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Georgia Legislation

Georgia Key Legislation – 2024

Note: Legislation that was not passed in 2023 could come up in 2024, the second year of the General Assembly’s lawmaking cycle. 

Democracy

  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Prohibit Ranked-Choice Voting In Georgia. [SB 355, Georgia General Assembly, Senate Passed 1/26/24][Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/23/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Pass The House Before The End Of Session. [SB 355, Georgia General Assembly, accessed 4/2/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Advanced A Bill To End Automatic Voter Registration In The State. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/22/24] [Georgia General Assembly, SB 221, advanced by committee 2/22/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By The Crossover Day Deadline. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/1/24]
  • Republican Lawmakers Passed Legislation That Could Reduce The Number Of Voting Machines Available On Election Day. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/18/24] [Georgia General Assembly, HB 1207, House agreed to Senate substitute 3/28/24]
  • Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Reinforce The Ability Of Conservative Activists To Challenge The Eligibility Of Voters Who May Have Moved. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/29/24]

Education

  • Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Create A $6,500 School Voucher Program For Private School Tuition And Home Schooling, Sending The Bill To The Governor. [Associated Press, 3/20/24]
    • The Governor Signed The Bill. [Atlanta-Journal Constituion, 4/24/24]
  • Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Bill To Remove An Exemption For School Libraries From State Code That Would Allow School Librarians To Be Prosecuted For Distributing Material Harmful To Minors. [Georgia Recorder, 2/20/24] [Georgia General Assembly, SB 154, introduced 2/13/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By The Crossover Day Deadline. [Georgia General Assembly, SB 154, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Advanced A Bill To Set Up Standards To Restrict So-Called Harmful Materials In Schools, Including Books That Depicted Homosexuality. [Georgia Recorder, 2/21/24] [Georgia General Assembly, SB 394, advanced 2/22/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By The Crossover Day Deadline. [Georgia General Assembly, SB 394, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Advanced A Bill To Put Chaplains In Public Schools.  [Georgia Recorder, 2/21/24]  [Georgia General Assembly, SB 379, advanced 2/22/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By The Crossover Day Deadline. [Georgia General Assembly, SB 379, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Advanced A Bill To Allow Copies Of The 10 Commandments To Be Displayed In Public School Classrooms.  [Georgia Recorder, 2/21/24]  [Georgia General Assembly, SB 501, advanced 2/22/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By The Crossover Day Deadline. [Georgia General Assembly, SB 379, accessed 3/1/24]

Gun Safety

  • A Democratic Representative Introduced A Bill To Provide A Tax Credit For The Purchase Of An Eligible Gun Safe, Case, Or Safe Storage Device For Firearms. [HB 855, prefiled 11/29/23]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance. [HB 855, accessed 3/1/24]
  • House Democratic Lawmakers Introduced A Bill To Prohibit Those Convicted Of Family Violence Offenses Or Subject To Temporary Protective Orders Cannot Possess, Purchase, Receive, Or Transfer Firearms. [Georgia General Assembly, HB 875, introduced 1/8/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance.  [Georgia General Assembly, HB 875, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Republican Lawmakers  Passed A Bill To Create A Sales Tax Holiday For Gun Sales In October, Sending The Bill To The Governor. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/6/24] [Georgia General Assembly, Senate agreed to House substitute 3/28/24]

Labor

  • Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Bar New Businesses In Georgia From Receiving State Incentives If They Recognized Union Representation Without Holding A Secret Ballot Rather Than A Card Check, Sending The Bill To The Governor. [Associated Press, 3/21/24]  [Georgia General Assembly, House passed 3/20/24]

