The General Assembly adjourned its 2022 Legislative Session sine die early Tuesday morning with the traditional toss of torn pieces of paper in the air. Legislators and lobbyists alike will now try to put those pieces back together and determine what really passed before the gavels and paper fell. That work will also be underway in the Governor’s Office, which has until May 14, 2022 to review legislation achieving final passage and advise the Governor what to sign, veto, or allow to become law without further action. Expect bill signing ceremonies that double as campaign rallies throughout the 40 days ahead.

Your #GoldDomeReport team will also be working to decipher the Agrees, Disagrees, Substitutes, and Conference Committee Reports in preparing our final Report to you. In the meantime, read on for a summary of Monday’s floor actions. But, beware — the titles may not tell the complete story as to what lies in the underlying bills and resolutions.

It has been our pleasure to help you navigate another legislative session in Atlanta, and we appreciate your readership and friendship. Please call on us when we may be of service, and we will see you in the final Report and on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023!

—Stan Jones, Helen Sloat, George Ray, & Olivia Buckner

In this Report:

• Floor Action

• What’s Next

Floor Action

The following House measures achieved final passage on Legislative Day 40:

• HB 1 - Forming Open and Robust University Minds (FORUM) Act; enact - PASSED Senate (33-18)

• HB 56 - Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit; superior court; provide additional judge - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (168-0)

• HB 275 - Fire protection and safety; random drug tests for certain firefighters, emergency medical services personnel, paramedics, and cardiac technicians; require - House Agreed to Senate Substitute as Amended (165-1); Senate Agreed to House Substitute (53-1)

• HB 389 - Employment security; change definition of employment to include services performed by an individual for wages - PASSED Senate by Substitute (54-0); House Agreed to Senate Substitute (155-12)

• HB 412 - Professions and businesses; licensure of individuals in the practice of applied behavior analysis; provide - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (163-5)

• HB 469 - Income tax; rehabilitation of historic structures; revise tax credits - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (155-11)

• HB 517 - Education; calculation of minimum revenue obligations for scholarships and tuition grants; provide for the inclusion of earned interest - House and Senate Adopted Conference Committee Report (98-68; 30-21)

• HB 733 - Insurance; guaranteed asset protection waiver; revise definition - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (161-4)

• HB 824 - Georgia Legislative Retirement System; retirement allowance; increase - PASSED Senate (43-9)

• HB 893 - Conservation and natural resources; extend date for hazardous waste fees - PASSED Senate (53-0)

• HB 911 - General appropriations; State Fiscal Year July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023 - House and Senate Adopted Conference Committee Report (160-5; 53-0)

• HB 918 - Georgia Rare Disease Advisory Council; provide establishment - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (162-2)

• HB 916 - Superior and State Court Appellate Practice Act; enact - PASSED Senate (51-0)

• HB 923 - Local government; development authorities; cap the per diem allowance available to directors - PASSED Senate (53-1)

• HB 969 - Insurance; update regulation of company holding systems - PASSED Senate (53-0)

• HB 972 - Professional counselors; licensing requirements; change certain definitions

• HB 974 - Property; deeds; require electronic filing - PASSED Senate by Substitute (49-3); House Agreed to Senate Substitute (165-0)

• HB 1009 - Motor vehicles; use of personal delivery devices to transport cargo; authorize - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (151-14)

• HB 1044 - Local government; creation of regional development authorities; provide - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (156-9)

• HB 1058 - Income tax; affiliated corporations file separate or consolidated returns; provisions - PASSED Senate (51-0)

• HB 1084 - Education; curricula or training programs which encourage certain concepts; prevent use of - House Agreed to Senate Substitute as Amended by the House (98-71); Senate Agreed to House Amendment (21-21)

• HB 1103 - Motor vehicles; heavy-duty equipment motor vehicle; revise definition - PASSED Senate (46-6)

• HB 1150 - Freedom to Farm Act; enact - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (106-60)

• HB 1175 - Georgia Raw Dairy Act; enact - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (110-55)

• HB 1183 - Criminal procedure; increase time allotted to try a criminal case in judicial emergencies; provide - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (165-0)

• HB 1186 - Speech-language pathologists and audiologists; revise licensing provisions - PASSED Senate (53-0)

• HB 1188 - Criminal procedure; each act of child molestation charged as a separate offense; provide - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (166-0)

