A detailed look at legislation considered during the 2019-2020 Georgia General Assembly that is of interest to the Tea Party.

1. 2020 GEORGIA
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THE 40 MOST DANGEROUS DAYS IN THE STATE

2. BUDGET NOTES
• Only one thing required - pass a (balanced) budget. Two, actually - one to adjust
last year's budget through end of fiscal year June 30 and one for next fiscal year.
• FY 2019 final budget: $47 B = $24 B state + $14.1 B Federal + $6 B other
• FY 2020 original budget: $48.6 B = $27.5 B state + $14.4 B Federal + $6.7 B other
• FY 2020 Adjustments - State funds down from $27.5 B to $27.3
• FY 2021 Budget - $28.1 B State Funds

3. SAVING SOME MONEY
• Eliminating 1,200 vacant positions
• House Bill 276, Marketplace Facilitators Bill - Sales and use tax - Passed both
chambers last year but couldn't reach compromise because mainly on
disagreements over taxing Uber. Brett Harrell had it ready to go when they
opened. EBay and AirBnB will have to collect tax, and perhaps some per ride
charge will be tacked onto every Uber/Lift ride in a carve-out

4. LOBBYISTS
• 2017 - 766 lobbyists representing 3,219 groups
• 2018 - 865 lobbyists from 3,412 groups
• 2019 - 901 active lobbyists representing 3,663 groups
• 2020 - 932 active lobbyists representing 3,828 groups
• You can have more of an impact than any of these lobbyists!

5. FIRST, A BIT ABOUT GEORGIA SENATE RACES
• 2020 United States Senate election in Georgia
• Regular election at the end of David Perdue's 6-year term
• Will have a primary May 19th with general election November 3, 2020
• 2020 United States Senate special election in Georgia
• Only general on November 3, 2020, following the resignation of Johnny Isakson
• Is a Jungle Primary
• Run-off election, to be held on January 5, 2021

6. 2020 UNITED STATES SENATE ELECTION
• Republican Primary Candidates:
• Shane T. Hazel
• David Perdue (incumbent)
• Derrick Grayson (possible)
• Democrat Primary Candidates:
• Sarah Riggs Amico
• Akhenaten Amun
• Marckeith DeJesus
• Maya Dillard-Smith
• Jon Ossoff
• Hal Shouse,
• Teresa Tomlinson
• Elaine Williams
• Scott Holcomb (possible)
• Kasim Reed (possible)
• Doug Teper (possible

7. 2020 UNITED STATES SENATE SPECIAL ELECTION
• Republican Candidates:
• Doug Collins
• Wayne Johnson
• Kelly Loeffler (incumbent)
• Bunch of possible (but very unlikely)
candidates including Paul Broun,
Buddy Carter, Geoff Duncan, Tom
Graves, Butch Miller, Sonny Perdue,
Tom Price
• Democrat Candidates:
• Matt Lieberman
• Ed Tarver
• Raphael Warnock
• Richard Dien Winfield
NOTE: On 2/6/20 President Trump
indicated he might intervene in this
race. Speculation is that he might
offer one of the candidates a federal
position.

8. LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS IN
GEORGIA
House or Senate Bill or
Resolution is created
(frequently with 'help')
Bill has one or more
Committee Hearings
Bill goes to floor for
vote
Bill crosses over to
other body for a vote
Reconciliations if
needed
Governor signs (if
required)

9. NEW BILLS FOR 2020

10. HB 734 (ACTUALLY INTRODUCED AT END OF
SESSION LAST YEAR)
ETHICS IN JOURNALISM ACT
• Andy Welch, R
• Gives State more oversight over journalists and media
• State created Journalism Ethics Board would have authority to
“promulgate canons of ethics for journalism which shall comport
with industry standards regarding factual and ethical reporting.”
• Provide for an interviewee's access to copies of photographs and
audio and video recordings taken by members of the media free of
charge

11. HB 742
SUSPENSION OF COMPENSATION IF SUSPENDED
BECAUSE OF A FELONY
• Robert Trammell, D - Luthersville
• Provides for suspension of compensation for officials who are
suspended because of indictment for a felony
• Officials include Public officers and employees

