Host of New Laws Now in Effect in Georgia

We all know about the Hands Free Law going into effect Sunday, but there’s a host of other new laws now in force across Georgia.

July 1st was the start date for a number of bills signed into law by Governor Nathan Deal during the 2018 Georgia General Assembly.

Among them was House Bill 65, which expanded Georgia’s Medical marijuana law to include Georgians suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and intractable pain who now have access to medically prescribed cannabis oil.

Also, under a new law that went into effect Sunday, larger online retailers must collect and remit state sales tax on purchases from Georgia customers or send “tax due” invoices to customers who spend more than $500 on their web sites.

The bill only applies to online retailers who make at least $250,000 a year or have 200 online sales a year. State lawmakers expect the State to reap an extra $600-million dollars in revenue from the new law.

Senate Bill 17, also known as the “Mimosa Law” now allows restaurants to serve alcohol on Sundays beginning at 11 a.m. instead of at 12:30 p.m.

However, retailers must still wait until 12:30p on Sunday to sell over-the-counter alcoholic beverages.

Last month, voters in Toccoa-Stephens County passed two separate referendums allowing the sale of alcohol on Sunday.

Other new laws now in effect include:

Senate Bill 376 became law Sunday. It allows Georgia consumers to put a lock or freeze on their credit reports for free.

Senate Bill 332 is also law in Georgia. It will create a yearlong apprentice hunting license, also known as an “Outdoor Passport Program.”  Apprentice licenses allow people to try hunting under the control of an experienced mentor prior to completing a hunter education course.

A new law provides counseling for the state’s first responders. House Bill 703 will develop a new department to be called, the Governor’s Office of Public Safety Support, which will  provide counseling and seminars for all first responders at all levels of government, as well as peer support teams.