Institute for Legislative Analysis

Ben Watson

This bill requires all health insurance policies, including Medicaid, offered in the state to provide coverage for "biomarker testing". This includes to diagnose, treat, manage, or monitor a person's disease or condition "when the testing is supported by medical and scientific evidence." Oppose is the Limited Government Position as each and every health insurance mandate or price control on co-payments prevents an individual from selecting a plan with just basic or customized coverages to fit their specific needs. As a result, health insurers are forced to only offer costly plans loaded with coverages that most individuals do not need. This can result in lower-income or younger individuals choosing to purchase no insurance plan at all due to the high cost.

Increasing Health Insurance Premiums by Mandating All Policies Provide Coverage for Biomarker Testing.

This bill reinstates a 3% surcharge on all fines for state traffic violations, with the funds intended to be used by the Georgia Driver's Education Commission to provide driver education and training programs. This surcharge is part of "Joshua's Law," which requires minors to complete a driver education course and satisfy supervised driving requirements before obtaining a driver's license. A surcharge of 1.5% previously applied to traffic citations but expired in 2022. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further punishes motorists through "taxation by citation". While this initiative represents a noble goal, the costs for the program should not be born at the expense of traffic violators.

Further Punishing Motorists by Imposing Surcharges on all State Traffic Violations to Fund Drivers Education Programs.

This bill reduces the corporate tax rate by making it equal to the individual tax rate. Beginning 2024, this rate is 5.39%, and reduces by .10% annually until reaching 4.99%. Previously, the corporate tax rate was 5.75%. Support is the Limited Government Position as this tax cut will drive businesses to Georgia and unleash economic growth by keeping a greater amount of resources in the private sector where they can be reinvested.

Expanding Economic Growth by Lowering the Corporate Tax Rate to Equal the Individual Tax Rate.

This bill removes the authority of counties to appoint local health directors. Instead, a "district health director" is appointed by the commissioner of the Department of Public Health, to direct each of the local health departments in a district. Previously, a local health director was required to be a licensed physician, but this bill allows district directors to instead hold a master's degree in public health or a related field. If the director is not a physician, they are required to appoint a physician as Chief Medical Officer. If the director is a physician though, the director may also be the Chief Medical Officer. Support is the Limited Government Position as government hiring decisions should be based on recruitment of the most talented and qualified applicant for the position.

Ensuring the Most Qualified and Talented Local Public Health Directors by Reducing Unnecessary Qualification Requirements.

This bill, the Housing Regulation Transparency Act, requires zoning decisions or permits involving single-family residences to be completed within 180 days, except in certain situations such as a state of emergency or while a third-party contractor study is ongoing. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill quickens housing construction and reduces costs by ensuring government employees are held accountable.

Quickening Housing Construction and Reducing Costs by Ensuring Permitting and Zoning Decisions Involving Single Family Residences are Delivered within 180 Days.

This bill is designed to incentivize individuals to become college nursing instructors. Under the bill, the Board of Health Care Workforce is authorized to cover up to $100,000 of student loan debt over 5 years for nurses who have a master's or doctoral degree and are a faculty member at a public college or university. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the private sector and free market - not central planning by politicians - is the best mechanism to allocate labor resources within the economy. Furthermore, taxpayers (many of whom may start small businesses and pursue the trades) should not be forced to pay for the costs of other individuals to pursue higher education.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending and Government Central Planning through a "Nursing Faculty Program" Providing Student Loan Forgiveness.

The Mallow amendment #1 to a bill related to offenses requiring bail prior to release. This amendment eliminates multiples offenses that had been added to the list of "bail-restricted" offenses, which require bail to be posted before a person is released, including offenses such as theft by taking, distribution of controlled substances, unlawful assembly, and terroristic threats or acts. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Weakening Public Safety by Undermining Efforts to Combat "Catch-and-Release" Practices Under Pre-Trial Bail Laws.

This bill ultimately provides small businesses with tax relief. Specifically, the bill expands the eligibility of partnerships to elect to pay income taxes at the entity level. Under existing state law, this election was only available to partnerships in which all owners and operators were eligible to be shareholders of an S-corporation under federal law. Support is the Limited Government Position as this broadly applied tax reform will help to attract investment and improve the state's business climate and growth.

Promoting Economic Growth through Changes to Business Taxation Structures which Provide Tax Relief.

This bill, the "Commercial Property Assessed Conservation, Energy, and Resiliency Cooperation Law," provides financing to commercial property owners for certain government-approved improvements such as increased energy efficiency. Under the program, local development authorities may issue bonds (debt) to finance the improvements, which are then repaid through an additional assessment on their property. Notably, this bill provides that there is "no limitation upon the amount of revenue bonds, notes, or other obligations" a development authority may issue. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as, not only is it not the proper role of government to compete in the lending industry, but taxpayer funds are also unnecessarily placed at risk in the event of a default.

Competing With the Private Lending Industry and Placing Taxpayer Funds at Risk Through the Establishment of a Commercial Property Assessed Conservation, Energy, and Resiliency Cooperation (C-PACE) Program.

This bill limits annual increases in property valuation to the previous year's inflation rate and improvements to the property or other changes by providing a homestead exemption for amounts over that threshold. Under the bill, localities have the option to opt out after providing notice and holding public hearings. The bill also allows localities to adopt a special sales and use tax of up to 1%, subject to voter approval, to be used to decrease property taxes, as long as the locality has not opted out. Additionally, the bill requires property to be "appraised at least every three years." Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps protect homeowners from even greater levels of taxation. While this bill serves as a step in the right direction, lawmakers should advance additional reforms to provide broad-based property tax relief, which will help spur economic growth.