12. HB 746
WOMEN'S RIGHT TO IMMEDIATE ACCESS ACT
• Dar'shun Kendrick D - Lithonia
• Abortion Rights Bill that amends "Women's Right to Know Act"
• Allows women not to receive or review informational materials
regarding an unborn child, view the fetal image, or hear the fetal
heartbeat prior to obtaining an abortion

13. HB 747
STUDENT ATHLETE PROTECTION ACT
• Philip Singleton R - Sharpsburg
• Ban teams from using public facilities if transgender children are
competing in single-gender sporting events that don’t align with
their gender identified at birth

14. HB 750
REPEAL A STATUTE PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHT OF
ACTION FOR SEDUCTION OF DAUGHTER
• Josh McLaurin D - Sandy Springs
• Currently unmarried woman can sue on the grounds of seduction to
obtain damages from her seducer, if her consent to sex was based
upon his misrepresentation
• Was a remedy for a father's property interest in his daughter's
chastity
• Was one of the most common civil actions toward the end of the
19th century, and fathers were often successful before juries

15. HB 751
ANTI-RED FLAG - SECOND AMENDMENT
CONSERVATION ACT
• Ken Pullin R - Zebulon
• Preempt the entire field of legislation in this state involving extreme
risk protection orders
• Prohibit the enforcement of federal and other extreme risk
protection orders
• (opposes HB 435, Red Flag Law)

16. HB 773
PROFESSIONS AND BUSINESSES LICENSING
• Scot Turner R - Holly Springs
• Currently all applicants for licenses in Georgia have legal
immigration status checked
• Bill would allow people licensed in another state that does not use a
verification system to receive the professional license in Georgia

17. HB 782
GEORGIA PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
• Donna McLeod D - Lawrenceville
• Make election day a state holiday

18. HB 783
RAISE THE AGE OF MANDATORY EDUCATION
• Erica Thomas D - Austell
• Raise the age of mandatory education for children from 16 to 17

19. HB 787
WEAPONS CARRY LICENSE RECIPROCITY
• Mandi L. Ballinger R - Canton
• Expand carry license reciprocity so that persons residents of another
state can carry if licensed to carry in any other state
• Provide that the Attorney General shall enter into an agreement
with any state that requires an agreement to recognize and give
effect to weapons carry licenses for reciprocity

20. HB 805
GEORGIA MINIMUM WAGE LAW
• Carl Wayne Gilliard D - Garden City
• Change the amount of the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per
hour

21. HB 809
SALE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS AND TOBACCO
RELATED OBJECTS
• Angelika Kausche D - Johns Creek
• Raise age from 18 to 21
• Add e-devices and vaping to list of regulated items
• Also specifies "Any substance containing, made of, or derived from
tobacco or nicotine that is intended for human consumption"

22. HB 818
COMPACT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET
• Andrew J. Welch R - McDonough
• Extend the sunset provision of the Compact for a Balanced Budget
to April 12, 2031

23. HB 896
IN-STATE FOR TUITION FOR SOME ILLEGAL ALIENS
• Robert Trammell , D
• Student shall be classified in-state if they attended a GA high school
3+ years, Obtained a high school diploma or (GED)
• Student must also attest that he or she has filed an application to
legalize immigration status or will file such an application as soon as
he or she is eligible to do so.

24. HB 915
GEORGIA ANTI-SANCTUARY ACT
• Philip Singleton, R
• State and local governmental entities have a duty to assist federal
government in enforcement of immigration laws, including
compliance with immigration detainers
• Government entities and officials who encourage persons unlawfully
present in the US to locate within GA or shield them from personal
responsibility for their unlawful actions should be held accountable
• A person injured by a person unlawfully present in the US shall have
a cause of action for damages against a sanctuary state entity, local
governmental entity, or law enforcement agency

25. HB 920
DACA TO RECEIVE IN-STATE TUITION
• David Clark, R
• Students who are undocumented for federal immigration purposes,
shall be eligible for waivers of out-of-state tuition and fees
• Current law says "Noncitizen students" must be classified as Out of
State for tuition purposes
• Would make Georgia more friendly to DACA families (most of
whom have illegal aliens as parents)

