The Holland Report - 2026, Week 5

Sara Fuchs

The days are getting longer under the Gold Dome as we progressed through legislative days 15 through 18. We passed bills each day in the chamber this week; everything thus far has passed with an overwhelming majority in favor. We also enjoyed visits from advocacy groups representing dyslexic students, vocational rehabilitation training, Georgia forestry, Future Farmers of America, New Americans, refugees, after school programs, CASA, and The YMCA…just to name a few! I was particularly proud to have a moment in the chamber to recognize the Georgia Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Delivering a morning order on behalf of the Georgia chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Death by suicide affects more than you know - it's time to start talking about it.

Fighting for an Affordability Agenda

On February 11, my House Democratic colleagues and I rolled out our affordability agenda — a set of proposals grounded in a simple principle: if a policy doesn’t make life more affordable for everyday Georgians, we shouldn’t support it. For us, affordability isn’t a buzzword or a cover for more tax breaks for the wealthy. It’s about lowering the real costs families are facing every day.

Our agenda focuses on tackling rising housing, health care, and child care costs. That includes increasing housing supply, strengthening protections for renters, and making homeownership more attainable for young families and working Georgians. I look forward to continuing the conversation about how we can make Georgia more affordable for everyone.

Are you following me on social media? I share a quick video update every legislative day to keep you informed about what’s happening at the Capitol. Liking and resharing my posts is an easy (and free!) way to support this work — it helps more people see the information.

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Call to Action

Please email or call Speaker of the House Jon Burns and ask him not to bring the following bills to the floor of the House for a vote.
jon.burns@house.ga.gov
(404) 656-5020

HB 54

HB 54 passed the House last year as a bill to expand access to home health services — which is why I voted in favor of it. However, the Senate has now amended the bill to include a ban on critical medical care for transgender youth and new restrictions on health coverage for transgender adults in Georgia.

This last-minute addition denies Georgians the opportunity to weigh in. The bill will not return to committee for public testimony or debate; instead, it comes straight back to the House for an up-or-down agree/disagree vote. That kind of backdoor maneuvering undermines transparency and public trust.

Government should not be in the business of overruling medical experts or interfering in deeply personal health care decisions. These changes set a troubling precedent and open the door to broader government intrusion into private medical care.

SB 74

SB 74 would create criminal penalties — including potential jail time — for librarians who knowingly allow minors to check out materials deemed harmful under Georgia’s obscenity law. The bill, which previously passed the Senate, has now advanced out of a House committee and is headed to the full House for a vote. This legislation raises serious concerns about criminalizing professional judgment and placing librarians at legal risk for doing their jobs. It also opens the door to more challenges on books about LGBTQ people or issues.

There will be two more listening sessions this legislative season - one right after Crossover Day, and another before Sine Die. You can register at the links below:

March 8th, 4 - 5 pm

March 29th, 4 - 5 pm

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 Instagram 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.