• HB 1215 - Education; provision that reduced the amount of certain funding to state charter schools that offer virtual instruction; remove - PASSED Senate (45-9)

• HB 1216 - Traffic offenses; enhanced penalties for violations of fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer; provide - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (96-67)

• HB 1275 - Local government; appointment and removal of municipal court judges; revise provisions - PASSED Senate (51-0)

• HB 1276 - Community Health, Department of; statistical reports data relating to state health plans be posted on department website; require - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (162-11)

• HB 1283 - Quality Basic Education Act; recess for students in kindergarten and grades one through five; provide - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (159-6)

• HB 1291 - Sales and use tax; exemption for sale or lease of computer equipment of high-technology companies; revise spending threshold and extend sunset date - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (150-16)

• HB 1331 - State Employment Service and the Employment Security Administration Fund; change certain provisions - PASSED Senate (42-9)

• HB 1355 - Childhood Lead Exposure Control Act; revise - PASSED Senate by Substitute (52-0); House Agreed to Senate Substitute (153-5)

• HB 1390 - Labor and industrial relations; right of action against a county or city employer for retaliation; provide - PASSED Senate (48-0)

• HB 1391 - Criminal procedure; compensation for public defenders and assistant public defenders; revise - PASSED Senate (54-0)

• HB 1405 - The Zoning Procedures Law; revise - PASSED Senate by Substitute (53-0); House Agreed to Senate Substitute (130-25)

• HB 1409 - Labor and industrial relations; workers' compensation benefits; change certain provisions - PASSED Senate (51-0)

• HB 1435 - Education; needs based financial aid program; include eligibility for students with a financial aid gap - PASSED Senate by Substitute (53-1); House Agreed to Senate Substitute (154-4)

• HB 1437 - Income tax; revise rates of taxation on income - House and Senate Adopted Conference Committee Report (167-2; 41-13)

• HB 1461 - Local government; annexation of territory; revise provisions relating to dispute resolution - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (165-0)

• HB 1516 - Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority; provide for definitions; provisions - Passed Senate as Amended (52-0); House Agreed to Senate Substitute (157-0)

• HR 593 - Perry, Mr. Dennis Arnold; compensate - PASSED Senate (52-0)

• HR 626 - Robinson, Kerry; compensate - PASSED Senate (54-0)

• HR 664 - Property; conveyance of certain state owned property; authorize - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (165-1)

• HR 798 - Joint Study Committee for Cannabis Waste Disposal and Recycling; create - PASSED House (153-3)

• HR 820 - James J. Boss Memorial Roundabout; Barrow County; dedicate - House Agreed to Senate Substitute (165-0)

• HR 881 - Public schools; study Civil Rights Era and related subjects; encourage - PASSED House (160-0)

• HR 1050 - Water conservation; commend outstanding advancements made by Atlanta metro region and all Georgians; urge continued initiatives - PASSED House (164-0)

• HR 1082 - House Study Committee on State and Local Law Enforcement Salaries; create - PASSED House (143-0)

• HR 1103 - Biden Administration; remove its veto and reapprove Georgia's Medicaid expansion waiver; urge - PASSED House (97-73)

• HR 1147 - President of the United States; consider current geopolitical tensions and support policies and take measures to ensure America's long-term energy affordability, security, leadership, and progress; urge - PASSED House (99-70)

• HR 1149 - House Study Committee on Regulation, Affordability, and Access to Housing; create - PASSED House (114-43)

The following House measures were taken up or expected to be considered but failed to achieve final passage on Legislative Day 40:

• HB 92 - Health; transfer of vital records to State Archives; revise provisions - PASSED Senate (49-3); No Agree in House

• HB 202 - Georgia Driver's Education Commission; violation of traffic laws or ordinance under Joshua's Law; increase additional penalty - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 428 - Sales and use tax; change certain definitions - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 554 - Property; revise when an action may operate as a lis pendens - PASSED Senate by Substitute (53-0); No Agree in House

• HB 681 - Education; course of study in financial literacy for students in tenth or eleventh grade; provide - PASSED Senate by Substitute (44-0); No Agree in House

