Legislative Update—2022 Session, Week 5 | Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

The Georgia General Assembly convened this week for legislative days 12 through 15. Legislators will return to the Capitol next week for Legislative Days 16 through 18. On Tuesday, Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice David Nahmias gave his first State of the Judiciary before the Georgia General Assembly. He highlighted the backlog in cases brought on by the pandemic, the creative ways in which judicial systems across the state continued proceedings, and the challenges ahead. Read his full speech here. The House passed HB 910, the Amended Fiscal Year 2022 Budget 152-4. This includes many of Governor Kemp’s requests like pay increases to state employees and public school teachers. FY 2022 budget (29.9 billion) is $2.6 billion (9.7%) more than the current budget based on record setting revenue collections.

On Wednesday, the Senate passed HB 873 (Gwinnett County Commission Districts) along party lines. Senator Nikki Merritt’s committee substitute to revert to the original maps failed. Again, Here is a preview of the new commissioner maps should this bill be signed. SB 369 (Nonpartisan Gwinnett School Board) went through second readers and is assigned to the House Government Affairs Committee. HB 872 (Gwinnett Board of Education District Maps) was read and referred to the Senate State and Local Government Committee.

On Wednesday, Partnership Gwinnett, in collaboration with the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), honored 44 students at their annual STAR Luncheon. The STAR program recognizes top academically performing high school seniors in Gwinnett’s public and private schools. Partnering with our K-12 schools through initiatives like the STAR Awards helps us grow, retain, and attract an educated workforce for Gwinnett businesses. To read the full press release, click here.

Bill Tracking (*indicates newly added to list)

*HB 78 Administrative Services, Department of; create Division of Supplier Diversity

Status: 1/26/2021 – House Second Readers

HB 389 Employment security; change definition of employment to include services performed by an individual for wages

Status: 2/1/2022 – Withdrawn from General Calendar and recommitted to House Industry and Labor Committee

HB 587 Georgia Economic Recovery Act of 2021; enact

Status: 1/10/2022 – Recommitted in Senate

HB 835 Ad valorem tax; contracts between a county and a municipality for the tax commissioners to prepare the municipal tax digests and collect municipal taxes are not subject to approval of the tax commissioner; provide

Status: 1/10/2022 – House Second Readers

*HB 855 Workers’ compensation; coverage for first responders for post-traumatic stress disorder arising in the course of employment; provide

Status: 1/24/2022 – House Second Readers

HB 865 Labor and industrial relations; professional employer organizations; provisions

Status: 1/14/2022 – House Second Readers

HB 866 Labor and industrial relations; employers to provide workers’ compensation to certain persons; require

Status: 1/14/2022 – House Second Readers

*HB 867 Truth in Prescription Pricing for Patients Act; enact

Status: 2/7/2022 – Senate Read and Referred to Senate Insurance and Labor Committee. House voted 166-1

HB 872 Gwinnett County; Board of Education; revise district boundaries

Status: 2/8/2022 – Senate Read and Referred to Senate Committee on State and Local Government Operations

HB 873 Gwinnett County; Board of Commissioners; revise district boundaries

Status: 2/3/2022 – House Passed, adopted, and immediately transmitted to Senate

HB 884 Professions and businesses; expedited licenses for military spouses; provisions

Status: 1/14/2022 – House Second Readers

HB 920 Income tax; revise tax credit for certain investments to be limited to investments in entrepreneurship programs, centers, and initiatives