UNDER THE GOLD DOME

WEEK 6

Healthcare

Last week, we reached Legislative Day 20, marking the halfway point of the session. We only have 20 legislative days left to complete our business, and the “Crossover Day” deadline is rapidly approaching.

The first bill we passed last week seeks to improve the maternal health of extremely low-income pregnant women. House Bill 129 would expand the eligibility criteria for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits to pregnant women. Extending these benefits to pregnant mothers is one of Governor Brian Kemp’s priorities for this session, and I am glad that the House took a step toward alleviating some of the financial burden for these expectant mothers so that they can focus on their prenatal health. Explore the TANF program here. 

We passed another bipartisan measure last week that would encourage better health outcomes for all Georgians, especially those with cancer. House Bill 85 would require health insurance benefit policies in Georgia to cover biomarker testing for the diagnosis, treatment, management or ongoing monitoring of a disease or condition, such as cancer. This legislation would afford Georgians coverage for this innovative approach to testing and help individuals figure out if treatment would be effective or not, saving them valuable time and money.

Next, my colleagues and I passed House Bill 143, which would require the Georgia Department of Community Health to cover continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) as a pharmacy benefit through Medicaid. This legislation would ensure that CGMs are included as a pharmacy benefit for the state’s Medicaid patients so that those individuals have access to these crucial and lifesaving devices.

Education

To support our school systems, particularly those in rural areas of our state, we passed House Bill 81 to revise the qualifications and implementation of grant funding opportunities for low-wealth K-12 school systems to help build and maintain their schools. To ensure that this funding goes to schools that need it the most, the bill would require that educational facilities be at least 35 years old to receive funding for consolidation projects, and schools systems could only receive these grants every 10 years after their need has been met. 

My colleagues and I also passed House Bill 87, or the “Completion Special Schools Act,” to create additional educational pathways for at-risk students to earn their high school diplomas. HB 87 would authorize the State Board of Education (BOE) to adopt policies to allow the establishment, funding and operation of “completion special schools.”  I was proud to vote “yes” on this legislation that would allow struggling high school students to cross the finish line to earn their high school diplomas.

 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.