Summary: Week 6 of 2022 Session
The House of Representatives returned for the sixth week of the 2022 legislative session on Monday, February 14, 2022. From economic development to protecting our natural environment, my colleagues and I mulled over dozens of bills that would address a wide range of policy issues both on the House floor and with our committees this week.
House Bill 1044, which would allow three to five adjoining counties to create a regional development authority that would work to stimulate economic development and job growth within those counties; House Bill 1134, which would allow the state’s attorney general to collaborate with local district attorneys to prosecute certain gangrelated crimes across the state; House Bill 893, which would extend the collection of hazardous waste fees; On Wednesday, my colleagues and I dedicated a whole day to meeting with our House committees and subcommittees to consider bills as they move through the legislative process. By the end of the day, nearly 20 House meetings were held to discuss countless bills that cover a range of policies. House Bill 1013, the Mental Health Parity Act, received its first committee hearing, several education bills were debated in committees and subcommittees, and Appropriations subcommittees met to discuss portions of the state’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget. Finally, the House Rules Committee met and set a calendar full of local redistricting bills for our last legislative day of this week, as well as an extensive calendar for when we reconvene on the House floor next week.
The House also passed the following bills and resolutions during Legislative Week 6: House Bill 963, which would provide the annual update of provisions of the Controlled Substance Act for Schedule I and Schedule IV controlled substances; House Bill 969, which would update reporting requirements for insurance holding companies to include information on their financial profile and group capital calculation; House Bill 1021, which would decrease the minimum non-forfeiture interest rate for individual deferred annuities from one percent to 0.15 percent; House Bill 1028, which would update the district map for the Cobb County Board of Education; House Bill 1089, which would increase the penalty fee for each violation of specified motor vehicle registration requirements from $25 to $ 145; House Bill 1154, which would update the district map for the Cobb County Board of Commissioners; House Bill 1223, which would extend the sunset date on the sales and use tax exemption for computer equipment sold to high-technology companies from June 30, 2023, to December 31, 2023; House Bill 1275, which would revise provisions of Georgia’s code concerning the appointment and removal of municipal court judges; House Resolution 664, which would act as the annual conveyance resolution for state properties located in Chatham, DeKalb, Fulton, Glynn, Hall and Sumter counties; House Resolution 683, which would act as the annual easement resolution for state construction, operation and maintenance projects in Bartow, Douglas, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Haralson, Paulding, Sumter and Thomas counties; Senate Bill 369, which would provide that future elections of the Gwinnett County Board of Education be non- partisan; Senate Bill 386, which would update the district map for the Meriwether County Board of Commissioners; Senate Bill 387, which would update the district map for the Meriwether County Board of Education; Senate Bill 437, which would update the district map for the Fulton County Board of Commissioners; Senate Bill 457, which would update the district map for the Augusta- Richmond County Commission; Senate Bill 458, which would update the district map for the Richmond County School District.
This busy week of legislating on behalf of House District 149 has come to a close, but I am already gearing up for another meaningful and productive week in Atlanta when we resume our work on Tuesday, Feb. 22. I hope that you continue to reach out with any questions or thoughts you have on legislation that is up for consideration this year. You can reach my Capitol office at 404-656-0195 or you can email me directly at robert.pruitt@ house. ga. gov.
As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative and legislative voice here at the Capitol.
As the State Representative for District 149, Robert Pruitt serves Dodge County, Telfair County, Wheeler County, Cadwell, and Hazlehurst. During the second week of the 2021 Legislative Session, Rep Pruitt was appointed to serve on the Industry and Trade, Economic Development, and Small Business committees for the next two years. Robert and his wife Kelly have been long time residents of Eastman.
