SB 6: Just a few years ago, it was illegal in GA to carry anything that can be used to test whether drugs had been contaminated. We have since legalized fentanyl testing strips, and this bill expands the list of testing equipment that is allowed. This will help combat the epidemic of fentanyl overdoses by allowing these testing items and helping avoid accidental overdoses due to the presence of unknown contaminants. I voted yes and this bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously.

SB 35: This bill increases the number of days of notice insurers are required to give consumers that their homeowner’s insurance is being cancelled or nonrenewed from 30 to 60 days. I voted yes and this bill passed both the House and Senate unanimously.

SB 55: Right now in Georgia, it is legal to pay people with disabilities a sub-minimum wage. This bill, the Dignity and Pay Act, takes the long-needed step of making this sub-minimum wage illegal. It includes an adjustment period for employers, and ensures that by 2027, no person with disability may be paid less than minimum wage due to their disability. I voted yes and this bill passed.

SB 13: SB 13 is a proposed misguided expansion of the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority to cause it to do the work that should be done by private industry. Specifically the bill would have GEFA work with private industry to provide loans for the supply, distribution, and storage of natural gas.  Private companies already have the ability and financial wherewithal to do these things.  GEFA was established to manage federal funding for drinking water and wastewater projects.  It was never intended to be a clearinghouse for natural gas infrastructure, which this bill encourages.  There are no federal funds for natural gas expansion. We are not where we need to be on drinking water and wastewater projects, so diverting GEFA’s attention is ill advised.  I voted no, but the bill passed.

SB 58: This bill allows emergency organ transport vehicles to be licensed and categorized as ambulances. These vehicles transport necessary personnel, organs, tissue or medical supplies to time-critical organ transplant procedures. Giving them the same licensure as ambulances will help save lives when every second counts. I voted yes on this bill and it is headed to the Governor for his signature

SB 252: I was thrilled to support this bill, which was sponsored by my colleague Sen. Sonya Halpern. Under current law, any city with a population under 300,000 is allowed to lease or transfer property whenever it wants. That leaves out only the city of Atlanta. This bill will let Atlanta make property transfers for the specific purpose of designating land for schools. The amount of land in the city of Atlanta will stay the same and land that is currently abandoned or unused will become cleaner, safer, and used for a great purpose. This bill now goes to the Governor!