February 1, 2016

Georgia Legislative Update
Legislative Days 9-12 (of 40)
  • Legislative Reception Was a Big Success
  • General Business- Incl. Intro. of Minimum Wage Bill
  • Gaming/Gambling/COAM
  • Health/Pharmacy
  • GA Meth Check Bill
  • Session Schedule
Legislators worked in session Monday through Thursday, legislative days 9-12 respectively.  
Legislative Reception Was a Big Success


Thanks to the 250 industry representatives that attended last week's legislative reception. Click Here for pictures. Your support is greatly appreciated!


General Business

Senator Fort and other Democrats introduced two bills related to the minimum wage. SB 292 repeals the preemption against locals increasing the minimum wage. SB 293 increases the minimum wage from $5.15 to $15 per hour and provides that it adjusts annually thereafter. 
 
Other New Bills 
  • HB 815 adds avian species to the term "non traditional livestock" for the purposes of meat inspection
  • HB 842 provides for a license fee for temporary fireworks dealers which will go to local governments
  • HB 847 related to 'knowingly or intentionally' aiding or abetting an individual defrauding public assistance programs (food stamps, WIC, Medicaid, etc.)
Gaming/Gambling/COAM

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed both the proposed constitutional amendment as well as the enabling legislation for Horse Racing and parimutuel betting. The latest version of the bill removes all of the "Off Track Betting" sites. The only parimutuel betting will be at the tracks themselves. The committee suggested that if the bill goes to the full Senate floor, there will likely be floor amendments (including: money to help with problem gambling at the Department of Behavioral Health, language to prevent slot machines and other gambling, and language to protect the nonprofits who currently benefit from events like Steeplechase).  

Health

New Bills

HB 813 provides that medical providers may write a prescription to a 'partner' or 'partners' if the patient has a venereal disease.  

Committee Action 

HB 588, the Georgia Meth Check bill, PASSED Health and Human Services this week.   

Schedule

This week, we are in session Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, legislative days 13-16. 
 
The current Adjournment Resolution provides that: Monday, February 29th is Crossover Day (the last legislative day that all bills must pass from one chamber to the other in order to continue to be viable) and Thursday, March 24th is the last day of Session.  

It should be noted that this is subject to change by the House and Senate by the passage of a subsequent adjournment resolution

Georgia Food Industry Association | P: (770) 438-7744 | F: (770) 438-7761 | www.gfia.org