• HB 689 - Georgia Crime Information Center; persons who are victims of an offense of trafficking may petition the clerk of court to have sealed certain criminal history record information; provide - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 899 - Contracts; legal effects of the discontinuance of LIBOR; provisions - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1008 - Georgia Achieving A Better Life Experience; governance of program by board of directors of Georgia Higher Education Savings Plan; provide - PASSED Senate by Substitute (48-5); No Agree in House

• HB 1039 - Income tax; expenditures on maintenance for Class III railroads; extend tax credit - PASSED Senate by Substitute (55-0); No Agree in House

• HB 1043 - Georgia Endowment for Teaching Professionals; create - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1045 - Workers compensation; dissolution of Subsequent Injury Trust Fund; extend time period - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1053 - Income tax; certain expenditures made by postproduction companies; extend tax credit - No Agree to House Amendment in Senate

• HB 1068 - State government; service of process for state tort claims; revise provisions - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1092 Georgia Women's CARE (Child Care Alternatives, Resources, and Education) Act, enact - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1182 - Local government; disposition of property acquired for lake projects do not apply if any portion of such lake was constructed; provide provisions - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1232 - Motor vehicles; temporary license plates and operating permits; revise terminology - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1274 - State government; antisemitism; provide definition - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1280 - Revenue and taxation; county tax commissioner duties; revise provisions - PASSED Senate (45-7); No Agree in House

• HB 1295 - Quality Basic Education Act; group of performance evaluation ratings; remove needs development rating - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1297 - Insurance; discount for property owners who build a new property that better resists tornado and catastrophic windstorm events; provide - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1307 - Georgia Utility Facility Protection Act; revise - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1348 - Georgia Smoke-free Air Act; revise - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1352 - Property; provide for handling of certain wills - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1383 - Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978; hearing before an administrative law judge; provide - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1384 - Buildings and housing; amend Georgia state minimum standard codes to authorize certain uses of ungraded lumber; require - PASSED (49-4); No Agree in House

• HB 1425 - Medical cannabis; Governor to issue initial Class 1 and Class 2 production licenses for a limited time period; authorize - No Agree to Conference Committee Report in Senate

• HB 1484 - Social services; three-year pilot program to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of PANDAS and PANS under Medicaid; provide - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1520 - Georgia Council on Addressing Health Care Workforce Challenges; create - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1528 - Commerce and trade; illegal for certain persons to purchase or attempt to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell used, detached catalytic converters; provide - No Senate Floor Vote

• HB 1533 - Professions and businesses; professional programs that address career fatigue and wellness in healthcare professionals are not obligated to report to licensing boards except in certain circumstances; provide - No Senate Floor Vote

• HR 204 - Judge Willie J. Lovett, Jr. Juvenile Justice Center; City of Savannah; dedicate - PASSED Senate (53-0); No Agree in House

• HR 629 - House State Health Benefit Plan Study Committee; create - No House Floor Vote

• HR 894 - General Assembly; appropriate all unanticipated federal funding allocated for a fiscal year if the sum exceeds $100 million; provide - CA - No House Floor Vote

• HR 732 - Local government; date temporary loans are payable from end of calendar year to fiscal year; change - CA - No Vote in Senate

• HR 842 - General Assembly; establish standard salary for Senators and Representatives equal to 60 percent of median household income - CA - FAILED Senate (35-19)

• HR 1024 - House Study Committee on Indexing Maximum Weekly Workers' Compensation Indemnity Benefits; create - No House Floor Vote

The following Senate measures achieved final passage on Legislative Day 40:

• SB 10 - "Jaye Mize Law"; promoting illegal drag racing and laying drags; provide for an offense - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (50-0)

• SB 84 - Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund; certain communications officers shall be eligible for membership in such fund; provide - PASSED House (161-1)

• SB 116 - Children and Youth Services; registration of maternity supportive house residences to provide housing for pregnant women; provide - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (32-22)

• SB 220 - "The Georgia Civics Renewal Act"; enact - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (48-11)

• SB 333 - Education; agents and agent's permits; to repeal definitions of such terms; provisions; remove - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (54-0)

• SB 338 - Medicaid; postpartum coverage under Medicaid from six months to one year following birth; increase - PASSED House (142-18)

• SB 345 - State Government; state and local governments from mandating vaccine passports; prohibit - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (34-20)

• SB 346 - Department of Administrative Services; companies owned or operated by China to bid on or submit a proposal for a state contract; prohibit - House Receded (100-66)

