February 24, 2025

Crossover Day Approaches

CDC job cuts, corporate ownership of Georgia homes, and mental health parity are at the forefront of this week's legislative updates. Thousands are rallying against mass CDC firings, key housing reform bills are up for debate, and new legislation is being introduced to enforce mental health insurance parity.

CDC COMES TO THE CAPITOL

A very large crowd gathered at the Capitol last week to oppose the mass firings of thousands of CDC workers, many of whom live in my district and are friends and neighbors. CDC saves lives, and the cuts are devastating. This example of stupid and unplanned cuts by Elon Musk are touching people close to me and will result in preventable deaths. I'm glad a large crowd showed up and demonstrated that they care. Thank you!

‍

‍

HOUSING REFORMS TARGETING OUTSIDE-OF-GEORGIA CORPORATE OWNERSHIP OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

On Tuesday, February 25th, at 3pm in CLOB Room 506, there will be a hearing on several bills targeting corporate ownership and purchase of large numbers of single-family homes. One of the bills being considered is HB 399, a bill I introduced (Read it HERE). Other bills under review will be HB 374 and HB 305. We know that out-of-state hedge funds and corporate interests are buying significant percentages of single-family homes. The state of Georgia, and the Atlanta metropolitan area in particular, is a target for this investment scheme that is changing our economy for families wanting to purchase their own home. Significant numbers of homes sold in DeKalb County are bought by out-of-state investors. All states are grappling with solutions, and I am grateful that House Governmental Affairs Chairman Victor Anderson accepted my suggestion that we have a hearing totally focused on this issue and the legislative proposals before his Committee. This hearing, like all others, will be livestreamed, and you are welcome to join us.

HB 399 states that any owner of more than 25 single-family homes must have at least one in-state staff person. Read this AJC news article from last week on three children who died in a fire in Fulton County. The Country Oaks apartment complex was investor-owned, and the management company is licensed in New York state. (Photo by Ben Hendren of the AJC)

‍

MENTAL HEALTH PARITY

Today I am joining others and introducing legislation to create new enforcement mechanisms for your statutory entitlement to parity for insurance payments for mental illnesses in an equal way that physical illnesses are covered. This bill comes from the Behavioral Health Commission (DBHDD), where I serve, and follows a large gathering at the Capitol last week led by the Carter Center on Georgia's failure to enforce relevant federal and state parity laws. We passed HB 1013, the Georgia Parity Act, in 2022, and although Rep. Todd Jones and I have met several times with the Insurance Commissioner and other healthcare leaders, we believe that additional legislation is required to enforce your rights. I will let you know when we have hearings on this matter, and we anticipate push back by providers and insurance companies, but we are committed to further progress.

‍

BUDGET DISCUSSIONS ONGOING

I serve on the Human Services Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, and our subcommittee reviews both the mid-year Fiscal 2025 Budget and the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for the Department of Human Services, Department of Public Health, Veterans Administration, Council on Aging, and the Sex Offender Supervision Board. By far, the largest budget for our subcommittee is the Department of Human Resources (DHR), and the Commissioner reported that she had a $44 million shortfall in the mid-year 25 budget. I don't understand how this shortfall could be so large, and the House passed the 25 mid-year budget with an additional $22 million to help with the shortfall. The mid-year budget is now before the Senate, and after it reviews the House proposals, a conference committee of six Republican legislators will be appointed to reach a compromise on the positions of the two chambers. Similarly, a Republican-appointed conference committee will resolve a final budget for Fiscal Year 2026 during the last week of the 2025 Session.

My subcommittee work for the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget is ongoing this week, and we have completed two subcommittee hearings and have heard extensive public testimony for budget requests. Even with the new expenditures and new proposals, the state of Georgia will continue to maintain over a $13 billion reserve. Many of us would like to see more of the reserve used for the Housing Trust Fund to assist with affordable housing and other specific human services and education needs. I hope that some of our efforts, which are ongoing, primarily from Democrats, will be successful.

LAST SURVEY POLL: HOW YOU ANSWERED

If sports betting is allowed, where should the profits go? 573 total votes‍

Money for HOPE scholarships: 131 votes

Need-based scholarships: 158 votes‍

Healthcare: 284 votes‍

You had many opinions on this survey question! One person made the wise suggestion that funding should go to pre-K funding. Of course, many of you insisted that Georgia should not allow sports betting. ‍

Thank you for responses!

‍

OUT AND ABOUT

I enjoyed meeting Mr. George Washington Smith from Vanderbilt University last Thursday. He played football while a student there, and so I introduced him to Rep. Demetrius Douglas, who was a linebacker at the University of Georgia and played in the NFL.

‍

On Wednesday, All Saints' and St. Luke's Episcopal Church Faithful Advocates came to the Capitol— welcome! Then I met with Emory young doctors and health care workers, and joined our Carter Center friends for Parity Day! Thank you all for shining your light on Georgia’s elected politicians— we need you to attend committee meetings, testify, and advocate for your families.

‍

A week ago, I enjoyed a short break to Tybee, one of Georgia's fabulous coastal islands. Both Henry and I got press last week-- me about my synchronized swimming career, and Henry (pictured in AJC) about his support for adding protection of pets to domestic violence orders. Busy week, next week will be focusing on additional mental health parity legislation.

‍

Americans and wonderful librarians! Valentine's Day was a great day at your Capitol. I ate a Varsity chili dog with Decatur Library director Alison Weissinger, saw my old friend, former Rep. Bert Reeves, celebrated New Americans Day at the Capitol, and called attention to the importance of lupus research by wearing purple. 55,000 Georgians currently live with lupus, a painful chronic autoimmune disease. While our new Americans held a press conference, the Senate passed SB 21, a bill targeting sanctuary cities throughout Georgia. Just a reminder: refugees are the most vetted of any persons living in the United States. 1% of refugees leave refugee camps for other nations, going through a 2-year process of interviews and background checks. The refugee resettlement agencies in attendance yesterday have now lost all of their federal funding.

‍

Here is footage of the Morning Order I gave on New Americans Day in the State House on February 14th. I was glad that many students from Global Village Project in Decatur were in the House gallery!

‍

Today’s visitors for good causes: Archdeacon Carole Maddux and Atlanta Bishop Rob Wright supporting HB 123, which passed out of committee and I hope will soon go to the House floor. I also met Amber, a constituent from Decatur—- an important voter! Everyone invited!

‍

I enjoy working with Rep. Imani Barnes on insuring children do not go hungry in school— always an important issue.

‍

On February 10th, Talley and FAVE Upper Elementary Schools visited their Capitol—- welcome all! Elena, Kim, and I fielded good questions.

‍

UPCOMING DATES

Monday, February 24th - DeKalb Delegation meeting Tuesday, February 25th - 4H Day at the Capitol

Wednesday, February 26th - DeKalb Day at the Capitol

Thursday, February 27th - Decatur High School students visit the Capitol

Thursday, February 27th - GALEO Fundraiser

March 6th - Crossover Day

‍

QUICK LINKS FOR YOU

I am on the following legislative committees. You can watch live every time they meet. Click on the links below for livestreams, agendas, archives and more.

Committees:

Subcommittees:

Appropriations - Human Resources
Governmental Affairs - State and Local Government
Judicial - Leverett (two)

You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:

General Assembly website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/
House Session meetings and many committee hearings are available to watch online: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house
Archived videos of meetings and hearings: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/media-services

Make your views known and tell me what issues interest you the most.

Back to News