LGBTQ+

  • Georgia Republican Senators Advanced A “Don’t Say Gay” Bill That Would Prohibit Private Schools From Teaching About LGBTQ+ Issues Without Parents’ Permission, Require Public School Boards To Develop Policies Regarding Gender Identity, And Require School Personnel To Potentially Out Trans Students. [Georgia Recorder, 2/14/23] [Georgia General Assembly, SB 88, advanced 2/15/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By Crossover Day.  [Georgia General Assembly, SB 88, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Bill To Strip Protections Based On Sexual And Gender Identity, Define Gender As Assigned Sex At Birth, And Restrict Access To Public Restrooms And Locker Rooms Based On Sex Assigned At Birth. [The Advocate, 2/7/24]  [Georgia General Assembly, HB 1128, introduced 2/1/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By Crossover Day.  [Georgia General Assembly, HB 1128, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Bill To Require Parental Consent For Instruction On Gender Identity Or Sexual Orientation And Require School Personnel To Out Trans Students To Their Parents. [Georgia General Assembly, HB 1045, introduced 1/25/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Advance By Crossover Day.  [Georgia General Assembly, HB 1128, accessed 3/1/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Changed A Bill Aimed At Protecting The Mental Health Of Student-Athletes To A Bill That Would Ban Trans Students From Bathrooms, Require Schools To Notify Parents When Their Child Checked A Book Out Of A School Library, And Ban Trans Kids From Playing School Sports. [Georgia Recorder, 3/20/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Pass By The End Of Session. [Georgia Recorder, 3/30/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Advanced Legislation To Ban Puberty Blockers, After Grafting It Onto A Bill To Require Overdose Reversal Drugs In Government Buildings. [Georgia Recorder, 3/11/24]
    • The Bill Did Not Pass By The End Of Session. [Georgia Recorder, 3/30/24]
  • Senate Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Limit The Government’s Ability To Pass Or Enforce Laws That Conflict With Religious Beliefs, And Could Lead To Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Georgians. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/1/24] 
    • The Bill Did Not Pass By The End Of Session. [Georgia Recorder, 3/30/24]

Georgia Key Legislation -2023

Democracy

  • A Democratic Lawmaker Introduced A Bill To End Georgia’s Requirement For Runoffs When No Candidate Won A Majority In A General Election. “Runoffs would be eliminated after Georgia general elections as long as a candidate wins at least 45% of the vote, according to a Democratic-sponsored bill filed Wednesday. It’s the first proposal introduced this year to do away with runoffs after U.S. Senate races went into overtime both last year and in 2020. Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock swept those three runoffs. The legislation, House Bill 419, would end Georgia’s requirement for runoffs when no candidate wins a majority in general elections featuring Democratic, Libertarian and Republican candidates. Instead, candidates would be elected if they receive a plurality of votes cast, which is similar to how most states decide elections.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/16/23]
    • The Bill Ending Runoffs Did Not Receive A Vote. “Runoffs are here to stay in Georgia, at least for now, as Republican lawmakers instead focused on the priorities of election critics: restricting outside funding, banning drop boxes and enabling challenges to voters’ eligibility. […] A bill that would have ended general election runoffs as long as a candidate wins at least 45% support received a committee hearing, but it wasn’t considered for a vote.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/9/23]
  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Advanced A Bill That Could Allow Voters To Be Disqualified Based On An Allegation That They Had Changed Their Address. “A Georgia Senate committee approved a bill Tuesday that could allow voters to be disqualified based on an allegation that they had changed their address, which voting rights groups said could lead to mass disenfranchisement. The Republican-sponsored proposal would expand the ability of Georgia residents to challenge the eligibility of other voters, based on a belief that elections are rife with the potential for fraud. Few cases of ineligible voters have been proved in Georgia in recent years, and investigations have repeatedly dismissed claims of dead voters, ballot stuffing, fake ballots and faulty ballot counts. But the legislation advanced Tuesday on a 5-3 vote by the Senate Ethics Committee. Senate Bill 221 could receive a vote in the full Senate within days.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/28/23] 
    • Advocates Said The Bill Would Permit Unreliable Change-Of-Address Data To Be Used Against People Who Temporarily Relocated, Including College Students And Military Members. “Voter advocates say the bill would permit unreliable change-of-address data to be used against people who temporarily relocate, including college students, military members and the poor. The measure specifically targets the homeless by requiring them to register to vote by using the address of their county’s courthouse.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/28/23] 
    • SB 221 Could Violate Federal Law And Was Advanced Through Committee With A Last-Minute Amendment To Ban Ballot Drop Boxes. “The Georgia Senate Ethics Committee passed a version of an elections omnibus bill Tuesday night that might violate federal law and includes a last-minute ban on absentee drop boxes. A Republican majority on the committee approved a substitute to Senate Bill 221 that was only available to lawmakers and the public for about 10 hours before the vote, including several amendments that, in some cases, were crafted in real time or after lawmakers and legal counsel for the committee questioned the need for certain language included in the substitute.” [Georgia Public Broadcasting, 3/1/23]
    • The Bill Did Not Receive A Full Vote In The Senate Before Crossover Day, Though The Proposals Could Be Attached To Other Legislation During The Legislative Process. “Separate proposals to empower challenges to voter eligibility and outlaw the state’s remaining ballot drop boxes passed a Senate committee but didn’t receive votes in the full Senate. Williams said he still supports those proposals. They could be attached to other bills during the legislative process.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/9/23]
  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Passed A Bill To Make It A Felony For County Election Offices To Receive Money From Nonprofit Organizations To Help Them Run Elections. “A party-line vote in the Georgia Senate gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would make it a felony for county election offices to receive money from nonprofit organizations following Republican complaints that donations disproportionately benefited Democratic areas. The 32-21 vote on the bill, the most contentious election-related proposal at the Georgia Capitol this year, sends it to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp for his signature. […] Critics said nonprofit donations that have helped fund government election operations since 2020 overwhelmingly flowed to Democratic-run counties, but supporters of the money said it filled critical election funding shortfalls, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.”  [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/29/23]

