Hello, friends!
As we approach Independence Day, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to live in the best country in the world. Our freedom certainly does come at a price that many have paid throughout our history and that many continue to pay today. It’s appropriate and expected that we remember and celebrate our independence.
“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
President John Adams, 1776
Every year just before Independence Day many new laws that were passed during the legislative session go into effect. I would like to make you aware of a few that become effective on July 1. Please know that these are only brief summaries of the passed legislation. I am providing links to the full legislation if you’d like to read the entire bill.
House Bills that are New Laws
HB 121 – Wakesurfing and Wakeboarding
HB 121 requires that no person engage in “wakeboarding” or “wake surfing” between sunset and sunrise, within 200 feet of a shoreline or structure located on the water, or without wearing a personal flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.
HB 147, The Safe Schools Act
The bill requires the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) to consult with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS), the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center to create a school safety and anti-gang endorsement for eligible certified professional personnel who volunteer to complete a training program approved by the PSC in multidisciplinary best practices for promoting and preserving safe schools, and for identifying and deterring youth gangs.
The legislation also requires schools to conduct intruder alert drills by October 1 of each school year and report to GEMA/HS when the drill is completed. All students are required to participate, but each system may allow an option for a parent or legal guardian to elect, in writing, that the child is not participating.
HB 207 – Boating Accident Procedures
This bill outlines the requirement for all boats to carry U.S. Coast Guard-approved nighttime and daytime visual distress signals when operating in state coastal waters. The bill also specifies the type of signals that should be carried during different hours of the day, the minimum number of signals required, and the size of vessels exempt from carrying such signals.
In the event of an accident or collision, the operator of each boat involved is required to stop, remain at the scene, and provide their name, address, and registration to the operator of the vessel struck. Upon request, the operator must exhibit their government-issued identification. At the scene of an accident, vessel operators involved are responsible for rendering assistance to any injured person as well as notifying emergency medical services and law enforcement if necessary. Vessel operators are required to stay at the scene of the accident until these requirements are fulfilled unless the operator is unable to notify the appropriate services, in which case they may leave the scene to make such notification.
If an incident results in death, disappearance, or injury that requires medical treatment and the operator knowingly fails to stop and comply with these requirements, they will be guilty of a felony and upon conviction, may be sentenced to no less than one year nor more than five years.
HB 242, Joshua’s Law – Additional Penalty for Violation of Traffic Laws or Ordinances
This bill simply reinstates the additional penalty for a traffic violation under ‘Joshua’s Law’, setting it at three percent of the original fine.
HB 302 – Restraining Orders to Prevent Stalking
Stalking is defined as when a person follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing and intimidating him or her. HB 302 allows courts to issue either temporary OR permanent protective orders to protect against conduct that constitutes stalking. Previously, only a temporary order could be issued.
HB 340 – Daily Planning Periods for Teachers
HB 340 protects planning periods for teachers of grades six through twelve. Teachers who are in the classroom more than 50 percent of a regular school day are required to have a duty-free planning period, with some exceptions related to safety.
HB 440 – Undesignated Ready-to-use Glucagon in Schools
In order to ensure the good health of students with diabetes, HB 440 allows public and private schools to stock a supply of glucagon, and permits prescribers to provide such medication to schools.
HB 493 – Nurse Licensing
HB 493 relates to continuing competency requirements for registered professional nursing licenses and adds federally operated healthcare facilities as an eligible facility to verify competency.
HB 538, Georgia Early Literacy Act
To address Georgia’s low literacy rates, this bill requires the implementation of the science of reading in Georgia. School systems will be required to teach high-quality instructional materials approved by the State Board of Education in grades kindergarten through third grade. The Department of Education must develop and provide training to kindergarten through third grade teachers on the science of reading so teachesr have the skills and knowledge to teach young students to read. Students across the state will take a universal reading screener assessment to monitor their progress in foundational literacy skills multiple times a year.
The Department of Early Care and Learning must require teachers in all programs licensed or commissioned by the department to receive training on developmentally appropriate evidence based literacy instruction by July 1, 2025.
Senate Bills that are New Laws
SB 3, Reducing Barriers to State Employment Act of 2023
The bill requires the Department of Administrative Services to regularly assess and reduce, when possible, the requirements for jobs within state government. The Department is specifically directed to reduce, where practicable, the number of jobs for which a four-year college degree is a required condition of employment.
