UNDER THE GOLD DOME

WEEK 5

Protecting Critical Infrastructure

The Georgia House of Representatives kicked off the fifth week of the 2023 legislative session on Monday, February 6, and the pace is picking up! 

My colleagues and I overwhelmingly passed bipartisan legislation last week to protect our critical infrastructure overseen by the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), including the Port of Savannah. House Bill 35 would give the GPA’s security employees the ability to preserve and protect its properties, projects, and certain areas surrounding its coastal campuses. Specifically, GPA security personnel and peace officers would have the authority to investigate criminal incidents and handle traffic offenses within one mile of their properties, including making arrests and controlling and investigating pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents. This legislation would also support the surrounding communities by allowing local law enforcement to dedicate fewer resources to this state authority’s operations and easing some of the burden on local law enforcement that comes with having such a successful port system along our coast. Local municipalities impacted by the port system have also expressed their support for HB 35, and this legislation has been sent to the Senate for its consideration. You can read it here.

Protecting Georgia's Drivers

Additionally, we passed House Bill 52 on the House floor last week to update several other transportation and infrastructure laws. First, to protect the privacy of Georgians, this bill would exempt the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) from open records when a driver’s data on public roadways reveals their vehicle information or other personally identifiable information. This provision would ensure that no one could use the Open Records Act in an attempt to obtain an individual’s personal information from this agency. This legislation would also make changes to how fatal car accidents are handled on our interstate highways and limited-access roads. HB 52 would allow coroners or county medical examiners to delegate medical personnel to perform certain duties when one of these serious accidents causes a significant disruption to traffic, which would give medical examiners more flexibility and allow medical personnel to arrive to the scene in a more timely manner. Read HB 52 here.

Currently, Georgia’s Spencer Pass Law requires drivers to safely change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary emergency or service vehicles on our roadways so that drivers do not pass directly next to stopped emergency vehicles. Last week, we passed House Bill 119 to update this law to also require drivers to move over, if it is safe to do so, for any disabled vehicle, such as another car or tow truck, that displays flashing hazard lights and/or yellow, amber, white or red lights. A number of drivers and workers who provide crucial services to drivers have been killed by passing vehicles over the years, and this legislation aims to keep these drivers and roadside workers safe from other motorists. Read HB 119 here.

Honoring Our Heroes

While we were in the House Chamber last week, my colleagues and I took time to honor Mr. Louis Graziano on his incredible bravery as a U.S. soldier in World War II. Born in 1923, Mr. Graziano is the last surviving World War II veteran to witness Germany's surrender. Mr. Graziano was a master sergeant and fought in the third wave of the Omaha Beach invasion on D-Day. After D-Day, he also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he almost lost his feet to frostbite, and he took part in the June 6th invasion of Normandy in 1944. He then served at the Special Headquarters Command in Reims, France, where he witnessed Germany sign the surrender document and then took the Germans to meet General Dwight D. Eisenhower. Mr. Graziano’s visit to the State Capitol coincided with his 100th birthday, and I was inspired to meet this American hero and hear his incredible story.

By the end of this week, we reached Legislative Day 16 and are almost halfway through the 40-day legislative session. We are getting closer to the infamous “Crossover Day,” which is the last day a bill can pass out of the House or Senate for the first time and still remain eligible to become law this year. As your representative, it is extremely important for me to hear which issues are significant to you and your family, especially before the Crossover Day deadline.

As we move through the legislative session, I encourage you to reach out to me with your thoughts and opinions about legislation, including the state budget. Your feedback is crucial to developing good, sound policies for our state, and I look forward to discussing my legislative goals for this session with you. I can be reached at (404) 656-0325 or bethany.ballard@house.ga.gov.

We are excited that the Page Program is back! If your child (ages 12 - 18) would like to be a House Page, please click the link below. Each House member is only allotted 5 pages per session, so please make sure to apply early.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative for the 2023-2024 legislative term.