Legislative days 1-5 (of 40)
PA Home Health legislation
Last week, legislators returned to Atlanta to begin the 2025 legislative session. As it is the first year of the two year term, the week was filled with the requisite pomp and circumstance, including the swearing in of legislators and the election of officers (without surprise). On Tuesday, legislators and business leaders met for the annual Eggs and Issues breakfast. Thursday, the Governor gave his State of the State address outlining his legislative priorities, and unveiled his budget proposals. Next week, legislators will break in an effort to focus on the Governor’s budgets and hear from state agencies. They will return to action on Monday, January 27th.
Eggs and Issues
The annual Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues event brought together business leaders, local chambers of commerce, and elected officials to hear from Georgia’s leaders. Speaker Burns committed his focus on: the impacts of Hurricane Helene, education–including literacy and creating safe and secure learning environments. Lt Governor Burt Jones mentioned championing a child tax credit to aid in families’ ability to pay for childcare as well as infrastructure projects and tort reform. Finally, the Govenors mentioned his $530M commitment to support freight and logistics transportation infrastructure, $250M in water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure as well as his “robust legislative package that will bring balance to our proceedings and parity with our neighbors” in the tort liability system. Further, the governor stipulated that tort reform is his number one priority.
State of the State
On Thursday, the governor delivered his State of the State address, providing an update on the fiscal, economic, and related status of Georgia as well as his priorities for the coming session and year. The address focused on the challenges that the state faced and is facing, including the unprecedented damage from hurricanes and tornadoes, the impact of inflation, and “one of the biggest threats to Georgia’s future, (..) our state’s legal environment.” After providing examples of the impacts of our unbalanced system, he warned, “But I also want to be very clear: there is always room for compromise, but there will be no room for excuses, half-measures, or failure.Whether it’s this legislative session, or a second one later this year, we will achieve meaningful, impactful tort reform,” to the elation of many in healthcare and the business community.
To read the address in its entirety, see: State of the State
Schedule
On the first day of the session, legislators adopted a resolution outlining the schedule for the entirety of the session. While this has been common in the last few years, this is still a remarkable feat that allows legislators, staff, and visitors to plan for the three month period. While the resolution could certainly be changed by the adoption of a follow up resolution, that feels unlikely barring some large scale, unforeseen event (like a snow storm that shuttered activity multiple days). The current schedule sets crossover day (the final day that all bills must pass their originating chamber to continue) as Thursday, March 6th and Friday, April 4th as Sine Die, the final day of the legislative session. Next week, legislators will be off on Monday for the MLK holiday, and they will focus on Appropriations hearings. Legislators will return to work on Monday, January 27th for legislative day 6, and they will work through Thursday, January 30th, legislative day 9 respectively.
Legislation
HB22: This bill requires employers to provide employees who are veterans paid leave on Veterans Day.
HB34: This bill allows the licensing boards at the Secretary of State’s office (think Nursing) to contract with a vendor for a solution that would allow a licensee to track their CEU requirements.
HB54: This bill allows an APRN and PA to prescribe home health to their patients.
HB87: This bill requires insurers to cover medically necessary prosthetics and orthotics
HB83: This bill increases the tobacco tax from the current $.37 per pack to $.57. Further, the legislation stipulates that $.20 of the tax shall be used to address healthcare issues in the state.
HB 84: This bill increases the vape tax to 15% of the wholesale cost regardless of whether the product is an open or closed system.