Productive Session

This past session was a productive one for the Georgia General Assembly and a significant number of bills were sent to the governor’s desk for his approval or veto.

On July 1, 2017, over 100 of these bills went into effect as Georgia law. While there are certainly bills that you will remember from session, there are several bills that didn’t receive much media coverage that I want you to be informed about. They signify changes that will be important to you, your family and our local community.

Below you will find several bills that were passed by both chambers, signed by the Governor and went into effect on July 1:

Senate Bill 15 allows retired law enforcement officers to be issued a weapons carry license at no expense.

Senate Bill 108 directs the Commissioner of Veterans Service to establish a Women Veterans’ Office within the Department of Veterans Service. This office will work with all of the Veteran Court Divisions in the state to assist with the unique needs of recruiting and training female veterans.

Senate Bill 206 requires health insurers to offer hearing aid coverage for children 18 and younger who have impaired hearing. This coverage is limited to $3,000 per ear or $6,000 total. An exemption for health plans of employers with 10 or fewer employees is included in SB 206.

House Bill 37 requires that private post-secondary institutions cannot adopt sanctuary policies.

House Bill 49 updates licensure requirements for livestock dealers and livestock market operators by allowing the department to establish three year licenses.

House Bill 87 allows annual registration for businesses to be extended to three years. The registration process would still be handled by the Secretary of State.

House Bill 208 makes several changes to the laws addressing hunting and fishing licenses.

House Bill 322 extends the period of service where a disabled veteran from wartime service is qualified for care in the Georgia War Veterans home.

House Bill 470 creates the Defense Community Economic Development Fund. This fund will provide grants, which are subject to the appropriations process in the Georgia General Assembly, to military communities so they can promote military installation.

For a full overview of any of these bills and the entire list of legislation Governor Nathan Deal signed into law, please follow the link below:

https://gov.georgia.gov/legislation/2017

My work on your behalf at the Capitol and across the state is never done. During the interim my colleagues and I will be busy attending study committee meetings to discuss some of the problems affecting our state and citizens. We will review potential solutions and begin working on legislation that can make them into Georgia law. Additionally, we will use our time to improve legislation that did not go to the floor for a vote this year.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions regarding legislation that passed or that did not make it. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Sen. Burt Jones is the Chairman of the Insurance and Labor Committee. He represents the 25th Senate District which includes Baldwin, Butts, Greene, Jasper, Morgan and Putnam counties and portions of Bibb, Jones and Walton counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.<./i>