By: Sen. Blake Tillery (R–Vidalia)

With only five legislative days remaining in the 2024 Legislative Session, Georgia Senate members are diligently working both within their respective committees and on the Senate floor to propel House bills forward.

Here’s a sample of some of the legislation that passed this week I’ve heard from you on:

• HB 244: This legislation takes further steps to protect Georgia’s oyster population and agriculture industry. This bill was passed through the Senate and is now headed to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. 
• HB 880: This bill enables military spouses to utilize an existing license in good standing from another state to secure employment at a Georgia business. It now moves to the Governor’s desk. 
• SB 332: This bill empowers the Prosecuting Attorney’s Qualifications Commission to begin its crucial task of holding District Attorneys accountable if they fail to uphold the law. It passed the House and Senate earlier this year and was signed into law by the Governor this week.
• HB 1185: This bill reduces inflated homestead taxes, thereby easing the burden on working Georgians. This bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Finance this week and will now await full passage by the Senate.  The Senate passed a bill earlier this year capping property taxes increases at no more than 3% each year. I think that’s a better bill and home it passes.
• HB 1339: aims to reduce healthcare cost by doing away with certain certificate of need provisions.  I know a lot of our local hospitals oppose this, but I think its needed to drive down the crushing burden of healthcare costs on families.
• SB 233: The Georgia Promise Scholarship Act.  If a child is trapped in a school system that continually performs in the bottom 25% of schools in the state, this bill directs $6,500, which is about equal to the average state funding per student, for that student to attend any other school of the family’s choice, public or private.

        I have two bills pending in the House next week.  One is a tort reform measure, SB 426 to end direct suit of insurance companies in trucking actions. The second aims to help our foster care system by holding parents accountable for case plans and moving children into permanent placement with the parents don’t improve. Each week under the Gold Dome, constituents, associations, and organizations alike come to the Capitol to speak to legislators and host events with public officials. This week, I was personally proud to recognize the Vidalia High School Game Day Cheerleading Team and congratulate them for winning their third straight GHSA Division AA-A State Championship.

As always, thank you for the honor of serving you in the Senate. If you have any questions about these or other pending matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office in Atlanta via 404-656-0089.