NEWS

Early this spring, the Georgia General Assembly suspended the session on March 13 due to COVID-19. They reconvened on June 15 to begin completing the last 11 legislative days. Passing a state budget is their only constitutional duty that they are obligated to complete. The challenge is that state revenues are down 11 percent which is around $2.6 billion. Since reconvening there has been movement on other pieces of legislation that your Chamber has been tracking this year.

Below is a quick update:

• Senate Bill 316 passed the Senate and the House Committee on Governmental Affairs. The bill is currently in the House rules committee waiting for a referral to the full House. SB 316 provides for military spouses licensed in other states to practice certain professions and occupations to obtain a license by endorsement to practice in this state reciprocal licensing from other states.
• Two pieces of legislation aimed at improving the movement of freight across Georgia have passed the House and Senate and are awaiting Governor Kemp’s approval.
  • House Bill 820 establishes a line item for freight improvements in the Georgia Department of Transportation budget, which was a recommendation made by the Georgia Freight and Logistics commission House Bill 820.
  • House Resolution 935 would allow that commission to continue to study the issues and report back by the end of the year with a plan to raise the money for the freight improvements. The commission has recommended spending up to $121.4 billion on road and rail improvements over the next 30 years.
• Both the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed House Bill 888. The bill is awaiting Governor Kemps approval. HB 888 intends to prevent people from receiving high hospital bills when they are unknowingly treated by an out-of-network doctors in an emergency.