UNDER THE GOLD DOME

WEEK 11

COMBATTING THE FENTANYL CRISIS

My House colleagues and I returned to the Gold Dome on Monday, March 18, 2024, to begin the eleventh week of the 2024 Legislative Session. This week, we convened in the House Chamber for three legislative days and continued to give passage to a number of Senate bills. There are now only two legislative days remaining in the session until we reach Sine Die on Thursday, March 28, 2024. These final legislative days are among the busiest days of the entire session as we finalize our legislative business for the year before the Sine Die deadline.  

This week, the House took legislative action to combat the growing fentanyl crisis in our state. My colleagues and I unanimously passed this important, life saving measure, Senate Bill 465, which would create the crime of aggravated involuntary manslaughter when someone intentionally manufactures or sells a controlled substance that contains fentanyl and fentanyl is determined as the sole cause or a contributing factor in a victim’s death. In the prosecution of this crime, the government would not need to prove that the defendant knew fentanyl was present in the drug. Anyone who violates this offense would be found guilty of a felony and subject to imprisonment between 10 and 30 years. Additionally, SB 465 would create a felony crime for unlawfully possessing, purchasing, delivering or selling a pill press or tableting machine if there is reasonable cause to believe that the item will be used to manufacture a controlled or counterfeit substance. A person who commits this crime would be subject to imprisonment between one and 10 years. Under current law, if someone selling drugs claims that they had no knowledge of fentanyl presence in a drug that caused an overdose, that person would not be charged with this felony crime. This bill would update the law so that those who sell drugs and counterfeit drugs containing fentanyl are held accountable for overdoses. SB 465 is known as “Austin’s Law,” named after a young man who died tragically after unknowingly taking a substance laced with fentanyl. His parents joined us in the House Chamber while we honored his life with the passage of the bill. Later in the day, our counterparts in the Senate voted to give this legislation final passage, sending this important bill to Governor Kemp’s desk to be signed into law. 

HELPING OUR STUDENTS

Last year, I was proud to be a member of the Joint Study Committee on Dual Enrollment for Highly Skilled Talent at Younger Ages which was established in response to requests from Georgia students, families, communities and employers. Throughout last summer and fall, we conducted numerous meetings across the state to explore and identify potential solutions for increasing dual enrollment opportunities for highly skilled talent at younger ages. This week, we gave unanimous passage to Senate Bill 440, bipartisan legislation that would make revisions to Georgia’s Accelerated Career Diploma program, which is part of the state’s dual enrollment program for qualified high school students. As such, SB 440 would simplify the dual enrollment program and improve academic flexibility to better align with pathway programs. Under this legislation, this diploma path would only be available for an associate’s degree in applied science within Georgia's Technical College System (TCSG) or TCSG programs included in the State Workforce Development Board’s high-demand career list. Additionally, SB 440 would introduce the Dual Enrollment ACE (Accelerated Career Education) grant program, which would provide financial assistance to eligible students participating in the Accelerated Career Diploma Program. These students would be exempt from the 30-hour dual enrollment cap, and the bill would allow dual enrollment funding to be distinguished between academic and technical students. Through these changes, this legislation seeks to simplify this important program and encourage greater student participation so that more students are workforce-ready upon their high school graduation. 

SPONSORED LEGISLATION

I am proud to be sponsoring the following legislation. My colleagues and I are working tirelessly on other bills that will support our communities and will make Georgia a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

HOUSE BILL 880 -- FINAL PASSAGE -- This bill will allow military spouses in Georgia to get to work immediately in their chosen field using their existing professional license from another state. This will free our military spouses from cumbersome regulatory burdens and red tape. HB 880 is on its way to Governor Kemp's desk for his signature.

SENATE BILL 464 -- I carried this bill, authored by Senator Clint Dixon, in the House where it received overwhelming support. It will require the State Board of Education to establish a program for the Department of Education to allocate funds for eligible educators to purchase school supplies online so that teachers will not have to spend so much of their own money on classroom supplies. It will also revise the "Georgia Early Literacy Act" to provide for the identification of up to five universal reading screeners, one of which shall be a free universal reading screener. An amendment was made when it went back to the Senate, so this week, the House will have to agree to this amendment.

You can click the button below to follow legislation as each bill makes its way through the House and Senate.

WRAPPING UP THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSOIN

With Sine Die now days away, the pace under the Gold Dome continues to intensify as we near the finish line of the 2024 Legislative Session. The House will return to session on Tuesday, March 26 for Legislative Day 39. Thursday, March 28 will be Sine Die and will be the end of the 2024 legislative session. I look forward to being back in Middle Georgia full time over the next few months.

LINKS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Thank you for allowing me to represent you in the General Assembly. Below are some links you may find helpful and informative as well as my contact information. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or requests for assistance.