26. HB 1041
DISTRIBUTION OF HARMFUL MATERIALS TO
MINORS APPLICABLE TO SCHOOL LIBRARIES
• Karen Mathiak, R
• Georgia Code Section 16-12-103 and 16-12-104 regulates material
(printed, video) that can be distributed to minors
• This bill extends that provision to material found in public or private
elementary or secondary schools, closing a current "loophole"
• Specifically exempts college libraries

27. SB 280
BAN SINGLE USE BAGS
• Donzella James - D
• Prohibit the distribution of certain bags made of plastic film by
certain retail establishments
• Starting January 1, 2021, no dealer subject to the collection of sales
and use taxes shall distribute any plastic carryout bags to customers
• No exemptions for reusable bags

28. SB 281
PROHIBIT POSSESSION OF AUTOMATIC AND SEMI-
AUTOMATIC GUNS
• Donzella James - D
• Prohibit the possession of automatic and semi-automatic guns
• Subject all transfers or purchases of firearms at gun shows to the
National Instant Criminal Background Check System
• Prohibit magazines of more than 10 rounds

29. SB 291
DEATH WITH DIGNITY
• Steve Henson - D
• Patients given a prognosis of six months or less to live would qualify
to request aid-in-dying medication that they may take themselves.

30. SB 303
GEORGIA RIGHT TO SHOP ACT
• Ben Watson - R (looks like a Republican anyway...)
• Provide for greater transparency of prices for nonemergency health
care services;
• Provide for the disclosure of certain pricing information through
insurer websites to allow consumers to compare prices

31. SB 305
BRADY LAW REGULATIONS
• Valencia Seay - D (looks like a Democrat anyway...)
• Require individual registration and license for the purchase of
assault weapons ammunition
• 'Assault weapons ammunition' means large capacity (10+ rounds)
magazine or any ammunition solely designed for semi-automatic
guns

32. SB 314
DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY SEIZED
• Lester G. Jackson - D (looks like a Democrat anyway...)
• Gives law enforcement agencies the option to destroy confiscated
firearms instead of selling them

33. SB 318
PROTECT FREE SPEECH ON PUBLIC COLLEGES
• Ligon, Jr., William (R)
• Prevent the creation of "free speech zones" at public institutions
• Prohibit material and substantial disruption of protected expressive
activity
• Requires that each public college and university ensure free, robust,
and uninhibited debate and deliberations by students whether on
or off campus

34. SB 351
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
• Ben Watson - R
• Hold a nonbinding, advisory referendum election to determine
whether Georgia wants to continue daylight saving time or to
observe standard time year round. Referendum would have three
options:
• 1. Continue to observe daylight saving time twice a year
• 2. Not observe daylight saving time
• 3. Observe daylight saving time year round

35. SB 366
BRADY LAW REGULATIONS; UNIVERSAL
BACKGROUND CHECKS
• Zahra Karinshak - D
• Require universal background checks in all firearm transfers and
purchases
• All transfers must go through licensed dealer

36. HR 893
VOTE IN SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS AND
ELECTIONS AFFECTING SCHOOL FUNDING
• Sandra Scott D - Rex
• Allows persons who are at least 16 years of age to vote in school
district elections and elections affecting school funding

37. A FEW OTHERS
• SR 537 - A RESOLUTION apologizing for slavery and Jim Crow
• SR 538 - A RESOLUTION condemning the Congress of the United
States for pursuing impeachment proceedings against President
Donald J. Trump
• SB 358 - Make muscadine grape the official state grape

38. BILLS INTRODUCED IN 2019

39. HB 2
GEORGIA CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY ACT OF 2019
• Gurtler, Matt 8th
• Use or possession of any gun (now just handgun) in a park, historic
site, or recreational area
• Lawful weapons carrier' means any person who is not prohibited by
law from possessing a weapon or long gun or any person who is
licensed
• 19 page bill (long for Georgia) because has to change a bunch of
existing law

40. HB 53
FREEDOM OF RELIGIOUS SPEECH FOR STUDENTS
AND FACULTY MEMBERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• Carpenter, Kasey 4th (R)
• Provide for student protections in student expression,
class assignments, organization of religious groups and
activities
• Provide for freedom of religious expression by faculty and
employees of public schools while fulfilling the duties of
their jobs

