The Next Big Political Battle In Georgia: Redistricting nowhabersham.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nowhabersham.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Primary Content Caption The Georgia Congressional District map, here in its 2020 configuration, could look considerably different when the Georgia General Assembly currently controlled by Republicans conducts its once-per-decade redrawing of the map in 2021. Credit: Georgia General Assembly As controversy swirls over the comprehensive new voting law that drastically alters Georgia’s election system, another battle with equally profound implications looms on the horizon: redistricting. In the coming months, state lawmakers will begin redrawing the lines of Georgia’s legislative and congressional districts, a process that will help determine control of the state government and its policies for at least the next 10 years.
Committee Reports House Education Committee The House Education Committee, chaired by Representative Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville), met to consider the following legislation today: SB 59, authored by Senator John Albers (R-Alpharetta), amends Title 20 relating to funding for local charter schools and charter systems. The bill changes the percentages for calculating FTE funding under Code Section 20-2-165.1, and also requires certain federal fund allocation and facility usage or stipends for local charter schools by local education agencies. Senator Albers presented the bill to the Committee, and the Georgia School Board Association and Georgia Association of Educational Leaders expressed concerns about Section 5 of the bill. Chairman Dubnik held the bill to ensure the language is correct and noted that he intends to act on the bill at the next meeting.
House Small Business Development Committee Chairman Mike Cheokas (R-Americus) and his Committee and adopted its Committee Rules. This Committee will operate with four subcommittees: 1) Barriers to Regulation (chair is Representative Tim Barton (R-Calhoun)); 2) Retail Hospitality (chair is Representative Bill Yearta (R-Sylvester)); 3) Incentives and Education (chair is Representative Dale Washburn (R-Macon)); and 4) Agribusiness (chair is Representative Steven Meeks (R-Screven)). The Committee heard presentations from NFIB, Nathan Humphrey, which indicated that the small business climate in Georgia was overall good Georgia has AAA bonds; low tax rate; it is a “right to work” state; has a solvent unemployment trust fund; has a workers’ compensation fund; and is a diversified economy. NFIB’s Humphrey pointed out the COVID-19 response and allowing businesses to open; the passage of HB 486; passage of covid liability protection law, SB 359; and the $1.5 billion for unemployment trust fund from CARES Act (equating to $350 per employee). Concerns articulated by NFIB included mandates; legal climate; unemployment trust fund; future lockdowns; and available PPE. The group also asked that the legislature look at PPP loan deductibility and marry Georgia’s tax code to the Internal Revenue Code (expense side); extend COVID liability protections to beyond July 1, 2021; and protect rights of small businesses to remain open. NFIB also pointed out that the legal climate had a direct impact on Georgia’s trucking industry many are seeing 300 percent increases in insurance costs - and due to school closures (as businesses depend on schools being open). Three small businesses provided some personal stories at today’s meeting. One indicated that they are challenged with access to capital and do not have a reserve or access to banking. Costs and access to healthcare also remain an issue. Another business points out liability protections remain as well as minimum wage compression should an increase in the minimum wage occur. Another business pointed out the need for tort reform.
Senate Finance Committee Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R-Rome) led his Committee this afternoon with a hearing on SB 1, a bill authored by Senator Dean Burke (R-Bainbridge) which amends Title 31 to require that entities, that receive state income tax credits and provide self-funded, employer sponsored health insurance not subject to the regulatory authority of the Commissioner of Insurance, must report insurance claims information to the Georgia All-Payer Claims Database. The legislation further requires compliance with the reporting requirement beginning January 1, 2022, as a condition to continued receipt of any such tax credits. The Committee held a hearing only discussion today on the legislation. Senator Burke explained the legislation on the All-Payer Claims Database initiative which has been adopted in 34 states. The goals are to provide transparency and predictability to improve outcomes and access to healthcare. The claims completed by providers for patients would be translated into numbers and codes and sent through an automated process to a depository which will be housed at Georgia Tech. The information captured will be “de-identified.” The Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Metro-Atlanta Chamber of Commerce have raised concerns about the legislation and Senator Burke is working with them to provide education on the initiative as it will impact ERISA-covered plans. There were some questions about the data collected which includes specific diagnosis, cost, and etc. Senator Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) indicated that this data could perhaps even show why Georgia needs to raise taxes on tobacco, especially since Georgia is in the “stroke belt.” Senator Lester Jackson (D-Savannah) inquired about if there had been conversations around making the database “voluntary” versus a “mandate.” Senator Burke explained that some states used voluntary reporting of data but had seen uneven success.