[February 19, 2024] | Yes, it is the busiest time of the year these two weeks that we are in right now. What makes it busy, is everyone is working on their bills and ideas for bills to be made into law. The committees have been working each week to hear the members' bills and make them better, which is the legislative process. Some move quicker than others; some don't move at all because the committee leadership may feel the bill is unneeded. That can be very stressful for you, the member, who are very passionate about your bill and can't convince others to support the idea.
We get down to these last few weeks before Crossover, and the pressure is on to get bills out of committee and onto the House floor.
Also, very importantly, is work on the 2025 budget. These meetings are going on also, that are very important and take precedence over just about everything.
This is a very open Capitol, and lots of groups come to see us every day. I believe on Tuesday it was a record! You could hardly walk in the hallways. They were so many folks in the building. This week there were folks supporting mental health, senior citizens issues, 4-H, which was the biggest group, Farm Bureau, Superior Court Judges, Probate Court judges... You get the idea. It is great to see people from Home in our Capitol.
We passed 34 bills and resolutions by the end of the week. One that was important to me was House Resolution 1019, which reinforced our support for Governor Kemp's support of Texas and their defense of their border due to the failed policies of the Biden administration. I spoke for the bill on the House floor and was front and center as the Governor spoke on it later that day in a press conference.
We passed bills on many things and I will do a one sentence on a few, but if you want more, of course you can ask me for it below; and I will give you all the information you need.
We expanded parental leave for state employees and teachers. We improved protections for disabled minors for acts of cruelty against them. We improved career readiness for our students in career courses. A school must have an AED automated external defibrator on grounds and provide a training program. Solar power facility generators were required to have procedures to decommission their sites. We gave our pharmacists the ability to adapt a prescription in certain cases. One bill was to prohibit an individual's vaccine status from being used to determine priority status on an organ transplant waiting list. A bill helped first offenders keep their records sealed unless they act poorly. The House passed legislation prohibiting a governmental entity from closing a place of worship during an emergency. We addressed the use of artificial intelligence in state government. A bill passed for keeping our utility workers safe while on duty.
Like I said, if you want the whole list, just let me know by contacting me below.
I encourage you to visit me at my Capitol office, or call me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the bills, the legislative process, or any other measures considered under the Gold Dome.
My Capitol office number is 404-656-7153. My email is rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.