41. HB 71
LAWFUL EXPRESSION OF SPEECH ACT
• Turner, Scot 21st (R)
• During the 30 days preceding any election or referendum,
any provision in a declaration that prohibits the placement
of three or fewer signs that do not each exceed six square
feet in surface area shall be void

42. HB 107
CHANGE BURDEN OF PROOF REQUIRED FOR CIVIL
FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS
• Turner, Scot 21st (R)
• Changes current requirement for "preponderance" to
"clear and convincing" evidence
• Is a medium level of burden of proof - more rigorous than
preponderance but a less rigorous standard evidence
beyond a reasonable doubt

43. HB 113
INCREASE FINES FOR DISTRACTED DRIVING
• John Carson (R)
• Raise maximum fine for first offense from $50 to $100,
second offense would double to $200, third offense to
$300
• If caught in school or highway construction zones fines
double again
• Traffic fatalities fell 2.2% to 1,515 in 2018

44. HB 191
BALLOT ACCESS FOR POLITICAL BODY AND
INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES
• Kendrick, Dar'shun 93rd (D)
• Need a petition signed by either 1% of voters who voted
in the last election for that spot or by 200, whichever is
less
• Currently need 1% of registered voters for statewide or 5%
of registered voters eligible for that election

45. HB 202
COLLECT IMMIGRATION STATUS OF CRIMINALS
• Petrea, Jesse 166th (R)
• Requires Dept. of Corrections to provide a quarterly,
public report on the number of non-citizens in the prison
system
• Indicate immigration status, home country, crimes
committed and the percentage of the total prison
population this non-citizen group represents.

46. HB 389
STUDENT EXCUSED ABSENCE TO VOTE
• (R)
• A student registered to vote shall be granted excused absence to
vote
• Could cause Democrat bussing of high school students (when
combined with HR 345)

47. HB 426
HATE CRIMES BILL
• Efstration, Chuck 104th(R)
• Toughen punishments for crimes committed “because of the actual
or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation,
gender, mental disability, or physical disability of such”
• Similar bill passed Senate in 2018 but House didn't vote
• If attacker likes a special group will he get a lower sentence?
• Yea(96)Nay(64)

48. HB 615
MINORS TO RECEIVE VACCINATIONS WITHOUT
PARENTAL CONSENT
• Teri Anulewicz (D)
• Drops the age for vaccination without parental consent to 16
• Whether you believe kids should be vaccinated or not, parents
should still retain control and be notified
• If medical issues arise child may not let parent know he/she has
been vaccinated and parent may not tell the doctor!

49. HR 4
RATIFY REPEAL OF THE 18TH AMENDMENT
• Turner, Scot 21st (R)
• Georgia voted to ratify 18th amendment (prohibition)
June 26, 1918

50. HR 6
TERM LIMITS FOR GA SENATE AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
• Caldwell, Michael 20th (R)
• After four consecutive terms have to sit out at least one
full term

51. HR 16 / SR 66
RATIFY EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT
• Rep Mitchell, Billy 88th (D) / Sen Renee Unterman (Rish)
• ERA passed by Congress in 1972, ratified by 35 states
• 38 needed to ratify an amendment to the Constitution
• No state ratified since 1977 (may have expired)
• Entire text of proposed amendment:
• "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or
abridged by the United States or by any State on account of
sex."

52. HR 16 / SR 66
RATIFY EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT (CONTINUED)
• The ERA would provide framework for an equality
argument: Women’s equality necessarily requires
reproductive and bodily autonomy, and without control
over their bodies, women cannot participate as full and
equal citizens.
• Supreme courts in Connecticut and New Mexico have
used their state's ERA to strike abortion limits.

