By Andrea Holt
February 28th was my first day at the Georgia State Capitol. People for Liberty joined Americans for Prosperity and America’s Future the day the legislature was in session to push 3 specific bills.
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to provide for the establishment of promise scholarship accounts to be funded by the state in the amount of $6,000.00 per school year for each participating student; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
On 3/6/2023 this bill passed the Senate and is considered favorable in the House.
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 1 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions of professions and businesses, so as to provide for the issuance of licenses by endorsement for certain licenses to spouses of firefighters, healthcare providers, and law enforcement officers who relocate to the State of Georgia; to establish qualifications for such license by endorsement; to provide for definitions; to provide for exceptions and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
On 2/28/2023, this bill passed the House and on 3/13/2023 it passed the Senate.
However, a similar bill HB 212 that would reduce the requirements for niche beauty services such as make-up artistry, eyebrow threading, and blow-dry styling was tabled in the House on 3/2/2023.
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 31 of the O.C.G.A., relating to health, so as to revise various provisions relating to certificate of need requirements; to amend Code Section 50-18-70 of the O.C.G.A., relating to legislative intent and definitions relative to open records laws, so as to provide that certain organizations or entities that lease or operate facilities of hospital authorities are considered agencies for purposes of open records; to provide for the delayed repeal of certificate of need requirements; to transfer charity and indigent care requirements from certificate of need requirements to licensure requirements; to provide for regulations and penalties; to amend other provisions in various titles of the O.C.G.A., to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
As of 3/11/2023, this bill is considered favorable in the House.
With this being my first time attending a legislative session, I didn’t know what to expect. However, standing along the ropes, watching the session, listening to my representatives, and hearing both sides argue their points was invigorating. I encourage everyone to take a day and do the same at your Capitol. Activism isn’t new to me, but so far, my work has been calling or writing my representative and encouraging others to do so as well. I am incredibly grateful to Americans for Prosperity – Georgia, America’s Future – Atlanta, and my team at People for Liberty, who encouraged me to take this next step.
Look out for future blogs featuring the work the team in Georgia is doing!
Andrea Holt, our Director of Community Engagement, is pictured in
the back left with participants from America’s Future.