(The Center Square) — While Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed several high-profile bills, including measures to ease the state's certificate of need mandate and launch a school voucher program, those are just two bills the Republican governor has signed.
House Bill 1122 provides an additional $6 million for charter school principals and superintendents. It also stipulates that children of "part-time" paraprofessionals and employees working in charter schools are eligible for charter school enrollment preference.
"HB 1122's allocation of increased funding for state and local charter school principals and superintendents brings Georgia one step closer to closing the funding gap between charter schools and traditional public schools," Tony Roberts, president and CEO of the Georgia Charter Schools Association, said in a statement.
HB 82 establishes a tax credit of up to $5,000 for rural health care professionals, including physicians and dentists. Professionals can claim the credit for up to five years.
"This is a transformative moment for rural communities, ensuring better access to essential healthcare services," state Rep. Mack Jackson, D-Sandersville, said in a statement. "This legislation is our response to these needs, guaranteeing that no Georgian is at a disadvantage because of where they live."
HB 1072 allows the Georgia State Board of Pharmacy to increase the maximum ratio of pharmacists to pharmacy technicians, updates the Department of Public Health's drug repository program and requires the proportional distribution of settlement proceeds from non-controlled substance prescription drugs based on program participation rates.
The "bill underscores the state's commitment to fostering a robust healthcare system that prioritizes patient safety, efficiency and innovation in pharmaceutical services," state Rep. Sharon Cooper, R-Marietta, said in a statement.
Senate Bill 144 eliminates a mandate that the Georgia Department of Defense's adjutant general include a roster of the organized militia's commissioned officers in an annual report to the governor. It also eliminates the requirement to print and distribute militia regulations.
State Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes, D-Lawrenceville, said in a statement that the measure "will reduce administrative burdens, save taxpayer dollars and protect commissioned officers."
SB 351, the "Protecting Georgia's Children on Social Media Act," aims to combat cyberbullying and address youth mental health specific to social media use.
"The health and safety of our children should always be a parent's number one priority," Lt. Governor Burt Jones, a Republican, said in a statement. "I am proud to have prioritized this legislation to help protect our children online and combat the very serious epidemic of cyberbullying which plagues this country."