Protecting Homeowners from Spiking Property Taxes by Limiting Annual Property Assessment Increases.

This bill, the Safe Schools Act, requires the Professional Standards Commission to create an optional "school safety and anti-gang endorsement" for certain public-school employees that is designed to provide training on school safety and youth gangs. Additionally, the bill requires each public school to conduct an annual "intruder alert drill," with parents having the option to opt their child out of participating. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps strengthen the safety and security of schools as opposed to other Left-wing measures such as gun control which place schools and children vulnerable to tragic events.

Strengthening School Security by Establishing Training Programs and an Additional Safety Measure Designed to Protect Students and Teachers.

This resolution creates the Senate Study Committee on Certificate of Need Reform to examine the state's certificate of need laws and make recommendations about possible changes. Certificate of need laws prevent individuals from opening or expanding healthcare facilities unless they can prove to the government there is a "need" for the expansion and additional competition. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill serves as a step in the right direction to improving, or ideally eliminating, the state's certificate of need laws which restrict competition, reducing availability and increasing costs of healthcare services.

Taking Steps to Reduce Healthcare Costs and Expand Access by Studying Reforms to the State's Certificate of Need Laws.

This bill, the "Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024," requires law enforcement agencies to comply with federal immigration detainers and provides for the withholding of state and federal funds from localities that prohibit communicating immigration status information with government agencies. The bill also makes it a misdemeanor if law enforcement officers fail to comply with provisions requiring immigration status verification of individuals in custody. Support is the Limited Government Position as the promotion of an open-border immigration system places an immense strain on U.S. infrastructure and taxpayer resources, ranging from welfare to the education system, while also creating serious national security and human trafficking issues.

Strengthening National Security by Withholding State and Federal Funds from Localities that Refuse to Comply with Federal Immigration Detainers.

This bill extends the "Competitive Project of Regional Significance" sales tax exemption until December 31, 2026. This tax exemption applies to purchases for construction of "qualified projects" and was set to expire June 30, 2023. This includes companies such as Hyundai and their electric vehicle plant. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with the lowest rates possible for everyone. This central planning and tax cronyism provides special benefits and advantages to certain government-favored businesses while shifting tax burdens to all other industries and companies.

Growing Cronyism and Central Planning by Extending Subsidies for "Competitive Project of Regional Significance" like Hyundai EVs.

This bill provides reciprocity for individuals in Georgia who may hold occupational licenses issued in other states. The bill applies to most cases in "which the training, experience and testing are substantially similar in qualifications and scope," while still allowing state licensing authorities to require individuals to pass an exam on Georgia laws and regulations. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps reduce unnecessary regulatory barriers. Ultimately though, the private sector, via certifications, rating systems, and the free market, is much better equipped to provide consumer protection while also ensuring competition and low consumer costs. Most government licensing entities are overly restrictive and are largely advocated by special interests seeking to restrict competition in the marketplace.

Expanding Competition and Reducing Barriers to Employment through Occupational Licensing Reciprocity.

This bill contains several provisions designed to reduce barriers for charter schools. For example, the bill places charter schools under the oversight of more favorable regulatory entities (as opposed to the Department of Education which is biased towards public schools) while also ensuring a greater amount of funding is ultimately delivered to charter schools. Support is the Limited Government Position as expanding school choice through charter school establishment is critical to creating a "market in education" which improves the educational outcomes for all students.

Improving Educational Outcomes and Expanding School Choice by Reducing Barriers for Charter Schools.

This bill amplifies criminal penalties against offenders who engage in rioting. Under current law, the offense is a misdemeanor. The bill makes riot a felony offense and requires an offender to appear before a Superior Court judge before bail may be granted. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. This measure is especially necessary considering a number of localities and prosecutors have failed to hold criminals accountable for their actions, resulting in increasing crime rates.

Strengthening Public Safety by Making Rioting a Felony Offense Rather than a Misdemeanor.

This bill serves as a proactive attempt to block Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) issued by the U.S. Federal Reserve System. The bill prohibits CBDC issued by the federal government from being accepted as payment by government agencies, and prohibits agencies from participating in any test of such currencies. Support is the Limited Government Position as President Biden issued an executive order to study creation of such a currency under the guise of protecting consumers from decentralized cryptocurrencies and a way to crack down on financial crimes. The creation of a CBDC serves as an existential threat to individual liberties and privacy and will further grow government control over the economy. The Fed has already placed the U.S. dollar in dire jeopardy of destruction through its reckless quantitative easing and expansionary practices.

Combatting Increased Government Control and Surveillance by Prohibiting Agencies from Accepting Federal "Central Bank Digital Currency" as Payment.

This bill requires annual county audit reports to include "a detailed account of the supplemental official income and related expenditures of" certain county officers. This includes superior court clerks, probate court judges, sheriffs, tax receivers, tax collectors, and tax commissioners. Under the bill, "supplemental official income" includes any funds not appropriated by the county "that an individual or his or her office derives from performing duties that are within his or her official capacity as a county officer." Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill strengthens government integrity by helping ensure officials at all levels of government are held accountable.

Strengthening Government Transparency and Accountability by Requiring County Audit Reports to Include More Information on County Officer Income.

