The Holland Report - 2025, Week 5

Welcome to Week 5!

During legislative days 14 through 17, it felt like things were coming alive in the House chamber. Committees are now meeting regularly, and we are voting on bills each day on the floor. Advocates showed up in throngs this week to talk about issues ranging from human trafficking to attracting more OB-GYNs to Georgia to gun safety measures and expanding after school care. And on Thursday, the whole House went purple with capes and sunglasses celebrating Lupus Day at the Capitol.

We Started Voting on Bills!

While we voted on mostly routine bills this week, a few stood out as having a real positive impact for Georgia, notably HB81 and HB105. HB81 proposed an interstate compact for school psychologists. An interstate compact assists certain careers requiring licenses to transfer their licenses when their state of residence changes. This could help alleviate Georgia's shortage of school psychologists - a key part of a strategy to provide better mental health support for our students. The bill has passed in the House and is being assigned to a Senate Committee.  HB105 would award public school teachers and employees a sum of $75,000 in the event they are permanently disabled in their place of work by an act of violence, or award $75,000 to their beneficiary in the event the public school teacher or employee is killed in an act of violence in the line of duty. The creation and passing of this bill comes with a somber admission that we are failing our teachers. Teachers are not law enforcement, firefighters, or soldiers; a career in education does not come with the expectation or understanding that you could be harmed, injured or killed due to your work. And yet, acts of violence against educators have become so common and normalized that we need this bill. While I am grateful this bill has passed the House, I hope to be a part of a future in which this bill is no longer needed, and we can guarantee the safety of our teachers.

Higher Education Committee

Last week in Higher Ed we heard bills HB56 and HB172; this week they made their way back to us and were voted out of committee. HB56 would provide tuition grants to children and spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and prison guards who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. The bill passed unanimously out of committee.  HB172 is related to veterinary education and is a tuition reimbursement program intended on getting more large animal veterinarians to graduation and working in rural areas of Georgia. The bill passed out of committee and out of the House last year but ran out of time in the Senate. We're hoping it gets full passage this year. The bill passed unanimously out of committee.

Virtual Town Hall

Don't forget to register for my upcoming Town Halls! These will be held on Zoom, and you will receive more information regarding joining the meeting after you register. I can't wait to see you there! Click Here to sign up for February 23, Sunday at 4:00PM Click Here to sign up for March 9, Sunday at 4:00PM Click Here to sign up for March 30, Sunday at 4:00PM

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

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