Legislative update: Week 12 – Part 2

In this week’s update:

• Action Alerts! 
• On the Governor’s desk!
• On the move!
• Other notable developments
• Advocacy Days this week
• GHF’s got you covered this session

ACTION ALERT:

CALL SENATE RULES COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABOUT THESE BILLS!

Ask the Senate Rules Committee to send the Quality Basic Education Act to the Senate for a vote!

The Quality Basic Education Act, HB 1283, will be heard in the Senate Rules Committee. This bill would provide recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade on all school days (except on days when they have other physical education class or other structured physical activities). Children have been proven to perform best academically, behaviorally, and socially when schools adopt physical activity policies such as recess.

Call or email members of the Senate Rules Committee and urge them to vote YES. 

Legislative update: Week 12



In this week’s update:

• Action Alert: TODAY: Ask the Senate HHS committee to pass the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act! 
• Final Countdown! 
• On the Governor’s desk!
• Waiting in Rules Committee…
• Coming up this week
• Senate passes FY23 budget
• Advocacy Days this week
• GHF’s got you covered this session

THE SENATE HHS COMMITTEE NEEDS TO HEAR YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE GEORGIA MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT!

TODAY: Ask the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to vote YES on the Mental Health Parity Act! 

The Senate Health & Human Services Committee held several hearings on the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act last week. Unfortunately, the hearings were muddied by misinformation about what is in the bill and how it would impact Georgians.

The truth is the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act (GMHPA) would make mental health & substance use (MH/SU) services easier to access and afford in our state. It would put recovery in reach for many more Georgians. Here’s a fact sheet that explains the major parts of the bill.

The GMHPA is expected to receive a vote this afternoon or early this week. You can help ensure it passes with strong support by calling or emailing the committee members and asking them to unanimously pass the bill!

Then ask your state Senator to support the bill!

Now is the time! Please call or email legislators to say why you support this bill and to ask for their strong support too.

Legislative update: Week 10

In this week’s update:

• Action Alert: Call your State Senator to pass HB 1355! 
• Crossover Day Bill Recap
• Advocacy Days coming up!
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

ACTION ALERT: CALL YOUR STATE SENATOR TO PROTECT CHILDREN

Ask the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to vote YES on the Childhood Lead Exposure Control Act!

The Childhood Led Exposure Control Act, HB 1355, will be heard again in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee this Wednesday at 1pm. HB 1355 would help protect children’s health. This bill would:

• Update Georgia law to align blood level recommendations with CDC guidelines for children
• Aid the early identification of children with elevated blood lead levels so that remediation can occur to reduce harm and prevent future exposure 
• Protect children under 6 from lead exposure found in the interior and exteriors of rental housing, schools, and daycare centers
• Provide for scientifically based standards for the removal of lead hazards

Call or email Senate committee members on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and urge them to vote YES. 

Legislative update: Week 9

In this week’s update:

• House passes the Mental Health Parity Act! 
• A check-in on the state budget and Crossover Day is Tuesday!
• Bills you may not have seen yet
• Legislation on the move!
• GHF’s got you covered this session!

MENTAL HEALTH PARITY ACT PASSED THE HOUSE!

The Georgia Mental Health Parity Act passed the House last week! 

The Georgia Mental Health Parity Act (GMHPA) passed the House last Tuesday with an overwhelming & bi-partisan 169-3 vote. The bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, and will receive its first Senate hearing today, March 14th, at 3pm. 

The GMHPA is a big bill so the Senate HHS committee will likely hold several hearings before voting on it. While our Senators hear and debate the bill, you can help. Call or email committee members and ask them to keep “parity” in the Georgia Mental Health Parity Act.

Parity means fair or equal. It’s time for health insurance companies to play fair. The Georgia Mental Health Parity Act would put in place strong, fair rules so Georgians get the mental health & addiction coverage we need (and pay for).

Want to do more?

• Share this fact sheet about the GMHPA with your networks
• Tell your Senator that you support the GMHPA and they should too.

Legislative update: Week 8

In this week’s update:

• Action Alert: Ask your state representative to support the Mental Health Parity Act! 
• A check-in on the state budget and Crossover Day coming soon!
• Bills you may not have seen yet
• Legislation on the move!
• Advocacy events for your calendar: AIDSWatch in Georgia, the Georgia work credit & Medicaid expansion!
• GHF’s got you covered this session!