This bill provides a slight temporary reduction in the base payroll tax businesses must pay to fund the state unemployment system. Under the bill, the unemployment assessment is reduced from 2.7% to 2.64% through December 31, 2026. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill provides some tax relief to employers. Ultimately however, the unemployment system should be fully privatized with businesses and employees deciding whether they wish to provide and receive such coverage.

Reducing Business Costs through a Slight Reduction in the Contribution Rate to the State Unemployment Insurance System.

This bill strengthens election integrity through several provisions. Most notably, the bill requires images of all scanned paper ballots to be posted by 5 p.m. on the second Friday after the election. The bill requires ballots to be printed on security paper and contain a watermark. The bill requires post-election audits to ensure there is no more than an 8% chance the wrong winner was declared. That percentage decreases to 6% in 2026 and 5% in 2028. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Strengthening Election Integrity by Requiring Digital Images of Ballots and Higher Certainty in Post-Election Audits.

This bill accelerates the gradual reduction of the state's income tax from 5.49% to 4.99%. Under the bill, the rate for 2024 is reduced from 5.49% to 5.39%. As the tax rate is set to decrease by .10% annually, the tax rate will reach 4.99% one year earlier. Support is the Limited Government Position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with the lowest rates possible for everyone.

Expanding Economic Growth by Accelerating the Reduction of the Income Tax Rate.

The bill ensures funding for the salaries of one superintendent per charter school with more than 1,000 students, one principal per charter school serving grades 9-12, and up to two principals per charter school serving grades K-8. The bill also allows children of part-time employees to enroll at the charter schools where their parent works, even if they do not reside in the administrative area of the school. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill improves educational outcomes for all students by fostering competition and a market in education, which encourages schools to provide the best education so they can attract parents to enroll their child and receive the associated funding.

Improving Educational Outcomes and Expanding School Choice by Ensuring Funding for Charter School Principals and Administrators.

This bill expands coverage under Medicaid (government-provided healthcare) to now include continuous glucose monitors, as opposed to just the less costly traditional monitors and test strips. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further traps individuals into government dependency by growing benefits under the government welfare state.

Increasing Government Dependency by Expanding the Medicaid Welfare Program to Now Cover Continuous Glucose Monitors.

This bill, the Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget, represents a 7.34% increase over the prior year's budget. Over 74% of the budget is directed towards either healthcare or education, including an expansion of the HOPE scholarship program to give 100% free college tuition to all high school graduates with "B" averages or higher. Additionally, the bill grows Medicaid spending to now immediately provide pregnant immigrants and their children with free healthcare (previously a five year waiting period). Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the budget is chock-full of wasteful and unnecessary spending initiatives, including enriching Woke universities. While it is a necessary role for government to provide quality K-12 education - ideally through school choice - college and university-level education should be funded through user fees (i.e. tuition) by those who wish to pursue their selected career path. The state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Fueling Out-of-Control Spending Through a $32.4 Billion Budget (7.3% Increase) with Countless Provisions that Further Grow the Size and Scope of Government.

This bill expands the Hope Scholarship program to cover the tuition for graduate-level courses if a student has not used the maximum number of credit hours covered by the scholarship. The bill also allows individuals under 28 who were formerly in the foster program to receive the Hope Scholarship for 30 credit hours without meeting the eligibility criteria. Oppose is the Limited Government Position, as according to the Governor, this bill could cost over $25 million. While it is a necessary role for government to provide quality K-12 education - ideally through school choice - college and university-level education should be funded through user fees (i.e. tuition) by those who wish to pursue their selected career path.

Threatening the Solvency of the Hope Scholarship Program by Providing Even Greater Taxpayer Subsidies to Adults Who Choose to Attend a College and University.

This bill prohibits the use of "electronic smoking devices" or "vaping" in public by adding their use to the definition of "smoking" under the Georgia Smokefree Air Act of 2005. That act prohibited smoking indoors in public spaces, government buildings, and places of employment. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it should be the right of private businesses - not politicians - to establish their own policies surrounding tobacco usage and vaping on their premises.

Weakening Property Rights through a Nanny-State Ban on Electronic Cigarettes or "Vaping" in Public.

This bill, the "Personal Privacy Protection Act," prohibits government agencies from requiring nonprofit organizations to disclose private donor lists or lists of members or supporters. Agencies also may not make such information publicly available or require contractors or grant recipients to disclosure nonprofit organizations that they have supported. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill protects against politicians unjustly targeting their political opponents and organizations to censor and infringe on free speech protected under the First Amendment.

Protecting First Amendment Rights by Prohibiting Agencies from Requiring Nonprofits to Disclose Donors.

This bill expands eligibility for the Georgia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF) by expanding the definition of "family" to include pregnant women. Additionally, the bill eliminates existing state law that blocked an increase in benefits for the birth of an additional child if a family had already received benefits for ten months. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government dependency under the state's welfare program. The state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Growing Government Dependency by Expanding Welfare Eligibility Under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program.

This bill allows trucks hauling certain agricultural products to exceed the maximum vehicle weight by up to 10% within a 150-mile radius of a farm. This includes any "agricultural or farm product" as well as finished products being hauled to a processing or retail facility. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill provides special benefits to government-favored industries, while ultimately hiking costs onto taxpayers through higher roadway maintenance costs. The vast majority of roadway deterioration is caused by heavy vehicles.

Hiking Taxpayer Road Maintenance Costs by Providing Agricultural and Farming Operations Special Exemptions from Maximum Weight Limits.