• SB 441 - Courts; reestablishment of the Criminal Case Data Exchange Board as an advisory board to The Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia; provide - PASSED House by Substitute (98-69); Senate Agreed to House Substitute (33-22)

• SB 505 - Communications Officers; 9-1-1 communications officers receive training in the delivery of high-quality telephone cardiopulmonary resuscitation; require - PASSED House by Substitute (164-1); Senate Agreed to House Substitute (50-0)

• SB 534 - State Government; certain procedural requirements and considerations for the adoption of rules by state agencies that are applicable to charitable organizations; provide - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (51-0)

• SB 610 - Department of Community Health; conduct a comprehensive review of provider reimbursement rates for home and community based services covered by the waiver programs; require - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (54-0)

• SR 477 - Joint Georgia Music Heritage Study Committee; create - PASSED House (159-4)

• SR 504 - Native American Tribes; recognize - PASSED House (164-0)

• SR 596 - Isaiah "Coach" Berry Memorial Intersection; Barrow County; dedicate - Senate Agreed to House Substitute (50-0)

• SR 615 - Senate Property Owners' Associations, Homeowners' Associations, and Condominium Associations Study Committee; create

• SR 853 - City of Ringgold; a charter study committee; establish

The following Senate measures were taken up or expected to be considered but failed to achieve final passage on Legislative Day 40:

• SB 45 - Professions and Businesses; individuals who move to the state and establish residency to obtain a license by endorsement to practice certain professions and occupations in this state; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SB 52 - Selling and Other Trade Practices; legislative findings; standards for cybersecurity programs to protect businesses from liability; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SB 89 - Elections and Primaries; chief elections assistance officer; qualifications, appointment, supervision, and duties; provide - PASSED House by Substitute (96-69); No Agree in Senate

• SB 183 - Office of Sheriff; qualification requirements; revise - No House Floor Vote

• SB 200 - Emergency Powers of the Governor; certain business and religious institutions may continue to resume operations; certain states of emergency; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SB 218 - Vacation of Office; suspension of compensation for certain public officers who are suspended because of indictment for a felony; provide - Failed to Agree on Conference Committee Report

• SB 256 - County Boards of Health; comprehensive reorganization; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SB 259 - Dangerous Instrumentalities and Practices; firearms and the carrying and possession of firearms and weapons; revise various laws - PASSED House by Substitite (94-67); No Agree in Senate

• SB 277 - Firearms; extend the exemptions from carry laws for court officials to include carrying inside of a courthouse - No House Floor Vote

• SB 321 - DeKalb County; salary of certain judges, judicial officers, and county officers; increase; Senate Disagreed

• SB 330 - "Giving the Gift of Life Act"; enact - No House Agree to Senate Substitute

• SB 352 - Professions; issuance of expedited licenses by endorsement for certain licenses to spouses of firefighters, healthcare providers, and law enforcement officers who relocate to the State of Georgia; provide - PASSED House by Substitute (164-0); no Agree in Senate

• SB 359 - "Safe and Secure Georgia Act"; enact - No House Floor Vote

• SB 364 - Telephone Service; class action suits and for damages against certain persons for violating provisions relating to telephone solicitations; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SB 374 - Georgia Data Analytic Center; establish as an agent of all executive state agencies; definitions; provide - House and Senate Insisted on Positions

• SB 381 - Pimping and Pandering; penalty provisions; increase - No House Floor Vote

• SB 456 - Health; requirements relating to the use of abortion-inducing drugs; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SB 504 - Bonds and Recognizances; the term "bail restricted offense"; redefine - No House Floor Vote

• SB 516 - Solid Waste Management; Environmental Protection Division to contract with the Department of Revenue to collect certain fees; require - PASSED House by Substitute (169-0); House and Senate Insisted on Positions

• SB 558 - Department of Transportation; meetings for the election of board members; amend notice provisions - No House Agree on Senate Substitute

• SB 591 - Secondary Metals Recyclers; shall be illegal for certain persons to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell used, detached catalytic converters, used utility wire, or used communications copper; provide - No House Floor Vote

• SR 135 - Sports Betting; related matters; provide - CA - PASSED House by Substitute (160-6); No Agree in Senate

What’s Next

The General Assembly will reconvene for its 2023 Legislative Session on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023.