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 Advanced A Bill To Make It Illegal For Local Governments To Accept Donations To Help Them Run Elections. “A Georgia Senate committee voted Monday to make it illegal for local governments to take donations to help them run elections, a reaction to millions of dollars contributed in 2020 by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The bill passed 4-2 along party lines, with Republicans saying it would reduce the influence of outside money on elections and Democrats opposing restrictions on resources to run elections. Supporters of the idea said they want to stop so-called ‘Zuckerbucks’ funding from Zuckerberg’s nonprofit organization, the Center for Tech and Civic Life, which donated an estimated $43 million to Georgia counties during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The money funded items such as absentee ballot postage costs, election equipment, voter education and protective gear. But opponents of the measure said the money was available to any county that applied for it, providing critical financial assistance in the absence of enough state funding. Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Max Burns, the sponsor of Senate Bill 222, said he believes the money created inequalities among counties.” [Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 2/27/23]
SB 222 Passed The Senate. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution Bill Tracker, accessed 3/7/23]
House Republican Lawmakers Advanced SB 222. “A Georgia House panel Tuesday advanced legislation that prohibits local government officials from directly receiving donations from outside organizations to administer elections after accusations millions of dollars were unfairly given to Democratic-leaning counties during the 2020 election cycle. Senate Bill 222 was approved by the House State and Local Government Subcommittee on Tuesday with the support of Republican legislators following a lengthy debate over creating new criminal penalties and forcing a county to return donations it received from a private organization to help pay for election administration. The GOP-controlled state Senate approved the updated donation restrictions earlier this month along party lines, so if the House also approves it can advance to the governor’s desk.” [Georgia Recorder, 3/14/23]
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, WhichWould 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]