Education

  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Introduced A Bill That Could Criminalize School Librarians Who Loaned Books That Were Found To Be Obscene To Students. “Several Georgia Senate Republican leaders are backing legislation that would criminalize school librarians who let students check out books found to be obscene. State law currently shields the gatekeepers at public libraries — plus those at any school, college or university — from criminal prosecution for sharing materials considered irredeemably sexually explicit. Senate Bill 154 by Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Alpharetta, would remove school librarians from that exemption, exposing them to a misdemeanor ‘of a high and aggravated nature.’” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/16/23]
    • SB 154 Did Not Advance Before Crossover Day. [SB 154, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed 3/10/23]
  • The Republican-Majority Senate Passed A Bill To Create A Voucher Program And Spend Public Dollars On Private Education. “Republicans in the Georgia Senate passed legislation Monday that would expand private school vouchers to general public school students. Senate Bill 233, which now goes to the state House, would give $6,000 a year in state funds to the parents of each child who opts for private schooling. The money could be used for tuition and many other education-related costs as long as those parents assume full responsibility for their child’s education. “ [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/6/23]
    • The Bill Failed In The House And Was Not Revived Before The Session Ended. “Such measures have come in front of state lawmakers annually, but none have made it as far as SB 233. It passed the Senate in early March but stalled in the House, despite a last-minute push this week from Gov. Brian Kemp. […] The vote against SB 233 was 89-85, with one Democrat in favor and at least a dozen Republicans opposed. Republicans quickly called for a vote to reconsider. It passed by a wide margin, meaning the measure might have come up again in the waning hours of this year’s legislative session. It did not, but this is the first year in a two-year session, so the bill will be waiting when lawmakers return in January.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/30/23]