This bill suspends new sales and use tax exemptions for data centers for two years, through June 30, 2026. The bill also establishes a "Special Commission on Data Center Energy Planning" to evaluate and provide recommendations related to data center energy usage. Support is the Limited Government Position as, while this tax cronyism should be repealed entirely, this bill is a step in the right direction. All state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with the lowest rates possible for everyone.

Temporarily Reducing Cronyism Through a Two-Year Suspension of the Data Center Sales Tax Exemption.

This bill prohibits companies that are "owned or operated" by the governments of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or Venezuela from submitting bids or contract proposals to state agencies "for goods or services." For companies owned, in whole or in part, by the government of China, this is expanded to also include "procurement or purchase of computers, printers, software" and other similar equipment, including "through a third-party seller." The bill also prohibits state agencies from contracting "with a media reliability and bias monitor or with any advertising or marketing agency that utilizes a media reliability and bias monitor on services provided to the state." Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill protects against significant and unnecessary threats from U.S. foreign adversaries.

Strengthening National Security by Restricting State Agencies from Contracting with Companies Controlled by China and Other U.S. Foreign Adversaries.

This bill allows electric membership corporations (EMCs) to invest and make loans of up to 25% of their net utility plant in gas affiliates (increased from 15%). EMCs are member-owned, non-profit utilities. Support is the Limited Government Position as member-owned utilities are best equipped to make their own investment decisions, not the government.

Promoting Lower Energy Costs by Allowing Member-Owned Utility Companies to Increase Investment in Gas Affiliates.

This bill enacts the "Georgia Lottery Game of Sports Betting Act," legalizes online sports betting. Under the bill, Georgia would join neighboring states Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee which have legalized sports gambling. The bill imposes a 20% tax on adjusted gross wagering revenue, with revenue going to the Georgia Lottery Commission, which provides funds for pre-kindergarten and the HOPE scholarship through the Lottery for Education Account. Support is the Limited Government Position as individuals - not bureaucrats - should have decision rights over how to utilize the fruits of their labor - even when it comes to risky endeavors such as betting. Not only does this measure provide additional revenue for education, but it also helps eliminate the financial fraud and other significant societal harms that the current black market in gambling presents to Georgians.

Strengthening Individual Liberties by Legalizing Online Sports Betting.

This bill establishes a regulatory framework which allows earned wage access services, which allow employees to receive some or all of the income they have accrued in advance of a payday. The bill includes provisions related to the fees that providers of this service may charge and requires service providers to use "reasonable means" to verify earned wages. Except in cases of fraud, service providers are prohibited from seeking repayment by a consumer through a lawsuit or debt collection service. Support is the Limited Government Position as the free-market is the best mechanism to ensure the lowest borrowing rates and greatest available credit options for all borrowers. While the bill does establish regulations on earned wage access services, the measure will help expand borrowing and lending opportunities, especially during periods of high inflation.

Expanding Borrowing and Lending Opportunities by Allowing Earned Wage Access Services.

This bill, the "Georgia Promise Scholarship Act," improves educational outcomes by allowing all students who reside in the state to receive funding for educational expenses such as tuition at a private school, textbooks, and tutoring. The program is limited to students whose districted school is within the bottom 25% worst performing in the state. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Improving Educational Outcomes by Expanding School Choice Through an Education Savings Account Program.

This bill contains several provisions designed to strengthen election integrity. Most notably, the bill strengthens storage requirements for absentee ballots and requires absentee ballots received by the Monday before the election to be counted and the results posted on election day. Additionally, the bill prohibits members of the State Board of Elections, Secretary of State, local election officials, and their employees from doing business with a company that also has a state or local contract to provide voting equipment or services. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Increasing Election Integrity by Strengthening Provisions Relating to Absentee Ballots.

This bill creates a new check-off program known as the Agricultural Commodity Commission for Citrus Fruits (aka Georgia Citrus Commission), under the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The entity will require all farmers to pay assessments on their citrus products, with the commission providing research, education and marketing for the industry. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as farmers should not be forced to pay into a program for which they may find no benefit. It is the role of the private sector to determine the need for and fund such an entity.

Hiking Costs on Farmers and Growing Central Planning through the Creation of a "Georgia Citrus Commission" Check-Off Program.

This bill provides an automatic tax refund for all taxpayers who filed a 2021 and 2022 tax return. The refund is equal to the taxpayer's 2021 tax liability or $250 for individual taxpayers, $375 for a head of household, or $500 for married couples filing a joint return, whichever is less. Support is the Limited Government Position as while the $1 billion in funds should have been used to reduce the top tax bracket (as opposed to wealth redistribution through a flat $250 refund), the bill represents a step in the right direction to returning resources to the private sector.

Providing Slight Tax Relief through an Automatic Tax Refund Ranging between $250 and $500.

This bill exempts individuals who provide "shampooing or blow-dry styling" services from the state's cosmetology and barber licensing requirements. This includes services such as drying and styling hair, without using flat or curling irons. The bill also removes restrictions on cosmetics that can be applied without a license. Support is the Limited Government Position as the state's draconian Board of Cosmetology and Barbers - which should be eliminated entirely - represents one of the very worst forms of cronyism and government overreach. This government entity merely exists to restrict competition and enrich cosmetology and barber schools through outrageous occupational licensure requirements for services which present little to no risk to consumers.

Slightly Reducing the State's Overreaching Cosmetology Licensing Mandates.

