Highlights from the House — Rep. Shaw Blackmon

Week seven of the 2024 legislative session was a short but packed week as we focused on key legislation ahead of “Crossover Day” on February 29. Crossover Day is the deadline for bills to pass out of the House or Senate in order to move forward this session. Bills that do not cross over are unlikely to become law this year.

We continued to make significant progress this week to advance issues most important to Georgians, including enhancing public safety, investing in behavioral healthcare, prioritizing education, protecting minors and further ensuring election security. Highlights include: 

Lowering Taxes for Georgians (HB 464):

We believe that Georgia businesses, workers and families spend their money more wisely and productively than the government. Lowering taxes and returning taxpayer dollars strengthens economic impact and growth in every corner of the state. 

As Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, I was proud to sponsor House Bill 464, which would return money back to hard-working Georgians’ pockets by lowering the state’s rainy day reserve fund requirements. This legislation, which passed out of committee this week, requires 25% of the previous year’s revenue left in the surplus funds to be used to cut taxes, including income or property tax rebates.

Protecting Children from Exploitation (HB 933): 

The General Assembly has taken decisive action in recent years to combat human trafficking in our state. By addressing the growing threat of online exploitation, HB 993 would reinforce our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of our minors and upholds the state’s dedication to justice, dignity and the protection of human rights for all Georgians. 

This bill, which passed unanimously, would introduce criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly and intentionally groom minors and use electronic means to persuade, induce, entice or coerce them into committing sexual offenses or acts of human trafficking. Perpetrators would face felony imprisonment ranging from one to five years, and those who commit these heinous acts could be charged regardless of whether crimes are committed within or outside of our state if they involve a minor who lives in Georgia. 

Combating Georgia’s Opioid Crisis and (HB 1170): 

With the current alarming fentanyl presence in drugs throughout our state and the county, we continue working to combat the scourge of opioid addiction and the tragedy of overdoses. HB 1170 is a little-to-no-cost, bipartisan initiative that would require government buildings and courthouses that contain Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to also include opioid antagonists, such as Naloxone, to help reverse and prevent opioid overdoses and make them readily available when necessary.

HB 1170 also requires key state health agencies to identify and develop educational resources and guidelines on opioid-related overdoses, as well as mandatory training and implementation guidelines for use of opioid blockers for government agencies.

Increasing Mental Health Care Providers and Patient Access (HB 1077):

Last week, we also advanced legislation to address workforce shortages in mental healthcare fields, which has a direct impact on patient access, particularly Medicaid patients. Recruitment and retention of behavioral health practitioners is crucial to ensuring a high level of quality care for all Georgians. To that end, HB 1077 establishes a student loan repayment initiative for health care providers, including licensed psychiatrists, addiction medicine specialists, psychologists, social workers, professional counselors and marriage and family therapists. 

Under the program, qualified individuals completing internships or residencies would be eligible to apply for loan repayments. Participants of the repayment initiative would receive repayment assistance over a six-year period, with annual disbursements varying from $10,000 to $50,000, with a cap of $220,000 on total cumulative reimbursements. The legislation incentivizes the treatment of Medicaid patients as providers would receive more loan repayment assistance based on the number of Medicaid patients served. 

Safeguarding Election Integrity through AI Transparency (HB 986):

The House also passed House Bill 986 to address election interference using artificial intelligence (AI) intended to deceive voters and influence the outcome of an election. This proactive measure is crucial in upholding trust and preserving the integrity of democratic processes, establishes a precedent for accountability and security in Georgia’s digital landscape, and ensures artificial intelligence contributes positively to the well-being of families, businesses and communities in the state.

Known as the “AI Transparency Protection Act,” HB 986 would introduce felony offenses for both the creation and solicitation of “deep fake” content through artificial intelligence-generated campaign advertisements aimed at interfering with elections. 

Under HB 986, any person who commits an offense of election interference through the creation and transmission of a deep fake campaign advertisement would be guilty of a felony, face imprisonment between one and five years, and be subject to a fine up to $50,000. The bill would also clarify that the use of AI-generated content in campaign advertisements is not unlawful if the proper disclosures are displayed to indicate that AI was used in its creation. 

Supporting Students and our Military (HB 996):

As we continue to prioritize educational opportunities for Georgia’s students and support our troops, the House passed House Bill 995, which would require public school systems to offer students a nationally recognized skills assessment called the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. 

This is an optional test for 11th and 12th grade students designed to predict future academic and occupational success in the military. HB 995 would help address declining military recruitment by introducing military career paths specially tailored to meet individual students’ interests, abilities and needs. The program offers young people a no-cost opportunity to make the most informed decision on where their abilities may be best matched in the armed forces. 

As we continue working on the state budget, education improvements and other important policies, please stay tuned for legislative news and announcements. We will be working diligently on behalf of your family, our district and the state to create and implement simple, smart and effective government. 

We hope you will take the opportunity to review updates like this throughout the session and reach out should you have any questions, concerns or feedback.

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