by Sen. Blake Tillery

One week to go. Praise the Lord!  This session has been the hardest of the eight sessions you’ve given me the privilege to serve in.  The issues were tougher back in 2020-2022, but the sheer volume of topics, the depth we needed to get to resolve, and the speed of this year’s legislative session made everything feel more difficult.  I feel like I’ve neglected this column, one of my favorite session activities usually, because of the other demands of this year’s session.  If you’ve felt so too as a reader, please let me apologize. I knew my first duty to you though was the legislation I faced on your behalf.

Last week, many matters of local importance made it through the Senate. Here’s a brief highlight of some:

• House Bill 935: known as “Back the Blue Act,” establishes the Back the Blue Fund, providing bonuses to certified peace officers across Georgia.
• House Bill 808: increases ad valorem tax exemption for tangible personal property, letting Georgians put more money in their pockets
• House Bill 1015: continues the trend to reduce Georgia taxes by reducing the income tax rate from 5.49% to 5.39%
• House Bill 301: enables citizens to judicially call out local governments that enact dangerous immigration sanctuary policies.
• House Bill 1105: mandates local law enforcement cooperation in enforcing immigration laws.
• House Bill 185: the “Combating Threats from China Act,” mandates Georgia’s University System to report certain funding received from foreign adversaries
• House Bill 827: raises the penalties for livestock theft
• House Bill 984: allows for the continuation of coverage for certain disabled dependent children
• House Bill 285: increases investment opportunities for the Employees’ Retirement System
• House Bill 1090: increases the tax credit for contributions to foster child support organizations
• House Bill 461: mandates that proceeds of a regulatory fee must be used to fund regulatory activity, not end up in some slush fund.
• House Bill 1339: makes changes to Georgia’s Certificate of Need laws. Depending on which side you’re on, some think these protect small hospitals; others think these keep new investment in medical offices in rural areas.
• I want to say a special word about House Bill 1026 by my State Representative Leesa Hagan (R–Lyons). This one is special to me.  Rep. Hagan worked for two years to see our City of Lyons and all of its soap box derby volunteers recognized by naming the Southeast Georgia Soapbox Derby Georgia’s official soapbox derby.  This bill had quite the history, but in the end, Rep. Hagan edged out her competition, much like our drivers do on Derby Hill.

I’ve also had several Senate Bills I authored pass through the House.

• Senate Bill 505: This bill, which passed unanimously, revises provisions relating to required publication by hospital of certain financial documentation on its website.
• Senate Bill 376: This bill clarifies requirements of parents, DFCS, and the Court to improve timely permanent placement of a child.
• Senate Bill 426: This measure revises requirements for joining motor carrier and motor carrier’s insurers to a cause of action.
• Senate Bill 420: This bill prohibits dangerous foreign entities from acquiring land near secure areas, including military bases. As global security evolves, Georgia must remain prepared to adapt accordingly.

House Bill 916, the FY 2025 State Budget, passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The bill funds the State beginning July 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025. Many of us under the Gold Dome worked tirelessly to craft the $36 billion Fiscal Year 2025 Budget that provides for raises for state workers, as well as more money allocated for law enforcement, education, and mental health programs. I would like to thank my fellow members of the Senate Committee of Appropriations as well as the Senate Budget and Evaluation Office for their work on the budget.

Finally, I will be working on a potential amendment for the final days of the session, which would seek to level the playing field for independent pharmacists. Independent pharmacies and pharmacists play a vital role in serving the rural part of our state and I believe that it is important that we protect them.  I’m also working on a bill to help our foresters and one to make sure a proposed huge judicial pay raise has to go before the voters before it goes into place.

Each week, constituents, associations and organizations alike come to the Capitol to visit the Senate chamber. Senate members were honored to welcome the family and friends of Laken Riley, a former UGA student who was tragically murdered by an illegal immigrant who used our nation’s porous federal immigration policy to cause harm. I continue to pray for the family and friends of Laken, the Athens community and our state as we grieve this unimaginable and completely unnecessary loss. 

Please never hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters as the 2024 Legislative Session enters its final week.

As always, thank you for the honor of serving you in the Senate. If you have any questions about these or other pending matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office in Atlanta via 404-656-0089.