BILL YEARTA: House tackles health care, education, public safety issues

A busy sixth week under the Gold Dome was a successful week as the House passed 34 bills and resolutions, now under review by our colleagues in the Senate.

With our “Crossover Day” deadline quickly approaching, we are all focused on getting our legislation to the floor for consideration. Crossover Day is important as it is the last day legislation can pass from one chamber with enough time to make it through the legislative process prior to day 40.

Health care: House Bill 1037, which passed last week, would create the Georgia Commission on Maternal and Infant Health. The commission would be assigned to the Georgia Department of Public Health and consist of 14 members who will examine the causes of maternal and infant deaths in our state. Further, this commission will provide a more holistic view on various issues so that we can continue our work to improve maternal and infant health in Georgia.

The commission would be charged with:

· Solicitation of views from perinatal facilities, health care providers and related professional associations on the state of Georgia’s perinatal care;

· Give consideration to the current recommendations of medical and scientific organizations working on perinatal care;

· Make policy recommendations regarding perinatal care programs;

· Establish a way to measure the quality and effectiveness of perinatal care in Georgia;

· Submit statewide policy recommendations based on its findings no later than June 30, 2026.

Georgia Families: Continuing our commitment to Georgia’s families, the House also took up House Bill 1010, which aims to expand parental leave for our state employees and teachers. This bill would modify current law by extending paid parental leave for state employees to six weeks, doubling the amount of time state employees currently receive.

Public Safety: House Bill 1022, also known as the Colton-McNeill Act, would strengthen protections for disabled minors by raising penalties for acts of cruelty against them. The legislation would address a gap in existing laws, by seeking to impose harsher consequences for those who target vulnerable children. While the severity of the offense would determine the length of imprisonment, the legislation does state:

· First degree cruelty to a disabled minor carrying a sentence ranging from 15 to 30 years;

· Second degree of the crime would result in imprisonment between 10 and 30 years.

Last week also brought passage to House Bill 874, which would require every public school to have a functional automated external defibrillator (AED) machine on the premises of school grounds at all times and during school-related functions. Additionally the bill would require our schools to create a written emergency action plan, conduct at least two emergency action practice drills annually and designate an internal response team to provide necessary training to team members and potential users of an AED.

Education: House Bill 282 will work to further prepare our middle and high school students for their future careers. If passed, this bill would underscore the importance of practical instruction and training experiences within our educational systems. Under the legislation, the Department of Education would be tasked with assembling comprehensive resources and materials on career readiness and employability, ensuring that state public schools have access to these tools for student success.

Please be on the lookout for future updates concerning your government at work as the session continues. As always, please feel free to reach out to me anytime. Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving our home in the General Assembly. May God bless you and may He continue to bless the great state of Georgia.