Bugs in the System
The germs circulating at the Capitol finally found me. I stayed home sick the early part of the week, but got busy as a bee later in the week keeping my legislative agenda moving.
Bitten by the Trump Bug
I was glad to be cocooned at home Tuesday when the Senate spent more than 90 minutes debating a resolution commending President Donald Trump for his first three months in office. While our POTUS spins a web of chaos, creating a roller-coaster in the market and great uncertainty and fear among Americans, Senate Republicans chose to spend time glorifying him.
Democrats pushed back with amendments calling for the President to protect Social Security and Medicaid and safeguarding veterans from unjust firings. These amendments failed. The resolution put on display a political system that refuses to debug itself.
The Tax Buzz
We spent a lot of time this week on various tax bills — some of which I supported and some I didn’t.
Hurricane Helene Tax Relief (HB 223) — 37% of Georgia’s timberland was damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Helene. HB 223 offers tax relief for the timber industry and other agriculture producers that suffered hurricane damage. This bill passed 50-1. It’s nice to know that unlike Congress, the Georgia Senate can still come together to do important things for farmers and people in need.
Income Tax Reduction (HB 111) — Georgia’s income tax had been set at 6% since the 1930s. But since just before Governor Kemp took office, Republicans have chipped away at it every year. HB 111 drops the rate from 5.39% to 5.19%, with plans to hit 4.99% in two years. Meanwhile, every year, state agency heads report severe understaffing, our courts are chronically backlogged, and we regularly hear from constituents who can’t get basic services. With deep federal cuts on the horizon, Democrats raised concerns that we could soon feel the sting of a state budget crisis.
One-time Tax Credit (HB 112) — While Democrats didn’t support an ongoing tax cut, we joined Republicans to approve this one-time tax credit for all taxpayers that filed returns in 2023 and 2024. HB 112 gives single filers a $250 tax credit, head of households a $350 credit, and a $500 credit for married couples that filed jointly.
Motor Fuel Suspension (HR 42) — I was the fly in the ointment—the lone “no” vote in the Senate — on a resolution ratifying Governor Kemp’s suspension of the motor fuel tax after Hurricane Helene. This tax is a user fee, paid by those who drive on Georgia’s roads through a gas tax, including those who drive through the state, including truckers. When it’s suspended, funding for road projects and repairs dries up, and the general fund picks up the tab—shifting the burden to people who may not even drive, like seniors. When I explained my reasoning to some Republican colleagues, they got it.
A Bee in My Bonnet: Protecting Kids Online
Last week, I shared how two moms asked for help keeping sexually explicit AI content away from kids on chatbot websites. This week, my mission was to amend SB 9—a bill about online harms to children already passed by the Senate—to tackle the issue. But some kinks in the system made it tougher than expected.
First, I lined up a fellow Dem on the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee, where SB 9 was scheduled to be heard, to carry the amendment. But a last-minute scheduling conflict knocked him out. I asked another Democrat to step in at the last minute, but when the bill came up, it had been gutted and rewritten entirely as an election bill. These kinds of backroom moves take the transparency out of the process and make it impossible for citizens to participate. Even the media didn’t catch what happened and continues to report that the original SB 9 passed.
Still, I wasn’t giving up. The next day, I found out the content of SB 9 had been duplicated in HB 171—a similar bill that protects kids from AI harm. I tracked down the sponsor, pitched the amendment, and he was all in. The bill’s up next Wednesday. I’m grateful for a second shot to make a real difference this year on one of my top priorities.
Other bills I filed this week: A Study Committee Resolution to examine the online harms of social media and AI to children, a bill to prevent AI companies from using people’s identities without permission, a bill to allow county Elections Boards to meet virtually, and another Study Committee Resolution to study the benefits of providing higher education programs in Georgia prisons.
Other Bills to Bee Aware of
IVF (HB 428) — This week, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee unanimously passed HB 428 to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in Georgia. The bill’s sponsor shared his own infertility journey—and the good news: he and his wife are expecting their first child thanks to IVF. The House already passed the bill unanimously. Here’s hoping the Senate follows with a win for families in Georgia who are trying to conceive.
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (SB 36) — Some good news — the Religious Liberty, aka RFRA, bill that passed the Senate faced a major roadblock in the House Judiciary Committee this week. After a 4-hour hearing, a Republican member who represents a Sandy Springs swing district tried to amend the bill to include civil rights protections against discrimination. After that amendment failed, two Republican Committee members joined with the Democrats to vote against the bill. It failed 7-5, but a motion to reconsider the bill passed before the meeting ended. It will likely come up again in Committee next week.
Bee Aggressive! It’s Time to Take Action on SB 36: Georgia Equality is asking Gwinnett county residents to call or email Rep. Matt Reeves, a key player on the House Judiciary Committee, 770-236-9768, matt.reeves@house.ga.gov) with the following message:
“As a Gwinnett County resident, I support the Non-Discrimination Ordinance that passed last year. Now that RFRA has been exposed as a bill intended to create a license to discriminate, please vote no on SB 36.”
You can also contact Representative Deborah Silcox, 404-657-1803, (deborah.silcox@house.ga.gov) and House Judiciary Chairman Stan Gunter, 404-656-5125, (stan.gunter@house.ga.gov) to thank them for their no votes on SB 36 and encourage them to stand strong against the bill.
What’s Buzzing on the Horizon?
We’ll be back in session Tuesday for Day 35 so the end is in sight. Wednesday, I’ll make a beeline for the Senate Judiciary Committee to make sure my bill amendment on HB 171 passes, and the Senate Agriculture Committee to present my Corn Fortification Bill (SB 278) that fortifies corn products with folic acid to help prevent birth defects. I have an entire team of experts ready to present!
It’s that time when anything can happen, so Bee sure keep your antennae up!
Interview with Parker Short
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Dunwoody resident Parker Short. Parker has earned national fame as a political organizer. He graduated from the University of Michigan and is currently completing a Masters degree at Duke University. Parker and I decided to record a short interview (What I’m for and against), for his Instagram account, where he has 55,000 followers!
Part 1
https://youtube.com/shorts/q9RwO-GbyCo
Part 2