This bill allows advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PA) to prescribe hydrocodone, oxycodone, or compounds of those drugs for adults 18 or older in an emergency situation. The APRN or PA must have evaluated the individual and the prescription may only be an initial prescription for up to 5 days. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Expanding Access to Healthcare by Allowing APRNs and PAs to Prescribe Certain Medications in Emergency Situations.

This bill removes the sunset date (makes permanent) a labor mandate relating to usage of sick leave. As a result, all companies with at least 25 employees are now permanently required to allow their employees to utilize up to 5 days of sick leave to attend to an immediate family member. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as it is not the proper role of government to intrude into the private contracting arrangement between employers and employees. Such interference and "one-size-fits-all" mandates may limit the ability of employees to obtain other job benefits which better fit their individual needs. The market already incentivizes employers to offer the most desirable benefits to attract the top talent and retain employees.

Worsening Government Interference in the Private Sector by Making the State's Sick Leave Mandates Permanent.

This bill, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, establishes Promise Scholarship Accounts for students who attend public schools that are rated in the lowest 25%. Each account would provide $6,000, which parents could use for expenses such as tuition and fees at a private school, tutoring, and transportation. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill improves educational outcomes for all students by fostering competition and a market in education, which encourages schools to provide the best education so they can attract parents to enroll their child and receive the associated funding.

Improving Educational Outcomes through School Choice - Implementing the "Georgia Promise Scholarship Act".

This bill expands the "Needs Based Financial Aid Program" "Completion Grant" by including students who have completed 70% of a four-year degree program (previously 80%) or 45% of a two-year degree program, while also increasing the maximum grant by $1,000 to $3,500. Additionally, the bill provides tuition-free commercial vehicle driving programs for veterans. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as college and university-level education should be funded through user fees (i.e., tuition) by those who wish to pursue their selected career path. These enormous costs should not be imposed on individuals who elect to pursue activities other than higher education, such as those who start their own businesses or work in the trades. The state must pursue every available avenue to reign in its out-of-control spending, which, when coupled with the over $185 trillion federal liabilities, represents the greatest existential threat facing this country.

Expanding Wealth Redistribution by Expanding Subsidies for College and other Taxpayer-Funded Tuition Programs.

This bill makes permanent the prohibition on state and local governments requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to receive a license, permit, or access to a facility. This bill removes language that would have allowed this protection to expire on June 30, 2023. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure strengthens individual liberties by allowing citizens to determine how best to cope and protect themselves from COVID-19, which has been around for over 2 years.

Protecting Individual Liberties by Permanently Banning Government-Imposed Covid-19 "Passports".

This bill provides full-time state employees and local education employees with an additional 3 weeks of paid parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child, for a total of 6 weeks. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Forcing Taxpayers to Provide an Additional 3 Weeks of Paid Leave Benefits to Certain Public Employees.

This bill, the "Reducing Barriers to State Employment Act of 2023", requires the Department of Administrative Services to reduce the number of state employment position which require a four-year college degree, where practicable. The Department is also directed to identify positions where the education, experience, and training requirements could be reduced. Support is the Limited Government Position as government hiring decisions should be based on recruitment of the most talented and qualified applicant for the position. Degree requirements are especially unnecessary in recent years due to the growing number of programs that are politicized and fail to equip students for real-world employment and careers.

Ensuring Government Can Hire the Most Qualified and Talented Employees by Reducing College Degree Requirements.

This bill expands staffing requirements for assisted living communities and personal care homes with 25 or more beds, requiring at least two administrators or direct-care staff be present at all times. At least one staff member must also be on each floor at all times, unless each resident is provided a medical alert device. Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Hiking Nursing Home Costs by Expanding Government Mandates on Assisted Living Community and Personal Care Home Minimum Staffing Levels.

This bill exempts hospitals in rural areas from the state's certificate of need requirements, which require a showing and state determination that a new healthcare facility is needed. To be exempt, the hospital must meet certain requirements, such as providing inpatient services, participating in Medicare and Medicaid, and providing services to indigent patients. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill represents a step in the right direction to improving, or ideally eliminating, the state's certificate of need laws which restrict competition, reducing availability and increasing costs of healthcare services.

Expanding Access to Healthcare and Reducing Costs by Exempting Rural Hospitals from Certificate of Need Requirements.

This bill exempts personal property from the state's personal property tax if the total fair market value of personal property owned by the taxpayer is less than or equal to $20,000 (previously $7,500). This does not include motor vehicles, trailers, and mobile homes. Support is the Limited Government Position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with the lowest rates possible for everyone.

Providing Property Tax Relief by Increasing the Personal Property Tax Exemption.

This bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan and for public school teachers and employees to reimburse independent pharmacies for self-administered prescriptions "in an amount not less than the average reimbursement for chain retail pharmacies reimbursed for the same drug." The bill provides the Department of Community Health "discretion in determining what constitutes an independent pharmacy and a chain retail pharmacy." Oppose is the Limited Government Position.

Growing Government Regulatory Power within the Pharmaceutical Industry by Imposing New Prescription Reimbursement Controls on State Insurance Plan Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).

This bill, the Georgia Sports Betting Integrity Act, establishes a regulatory framework which allows individuals to legally place bets on the outcomes of sporting events. Under the bill, Georgia would join neighboring Tennessee which has legalized online sports gambling. The bill imposes a 20% tax on net receipts for online sports betting and 20% on adjusted gross income for retail kiosks. Support is the Limited Government Position as individuals - not bureaucrats - should have decision rights over how to utilize the fruits of their labor - even when it comes to risky endeavors such as betting. This measure also helps eliminate the financial fraud and other significant societal harms that the current black market in gambling presents, while allowing the state to generate additional revenue, as seen in states such as Tennessee, which has reportedly raised $73.7 million in tax revenue since legalizing online sports betting in November 2020.

