|
Greetings! Today is Crossover Day, Day 28 out of 40, when one bill has to pass a chamber in order to have a chance to become law. We have been busy in the House, with long days in committee hearings and on the floor, voting on bills until late in the afternoon.
Highlights since I last wrote to you include: honoring Amy St. Pierre on the House floor on Moms Demand Action day; fighting against the hateful anti-transgender bathroom bill in Education sub-committee; Agriculture and Consumer Affairs committee unanimously passing my bill HB 486, Burial Purchaser Protection Act; , celebrating 100% Clean Energy Day with Georgia Conservation Voters; and sharing conversation with folks at our Breakfast and Town Hall in Gresham Park. I can’t possibly write to you about all the bills I would like to, but I will highlight a few.
In this issue:
My Legislation:
- HB 486 Burial Purchaser Protection Act
Bills I Opposed:
- HB 936 Transgender bathroom bill -
- HB 1182 Revising Low Income Housing Tax Credits
Bills I Supported
- HB 1054 Allow folks to accept traffic citations without signing the ticket
- HB 451 insurance for first responders with PTSD
- HB 1127. regulating hemp industry - Shelley
- HB 1339 Change of Certificate of Need for Hospitals
- HB 971 Firearm safe Handling and secure storage tax credit
Controversial Votes
- HB 986 - Election Interference with Deep Fakes
- HB 1172 Water rights, remove public trust doctrine
- HB 1192. Prohibit issuance of new certificates of exemption for high technology data center
- At the Capitol
- In the Community
|
|
|
|
Michelle Menifee, daughter of Mitchell and Leslie Jordan, who sued a cemetery after they buried someone else in a plot they had paid for, and her nephew celebrate with me and Muriel after the Burial Purchaser Protection Act was passed out of committee. The committee hearing was at 7am in the morning, so this was an early bird effort!
|
|
HB 486 Burial Purchaser Protection Act
|
|
|
I am delighted that this bill, which improves protections for consumers when a cemetery buries someone else in a plot they have paid for, passed unanimously out of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and Rules committees. You can watch, starting at minute 29, Agriculture & Consumer Affairs 02.22.24
Thank you to Michelle Menifee, and members and friends of the Mitchell and Leslie Jordan family, for their stalwart efforts to make sure that no other family has to experience the horrible experience and stress they went through. Thank you to David Hass of the Board of Cemeterians and the Secretary of State Securities division team for working with me on crafting clearer language, protecting both the rights of the consumer, or pre-needs burial purchaser, if a mistake is made, and also protecting the interests of the cemeteries from frivolous or unreasonable claims. Now we need to get it onto the House floor for a vote tomorrow!
|
|
HB 936 License to Discriminate
|
|
I've worked with many of my colleagues under the Gold Dome for six years. If they know nothing else about me they probably know I am a devout person of faith, and the mother of three kids that graduated from DeKalb public schools. On both counts I believe this anti-trans discriminatory bill is just bottom of the barrel, rotten-awful.
This is at best a wrong-headed solution in search of a problem that doesn't exist, and at worst another Washington, DC GOP driven wedge issue to divide our families in an election year.
There are ZERO cases of this being a criminal or civil issue in Georgia.
This bill isn't motivated by privacy or safety concerns — they’re motivated by ignorance, misinformation, and fear. My faith teaches me through John 13:34 to "love one another, as I have loved you." Let's put that sentiment into practice.
Thank you to the dozens of people who came to testify before the Education Sub-committee last Thursday against HB 936, the anti-trans bathroom bill. It was an emotional hearing, and your testimony made a difference.
I am glad that this bill did not receive a vote and move forward to the Education committee. We will have to stay on our toes and make sure the language does not come back in a Senate bill.
|
|
|
|
We need to INCREASE Housing Assistance in Georgia, not decrease. Listen to my testimony against HB 1182, revising the Low Income Housing Tax Credits
|
|
|
HB 1182 Revising Low Income Housing Tax Credits Passed 104- 61 - I voted no
HB 1182 revises low-income housing tax credits. It reduces the credit that developers can receive for building low income housing unless the project meets certain criteria. Supporters say this change saves money, but I believe it will discourage new affordable housing builds.
