Archives: Bills

HB 68 would make and provide appropriations for the operation of the state government and its departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, institutions, and other agencies, for the university system, common schools, counties, municipalities, and political subdivisions, for all other governmental activities, projects, and undertakings authorized by law, and for all leases, contracts, agreements, and grants authorized by law; to provide for the control and administration of funds; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 348 would expand the lines of insurance or reinsurance in which a limited purpose subsidiary and captive insurance company may engage; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 36 would provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for the granting of relief; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for statutory interpretation; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and determinations; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 55 would phase out the payment of subminimum wage to persons with disabilities; to repeal provisions concerning exemptions to the state minimum wage law for persons with disabilities; to provide that no employer shall utilize a certificate issued by the United States Department of Labor pursuant to 29 U.S.C. Section 214(c) to pay individuals with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage; to provide exceptions; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

HB 422 would require the State Health Benefit Plan (SHBP) to offer at least two high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) by October 1, 2025. These plans must be paired with health savings accounts (HSAs), allowing employees to make pre-tax contributions directly from their paychecks. While HDHPs appear desirable to cost-conscious enrollees, they may face high out-of-pocket costs if they do not contribute to their HSA or do not contribute enough to offset the high deductible. One way to prevent that situation is for the bill to include a requirement to educate enrollees about the trade-offs of an HDHP and the importance of contributing to the HSA.

HB 250 would provide for the registration and regulation of professional employer organizations; to provide for certain regulatory powers, duties, and authority of the Commissioner of Insurance over professional employer organizations; to exempt such organizations from certain licensing requirements; to provide for the applicability of Chapter 8 of Title 34, the “Employment Security Law”; to provide for rules and regulations; to repeal obsolete provisions; to provide for the posting of a surety bond; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

SB 267 requires the state’s Employee Benefit Plan Council to establish health savings accounts and to continually provide for education or salary reductions for such accounts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Expands school safety policies and juvenile justice coordination by creating new school-related criminal offenses, increasing school threat assessment requirements, and requiring courts to share student legal records with schools. The bill raises penalties for school-related threats, moves more juvenile cases to superior court, and mandates annual site threat assessments at every public school. While intended to improve school safety, the bill may increase the criminalization of student behavior, disproportionately impact marginalized students, expand school surveillance, and increase law enforcement involvement in schools without investing in mental health or preventive support services.

SB 267, also called the Riley Gaines Act, would require public schools and colleges in Georgia to separate restrooms, locker rooms, and overnight accommodations by sex assigned at birth. It would also prohibit transgender girls from competing on girls’ sports teams. The bill would replace the term “gender” with “sex” in Georgia law and require official records to list individuals as either male or female at birth. Schools that violate the law could face fines, and parents could sue if they believe their child’s rights have been violated.