Tracking Our Priorities in Georgia Legislature
Steps for a Georgia Bill to Become Georgia Law
Where Are We In the Legislative Session?
As of April 6, 2022 (this page’s last update), this Sine Die was marked the end two-year Legislative Session, which means that policy proposals that did not pass must be re-introduced for consideration in 2023. Learn more about which bills moved in our blog post.
Bills We Are Watching
Revenues
Right now, Georgia’s tax code is out of balance. The state hands out $10 billion per year to special interests while underfunding the programs and services Georgians need. Utilizing commonsense policies like lifting the tobacco tax to the national average and rolling back inefficient tax credits are simple ways we can rebalance the tax code and pay for our priorities.
Defending against inefficient tax code reduces loss of revenue and helps keeps our current support systems and programs safe. The bills we are opposing would be detrimental to our revenue and put our current programs at risk.
House Bill 500
Enacts a convoluted tax scheme known nationally as CAPCO and removes caps on other tax credits.
House Bill 1437
Shifts Georgia's personal income tax from a graduated rate of up to 5.75 percent to a 5.25 percent flat tax, makes changes to eliminate most itemized deductions in favor of a larger standard deduction.
Enacting a Georgia Work Credit
A Georgia Work Credit could deliver substantial relief to Georgians. It reduces the amount of taxes low- to middle-income Georgians owe, resulting in up to $500 of support. This could help families pay medical bills, catch up on rent or save for job advancement opportunities.
Support for Families in Poverty
For families to thrive, they need support systems to help them make ends meet when they are making low wages, busy with caretaking or are otherwise unable to keep food on the table without support. By lifting these families up we create more equity, better outcomes for their children, our schools and our local economies.
Health Care Access and Affordability
By increasing access to health care, more individuals are able to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
House Bill 1013
Strengthens the state’s monitoring and enforcement of behavioral health parity, creates service cancelable loans for behavioral health professions, creates grant programs to divert people living with behavioral health conditions away from jails/prisons, and more.
House Bill 1192
Requires the Department of Community Health to apply for federal approval to provide treatment services under Medicaid to people living with HIV.
House Bill 1404
Requires the Department of Community Health to apply for federal approval to authorize private institutions for mental disease to qualify for Medicaid reimbursement.
Senate Bill 342
Strengthens the state’s monitoring and enforcement of behavioral health parity.
Educated Youth
By giving all of Georgia’s children a chance at an equitable, quality education we are giving all of Georgia’s children a chance to thrive. When we create inequities in education, the effects of these inequities will cause ripple effects across lives, families and generations.
House Bill 517
Increases the existing tax-credit voucher cap form $100 million to $200 million. School vouchers like these take public money from public schools and gives them to private schools.
Access to Scholarships and Affordable Higher Education
Georgia currently has not funded a need-based aid scholarship. Restrictions on HOPE scholarships and in-state tuition have paved the way for inequity as they dictate who does or does not have a college degree within reach.
House Bill 1435
Creates completion grants for students who have completed at least 80 percent of their degree program but face financial hardship.
Empowering Workers
These bills would improve equity for all workers and give workers tools they need to thrive.
House Bill 1045
Extends the time period for the dissolution of the WC Subsequent Injury Trust Fund, and provides 4-year extension of a 2.64% employer tax rate to fund the state's UI Trust Fund, contributing to one of the lowest employer contribution levels in the nation, and incentivizing future restrictions of UI benefit access to reach UI Trust Fund solvency.
House Bill 1390
Provides a right of action against a county or city employer for retaliation for sex discrimination in employment.
Senate Bill 331
Prohibits local government regulation of employee work hours, scheduling, and output.
Senate Bill 379
Establishes a program for the State Board of TCSG to promote the creation and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in the state and authorize the acceptance of grants and other funds.
Criminal Legal Systems
A fair criminal legal system supports rehabilitation and restorative opportunities for individuals within this system, so that they can move forward and build happy, fulfilling lives.
Senate Bill 10
Provides judicial discretion in the suspension of a driver’s license upon failure to appear for certain traffic violations.
Senate Bill 257
Expands expungement of criminal records and remove barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated Georgians.
Senate Bill 353
Provides judicial discretion in the suspension of a driver’s license upon failure to appear for certain traffic violations.
