The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Crossover Day has come and gone. Once again, while Georgia Democrats fought for fair wages, expanded healthcare access, stronger public education, lower insurance and energy costs, and greater public safety, Georgia Republicans prioritized divisive culture wars and catered to big-money donors—putting politics over the people.

A fuller recap is below, but here is a brief rundown of the big picture:

The Good: Democrats successfully blocked Senate Bill 120, which would have banned diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public schools and universities, after it failed to receive a Senate vote by Crossover Day. Additionally, House Bill 112 passed, providing a $250 tax refund for individuals and $500 for couples. This relief is especially important as troubling economic trends loom.

The Bad: Senate Bill 273, which aimed to raise the minimum wage, failed to pass, leaving the state with the lowest minimum wage in the country. The Senate also advanced tort reform that favors businesses over consumers, restricting fair compensation without addressing rising insurance costs. Meanwhile, the House approved a tax cut that primarily benefits the wealthy, with some low-income earners receiving as little as $20.

The Ugly: The Senate passed Senate Bill 36, a so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which could be used to justify discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals and others under the guise of religious rights. Senate Bill 47 also passed, establishing an annual sales tax holiday for guns and ammunition, prioritizing firearm purchases over essential safety measures amid rising gun violence.

Finally, we'd be remiss if we did not mention that although most bills that don't pass by Crossover Day are dead, some can be revived before the session ends on April 4th (sine die) by adding language from the dead bill to a related one. And yes, these "Zombie bills" are just as problematic as they sound.

So keep fighting. Georgians deserve better. This session is NOT over. Keep calling your representatives, keep showing up at the Capitol, and let's finish strong!

Now, onto the recap!

Education

HB 268: Creates an Office of Safe Schools to track students who may pose safety threats, implementing uniform threat management policies across schools. However, it risks disproportionately targeting minority students perceived as threatening while failing to address the more pressing issue of gun violence.

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate

HB 328: Raises the amount of tax credits for school voucher organizations. The main concern here is that it may divert essential funding from public schools, undermining their ability to serve students effectively.

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate

SB 1: Stops transgender athletes from playing on sports teams that match their gender identity, despite lawmakers being unable to identify a single transgender athlete involved.

Status: PASSED, onto the House 

SB 74: Removes an exemption that protects libraries and librarians from prosecution for the “sale, loan, distribution, or exhibition of materials deemed harmful to minors.” The bill raises censorship concerns, as it could be used to limit access to books addressing important topics, such as puberty, LGBTQ+ issues, sexual violence, and racial justice. 

Status: PASSED, onto to the House

SB 120: Prohibits public schools, local education agencies, and public postsecondary from promoting, supporting, or maintaining the DEI programs that serve to address unfair barriers to access and opportunity in education. 

Status: FAILED, will NOT crossover 

Voting Rights and Election Laws

HB 397: Seeks to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia, which would let cities choose to offer early voting on Saturdays for local elections. It also changes the rules for when special elections can be scheduled and held. 

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate 

HB 426: Makes elections for magistrate judges nonpartisan, removing political party affiliation to keep politics out of the courts.

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate 

HB 502: This bill would have allowed parents with kids under two and disabilities to skip the line during early voting and specific times on election day. 

Status: FAILED, will NOT crossover 

Healthcare

HB 89: Requires healthcare providers, facilities, and pharmacies to share psychiatric and clinical records of deceased patients with the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, expanding access to critical information for maternal death investigations. 

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate

HB 97: Expands Medicaid eligibility and authorizes the Department of Community Health to use state funds for its implementation. The bill also outlines waiver requests, plan amendments, and regulatory oversight to support the expansion. 

Status: FAILED, will NOT crossover 

HB 323: Expands access to Medicare supplement insurance for individuals under 65 who qualify due to disability or end-stage renal disease. The bill prohibits insurers from charging these individuals higher premiums than those 65 and older and establishes open enrollment periods. 

Status:  PASSED, onto to the Senate

HB 428: Codifies the right to in vitro fertilization (IVF), ensuring legal access and protections for patients and providers. The bill passed unanimously in the House. 

Status: PASSED, onto to the Senate

SB 39: Bans state health coverage for gender-affirming care for state employees and their dependents. 

Status: PASSED, onto the House

Safety

HB 79: Creates a tax credit for purchasing firearm safety equipment, such as gun safes and locks, and for completing firearm safety courses.

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate

HB 177: Expands protections for pets in domestic violence cases, ensuring they are included in protective orders for victims.

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate

HB 225: Bans automated speed cameras in school zones and prohibits local governments from entering or renewing contracts for speed enforcement using these devices.

Status: PASSED, onto the Senate

SB 47: Establishes an 11-day tax-free holiday for purchases of firearms, ammunition, and gun safety equipment.

Status: PASSED, onto the House

Tort Reform/Economic Policies

SB 68: Restricts victims' rights by capping noneconomic damages, limiting lawsuits against negligent businesses, and making it harder to hold bad actors accountable. It benefits insurance companies and corporations at the expense of everyday Georgians, reducing access to fair compensation for injuries, wrongful deaths, and unsafe conditions.

Status: PASSED, onto the House

SB 69: Limits access to justice by restricting third-party litigation financing, making it harder for victims to afford legal battles against powerful corporations. Curbing options for injured individuals to seek fair compensation further tilts the legal system in favor of corporate and insurance interests. 

Status: PASSED, onto the House

SB 273: Proposed increasing the state minimum wage from $5.15 to $22 per hour, with annual adjustments for cost of living. It would have also raised the subminimum wage for tipped workers to $7.50 per hour and expanded eligibility, excluding specific student and care workers. This legislation aimed to ensure fair compensation, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth by boosting workers' purchasing power.

Status: FAILED, will NOT crossover

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