This week State Representative Greg Morris emailed about the happenings in the Georgia House of Representatives and below are just a few of the highlights on which the elected officials are focusing from that perspective.
Like the Senate, the Georgia House of Representatives is focusing on election reform including HB351. The bill proposes changes in absentee as well as in person voting and would make early voting uniform across the state. This bill, much like a similar one introduced in the Senate, would require proper identification to obtain an absentee ballot and alter the rules for submitting votes in this manner.
Rep. Morris reports that Gov. Brian Kemp has endorsed legislation that would limit himself and future Governors from restricting worship services during a statewide emergency such as the current pandemic. Referred to as the Faith Protection Act, rather than ordering houses of worship completely close their doors in an emergency, the Governor does support social separation and online services as a first defense.
HB 286 would prohibit cities and counties from defunding police departments by more than 5 percent per year. Quoting Rep. Morris, he said, “I support the sentiment of the bill that opposes the idiotic notion that less law enforcement would help the crime problem in the communities. I do however expect changes in the bill before it leaves the House Governmental Affairs Committee.”
The House of Representatives also had a bill introduced by Rep. Kacey Carpenter that would allows Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA students to pay in state tuition to attend Georgia’s colleges and universities. Rep. Morris said that DACA students were brought to America by their parents, and most have attended and graduated from Georgia high Schools. While students can attend college, they are required to pay out of state tuition because of lack of residency., and that tuition is four times higher than in-state tuition. According to Morris, DACA students can pay $24,000 a year while in-state students pay $8,000. In Morris’ words, [quote] “I’m having a hard time seeing the wisdom in regulating a worthy student that could be a doctor, businessowner or educator and what they could contribute to our state and communities.” [End quote]
