Crossover Day Complete
We have successfully completed day 28, Crossover Day, and what I believe to have been the busiest week yet. This week the Senate passed over 50 pieces of legislation that work to improve the lives of Georgians. I am extremely proud of what the Georgia State Senate has accomplished thus far and with less than a month left to vet and vote on legislation, we will push even harder to make a positive difference in Georgia.
On Crossover Day, Friday March 3, the Senate debated and passed 32 bills. I am proud to say that I sponsored three of the measures that passed. First, Senate Bill 173 clarifies provisions relating to captive insurers. A captive insurance company is a company that provides risk-mitigation services for a parent company or any group related to the company. A couple of years ago, the Senate coordinated with the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner to tap into the captive insurance company market within the state. At the time, these companies were an untapped business that needed to be explored.
SB 173 enables Georgia to become more competitive in the captive insurance company arena by making regulations for these companies friendlier and more affordable than ever before. We need to work together to make our great state a true competitor for our homegrown captive insurance companies and those that would be moving from other states. SB 173 unanimously passed the Senate and I look forward to bringing this measure to the House of Representatives.
Senate Resolution 228 addresses the conveyance of certain state owned properties located in Georgia in nine counties. This legislation addresses the authorization of the ground lease of certain state owned properties located in eight counties. This legislation positively affects Baldwin County in Senate District 25 by ensuring that 10.60 acres of improved real property will be given to the county from the state.
Additionally, Senate Resolution 229 addresses nonexclusive easements for 10 counties. Nonexclusive easements refer to property easement, which gives people access to a property as long as the property owner’s rights are not violated. Construction, operation and maintenance of facilities, utilities, roads and ingress and egress through property owned by Georgia are addressed by the nonexclusive easements in SR 229.
On Friday, a bill that received a unanimous “do pass” recommendation by the Insurance and Labor Committee passed the Senate and is on the way to the House.
Senate Bill 206 would require insurance companies to provide hearing aids and replacements to children 18 years or younger. I am proud that SB 206 passed out the committee I chair and is one step further in the legislative process to becoming law. Our most vulnerable population and those who impact our future the most—our children —have every right to affordable hearing aids.
It is difficult to believe that in four short weeks we will reach Sine Die; the last day this year for Georgia legislators to pass bills into law. I will be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have on these three bills or any of the legislation passed so far. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time—my doors and phone lines are always open.