Health Care

  • Georgia Democratic Legislators Introduced Legislation To Fully Expand Medicaid Coverage. “Georgia House Democrats formally introduced their legislation last week to push for the full-scale Medicaid expansion that Gov. Brian Kemp and other GOP leaders in Georgia have long resisted. ‘It’s time that we make the health of Georgians a top priority,’ said House Minority Leader James Beverly, the chamber’s top Democrat.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/17/23]
    • HB 38 Would Fully Expand Medicaid To Nearly 500,000 Georgians And To Cover Those Who Would Be Affected By The Unwinding Of Federal Medicaid Expansion From The Pandemic Was Introduced. “As states prepare to unwind the expanded Medicaid program granted in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, an expansion Republicans argue has cost the state billions, Democrat leaders are continuing their years-long advocacy for Medicaid expansion. House Minority Leader James Beverly, a Democrat, has filed two bills — one to expand Medicaid eligibility to 138% of the federal poverty level to cover nearly 500,000 Georgians, and another to cover those who will be impacted by the unwinding of Medicaid expansion in the state.” [CNHI News, 1/18/23]
    • In April 2023, Medicaid Eligibility Would Need To Be Redertermined For 2.7 Million Georgians Who Currently Received Medicaid Coverage After A Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Expired. “In April, Medicaid eligibility must be redetermined for the 2.7 million Georgians who currently receive Medicaid or PeachCare for Kids coverage. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act in March 2020, giving states a temporary 6.2% federal funding increase if they ensured continuous coverage through the end of the month in which a federally declared public health emergency (PHE) expires. Before the Act was passed, states reevaluated Medicaid eligibility every year. The public health emergency, which has been extended several times by Pres. Joe Biden, expires April 11.” [CNHI News, 1/18/23]
      • The Nearly 570,000 Georgians Who Got Medicaid Coverage Under The COVID Program Would Likely Be Uneligible And Would Have To Transition To Private Insurance. [CNHI News, 1/18/23]
    • HB 37 Would Mitigate Potential Loss Of Federal Medicaid Coverage. [HB 37, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 1/13/23]
    • Full Medicaid Expansion Would Allow Georgia To Tap Into More Federal Funding Per Person Than It Would Under The “Pathways” Plan. “Full Medicaid expansion would also allow the state to tap into more federal funding per person enrolled in Medicaid–90%, compared to roughly 70% under Pathways.” [WABE, 1/13/23]
    • The Republican Governor’s Medicaid Expansion Proposal Was A Limited Expansion That Would Only Cover About 50,000 Georgians If They Met Work Or Volunteer Requirements. “Gov. Brian Kemp’s proposal calls for $52 million to fund the implementation of his Georgia Pathways plan, a limited expansion of Medicaid that would cover around 50,000 people if they meet work or volunteer requirements.”  [WABE, 1/13/23]
    • Unlike Most States, Georgia Did Not Cover All Poor Adults And Ranked Third Worst In The Nation For Its Rate Of People Without Health Insurance. “In Georgia, Medicaid covers poor children as well as some older and disabled adults. Unlike most states, Georgia does not cover all poor adults. Partly as a result, Georgia ranks third worst in the nation for its rate of people without health insurance.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/20/23]
    • HB 37 Did Not Advance. [HB 37, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed 3/10/23]
    • HB 38 Did Not Advance. [HB 38, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed 3/10/23]
  • The Republican-Majority Senate Passed SB 65 To Allow The State Of Georgia To Take Over The Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Exchange. “The state Senate passed Senate Bill 65 to allow the state of Georgia to takeover the federally operated HealthCare.gov health insurance exchange created by the Affordable Care Act. The bill was a part of Gov. Brian Kemp’s priorities and passed 32 to 19.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/15/23]
    • The House Passed SB 65 In March, Sending The Bill To The Governor. [SB 65, 2023 Legislative Session, 3/23/23]
    • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It Was Unclear How A State Takeover Of The Exchange Could Affect The More Than 879,000 Georgians Who Had Enrolled In An ACA Plan. “The move could affect insurance shopping for a lot of Georgians. When enrollment for 2023 coverage ended on Jan. 15, more than 879,000 Georgians had enrolled in an ACA plan. What’s less clear is how a state takeover of the exchange could affect them — whether how they shop for plans, or the plans they buy.”  [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/2/23]
    • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It Was Unclear What The State’s Replacement For The ACA Exchange Would Be. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/2/23]

