by REPRESENTATIVE BUTCH PARRIS, STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 158
The Georgia House of Representatives reconvened under the Gold Dome on Monday, March 1 for the eighth week of the 2021 legislative session. In preparation for “Crossover Day” coming up on March 8, the House designated two days this week as official committee workdays, and we spent three long days in session as we passed meaningful legislation, including the state budget for the next fiscal year. We recently learned that our final day of session, or “Sine Die,” will be on Wednesday, March 31, and, as such, this final month of the legislative session will be our busiest and most crucial time at the State Capitol.
Fiscal Year 2021 Budget
With our priorities set on keeping Georgians safe and healthy, we passed House Bill 81, the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY 2022) budget. This comprehensive budget covers July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022, and is set at $27.2 billion, which is an increase of $1.34 billion or 5.2 percent over the current fiscal year budget. Nearly 90 percent of this new funding in the FY 2022 budget would go towards education and health and human services agencies. Education is the largest single expenditure in the state’s budget, totaling $10.2 billion, and we were excited to restore 60 percent, or $567 million, of the reductions made to K-12 education funding formulas in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
Here are some highlights:
$58.5 million for the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities
$2.7 million to provide addictive disease services to an additional 2,100 people
$6.5 million to provide mental health services to an additional 5,200 people
$12.3 million for a rate increase for intellectual and developmental disability providers
$7 million for a first-in-the-nation behavioral health crisis center for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
$2 million to expand the Georgia Apex Program in 59 additional schools
Funding for suicide prevention training
A youth suicide prevention specialist
Additional funding for the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, suicide prevention services, and one suicide epidemiologist
$39.5 million for the new Rural Innovation Fund and $10 million to establish a broadband infrastructure grant program for rural communities
$7.63 million in new revenue for transit projects across the state
House Bill 531 Voter Integrity
House Bill 531 Voter Integrity
Would make several changes to Georgia’s voting laws, such as requiring a photo ID, driver’s license number or state ID card number to request and submit an absentee ballot; requiring that drop boxes be placed inside early voting locations and are actively monitored and only accessible during voting hours; banning mobile polling locations, out-of-precinct voting, private funding for elections, and securing precinct locations; and requiring shorter timelines for processing absentee ballots and certifying results
Tax Cuts & New Jobs for Georgians
House Bill 593, or the Tax Relief Act of 2021, to cut income taxes during the tax year 2022 by increasing the standard deduction for taxpayers that are single and heads of household from $4,600 to $5,400 and increasing the standard deduction for a married couple filing jointly from $6,000 to $7,100. The standard deduction for those who are married but file individually would increase from $3,000 to $3,550. HB 593 would save Georgia taxpayers approximately $140 million in this time of need and allow taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money.
House Bill 586, the “Georgia Economic Recovery Act of 2021” to extend sales tax exemptions for:
Manufacturing and other businesses
Projects of regional significance and for supplies in select manufacturing industries
Exempts tickets for fine arts performances from sales taxes to bolster an industry that has been devastated by COVID-19
House Bill 587, or the “Georgia Economic Renewal Act of 2021”
This bill would make multiple amendments to Georgia’s income tax laws, including a tax credit to incentivize manufacturers of medical equipment to locate and create jobs in Georgia and an additional tax credit to attract high-impact aerospace defense projects to our state.
House Resolution 185 to reauthorize the House Rural Development Council
To find ways to spur economic growth and bring jobs specifically to rural Georgia, for the remainder of the 2021-2022 legislative session.
House Bill 32
Recruit and retain 1,000 Georgia teachers to 100 extremely rural or low-performing schools by offering a refundable income tax credit of $3,000 for certified teachers for up to five years.
Crossover Day
On Monday, March 8, we will make our way back to the Capitol for Crossover Day, which is typically one of the longest days of the legislative session and the final day that a bill can pass the chamber in which it originated. After Crossover Day, we will shift our focus and consider Senate bills that have already received passage in the Senate. I encourage you to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have for me.
I remain dedicated to serving your interests as your state representative, and I hope that you will contact me with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the legislative session or with any proposals or recommendations for future legislation.
You can also stay in touch by visiting our website at www.house.ga.gov to watch a live stream of the House in action, as well as archived committee meetings, and review legislation that we are considering. Follow me on Facebook for updates throughout the year. Thank you for allowing me to be your representative.