We are experiencing a housing crisis in Georgia. Several people spoke passionately about our need to do more, not less, to provide affordable housing in Georgia. I hope you will listen to my floor speech above.
|
|
HB 1054 Allow folks to accept traffic citations without signing the ticket Passed 156-10
This bill could eliminate some roadside confrontations between motorists and police.
This bill could have prevented the tragic death of Deacon Johnny Hollman, may he rest in peace.
|
|
|
|
Thank you to Sergeant Ashley Wilson of Gwinnett County, who asked for this legislation to provide PTSD insurance for First Responders, after she struggled with PTSD after losing her work partner on the job due to gun violence.
|
|
PTSD Insurance for First Responders Passed 168 - 0
Death by suicide is higher than line of duty deaths for our first responders. We cannot afford to lose officers over mental health issues. We cannot allow them to suffer. In 2023, Georgia leads the country in fire fighter suicide.
HB 451 Requires public entities to provide supplemental insurance to first responders diagnosed with occupational PTSD. Everyone can recover from PTSD with the right treatment.
|
|
HB 1127 Regulating Hemp 165-1 I voted yes
In Georgia, you can go to a gas station and buy snacks laced with CBD, and they are not regulated. This bill requires stickers cautioning consumers about THC levels, prominently labeling all hemp products meant for consumption, and requiring consumers to be 21 to purchase hemp products.
|
|
HB 1339 Certificate of Need Reform Passed 166 - 1 I voted yes
As we all know, Georgia has refused to expand Medicaid, which is incredibly frustrating. The Republicans are choosing to take incremental steps.
HB 1339 is a bipartisan bill that will hopefully improve healthcare outcomes across the state, and update the State Health Plan. It addresses mental health, behavioral health, maternal and prenatal care, and in rural areas, will expand healthcare and provide economic development.
As Rep Michelle Au stated on the floor, I wish this action was bolder. We have the 2nd highest uninsured rate in the nation. As Chairman Butch Parrish, the sponsor of the bill, stated, this is the beginning of a journey. Join with me. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good. This measure is a step in the right direction
|
|
HB 971 Tax Credits for Gun Safety measures Passed 162-3 I voted yes
Here is another one - It is incredibly frustrating that with our epidemic of gun violence, an epidemic unique to the American experience, with a child dying every other day from gunshot wounds, that we cannot pass gun safety measures requiring safe storage of firearms or keeping guns from convicted domestic violence abusers.
But we are finally taking a small step forward. HB 971 will give a tax credit for purchasing gun safes, and for taking gun safety classes. I think it was small minded of the sponsor not to seek bipartisan sponsorship of this bill, as Chairman Parrish did with his bill, as Rep Michelle Au first authored this legislation, but…. That is power politics.
|
|
HB 986 Election Interference with Deep Fakes Passed 148-22 I voted yes
We all know that sensational news travels fast - a rash that can cross the state instantly. The dangers of deep fakes - using artificial intelligence to impersonate someone, is real.
This bill creates the offenses of fraudulent election interference and solicitation of fraudulent election interference. This is an incredibly complex issue. Some trusted colleagues voted no, because 90 day election protection is not enough, and this law does allow a person to use AI generated content in a campaign with transparency and disclosure. I voted yes because we have no election protection against AI content at all right now.
|
|
HB 1172 Water Rights on Rivers Passed 107 - 60 I voted no
This bill affects all Georgia rivers, but especially focuses on the Flint River, as it is the only free-flowing natural river in Georgia. We learned a little bit of history from Rep Jenkins, an R who opposed the bill - Flint is in his community. A decision was made 50 years ago by Governor Jimmy Carter not to turn the Flint River into a reservoir. The campaign was called Saving the Flint, and this was a controversial decision, as it canceled plans for a hydroelectric dam.