LGBTQ+ Rights

  • Georgia Republican Lawmakers Introduced SB 88, Which Would Prohibit Adults In School From Providing, Obtaining, Or Discussing With A Student “Information Of A Sensitive Nature”, Defined As Sex Education Or Gender Identity, Without Parents’ Permission. [SB 88, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 2/2/23]
    • The Bill Would Also Ban Adults From Teaching “While Dressed In A Sexually Provocative Manner.” [SB 88, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 2/2/23]
    • The Bill Threatened To Withhold Funding For Public Schools. “The prohibitions in Senate Bill 88 would apply equally to public and private schools and in many cases to other places that oversee children, such as camps. Teachers and others overseeing children under 16 would be prohibited from providing sex education without parent consent, a major shift for schools that must by law offer sex ed. They also could not discuss sexual orientation or gender identity “other than the child’s biological sex” absent consent. SB 88 threatens loss of tax-exempt status for nonprofit organizations and withholding of funding for public schools.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/15/23]
    • SB 88 Was Tabled In Committee. [Sam Gringlas, Twitter, 3/1/23]
  • Georgia Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Buford) Introduced Legislation To Make It Illegal For Health Care Providers To Provide Gender-Affirming Care For Children. “A Republican state senator on Thursday filed legislation that would make it illegal for health care providers to give transgender children any treatment that assists them in aligning with their gender identity. Senate Bill 141, filed by Buford Republican Sen. Clint Dixon, would also ban nurses from encouraging children to seek gender affirmation treatment or keep any information that a student may be transgender from their parents. Fourteen Republicans are co-signers on the bill.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/9/23]
    • The Bill Would Also Ban Nurses From Encouraging Children To Seek Gender-Affirming Care And Require Them To Out Trans Children To Their Parents.  “Senate Bill 141, filed by Buford Republican Sen. Clint Dixon, would also ban nurses from encouraging children to seek gender affirmation treatment or keep any information that a student may be transgender from their parents. Fourteen Republicans are co-signers on the bill.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/9/23]
    • SB 141 Did Not Receive A Committee Vote. “Senate Republicans had also considered Senate Bill 141, a similar measure sponsored by Buford Republican state Sen. Clint Dixon that would have restricted all medicinal and surgical treatment of minors if it is to assist them in aligning with their gender identity. It also would have created a path for children or their families to sue doctors who provided transgender health care. It did not get a committee vote.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/6/23]
  • The Republican-Majority Senate Passed SB 140 To Prohibit Doctors From Performing Gender-Affirming Surgeries Or Prescribing Hormone Replacement For Minors, Sending The Bill To The Governor. “A bill limiting the care Georgia doctors could provide to transgender children awaits Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature after passing the state Senate for a second time Tuesday. Senate Bill 140, authored by Cordele Republican Sen. Carden Summers, would prohibit doctors from performing gender-affirming surgeries or prescribing hormone replacements to Georgians under 18. Children who are already taking hormones when the law goes into effect will be able to continue.” [Georgia Recorder, 3/22/23]
    • House Republican Lawmakers Advanced The Senate Bill. “A measure to prohibit medical professionals from giving transgender children certain hormones or surgical treatment passed a House panel Tuesday on a party-line vote. Senate Bill 140 passed the House Public Health Committee 12-10, with Republicans supporting the measure.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 3/14/23]
    • SB 140 Would Ban “Sex Reassignment Surgeries” And “Any Other Surgical Procedures” Performed “For The Treatment Of Gender Dysphoria” In Minors. “Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, no sex reassignment  surgeries, or any other surgical procedures, that are performed for the purpose of altering primary or secondary sexual characteristics shall be performed on a minor for the treatment  of gender dysphoria in an institution licensed pursuant to this article.” [SB 140, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 2/9/23]
    • SB 140 Would Prohibit Medical Professionals From Giving Trans Children Certain Hormone Treatment. “A state Senate panel on Wednesday passed a bill that would prohibit medical professionals from giving transgender children certain hormones or surgical treatment that assists them in aligning with their gender identity. […] SB 140 would not ban medication that slows or stops puberty, but it would ban health care professionals from giving transgender minors hormones such as estrogen or testosterone. Doctors also would not be allowed to perform surgeries on children.[Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/22/23]
  • Georgia Sen. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) Introduced SB 180. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/14/23]
    • SB 180 Was A “Religious Liberty” Bill That Would Limit The State’s Ability To Pass Laws That Conflicted With Religious Beliefs. “The measure by Republican state Sen. Ed Setzler, who previously sponsored Georgia’s anti-abortion law, would limit the state government’s ability to pass or enforce laws that conflict with religious beliefs.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/14/23]
    • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Critics Of The Legislation Feared It Could Empower Adoption Agencies And Businesses Who Refused To Serve Gay Couples. “Critics of the legislation fear that it could empower adoption agencies and businesses who refuse to serve gay couples. ‘While we can all agree that freedom of religion is a cornerstone of our beliefs, it is imperative that in an effort to protect religion that we do not create a license to discriminate,’ said Jeff Graham of Georgia Equality, a gay rights organization. Georgia doesn’t have a law protecting people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/14/23]
    • SB 180 Did Not Advance. [SB 180, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed 3/10/23]

