Numerous Critical Bills Passed on 'Crossover Day'

By Lynne Riley, Georgia State Rep. (R-Dist. 50)

2014 Legislative Update – Week 8 

Monday, March 3rd marked the 30th legislative day of the 2014 session.  Known as “Crossover Day,” this critical point in the session is customarily the last chance for bills to pass the legislative chamber from which they originated. 

One of the more significant bills passed by the House on Crossover Day was House Bill 885, which would increase treatment options for children suffering from seizure disorders.  HB 885 would tightly restrict and regulate the distribution of cannabidiol, an oil-based derivative of the cannabis plant.  The derivative would only be available through medical trial at one of five Georgia academic research centers and prescribed by medical doctors.  The treatment has been used to successfully control seizure disorders for children in Colorado, and we look forward to the time that it can give hope to families in Georgia.

Also passed on Crossover Day were bills designed to stimulate economic development in Georgia  House Bill 960 aims to speed up the development of the Atlanta BeltLine project by enabling the private sector to help finance and build the transit component.  The BeltLine is a proposed 22 mile bike path and light rail system that will circle Atlanta.  It is the most comprehensive transportation and economic development effort ever undertaken in the City of Atlanta, and among the largest urban redevelopment program currently underway in the United States.

Another economic development bill that was passed was House Bill 958.  This bill establishes sales tax holidays for back-to-school shoppers, and for purchases of energy efficient appliances. These sales tax holidays provide an incentive for shoppers to make their purchases in Georgia.  Other measures in the bill give job-creating tax incentives to video game developers and developers of projects of regional significance.

House Bill 128 establishes the Georgia Downtown Renaissance Fund within the Department of Community Affairs to provide local governments, downtown development authorities, and other organizations with financing to encourage economic and small business development, public improvements, and historic preservation projects.  HB 128 creates a unique public-private partnership that enables our local communities to revitalize their downtown areas. This legislation demonstrates the House’s commitment to supporting not only local economic development initiatives but also small businesses that are established in these community commerce centers.

We also approved House Bill 990 during our 13 hour session on Day 30. HB 990 will require the legislative approval of the General Assembly to expand Medicaid participation in Georgia. For the first time in the Medicaid program’s history, the Federal government is seeking to expand eligibility to include able-bodied adults that have not previously met certain low-income requirements. This expansion drastically alters the original intent of the Medicaid program, which was to serve as a safety net for low-income Americans with dependent children as well as the blind and disabled population. While the Federal government has promised to cover 100% of the Medicaid expansion costs through 2016, and then phase down to covering 90% of the costs by 2020 and thereafter, Georgia’s leaders must not forget Washington’s history of broken promises. HB 990 serves as a safeguard for Georgia’s future by placing the question of whether to expand Medicaid in the hands of popularly elected representatives who are constitutionally empowered to set the state’s budget.

After Crossover Day, we began reviewing and voting on Senate Bills.  Senate Bill 23 aims to speed up action in reported missing person cases.  The bill prohibits Georgia law enforcement agencies from establishing a “minimum waiting period” before they act on a missing person report.  The legislation defines a “medically endangered person” and adds these individuals to the provisions of the Mattie’s Call Act. “Mattie's Call” is an alert system that is used to locate missing elderly or disabled persons.

Meanwhile, our colleagues in the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2015 budget this week.  The Senate passed a slightly different version of House Bill 744 than we previously passed in the House, and it will now move to a House and Senate Conference Committee to work out a spending plan to submit for a final vote of the full legislature.

This week, Georgia received some news related to the deepening of the Port of Savannah.  The Obama Administration’s 2015 fiscal year budget request was released, and it only appropriated $1.62 million for pre-construction of this project, not the more extensive construction funding that the state was promised.  This news was disappointing, as Georgia has been expecting $400 million from the Federal government to be designated to this project over the next few years.  So far, Georgia has reserved $231 million to go towards the port project, and have included an additional $35 million in the FY 2015 budget.  Even through tough economic times, Georgia has remained committed to appropriating funds to the deepening of the Port of Savannah.  Not only will the port bring new business and prosperity to Georgia, it will also improve import and export opportunities for the entire nation.  Understanding this significance, Governor Deal announced plans to move forward with the project despite this setback.

Only two weeks remain in the 2014 session.  We will be working at a fast pace to give final passage to legislation that will benefit every Georgian. You can stay up to date on our efforts by visiting our website at www.house.ga.gov to watch the House in action, view live and archived committee meetings, and review legislation that we are considering in these final days. If I can ever be of service to you, please call my office at the State Capitol at 404-651-7737.