TOP Legislation Being Watched (Updated 2/11/22)
Support: Appeals Process for School Library Obscenity
SB 226: This ensures our children are protected from sexually explicit material. Georgia Baptists support legislation that allows a proper appeal process when parents see material that is obscene. Voted out of subcommittee to full committee for a vote.
Support: The Women’s Health and Safety Act” (Ban on Mailing Abortion Pills)
SB 466: We fully support this legislation, which would reinstate the Obama/Trump era restrictions of delivering the abortion pill via telemedicine and direct mail in Georgia. The bill was voted out of committee and to Rules committee. Ready to be voted on by the Senate.
Support: The “Parents Bill of Rights” for Public Schools
SB 449/HB 1178: These bills codify parental rights when it comes to their child’s education into law, including the right to access instructional material. The bills affirm a parent’s ability to request information from a principal or superintendent and requires that they provide the requested information within 3 working days. HB 1178 received a hearing by a House committee and is waiting to be voted on by the committee.
Support: “Saving Girls Sports Act”
SB 435: We support this legislation, which would ban any biological males from participating in biological female sports. It received a hearing and was voted out of committee.
Support: Ban on Teaching Critical Race Theory in Public Schools
SB 377 by Sen. Bo Hatchett; HB 1084 by Rep. Will Wade. It is important our children know that they we are all “image bearers,” and they should not made feel ashamed of who they are and be distrustful of their neighbor. Children do not need to feel as though they are inherently oppressed or inherently oppressors – based on their race. Both bills received hearings this week. SB 377 is still in committee. HB 1084 was voted out of a subcommittee and goes to the full committee.
Support: “Student Technology Protection Act”
HB 1217 by Chris Erwin: Requires specifications for technology to filter obscenity from students in public schools. It was voted out a subcommittee and on to the full committee for a vote.
Support: The “Forum Act” (Forming Open and Robust University Minds)
HB 1 was introduced by Representative Josh Bonner. This bill protects students on our college campuses regarding their freedom of speech and freedom of association. It was voted out of the subcommittee this week and is now in the full committee for consideration.
Opposition: The Expansion of Gambling
There are approx. nine bills leftover from the 2021 session that are available to be passed expanding gambling on Sports, House Racing, and Casinos. We are currently waiting to see which come forward for 2022. We expect something.
Published February 14, 2022