53. HR 51
JOINT GEORGIA-NORTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA-
TENNESSEE BOUNDARY LINE COMMISSION
• Morris, Marc 26th (R)
• Congress said border should be the 38th parallel
• In 1818 surveyors mistakenly set border 1 mile too far
south
• Really only want a piece of Nickajack Lake, just north of
border
• Fed by TN river, which has 1 billion gallons/ day excess
capacity

54. HR 53
TERM LIMITS ON CONGRESS
• Dunahoo, Emory 30th (R)
• Calls for Article V convention (Convention of the States)
• Calls for term limits but does not specify limits
• Details would be worked out in the Convention

55. HR 328
ENCOURAGE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO RESIGN
HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION
• Clark, David 98th (R)
• Members who are supporting the resolution are Kevin
Cooke, David Stover, Jeff Jones, Sheri Gilligan, Ken Pullin,
and Karen Mathiak.
• Response to behavior by David Ralston

56. HR 328
ENCOURAGE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO RESIGN
HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION (CONT)
• 2008 DUI case received 17 extensions over 10 years
• Rape/child molestation case involving a 14-year old girl
received 8 court date extensions over more than 5 years
• 2009 Enticing a child for indecent purposes case -14
extensions
• Domestic violence case - No trial for more than 5 years

57. HR 328
ENCOURAGE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO RESIGN
HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION (CONT)
• Sheryl Shann Civil Case - Sued business partner in 2007,
partner hired Ralston, case still pending (delayed over 20
times). Out $100,000 and had to file for bankruptcy
• In the past two years, the Speaker used his legislative
privilege to delay justice in at least 21 cases through 57
separate court date extensions, 82% granted for dates
outside of the legislative session.

58. HR 328
ENCOURAGE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE TO RESIGN
HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION (CONT)
• Clark met with the Speaker privately, said Speaker was
'vague'
• Ralston now saying he will take no new clients until these
old cases are closed out and he promises to be a good
Speaker in the future.
• But if the AJC hadn’t uncovered this, it would be business
as usual.

59. SB 10
POSSESSION OF CERTAIN QUANTITIES OF
MARIJUANA CONSTITUTE A MISDEMEANOR
• Jones II, Harold 22 (D)
• Raises limit to 2 ounces for misdemeanor
• One-half ounce or less, fine not to exceed $300.00
• Between one-half and two ounces imprisonment not to
exceed 12 months and/or $1,000 fine
• Selling less than 2 oz is no longer a felony

60. SB 33
PROHIBIT CARRYING OF WEAPONS IN
GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS
• Jones, Emanuel 10th (D)
• Prohibit all carrying of weapons in government buildings

61. SB 42
NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE
• Henson, Steve 41st (D)
• Requires Georgia to assign Electors based on results of the
National Popular Vote
• Allow states to join together to establish an interstate
compact

62. SB 59
WIRETAPPING, EAVESDROPPING
• Mullis, Jeff 53rd (R)
• Outlaw single-party consent recordings (currently legal in
GA)
• Require citizens to get permission from every other party
to a conversation in a non-public setting before making
an audio recording
• Mullis backed Cagle's 2018 campaign

63. SB 173 / HB 301
EDUCATION VOUCHERS
• Sen Dolezal, Greg 27th (R) / Rep Cantrell, Wes 22nd (R)
• Establish “scholarship” accounts to allow parents to direct
the $5,500 (on average) state education money to a
private school
• Also for other educational costs - textbooks, tutoring,
therapy
• Senate bill failed 3/5/19, may come up again on Crossover
Day

64. SB 221
THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACT
• Harbin, Marty 16th (R)
• Require government to have a compelling interest before
it could interfere with someone's religious practices
• Includes the same language as the federal Religious
Freedom Restoration Act
• Kemp said he would sign
• Prospects are slim

65. SR 184
CASINO RESORTS
• Beach, Brandon 21st (R)
• Amendment to the Constitution
• Authorize limited number of casino resorts
• Authorize operation and regulation of casino gaming
• To “preserve the long-term financial stability of the HOPE
scholarship” and other education programs
• Kemp says he won't "stand in the way"

66. SR 459
PEOPLE THE SENATE THINKS LIE CAN'T TESTIFY
ANYMORE
• Jeff Mullins (R)
• If the Senate believes that a person has lied in testimony once they
will be banned from presenting further testimony in the current
session
• Lie twice (in their opinion) and you are banned for life
• Only applies to nonmember of the General Assembly

67. WHAT DID I MISS?

68. SPECIAL PROJECT
• All Republican Members of House Photos -
https://legislativenavigator.myajc.com/#members
• Official directory - http://www.house.ga.gov/en-
US/Information.aspx