SB 44, Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act
SB 44 clarifies that it is unlawful for a person to indirectly through another person to cause, encourage, solicit, recruit, or coerce another to become a member of a criminal street gang. It clarifies that it is unlawful to participate in a criminal street gang or to participate in criminal gang activity. Penalties are increased if a person recruits a minor or a person with a disability to join a criminal street gang.
SB 47 – Amends Certain Definitions in the Georgia Smoke-Free Air Act of 2005
This bill expands the definition of smoking to any lighted tobacco product intended for inhalation. Additionally, the term smoking is further expanded to include the use of any electronic smoking device that creates an aerosol, vapor, or the use of any oral smoking device for the purpose of circumventing the prohibition of smoking under applicable laws.
This bill makes vaping prohibited in areas that are designated as smoke-free zones.
SB 60 – Detached Catalytic Converters
This bill makes it a crime to purchase, solicit for the purchase of, or advertise for the purchase of a used, detached catalytic converter, or any non-ferrous metal parts of a catalytic converter, unless such person is a registered secondary metals recycler.
SB 62 – Prohibits Camping or Sleeping in Unauthorized Areas
This bill requires a county or municipal corporation not to adopt or enforce any written policy prohibiting the enforcement of any ordinance prohibiting unauthorized public camping, sleeping, or obstruction of sidewalks. The bill authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action against a county or municipality which adopts or enforces a written policy that prohibits the enforcement of any ordinance prohibiting unauthorized camping, sleeping or obstruction of sidewalks.
The bill also provides for an audit on public spending on homeless programs and requires local government cooperation. It prohibits hospitals, local governments, and local authorities from dropping off homeless individuals (with exceptions) outside of their established service areas or jurisdictions.
SB 68 – Including Dogfighting as a Racketeering Activity
SB 68 makes dogfighting eligible to be prosecuted under the racketeering influenced and corrupt organizations (RICO) framework.
SB 84 – Providing Financial Protections for Elder and Disabled Adults
SB 84 requires an investment advisor or a person in a supervisory or legal capacity for a broker or investment advisor who has reasonable cause to believe that the financial exploitation of a person at least 65 years old or an adult who is mentally or physically incapacitated, has Alzheimer’s disease, or has dementia, has occurred to promptly notify the Secretary of State of pertinent information relevant to the financial exploitation.
The qualified individual may also notify any third party previously designated by the eligible adult, provided that third party is not the suspect in the alleged financial exploitation. The investment advisor may delay a disbursement from the eligible adult’s account if there is reasonable cause to believe financial exploitation is occurring, but must notify within two business days after the delay the Secretary of State and all non-suspect parties authorized to transact business on the account.
SB 86 – Dual Enrollment for Technical and Agricultural Ed Courses
This bill authorizes each student participating in Dual Enrollment, beginning July 1, 2023, to access HOPE grant funds for eligible CTAE courses. Eligible CTAE course is defined as all career, technical, and agricultural education courses which are aligned with the department’s Career Clusters and Pathways programs and which are included in the eligible course list.
SB 121 – Well Water Supply & Private Property Rights
This bill prohibits the denial of the installation of a well to provide water for a single-family residence located on a parcel of one acre or larger.
SB 129 – Requires Employers to Allow Employees Time Off to Vote
The bill requires employers, upon reasonable notice, to give employees the option to vote in advance in-person rather than voting in person on the date of the primary or election.
SB 140 – Regarding Transgender Procedures on Minors
This bill prohibits certain surgical procedures for the treatment of gender dysphoria in minors from being performed in hospitals and other licensed healthcare facilities except for a few exceptions.
SB 222 – Bans “Zuckerbucks”
This bill bars certain local governments and elections officials from receiving grants or gifts for conducting elections or in support of performing their duties from anyone except the State of Georgia or the federal government. Specifically, this bill bars employees of the county, municipal government, state, and elections officials from receiving anything of value from a person (including any individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, labor union, business, trust, company, association, committee, corporation, or any other organization of a group of persons acting in concert, or any other nongovernmental third party entity) for the purpose of conducting primaries or elections.
Thank you for Trusting me to serve
While this list is not exhaustive, I hope that it does help in your understanding and awareness of new laws that went into effect on July 1, 2023. If you have a question about any of the new laws or if I can provide assistance to you in any way, please contact me or visit my constituent services page. Thank you for trusting me to serve as your representative in Atlanta.
Kind Regards,
Leesa Hagan, Representative, District 156