Legislative Agenda




2023 Legislative Victories

HB 129 – TANIF Benefits (SUPPORT) PASSED

Public assistance; expand temporary assistance for needy families eligibility criteria to pregnant women.

 

SB 233 School Vouchers - (OPPOSE) Defeated

$6,500 educational vouchers to students who attend the 25% lowest performing schools in the state.

2024 Legislative Agenda

HB 30 - Anti-Semitism (SUPPORT)

Defines Anti-Semitism.

Status: HB 30 - Passed House. Senate Judiciary Committee

 

HB 404 - Safe at Home Act - (SUPPORT)

Would give enforceable rights and protections to renters in Georgia. Would require landlords to ensure rental homes are "fit for human habitation." The bill also increases protections for tenants facing eviction for falling a few days behind on rent.

Status: Passed House / Senate Judiciary Committee

 

HB 462 Raise the Age Act – (SUPPORT)

Raise the age to 17 for Juvenile Court jurisdiction. More than 13,000 17-year-olds were arrested in 2020, according to state statistics. Of those, about 10,700 were charged with only misdemeanors.

Status: Passed House / Senate Judiciary Committee

 

HB 520 Mental Health (SUPPORT)

Addresses the statewide shortage of mental health providers, understand the capacity for in-patient mental health and substance use treatment, streamline the ways that state agencies involved in behavioral health can share data.

Status: Passed House / Senate Health and Human Services Committee

 

SB 157 Occupational Licensing - (SUPPORT)

Create a preclearance process in the licensing of individuals with criminal records who make an application to or are investigated by certain licensing boards and commissions.

It was amended to include the full content of HB 334, the bill that increases access to expungement. 

Status: Passed Senate / House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee

 

HB 38 Expand Medicaid (SUPPORT)

Georgia is one of 12 states still refusing the government’s offer to extend coverage to people living up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level or nearly $19,000 in annual income for one person. The Governor’s waiver plan costs more and leaves about 400,000 uninsured.

Status: House Public Health Committee

  

HB 135 Safe Gun Storage - (SUPPORT)

Firearms are the leading cause of death for American children, according to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 5 deaths per 100,000 Americans between the ages of 1 and 19 were due to guns in 2020, the most recent year for which the CDC has data.

Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

 

SB 75 / HB 161 Pediatric Health Safe Storage Act (SUPPORT)

Establish the offense of making a firearm accessible to a child.

Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

 

HB 44 Brady Law Regulations - (SUPPORT)

Requires universal background checks in all manner of firearm transfers and purchases.

Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

 

HB 179 Solitary Confinement Limitation Act (SUPPORT)

Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

 

SB 88 Parents and Children Protection Act of 2023 (OPPOSE)

“Don’t say Gay” An expansive censorship bill targeting LGBTQ youth and educators in private schools. Would have far-reaching implications for chilling free speech in Georgia.

Status Senate Education and Youth Committee

 

SB 180 Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act (OPPOSE)

The right to discriminate in the secular world based on religious beliefs.

Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

 

HB 584 Georgia Red Flag Protective Order Act (SUPPORT)

Provides for risk protection order hearings to revise provisions regarding temporary ex parte risk protection orders to provide for surrender and return of firearms, ammunition, and weapons when warranted.

Status: House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee

 

HB 565 - Increase TANF Benefits (SUPPORT)

Increase to the lifetime benefits maximum for temporary assistance for needy families benefits and to provide that assets are disregarded in determining eligibility.

Status: Passed House Public Health Committee / Senate Committee?

  

HB 830 - Civil Rights Act (SUPPORT)

Unlike almost all other states, Georgia does not have comprehensive state civil rights laws protecting individuals from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.

Status: House Judiciary Committee

 

HB 604 / HB 496 - Outlaw All abortions (Oppose)

Status: House Public Health Committee

 

SB 15/ HB 75 – Right To Choice on Abortion (Support)

Eliminate Georgia's waiting period requirements and allow nurses and physician assistants to provide abortions.

Status: Senate Judiciary Committee

Status: House Public Health Committee