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 1, 2021 (this page’s last update) we have finished the 2021 Legislative Session, but the governor still has time to sign new bills into law. We are in the first year of a two-year legislative session, which means bills that have not made it to the governor’s desk this year will continue to be discussed next year.

Bills We Are Watching

We are watching several bills that would either improve the ability for all Georgians to thrive, hinder equity or prosperity or change the revenues that make investments in our people possible. You can learn more about how we define our priorities here.

You can make change by encouraging your lawmakers to approve or disapprove of any measures by writing them. Find your lawmakers here. You can find the contact information for your Senator here and your Representative here.

This tracker was last updated April 1st, 2021 at 12:15 a.m.

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.

Senate Bill 6

Increases transparency for tax credits so we can roll back inefficient ones. Unfortunately, it currently has inefficient tax credit add-ons.

Senate Bill 148

Increases transparency for tax credits so we can roll back inefficient ones.

House Bill 394

Raises tax on cigarettes from $.37 to $1.87. Taxes smokeless tobacco and vaping products.

Oppose

House Bill 587

Enacts a convoluted tax scheme known nationally as CAPCO and removes caps on other tax credits.

House Bill 594

Adds sales tax to digital downloads.

House Bill 593

Raises the standard deduction for tax filers. While we support raising the standard deduction because it will put some money back in the pockets of Georgians, this is not currently the most effective way to provide support. This measure provides up to $63 of relief, while a measure like the Georgia Work Credit would provide up to $500. As is, the legislation may also the state an additional $199 million in federal funding.

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. Several 2021 bills would enact a Georgia Work Credit. The Georgia legislature is also able to append this measure to a bill that has already passed over by Crossover Day.

Senate Bill 58

Enacts a Georgia Work Credit.

House Bill 95

Enacts a Georgia Work Credit.

House Bill 510

Enacts a Georgia Work Credit.

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.

House Bill 91

Increases the amount of TANF cash assistance. This level has not been changed in over 30 years.

House Bill 163

Creates easier method of becoming Medicaid eligibility by using SNAP eligibility.

Health Care Access and Affordability

By increasing access to health care, more individuals are able to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

Senate Bill 83

Creates an option for individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid to purchase Medicaid coverage with their own funds. This option is often cheaper for individuals and families than other health coverage options.

Senate Bill 172

Fully expands Medicaid for individuals and families up to 138 percent of the poverty line – i.e. individuals who make about $17,770 a year or less.

Senate Bill 173

Extends postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year after giving birth.

House Bill 49

Ensures that health insurers pay for behavioral health services at the same level as physical health services.

House Bill 72

Extends postpartum Medicaid coverage to one year after giving birth.

House Bill 73

Reduces out-of-pocket costs for consumers requiring insulin.

House Bill 630

Fully expands Medicaid for individuals and families up to 138 percent of the poverty line – i.e. individuals who make about $17,770 a year or less.

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.

Oppose

Senate Bill 47

Expands the eligibility of an existing school voucher for students with special needs, but any child that takes advantage would lose out on federal funding and certain civil rights protections. School vouchers take public money from public schools and gives them to private schools.

House Bill 10

Creates an opportunity weight, which is special funding given to public schools meant to support their students living in poverty so that these students can see the same success as their peers.

Oppose

House Bill 60

Creates an education savings account for families to pay for private school tuition with funds from the state. School vouchers like these take public money from public schools and gives them to private schools.

House Bill 118

Fully funds sparsity grants. Sparsity grants are grants targeted to school districts that carry a smaller school population, as they have more difficulty carrying fixed costs such building infrastructure and school busses.

Oppose

House Bill 142

Increases the existing tax-credit voucher cap form $100 million to $150 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 87

Allows students seeking an associate’s degree through the Technical College System of Georgia to be eligible for HOPE grants.

House Bill 88

Increases the amount of the HOPE Grant to cover 100 percent of tuition for certificates and diplomas from the Technical College System of Georgia.

House Bill 120

Allows the boards of the University System of Georgia and Technical College System of Georgia to set tuition somewhere between in-state tuition and an amount up to 10 percent higher for DACA recipients who currently pay out-of-state tuition.

House Bill 669

Converts Student Access Loans to scholarships; forgives existing Student Access Loans.

Empowering Workers

These bills would improve equity for all workers and give workers tools they need to thrive.

House Bill 55

Prohibits employers from asking about salary history in the hiring process.

House Bill 146

Establishes paid leave for state workers.

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 105

Makes the process easier for those who qualify for early termination of probation to be able to do so.

Oppose

Senate Bill 174

Requires judges to impose cash bail for 12 additional services.

House Bill 272

Increases the jurisdiction of juvenile courts from age 16 to 17 for non-violent offenses. This would prevent Georgia from prosecuting 17 year olds as adults for non-violent offenses.

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