This law removes reference to public trust doctrine in Right to Fish law, but other amendments to the bill make the right to fish, even the right boat on the state’s waters less secure than they have been in the past.
|
|
HB 1192 Pause on Data Centers passed 96 - 71 I voted yes
Data Centers use an enormous amount of power. This bill provides a two year pause on issuing new certificates, starting July 1, 2024. So current projects are grandfathered in.
This may be the best environmental bill likely to see floor action this year. The data center tax break, HB 696 sponsored by Rep. Trey Kelly in 2018, has turned out to be an environmental disaster. Georgia Power's projection for energy needs by winter 2030/2031 has gone from less than 400 megawatts to 6,600 megawatts. That's more than 5 times the output of the new Vogtle 3 unit (1,200 megawatts). 80% of the new demand is from data centers.
We will need more data centers in Georgia. They are coming without the tax breaks. Unfortunately, Georgia is now number 2 behind Texas in crypto data centers. The crypto data centers are approaching 2,000 megawatts of capacity. That's almost as much as Vogtle 3 and 4.
This turned into a confusing vote, because the Georgia Chamber and organized Labor came out against it. We need to pause the tax break and study requiring new data centers to be energy and water efficient. The real opportunity for labor is in building new clean energy to serve the data centers.
|
|
|
|
On Mom's Demand Action Day, my colleagues and i honored the legacy of Amy St Pierre.
Just 38 years of age, Amy died in gunfire while at a doctor’s appointment during her lunch break. You may recall the horrific shooting that occurred at Northside Medical Midtown on May 3, 2023, when a troubled young man, who had no business owning a gun, shot Amy and 4 other patients in the waiting room.
Amy was one of a kind and took far less in life than she gave. Her contributions to her family and community are many, and in having spoken with Amy’s dear friend and colleague, I believe Amy would not wish for those who knew and loved her to dwell on the good work that she did, but to direct their engagers, energy, and attention on the work that remains to be done. The work on addressing maternal mortality that Amy was passionate about and committed to, that we can continue in her honor. Her lifework that we can carry out in amplifying Her voice, in Her Honor and in Her absence.
|
|
|
|
Amy's sister in law, Tory Wald, and Amy's good friend, Julie Zaharatos, joined other Mom's Demand Action advocates, like Cynthia Duhart, whose nephew, also a parent of young children, like Amy, was killed by a bullet at a gas station. All Georgians are vulnerable to preventable deaths thanks to our lax gun laws allowing easy access to guns.
|
|
|
|
I was proud to join Georgia Conservation Voters and other environmental groups, and members of Georgia Youth Justice League, at a press conference at the Liberty Bell for 100% Clean Energy Day! I am a proud co-sponsor of the resolution that sets a goal of Georgia having 100% clean energy by 2050! I spoke about my three bills, Georgians First Fund, the Utility Transparency Act, and the Clean Fleets. More on those in a future issue!
|
|
|
|
Yogi, Muriel and I loved marching behind the Jaguars - the Maynard Jackson High School Band and dancers - at the East Lake YMCA Black History Month parade!
|
|
|
|
So wonderful to be with my colleagues Rep Miriam Paris, Rep Yasmine Neal, Rep Terry Cummings, and Brandeis Parkman, at the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Heritage Dinner!
|
|
|
Rep El-Mahdi Holly and I, along with Senator Parent, enjoyed our conversations at breakfast and during our Town Hall and Listening Session at Gresham Park Baptist Church Fellowship Hall!
|
|
|
That's all for now. It is my honor and privilege to serve as our State Representative. Please let me now if I can be of service to you. Let's see what today brings - I will be on my toes!
|
|
Representative Becky Evans
Georgia's 89th House District, DeKalb County
|
|
|
|
