Legislative Update - 3/5/19
Today marks the 27th day of our forty legislative days for the 2019 session. This Thursday is Crossover Day - when all bills must pass either the House or Senate to remain active this year.
Below I have included a recap of the last several legislative days along with other updates from the Capitol and here in the district.
Below I have included a recap of the last several legislative days along with other updates from the Capitol and here in the district.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Last week, I was proud to present my first bill in the House. House Bill 217, which will enable syringe services programs in Georgia, will help us chip away at the opioid crisis, reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in our state, protect our first responders from needlestick injuries, and save all Georgians healthcare costs.
I'm thankful for my colleagues for helping us pass this life-saving and important measure with overwhelming bipartisan support (166-3). I look forward to working with the Senate and Governor Kemp to get this bill signed into law.
Last week, I was proud to present my first bill in the House. House Bill 217, which will enable syringe services programs in Georgia, will help us chip away at the opioid crisis, reduce the spread of HIV and Hepatitis C in our state, protect our first responders from needlestick injuries, and save all Georgians healthcare costs.
I'm thankful for my colleagues for helping us pass this life-saving and important measure with overwhelming bipartisan support (166-3). I look forward to working with the Senate and Governor Kemp to get this bill signed into law.
I'm also proud to have co-sponsored several other pieces of legislation that continue to make their way through the legislative process. This includes reorganizing the Jackson Co. Board of Elections and increasing the contribution limits for 529 education savings accounts. I'm also proud to be a co-sponsor several pieces of legislation related to domestic violence prevention and youth violence issues, including raising the age for juvenile court from 17 to 18-years-old.
I also co-signed HR 306, which would reduce the state income tax from 5.75% to 5.5%. This campaign promise is something I am committed to seeing through - so our families can keep more of their hard-earned money and invest back into our local communities. We're likely to see this and all tax reform related bills in 2020.
Each legislative session, the General Assembly is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget for the next fiscal year. The House fulfilled that obligation last week by passing House Bill 31, the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The FY 2020 budget, set at $27.5 billion, highlights women’s and children’s issues including maternal mortality, education (most notably, teacher pay raises), and additional funding for our most vulnerable Georgians, including the elderly and foster children. I'm pleased that we were able to deliver on several important local projects in the budget, as well, and look forward to reviewing changes from the Senate before a final vote later in Session.
Other important measures we've passed in the last few days include HB 233, which restricts pharmacies owned by or affiliated with Pharmacy Benefit Managers and health insurers from using their relationships to target patients via steering, and from sharing patient information. We also passed an important anti-human trafficking measure that will help our efforts in curtailing this terrible problem that continues to grow in Georgia. And the House voted for HR 37, which establishes the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics, to spend a year analyzing and recommending comprehensive public policy development and funding for the 2020 legislative session to support our freight and logistics industries and keep our state economically competitive.
This Thursday, March 6, is Crossover Day. We will be voting on dozens of important measures today, Thursday and in the coming days, and I look forward to sharing updates again next week.
I also co-signed HR 306, which would reduce the state income tax from 5.75% to 5.5%. This campaign promise is something I am committed to seeing through - so our families can keep more of their hard-earned money and invest back into our local communities. We're likely to see this and all tax reform related bills in 2020.
Each legislative session, the General Assembly is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget for the next fiscal year. The House fulfilled that obligation last week by passing House Bill 31, the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The FY 2020 budget, set at $27.5 billion, highlights women’s and children’s issues including maternal mortality, education (most notably, teacher pay raises), and additional funding for our most vulnerable Georgians, including the elderly and foster children. I'm pleased that we were able to deliver on several important local projects in the budget, as well, and look forward to reviewing changes from the Senate before a final vote later in Session.
Other important measures we've passed in the last few days include HB 233, which restricts pharmacies owned by or affiliated with Pharmacy Benefit Managers and health insurers from using their relationships to target patients via steering, and from sharing patient information. We also passed an important anti-human trafficking measure that will help our efforts in curtailing this terrible problem that continues to grow in Georgia. And the House voted for HR 37, which establishes the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics, to spend a year analyzing and recommending comprehensive public policy development and funding for the 2020 legislative session to support our freight and logistics industries and keep our state economically competitive.
This Thursday, March 6, is Crossover Day. We will be voting on dozens of important measures today, Thursday and in the coming days, and I look forward to sharing updates again next week.
CAPITOL VISITORS & EVENTS IN DISTRICT
I continue to enjoy welcoming many constituents to the Capitol. In the past two weeks, we've had the Athens Area Council on Aging, Jackson Co. Commissioner Marty Seagraves, Jackson Co. elections officials, sixth grade students from Athens Academy, and several other groups and individuals.
Back in the district, I enjoyed attending the groundbreaking for the new Jackson Co. Agricultural Facility, the Barrow Co. Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and the Cancer Foundation's fundraiser at Stegeman Coliseum. And I joined the Clarke County Republican party for its county convention.
I continue to enjoy welcoming many constituents to the Capitol. In the past two weeks, we've had the Athens Area Council on Aging, Jackson Co. Commissioner Marty Seagraves, Jackson Co. elections officials, sixth grade students from Athens Academy, and several other groups and individuals.
Back in the district, I enjoyed attending the groundbreaking for the new Jackson Co. Agricultural Facility, the Barrow Co. Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and the Cancer Foundation's fundraiser at Stegeman Coliseum. And I joined the Clarke County Republican party for its county convention.
PAGING PROGRAM
Last week, I had Wilson and Phillip page with me as they assisted on the House Floor and learned more about our Capitol and the legislative process! If you have a child aged 12-18 who is interested in the Page Program, please visit the link below to learn more and apply.
http://www.house.ga.gov/en-US/HousePageProgram.aspx
Last week, I had Wilson and Phillip page with me as they assisted on the House Floor and learned more about our Capitol and the legislative process! If you have a child aged 12-18 who is interested in the Page Program, please visit the link below to learn more and apply.
http://www.house.ga.gov/en-US/HousePageProgram.aspx