Good News/Not So Good News

Last Monday, my bills HB 23, 24, and 66 received a hearing before the House Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on State and Local Government. I was glad to have testimony in favor of the bills from DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader, DeKalb County Board of Education member Marshall Orson, Kathleen Bowen of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, and Martha Gross, a citizen from Brookhaven.

The Georgia Economic Developers Association, Mayor John Ernst of Brookhaven, and the Georgia Municipal Association oppose the bills. But I have been in conversation with those groups and with Rep. Barry Fleming on the subcommittee. I remain hopeful that this open discussion will result in better bills that will provide the transparency people need in annexation and tax abatement proceedings.

We have another hearing tomorrow on HB 66. I am preparing new drafts of the bill and remain hopeful of passage.

HB 272 Raise the Age. This bill likely will be on the agenda of the Juvenile Justice Committee this week, possibly tomorrow. I have fought for this for years and am hopeful Georgia will finally join the 47 other states that treat 17 year olds as juveniles instead of adults. To submit comments on the bill, contact Chair Mandi Ballinger at mandi.ballinger@house.ga.gov

HB 109 Childhood Victims Protection Act providing more protection for victims of childhood sexual abuse and extending the time for victims to bring claims. Will be heard in the Gunter Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee tomorrow. To submit comments, contact Subcommittee Chair Stan Gunter at stan.gunter@house.ga.gov