilling to support school systems striving to accomplish the mission. It is an exciting area in which to practice; to which I highly recommend. Since 2019, I have had the honor of working in the Office of Legislative Counsel for the Georgia General Assembly, primarily focusing on education law for the state.
Q: What advice do you have for current or prospective Georgia State students?
A: Be curious and be patient. Life lessons can be as beneficial as academic lessons. Always be learning. Three of my four children are still in college (one is in her third year at GSU), and I advise them not to be in a hurry; to take advantage of opportunities to explore interesting areas of study; to engage fulfilling life activities; and to get practical work experience. I don’t believe they should be in a hurry to graduate by age 22 or 23. It’s okay to take time to fully experience and engage life.
Upcoming Events
- Committee Work Day
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
- Legislative Day 39
- Legislative Day 40 (Sine Die)