Strengthening Individual Liberties and Growing the Tax Base by Legalizing Sports Betting.

This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs to update the state's building codes to also allow the use of ungraded lumber to construct or repair an accessory structure. The bill applies to structures which do not contain living space and are on "property zoned or primarily used for residential or agricultural purposes." Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill provides regulatory relief and reduces costs for individuals attempting to construct or repair structures on their private property.

Providing Regulatory Relief by Allowing the Use of "Ungraded Lumber" to Construct Structures which are Not Habitable Spaces.

This bill prohibits outside groups from funding the administration of election operations, unless the value of the contribution is under $500. The bill is in response to "Zuckerbucks" and the hundreds of millions outside groups spent in 2020 for election administration, including $45 million for the administration of election operations in Georgia. Support is the Limited Government Position as privately funding election operations introduces serious concerns over their integrity and fairness of election outcomes, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

Strengthening Election Integrity by Prohibiting Private Funds for Election Administration.

This bill expands the list of offenses that require bail to be posted before a person is released. Under the bill, bail is required for release if a person is arrested for offenses such as battery, riot, unlawful assembly, or a second or subsequent failure to appear. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government.

Strengthening Public Safety by Combatting "Catch-and-Release" Practices Under Pre-Trial Bail Laws.

This bill removes the requirement that businesses and healthcare facilities post a written warning in order to be covered by a rebuttable presumption of risk against COVID-19. Support is the Limited Government Position. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill helps protect businesses and healthcare facilities against frivolous litigation.

Protecting Businesses and Healthcare Facilities from Frivolous Litigation Related to COVID-19 Exposure by Eliminating Signage Requirements.

This bill, the "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act," is designed to protect religious liberties by adopting the federal "compelling interest test." Under this test, the "Government may substantially burden a person's exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that" it is "In furtherance of a compelling governmental interest" and is the "least restrictive means" of doing so. Support is the Limited Government Position as the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects against government infringement of religious liberty.

Protecting Religious Liberties by Strengthening Protection Through the "Compelling Interest Test".

This bill allows the State Attorney General to recover costs for prosecuting crimes in cases where a district attorney refuses to do so. If the case results in a conviction, a judge may order the district attorney to reimburse the Attorney General for reasonable expenses, to be paid out of the funds made available to that district attorney's office. The bill is largely in response to localities across the nation whose prosecutors (typically receiving financial support from George Soros) refuse to enforce or prosecute certain categories of crime. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Law and Order by Requiring District Attorneys Who Refuse to Prosecute Crimes to Reimburse the State Attorney General for Prosecution Costs.

This bill allows for a referendum on whether to implement a new 0.5% sales tax in Richmond County to raise up to $250 million to fund renovations to the Augusta Entertainment Complex, including replacing the current James Brown Arena. This follows a vote in 2021 in which voters rejected a similar effort to fund a new arena by raising property taxes. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as arenas and stadiums should be funded by user fees or private entities, not at the expense of taxpayers.

Expanding Cronyism and Hiking Tax Rates by Authorizing a Referendum for an Additional Sales Tax in Richmond County to Fund an Entertainment Complex.

This bill repeals the requirement that ambulance service providers pay an annual licensing fee that is deposited to the Indigent Care Trust Fund. Support is the Limited Government Position as ambulance service providers should not be forced to bear the costs of "indigent care" which is merely passed onto consumers through higher healthcare costs.

Repealing the Unjust Licensing Fee which Ambulance Services Providers were Forced to Pay into the Indigent Care Trust Fund.

This bill prohibits the use of politicized ESG (environmental, social, and governance) considerations in public retirement systems investments, which may reduce taxpayer returns. Support is the Limited Government Position as all public investment actions should be based on producing the maximum return and value for taxpayers, not advancing political or social agendas.

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Considerations in State Investments.

The Brass and Hatchett amendment #1 to a bill pertaining to occupational licensing. Under this amendment, "bare knuckle boxing matches" are permitted under the jurisdiction of the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill reduces unnecessary government restrictions on the sport.

Reducing Regulatory Overreach by Allowing Bareknuckle Boxing.

This bill exempts public works contracts with a value of less than $250,000 from competitive, sealed bidding requirements, an increase from the previous threshold of $100,000. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as government procurement should be based on providing the lowest cost and greatest value to taxpayers. This bill allows higher priced public works contracts to be exempt from the competitive, sealed bidding process, which is designed to ensure the contract is awarded to the most cost-effective bidder. By exempting additional projects, this increases the likelihood of cronyism and contracts being awarded based on factors other than value to taxpayers.

Increasing Taxpayer Costs by Subjecting Less Government Procurement to Competitive Bidding.

This resolution amends the state Constitution to allow the legislature to establish a regulatory framework which allows individuals to legally place bets on the outcomes of sporting events. Under the amendment, Georgia would be able to join neighboring Tennessee which has legalized online sports gambling. The additional tax revenue would be used for "need based educational funding, services in less developed and high poverty areas, services for gambling addiction, advancement and promotion of sports in the state, and innovational educational programs and services." Support is the Limited Government Position as individuals - not bureaucrats - should have decision rights over how to utilize the fruits of their labor - even when it comes to risky endeavors such as betting. This measure also helps eliminate the financial fraud and other significant societal harms that the current black market in gambling presents, while allowing the state to generate additional revenue, as seen in states such as Tennessee, which has reportedly raised $73.7 million in tax revenue since legalizing online sports betting in November 2020.

