Georgia Rep. Bruce Williamson gives a Legislative update from under the Gold Dome

Georgia is ranked as having one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. Under conservative leadership, over $6 million from the state budget has been given annually to address maternal mortality and prenatal care in Georgia.

Since the budget for fiscal year 2017, the state has added additional funding each year for OB/GYN medical residency slots in hospitals across the state in order to give better access to care for mother and baby.

In 2019, Speaker Ralston created the House Study Committee on Maternal Mortality to further address this critical issue facing our state’s healthcare system. The committee produced a report and recommendations for the House to consider. You can find that report here.

Based on recommendations from the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics, House Bill 820 will establish the Georgia Freight Railroad Program within the Department of Transportation. The program’s main priority is to enhance state investment in freight rail projects. The program will do this by focusing on three subprograms:

This program will ensure that these initiatives are carried out across Georgia in a balanced manner.

House Bill 819 allows for veterans’ licenses to be issued to Georgia residents who are veterans of the armed forces from allied countries of the United States.

HB 842, also known as “Gracie’s Law,” prohibits discrimination against disabled individuals in determining recipients of anatomic gifts or organ transplants.

HB 987 will bring safer, reformed, and enhanced care to our senior citizens living in Georgia licensed care homes and assisted living communities that have a minimum of 25 beds by requiring training, staffing ratios, minimum nursing standards, and important reporting requirements. The bill imposes a mandatory minimum fine of $5000 and increases the maximum daily fine from $1000 to $2000 with a cap of $40,000 for any violation causing serious physical injury or death of a resident.

This week the House passed HB 820 based on the recommendations of the Georgia Commission on Freight and Logistics. The bill creates the Georgia Freight Railroad Program within the Department of Transportation which will enhance state investment in freight rail projects and keep our state’s infrastructure moving efficiently!