Reproductive Rights

  • Democratic Legislators Introduced Bills To Repeal The State’s Anti-Abortion Restrictions And Expand Access To The Procedure. “Georgia Democrats plan to file legislation Tuesday to repeal the state’s anti-abortion restrictions and expand access to the procedure. The Reproductive Freedom Act will be introduced by state Reps. Shea Roberts and Kim Schofield, both Atlanta Democrats. But it won’t gain any traction in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Roberts, who has shared a deeply personal story about seeking an abortion 15 years ago, said legislators should be discussing ways to help more women access abortions rather than restricting them. The proposal expands the group of health care professionals who can provide abortion care and allows more insurance plans to cover the procedure.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/24/23]
    • The Bills Were HB 75 And SB 15. [HB 75, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 1/24/23] [SB 15, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 1/24/23]
    • HB 75 And SB 15 Both Failed To Advance. [HB 75, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed 3/10/23] [SB 15, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 3/10/23]
    • The Legislation Would Repeal The State’s Anti-Abortion Restrictions And Expand Access To The Procedure. “Georgia Democrats plan to file legislation Tuesday to repeal the state’s anti-abortion restrictions and expand access to the procedure. The Reproductive Freedom Act will be introduced by state Reps. Shea Roberts and Kim Schofield, both Atlanta Democrats. But it won’t gain any traction in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Roberts, who has shared a deeply personal story about seeking an abortion 15 years ago, said legislators should be discussing ways to help more women access abortions rather than restricting them. The proposal expands the group of health care professionals who can provide abortion care and allows more insurance plans to cover the procedure.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1/24/23]
  • Republicans In The Georgia Legislature Introduced HB 496. [HB 496, 2023 Legislative Session, introduced 2/21/23]
    • HB 496 Could Classify Abortion As Homicide. “Georgia Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would classify abortion as a homicide, despite their own constituents’ widespread opposition to banning the procedure. The bill, introduced Thursday, would classify a human as an ‘unborn child at every stage of development from fertilization until birth.’ As a result, terminating a pregnancy could be considered and prosecuted as a homicide. Writer Jessica Valenti noted that since the bill says life begins at fertilization, people who use IUDs or emergency contraception—both of which prevent fertilized eggs from implanting—could be charged with murder.” [The New Republic, 2/24/23]
    • HB 496 Failed To Advance. [HB 496, 2023 Legislative Session, accessed  3/10/23]

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