Strengthening Individual Liberties and Growing the Tax Base by Allowing the Legislature to Legalize Sports Betting.

This bill contains several provisions designed to strengthen election integrity. The bill ensures poll watchers have access to polls and absentee ballot counting locations, and provides that poll watchers are "entitled to sit or stand as close as is practicable to the observed activity so as to be able to see and hear the poll worker or election official being observed." The bill also requires all election workers to be U.S. citizens. Additionally, the bill allows county election superintendents the discretion to use less than the otherwise mandated number of voting booths (1 per 250 voters) in statewide, general elections, based on certain factors, such as the number of advance and absentee ballots cast. Support is the Limited Government Position.

Strengthening Election Integrity by Expanding Poll Watcher Access and Requiring Election Workers to be U.S. Citizens.

This bill, the Healthy Babies Act, establishes a new "home visiting" pilot program within the Department of Public Health during pregnancy and early childhood. The program is intended to benefit recipients of the Medicaid welfare program and after a year the department is to evaluate whether to further expand the program. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill further grows government dependency under the ever-growing welfare state. The private sector, through non-profit and charitable entities, is best equipped to assist needy families during pregnancy and post-partum.

Growing Government Spending and Dependency through a New Pregnancy and Early Childhood "Home Visiting" Pilot Program.

This bill is intended to balance private property rights and public access to waterways. The bill declares that while citizens of the state have an inherent right to use for passage, hunting, and fishing all navigable streams from low-water mark to low-water mark, no provisions shall be construed to allow entry upon privately owned land adjacent to navigable streams. Previously, existing law provided that the state was the "trustee of its peoples' rights to use and enjoy all navigable streams capable of use for fishing, hunting, passage, navigation, commerce, and transportation, pursuant to the common law public trust doctrine." Support is the Limited Government Position as protection of private property is one of the highest duties of government and an essential component of maintaining a free and prosperous society.

Strengthening Property Rights While Ensuring Public Access to Waterways by Clarifying Protections Related to Privately Owned Land Adjacent to Streams.

This bill prohibits the consideration of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) in state investment strategies, including for the state pension system. Investment strategies based on ESG result in reduced financial returns for taxpayers. Support is the Limited Government Position as all public investment actions should be based on producing the maximum return and value for taxpayers, not advancing political or social agendas.

Protecting Taxpayers by Prohibiting ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Considerations in State and Local Investment Strategies.

This bill, the Georgia Farmland Conservation Act, creates a new fund for a "Purchase of Agricultural Conservation Easement" program designed to prevent farmland from being developed. Under the program, farmers are paid for their land's development rights if the land may be "susceptible to development" for things such as housing or retail. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as the private sector is best equipped to manage and maximize land utilization - including for conservation purposes. Measures such as this merely drive-up taxpayer costs and oftentimes lead to even greater future government spending surrounding usage and preservation of the conserved land.

Fueling Wasteful Spending through the Creation of the "Georgia Farmland Conservation Fund" to Incentivize Farmland Conservation and Food Production.

This bill expands the list of offenses that require bail to be posted before a person is released, while also prohibiting a person from being released without bail if they have been convicted of a felony within the last seven years. Under the bill, bail is required for release if a person is arrested for offenses such as battery, riot, unlawful assembly, or a second or subsequent failure to appear. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

This bill prevents state employees and officers from downloading or accessing TikTok or other applications controlled by U.S. foreign adversaries, such as China or Russia, on state devices or networks. Support is the Limited Government Position as the installation of such systems poses an unnecessary threat to state and federal networks. Additionally, state employees should not be utilizing government equipment to access entertainment apps such as TikTok.

Strengthening National Security by Banning TikTok and Other Chinese Government-Owned Applications from Being Accessed on State-Issued Devices or Networks.

This bill requires companies to meet conditions related to labor unions in order to be eligible for certain economic development incentives. Under the bill, to be eligible, a company may only recognize a union if a secret ballot was used by employees, rather than authorization cards. Additionally, companies may not provide personal contact information of employees to a labor union without the employees' consent. Companies also may not require subcontractors to violate either of the requirements. If a company violates these provisions, any economic development incentives must be repaid. Support is the Limited Government Position as, while it is not the role of government to provide economic development incentives in the first place, this bill promotes the "right to work" without being forced to join a union.

Strengthening "Right to Work" Protections by Requiring Secret Ballots as a Condition for Companies to Receive Economic Development Incentives.

This bill establishes the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, which has the authority to discipline or remove district attorneys and solicitors-general for "willful and persistent failure to carry out duties" or a policy refusing to prosecute certain crimes. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Public Safety by Creating a Commission to Remove Activist Prosecutors Who Refuse to Enforce Criminal Laws.

This bill includes multiple provisions which improve the ability of individuals with previous convictions to obtain an occupational license. For example, the bill removes references to "crime involving moral turpitude" for purposes of denying a license and requires a licensing board to justify "by clear and convincing evidence that a conviction supports an adverse licensing decision." Applicants are also entitled to a hearing before an application may be denied due to a criminal record. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill provides reformed individuals with the means to obtain gainful employment, one of the largest factors in preventing recidivism, which is critical considering the national 44% recidivism rate.

Reducing Recidivism by Helping Reformed Individuals Gain Employment through an Occupational Licensing Reform.

