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Gold Dome Update 
Highlights from the House 
Week Eight
We returned to Capitol Hill for week eight of the legislative session, which ended last Friday with Crossover Day. Any legislation that did not pass out of its respective chamber by the Crossover Day deadline, will likely not have time to make it through the process and therefore will not be reconsidered until next session. We passed numerous bills this week in hopes that we can continue positive reform efforts and progress in the Peach State. 

Heartbeat Bill

We are pleased to report that last Thursday, the Georgia House of Representatives voted in favor of life! Known as the Heartbeat Bill, House Bill 481 will restrict abortion procedures after a doctor has detected a heartbeat. I am proud to stand tall with my House colleagues in declaration that the unborn deserve the right to life. We will continue our push for this legislation through the Georgia Senate and onto the Governor’s desk for his final signature into law.
Public Safety

To further public safety within our state, we passed legislation which would create a hate crime statute in Georgia. As one of five states that does not have a law to protect its citizens from hate crimes, we felt it necessary to bring forth this legislation.

House Bill 426 would increase the penalties for anyone convicted of a hate crime committed due to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability or physical disability towards an individual or group. Increased penalties for hate crimes are as follows:

  • Person convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime would be sentenced to three to 12 months of jail time and face a fine up to $5,000
  • Six to 12 months of jail time, along with a $5,000 fine for persons committing a highly aggravated hate crime
  • Conviction of a felony hate crime would entail minimum of two years in prison. 


House Bill 234
Sadly, Georgia remains ranked as a top human trafficking state within the U.S. Over the last few years, we have passed many measures to strengthen sex trafficking penalties. Last week was no exception as we successfully passed House Bill 234. Also known as the Anti-Human Trafficking Protective Response Act, this bill would provide immense treatment for victims through the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and law enforcement. The bill passed under the following:

  • Authorizes DFCS to provide immediate emergency care and supervision for a child trafficking victim without a court order or the consent of the parents or legal guardian
  • Directs DFCS and law enforcement to take the child to an available victim services organization to provide comprehensive trauma-informed services.
  • Protects minors by prohibiting victims under 18 from being prosecuted for prostitution.
  • Gives local authorities the ability to seek civil penalties against the owner or operator of any building that has benefited from human trafficking activity. We are confident that this legislation will strengthen the state’s anti-human trafficking laws, while providing critical resources and care for victims of this horrific practice.

House Bill 79
 We also passed House Bill 79, which would safeguard the rights of legally blind Georgians and their children. If passed, this bill would prevent courts, the Department of Human Services and child-placing agencies from discriminating or denying child placement, custody, visitation, guardianship or adoption to an individual because that individual is legally blind, unless the parties above have clear evidence that the welfare of the child is at risk. This bill passed the House unanimously and would protect the more than 202,000 blind Georgians from unfair biases that deny these families their basic right to stay together.

Healthcare

House Bill 324
During the 2015 legislative session the Georgia General Assembly passed, Haleigh’s Hope, which changed Georgia code regarding the use of Low THC medical cannabis oil. The bill allows patients with certain medical conditions, causing debilitating pain or seizures, to register with the Department of Public Health’s (DPH) THC Oil Patient Registry. While the bill did allow the legal possession of up to 20 fluid ounces of oil, containing up to five percent THC, there was no way to legally obtain the oil in Georgia. This meant that the 8,000 patients registered would be forced to illegally obtain the oil from other states. Upon the recommendation of our General Assembly Joint Commission, which studied issues involving medical oil access, we passed House Bill 324.

HB 324, also known as Georgia’s Hope Act, would allow for the cultivation, manufacturing and dispensing of low THC oil with a lawful valid license issued by an oversight board. Stipulations of the bill are as follows:

  • Issuance of two classes of licenses to produce, grow and manufacture low THC oil in Georgia.
  • Issuance of separate retail licenses for qualified Georgia applicants by January 1, 2020.
  • Creates a seed-to-sale tracking system.
  • Require facility inspections and sample testing of medical cannabis oil products. 

Our main concern is to ensure that Georgians receive access to quality care, while following the laws of our state. No patient should be forced to choose between debilitating pain or breaking federal law. 

Statewide Transit Improvements

House Bill 511
Improved transportation initiatives throughout the state were also addressed through House Bill 511, which would create the Department of Mobility and Innovation (GMobile). GMobile would govern, coordinate, consolidate and rebuild our transit governance structure through Designated Mobility Zones. Designated Mobility Zones, which would streamline transit and promote economic development, would allow for more consistency across various regions. These zones would be designed around regional economic hubs and surrounding rural areas. Further, each zone would develop and oversee a regional transit plan that defines and identifies the specific transit needs of its respective area.

Funding for the project would be provided through a transit SPLOST at the county level and a state sales tax replacement through a per trip usage fee when using limousines, taxis or ride hailing services. This measure is expected to generate an estimated $30 million to $60 million annually. If passed, this initiative would provide an avenue to increase transit spending and allow us to invest in transportation improvements and innovation across the entire state. 

Beginning this week, we will begin to review all Senate legislation sent our way! As last week brought to an end 29 of our allotted 40 legislative days, we head into the final stretch. I will continue to update you for the remainder of our time on Capitol Hill. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of representing our interests under the Gold Dome as we continue to work together for simple, smart, effective government.


Respectfully,
Shaw Blackmon
Representative of Georgia's 146th House District

Contact:
478-918-7477
 
Representative Shaw Blackmon
District 146
Email: Shaw.Blackmon@house.ga.gov
Phone: 404.463.7853
Address: 401-K State Capitol
Atlanta, Georgia 30334


Rep. Shaw Blackmon represents District 146. He currently serves as a member of Economic Development & Tourism,Governmental Affairs, Insurance, Juvenile Justice, Rules, Small Business Development, Special Rules, and Ways & Means Committees. He serves as Chair of the Transportation Committee on Appropriations and also as House Appointee to the Joint Defense Commission.