Sen. Bo Hatchett: Week Seven Under the Gold Dome
Georgia State Senator Bo Hatchett recently updated WNEG News and constituents on the seventh week of the legislative session. Hatchett serves District 50 which includes Stephens, Banks, Franklin, Habersham, Rabun, and Towns County and portions of Hall, Jackson, and White counties. Hatchett also serves as one of two Floor Leaders in the Senate, selected by Governor Brian Kemp.
Week seven under the Gold Dome has concluded, and we’re swiftly approaching an important milestone known as “Crossover Day” on February 29. This marks the deadline for all bills to pass through their originating chamber, commonly referred to as the house of origin. Our advocacy for Georgians has yielded significant accomplishments, including property tax relief, reduction of regulatory burdens, enhancements in public safety and much more. I appreciate my Senate colleagues, particularly those within the Majority Caucus, for their unwavering dedication to advancing legislation on behalf of all Georgians.
As a member of the Senate Republican Caucus, I’m delighted to announce the successful passage of all priority bills of the majority caucus out of the Senate, highlighted by the approval of Senate Bill 449. This bill, aimed at exempting certain military medical personnel from examination requirements, eliminates unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and bolsters Georgia’s reputation as the premier state for business.
The Georgia Senate also discussed and passed its amended budget for Fiscal Year 2024. This budget increases funding for maintaining safe and efficient road infrastructure and provides essential support for industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and logistics. It also allocates resources to enhance retirement and healthcare benefits, vital for retaining our state’s workforce. Our commitment to a balanced budget ensures Georgia’s efficiency, fiscal conservatism and attractiveness for investment.
In addition to advocating for our majority caucus’ priorities, I continued working on my individual legislative priorities. Specifically, I am proud to say that the Senate passed SB 483 which would amend Georgia’s laws regarding minors, by joining an agreement called the Revised Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children. This agreement outlines procedures and regulations for the placement of children across state lines in situations such as foster care, adoption, or other types of placements. This compact helps ensure cooperation and coordination between states to protect the well-being and rights of children who are being placed in different states.
Both SB 493 and 466 also passed out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary this week. SB 493 aims to address the misuse of drones by registered sexual offenders, who use drones to violate the privacy of minors and adults by photographing or videoing them without their consent. SB 466 will protect children from predators who attempt to utilize artificial intelligence for purposes of exploitation. I hope these critical measures will be taken up by the full Senate body in the coming days.
Furthermore, my colleagues and I were delighted to be present on Wednesday for the swearing-in of Georgia’s newest Republican senator, Tim Bearden (R-Carrollton). Senator Bearden joins us at an important time for our state and I look forward to serving alongside him throughout the remainder of our legislative session.
Each week under the Gold Dome, constituents, associations and organizations alike come to the Capitol to speak to legislators and host events with public officials. I was personally honored to recognize members of the Rabun County Republican Party and the Habersham County Chamber of Commerce in our Senate Gallery this week. It is always an honor to welcome those from the 50th Senate District to our state capitol.
On that note, as always, I want to invite students between the ages of 12 and 18 to serve as a Capitol Page. I encourage any students interested in the legislative process who want to spend a day at our Capitol to apply for our program using the link: https://www.legis.ga.gov/news/senate/page-program-2024
Please don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can assist with legislative matters as the 2024 Legislative Session continues.