This bill, the Protecting Victims and Dismantling Georgia Street Gangs Act, increases sentences for certain crimes and makes it easier to prosecute gang offenses. The bill allows prosecution of criminal gang offenses in any county where any members of a gang committed offenses. The bill also increases the sentence for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or those on felony first offender probation to 5-10 years if the person was convicted or on probation for a forcible felony, domestic violence felony, or an offense that involved family violence. Finally, in cases of offenses such as family violence, child abuse, or where the state seeks an enhanced sentence for a hate crime, the bill allows consideration of evidence of a defendant's prior commission of certain offenses. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Public Safety by Toughening Sentences for Certain Crimes and Making it Easier to Prosecute Gang Offenses.

This bill reenacts state sales and use tax exemptions for the renovation or expansion of nonprofit aquariums and zoos through 2026. Both exemptions had previously expired. The bill also increases the cap on the zoo exemption to $800,000 (previously $350,000). Oppose is the Limited Government Position as all state and local tax codes should be constructed in a broadly applied manner with as low of rates as possible for everyone. This central planning and tax cronyism shifts tax burdens to other industries and individuals not favored by government.

Growing Cronyism by Extending Tax Subsidies for Private Aquariums and Zoos.

This bill increases the mandatory minimum sentences under the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. Under the bill, the penalty for recruiting a minor or a person with a disability into a criminal gang is increased from 5 years to 10 years for the first conviction and 15 years for any subsequent convictions. Additionally, the bill prohibits judges from releasing individuals on recognizance bonds if the person has been convicted of bail jumping or had an arrest warrant issued for failure to appear (except for nonserious traffic offenses) in the previous five years. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. Unfortunately, this bill is especially necessary due to many so-called criminal justice "reforms" which have led to skyrocketing crime rates and are being advanced in state legislatures by George Soros and other radical-left billionaires through their funding of advocacy organizations on both sides of the political aisle.

Strengthening Public Safety by Increasing Mandatory Minimums Sentences Under the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act.

This bill expands the crime of interference with critical infrastructure to also include any "vital public service," which includes "other services the loss of which would have a debilitating impact on the health, safety, or financial security of the public." The bill also expands the crime to include the use of electronic means, rather than only the use of force or violence. Finally, the bill increases the mandatory minimum sentence for offenders from 1 year to 2 years, and the maximum sentence from 10 years to 20 years. Support is the Limited Government Position as protecting property rights and ensuring public safety serve as essential components of government. This bill is necessary considering the actions being taken by radical environmental and social activists to damage or disrupt critical infrastructure such as pipelines and transportation.

Strengthening Public Safety by Enhancing Penalties for Damage or Disruption of Critical Infrastructure.

This bill protects owners of manufactured homes and mobile homes who replace an existing home with a new one by prohibiting local governments from imposing new zoning ordinances or regulations that did not apply to the previous home or property. Support is the Limited Government Position as this measure protects against local government overreach. While some may argue this bill undermines "local control", our founding fathers only recognized three entities within the U.S. Constitution - federal government, state government, and the individual. It is not the role for any level of government to unduly infringe the rights of individuals, therefore making preemption measures, such as this bill, necessary.

Combatting Government Overreach by Preventing Localities from Overregulating New Homes within Manufactured Home Communities.

This bill, the Georgia Food Insecurity Eradication Act, creates the Georgia Food Security Advisory Council within the Department of Agriculture to make various recommendations, such as Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) Program regulations, tax credit incentives for grocery stores, public education programs, and public-private partnerships. Oppose is the Limited Government Position as this bill advances further growth in the size and scope of government which go directly against the principles of fiscal restraint and limited government. Instead, lawmakers should reduce unnecessary regulations and allow the free market and private charitable sector to solve issues relating to food security.

Advancing Government Overreach through the Creation of a Council to Recommend New Regulations and Tax Incentives for "Food Security".

This bill allows the Department of Corrections to issue an identification card to individuals who are released from prison, as well as a record of the educational and job training programs the person completed while incarcerated. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill provides reformed individuals with the means to obtain gainful employment, one of the largest factors in preventing recidivism, which is critical considering the national 44% recidivism rate.

Reducing Recidivism by Helping Reformed Individuals Gain Employment by Providing Released Inmates with Identification Cards and Records of Educational and Work Programs.

This bill allows pharmacy technicians to administer FDA-approved vaccines under the supervision of a pharmacist. The technician must complete required training before administering vaccines. Support is the Limited Government Position as this bill increases access to health care and reduces costs by expanding the scope of practice of pharmacy technicians, making it easier and less expensive for individuals to obtain vaccines.

Improving Access to Healthcare by Allowing Pharmacy Technicians to Administer Vaccines.

This bill ensures localities enforce ordinances which ban homeless encampments including "unauthorized public camping, sleeping, or obstruction of sidewalks." The bill also requires the state auditor to conduct an audit and evaluate the success of state and local spending on homelessness programs and services. Finally, hospitals and local governments are prohibited from dropping homeless people off in other areas unless the person previously resided there or there is an agreement in place to accept the person. Support is the Limited Government Position as safeguarding communities and ensuring public safety is one of the most important roles of government.

Year	Score	Role	Party	Dist.
2024	86.27	Sen	R	1
2023	60.26	Sen	R	1

Year
2024	80.00	50.00	100.00	25.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	100.00	83.33
2023	100.00	—	100.00	83.33	66.67	72.73	100.00	44.44	23.81	50.00

Ben Watson

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