The Holland Report - 2024, Week 3

We're 10 Days In!
Just like that, the General Assembly has completed its first 10 days in the chambers, and we are a quarter of the way through the 2024 legislative session. I've heard so many colleagues comment that we've "hit the ground running," and it certainly feels like it with a crush of committee meetings, caucus hearings, special events and consequential votes already filling the calendar. This was a week when we focused on talking about maternal mortality and reproductive freedom. Three of my four committees met to review legislation, and one very important bill from last year finally passed out of the House. Learn more about all of this in the newsletter below. Have questions or want to voice your thoughts? Join us for a listening session this Sunday at 4:00pm on Zoom! 

HB 30 - The Antisemitism Bill
In 2023, the House passed HB30 which amended Georgia code to include antisemitism in the state's Hate Crimes law. The bill stalled in the Senate last year and did not progress. However, this is the second half of a biennial, and the bill got a hearing and passed out of the Senate Judiciary committee this week. On Thursday, the Senate passed the amended bill which then made its way to the House for an "agree" vote. By Thursday afternoon, the bill was on its way to the Governor with strong support from both chambers.

Let's Talk About Reproductive Rights
During a week when we should have been celebrating the 51st anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision, instead we found ourselves advocating against Georgia's near-total ban on abortion and the tremendous burden it places on Georgia's women, doctors and overall economic well-being. On Monday, the House and Senate Democrats held a joint press conference to call on the GOP leadership to allow a hearing for the Reproductive Freedom Act (HB75). And since the Public Health Committee continues to refuse to hear the bill, House Democrats held their own hearing on Wednesday featuring testimony from practicing obstetricians and representatives from SisterSong, the Feminist Women's Health Center, Emory's Rollins School of Public Health RISE Center, and Faith in Public Life organization. If you want to encourage Republican leadership to call HB75 for a hearing, contact Representative Sharon Cooper, Chair of the Public Health Committee, and ask that the bill receive the hearing it deserves.

The Annual Buckhead Coalition Luncheon
On Thursday, business leaders, civic leaders and elected officials gathered in the St. Regis ballroom for the annual Buckhead Coalition Luncheon. Most of the news was great for our community—violent crime is trending down across the city but most significantly in Buckhead, road paving projects are getting completed, and some amazing public-private partnerships are progressing to improve our community's quality of life. Both Mayor Andre Dickens and Speaker Jon Burns were on hand to provide updates and encouragement.

Mental Health Continues to Be a Priority
Momentum continues to push forward the conversation on mental health coverage and resources in our state. Wednesday marked Mental Health Day at the Capitol, and Thursday played host to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Our state continues to see alarming statistics around addiction, suicide and mental health struggles with too few providers and facilities to provide care. Several bills are in the hopper to address this. Stay tuned as they begin to progress through committee!

Committee Meetings
The Higher Education committee met to pass out one bill (HB985 dealing with the dissolution of the now defunct Georgia Higher Education Assistance Corporation) and hear two others (HB970 and HB982). The Small Business Development committee focused its meeting on hearing from people in the restaurant industry as they voice their concerns about policies that impact folks working in food service. Finally, Intragovernmental Coordination met to review SB338 which would define the districts for the Cobb County School Board. The Cobb Delegation submitted maps for redistricting the school board seats last year as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process. However, several plaintiffs filed a lawsuit alleging the maps disenfranchised minority voters. A judge agreed and ordered the legislature to redraw the maps. The map considered in our committee hearing was submitted by Republican Senator Ed Setzler, and it does not have the support of the majority of the Cobb Delegation in the House. This leads to procedural and legal murkiness. The committee voted 10-9 to pass the Setzler maps, and I was among those who voted no. The bill now moves to the floor of the House, but it's unclear whether it will be treated as a general bill or local legislation. The story of this bill is far from over. Expect more updates soon.

Join us THIS SUNDAY at 4:00 pm for our first listening session! Pre-register here.

If you haven’t already, please browse my website, betsyforgeorgia.com.

As your Representative, your concerns are important to me. Please contact me at betsy.holland@house.ga.gov or 404-656-0116 with questions, concerns, or solutions you may have regarding legislation or other happenings in District 54.

To stay updated, follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and follow the Georgia House of Representatives @GAHouseHub on Twitter. Additionally, in-depth information regarding current bills, Georgia's annual and supplemental budgets, committee meetings, and livestreams from the General Assembly can be accessed via www.legis.ga.gov.

I encourage you and your family to visit our State Capitol and my office, where all constituents are welcome. I look forward to connecting with you!

My office is located at:
18 Capitol Square, SW
409-B, Coverdell Legislative Office Building
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative.

Representative Betsy Holland
GA House District 54