Proponents advocating the sale of insurance across state lines believe the bill would increase the pool of eligible insurance companies, thereby creating more market competition and lowering prices.  SB 407 was the Senate alternative to HB 1184 and is sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill (Dist. 32). The original bill was amended to ensure that products sold in Georgia still contain almost all of the state-required coverage mandates, except for athletic trainers.  However, in the new language of SB 407, these minimal coverage mandates have been removed.

Opponents of the bill believe the coverage mandates that have been in place for the past 15 years have lead to enhanced health outcomes by providing Georgians with access to strong preventive care.  Additionally, detractors of the bill believe the legislation would create more problems as out-of-state policies will be marketed to the most desirable and least "risky" clients. Consumers in Georgia's individual market who are the least healthy - and are therefore unattractive to underwriters - will be left in their current policies.  What's more, as the state's remaining pool of customers shrinks, the remaining individuals with the more serious health concerns will ultimately face rate increases.

Georgia's transportation woes have been an eyesore for quite some time now. After working to pass legislation on transportation for the past three years, Georgia lawmakers may have found even ground with the passage HB 277, also called The Georgia 2020 Transportation Act, which is sponsored by Sen. Mullins of the 53rd. With this, many of Georgia's transportation difficulties may be solved. 

The Georgia Transportation Act of 2020 has the following tenets of principles: the state would be divided into twelve regions; each region will be allowed to hold its own referendum; a 1% sales tax for projects would be viable and an increased flexibility in MARTA spending its tax revenues. The legislation creating MARTA "handcuffed" MARTA by disallowing them to draw from funds raised via taxes to operate their daily operations. This has been a primary problem for MARTA because the money has always been there for their continued existence, but the ability to utilize the funds has always been the problem. Rep. Jay Roberts-Transportation Chair-said, "We understand the importance of transportation to Atlanta, Georgia. This is the economic engine of this state and the southeastern United States." 

Furthermore, HB 277 allows various municipalities via referendum to vote for and fund their own transportation projects with a .1 cent sales tax increase. This would allow them to address their own needs where they see fit without interference from outside parties. However, opponents like State Rep. DuBose Porter said, "I didn't vote for this bill because it doesn't do anything; it doesn't take effect until 2012 and we needed something done immediately." The implementation of the vote occurring in 2012 effectively places Georgia between a "rock and a hard place" for two more years. Senate President Casey Cagle also lamented that, "We couldn't get all we wanted but it does address the needs of Georgia's transportation problems."  This legislation allows for regions that vote via referendum passage to receive 90% of their funds to be matched by the state; projects that regions produce with no vote will have 70% of its funding matched by the state. 

This legislation enables each region or municipality to vote for its own transportation projects. No longer will citizens have the leverage to complain about transportation; they will have to show up and vote.

Legislation

HEALTHCARE
SB 418 - Sen. Carter (Dist. 1)
Establishment of a program that will monitor the act of prescribing and dispensing controlled substances. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported

PUBLIC SAFTEY
SB 345- Sen. Butterworth (Dist. 50)
Vehicle races can be held on county and municipal roads, sanctioned by that county or municipality as long as the roads are blocked off and closed to other traffic during the race. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
SB 299 - Sen. Emanuel (Dist. 10)
Changes the provisions for juvenile procedures of the zero tolerance weapons policy. This includes any instrument used as a deadly weapon and machine guns. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
SB 291- Sen. Shafer (Dist. 48)
Revisions to the laws concerning the carrying of concealed weapons. A person licensed or permitted to carry a firearm will now be allowed to carry a firearm in an airport as long as it is not an area regulated by the federal government. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
 
TAXATION
HB 1020- Rep. Parrish (Dist. 156)
Initiates the revision of the sales and use tax for educational purposes relating to county sales and use taxes. This bill also provides for the comprehensive revision of the sales and use tax for educational purposes such as to establish special districts. Status: Senate Read and Referred
HB 1203- Rep. Stevens (Dist. 164)
Ensures that any utility franchise fees or charges imposed by and collected from residents, individuals, or property owners within the municipality or unincorporated area of the county. This will offset any obligation identified in a strategy that a county may have to municipal residents. Status: House Second Readers
 
AGRICULTURE
HB 529 - Sen. Bulloch (Dist. 11)
Creates limits of liability for certain landowners, who permit persons to hunt or fish on their property or allow persons on such property for agri-tourism and requires the posting of certain signs. This bill also states that no county, municipality, consolidated government, or other political subdivision of this state shall adopt or enforce any ordinance, rule, regulation, or resolution regulating crop management or animal husbandry practices involved in the production of agricultural or farm products on any private property. Status: Signed by Governor
 
JUDICIARY
SB 42 - Sen. Smith (Dist. 52)
Revises the Georgia Indigent Defense Act of 2003 and does the following: reconstitutes the Georgia Public defender Standards Council with new membership; to change the powers and duties of the council and provide that it shall be an advisory body to the Georgia Public Defender Agency and the Office of Alternative Defense Counsel. Status: House Withdrawn, Recommitted
SB 235 - Sen. Pearson (Dist. 51)
Prohibit the requirement of a person being implanted with a microchip. Those found guilty of implanting a micro chip on an involuntary participant will be charged with a misdemeanor. This procedure can only be done by a physician and regulated by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported
SB 364 - Sen. Stanton (Dist. 18) 
Demands the conviction for sexual services provided at message therapist parlors. The owner or operator of the facility will be found liable as well as the employee or person soliciting the sexual acts. Status: House Committee Favorably Reported