| Dear Friends, Legislative Week 10 proved to be highly productive. During this week, legislation aimed at providing economic relief to Georgians successfully passed its final vote and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. House Bills 111 and 112 will reduce the income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19% and provide tax rebates ranging from $250 to $500 for eligible Georgians on their 2024 tax returns, pending gubernatorial approval. Additionally, an $800 million relief package for Hurricane Helene has been forwarded to the Governor, which includes provisions to keep this relief tax-free, assisting Georgians in their recovery efforts (HB 67 and HB 223). I am excited to share that the tort reform legislation, SB 68, has received final passage this week! Governor Kemp has made this reform package a priority for the current session. The legislation seeks to create equity in our courtrooms and stabilize insurance costs for both consumers and businesses. Liability insurers are exiting our state, leading to soaring liability insurance costs for businesses annually. SB 68 will offer stability and predictability in assessing the risks associated with personal injury lawsuits in Georgia. By fostering a more predictable legal landscape, we expect to see more insurers willing to provide liability policies in Georgia, ultimately enhancing competition and stabilizing costs. These reforms also ensure that the right to civil justice for all Georgians is preserved while aligning Georgia with the legal frameworks of neighboring states that we compete with for jobs and investments. In my last newsletter, I wrote extensively about the tort reform provisions. In this issue, I will focus on the changes made by the House based on the hours of testimony for and against the measure that the Committee on Tort Reform received. Anchoring: We required that the monetary value of noneconomic damages be argued at the first opportunity for closing arguments. We also clarified that counsel can argue the monetary value of non-economic damages again in a second closing argument, as long as the argument was made during the first closing. This prevents either party from “sandbagging” the other by delaying this argument. Motions to Dismiss: This highlights that if courts fail to rule on motions promptly, writs of mandamus can be used to hold courts accountable. Neither party should face the consequences of undue delays in a court’s ruling on a motion. This places accountability where it rightfully belongs: with the court. Voluntary Dismissal: The clock for voluntary dismissal starts upon filing an answer, regardless of whether a motion for summary judgment was filed. This closes a potential loophole that defendants could have used to game the system and prevent plaintiffs from engaging in discovery before exercising their right to voluntarily dismiss a case. Seatbelt Evidence: Preserves the trial court’s inherent discretion to decide whether and for what purposes evidence regarding seatbelt use can be admitted. Seatbelt evidence must still be relevant and non-prejudicial. This prevents abuse while ensuring the jury sees this evidence when it matters. Premise Liability: The House changes increase the carve-out for sex trafficking victims, excluding any claims related to a violation of O.C.G.A. 16-5-46. This means that Section 6 offers valuable protection for businesses attempting to do the right thing, but provides no protection for those that fail to act against human trafficking occurring under their watch. This bill ensures that Section 6 of the Georgia code is interpreted as intended-to protect businesses from liability due to factors outside their control while making sure that businesses still face liability for what is within their control. Bifurcation: This bill will allow the court to deny a request for bifurcation, or splitting the trial into two parts, if the case is small, meaning it is under $150,000, or the plaintiff may experience undue emotional stress from testifying twice. These changes maintain bifurcation as a resource for both parties while ensuring that this procedure does not burden the court system or hinder a victim of a sex crime from seeking justice through the civil system. |
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Georgia Republicans are Forward Thinking
| It may seem that the General Assembly is constantly focused on fixing problems. However, that is not always the case. I thought it would be enjoyable to discuss three innovative bills aimed at addressing or eliminating future issues. Two of these bills originate from the Technology Committee, while the other is from the Education Committee. Soon, Atlanta will have air taxis that people can use to avoid getting stuck in traffic. Archer Aviation recently announced that it will manufacture air taxis right here in Georgia. House Bill 156 prepares for this technology by granting the Department of Transportation the authority to oversee landing pads or vertiports. This will allow companies to build these landing pads and enable air taxi companies to operate. Georgia is ready to be a leader in aviation. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, traditional crimes have evolved into new forms. House Bill 171 will make it a crime to distribute computer-generated obscene material depicting children. Criminals are now taking pictures of our children from social media and creating obscene images using AI. This week, the AJC reported on a case of AI-created child pornography. President Trump’s campaign promise included eliminating the Department of Education. This week, he signed an executive order to make that happen. SB154 is straightforward. It replaces any reference to the United States Department of Education in Georgia code with “or its successor.” This change will ensure that our students graduate with recognized degrees in anticipation of possible shifts in the status of the U.S. Department of Education and will also adjust financial aid reporting requirements accordingly. |
Additional Highlights
| The House evaluated and passed several Senate bills this week. Here are a few: Emergency Vehicle Services SB 58 allows emergency organ transport vehicles to be considered part of ambulance services in Georgia. This will help ensure that patients receive the emergency care they need. Opioid Testing SB 6 amends the Georgia Drug and Cosmetic Act to authorize the use of drug analysis equipment and controlled substance packaging analysis to determine if a controlled substance has been adulterated with synthetic opioids. This will help provide better care for someone having a drug overdose. Group Life Insurance SB 109 will prohibit group life insurance policies from excluding or limiting coverage for deaths that occur while an individual is serving in the armed forces, except in cases related to warfare. Consumer Protection/ InsuranceSB 35 will extend the minimum notification period required for the non-renewal of homeowners’ insurance policies. This bill requires a more extended advance notice for policyholders before their policies can be non-renewed. Boards, Panels, Authorities, Centers, Commissions, Committees Clean-UpSB 96 either eliminates or reduces inactive boards, commissions, committees, etc., to modernize and enhance government efficiency.  It was a pleasure to host Walton Leadership and Walton Youth Leadership at the House!  I had a wonderful visit from the 5th graders and parents of Providence Classical School. |
 It was Japan Day at the Capitol this week. Left to right in the photo: Hiroyuki Aliyama, Chief Executive Director of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization), Yuka Katsumori (Astemo) and Mil Maeda, Consul General. |
 It’s always great to visit with my good friend Angela Yarman. |
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