Bills introduced in 2018 Session:

Senate Bill 375 — “Keep Faith in Adoption and Foster Care Act” will allow a child-placing agency to decline to accept a referral from the state and decline to perform services not referred under a contract with the state based on the child-placing agency’s sincerely held religious beliefs. Essentially, this allows faith-based adoption agencies to continue to abide by their values when placing children in adoptive families. Status: passed the Senate on 2/23/18. Never got a vote in the House by the end of the session on March 29, 2018. Several attempts were made to add the language of this bill to other legislation as an amendment, but those attempts failed.

House Bill 660 — One of three “Hate Crimes” bills which allow for a criminal to receive “enhanced sentencing” if a bias or prejudice is believed to have existed while committing a crime. Not only is this a violation of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment requiring equal protection, but it will no doubt be used to silence and intimidate Christian ministries, just as the Johnson Amendment is used by anti-Christian groups to threaten and silence churches. Protected classes include race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, etc. Status: The original House bill(s) failed to cross over, BUT the language of the “Hate Crimes” bill was added to Senate Bill 373 which did cross over (which had nothing to do with Hate Crimes). This bill was amended to add “Hate Crimes” language to it, and passed the House Judiciary on 3/8/18. The Senate did not agree to the changes before the end of the session on March 29, 2018.

House Bill 882 — “Women’s Right to Recover Act” would allow a mother to sue an abortion provider if that provider violated Georgia law in performing an abortion, including suing for wrongful death on behalf of an unborn child where the abortion was performed in violation of existing law. Status: it is assigned to House Judiciary Committee, but did not receive a hearing by the end of the session on March 29, 2018.

House Bill 482 — “Georgia Educational Scholarship Act” allows the money provided by the state to educate a child to follow the child, if the parents choose private or faith-based schools. Various stipulations must be met. Status: House voted 2/28/18 but failed 60-102. Click here to see how your House member voted.

House Bill 764 — adds “intractable pain” and “post-traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD) to the conditions authorized for the use of cannabis oil. Adding “intractable pain” drastically expands the number of people eligible to qualify to legally use cannabis oil.  Status: passed the House on 2/28/18 with a vote of 145-17, but did not pass the Senate. However, the language of this bill (with PTSD and intractable pain) was added to HB 65 and was approved by both chambers on March 29, 2018. Must be signed by the governor.

Bills carried over from 2017 Session:

House Bill 340 — is an update to Georgia’s law regarding the taxation of vehicles (TAVT). It includes a lowered “fee” for churches and other non-profits if the vehicle was donated to them. Historically, churches have been exempt from vehicle ad valorem taxes, but when the TAVT law was implemented a few years ago churches were not exempted.  Status: the version of this bill which passed the House and Senate in 2017 did not include the correction for churches. However, a new bill, House Bill 327 passed the house on 2/21/18. This bill includes the lowered 1% fee. Conference Committee report passed on March 29, 2018, that included the provision for churches (all non-profits, actually). Must be signed by the governor.

House Bill 217 — raises the cap on the Tuition Tax Credit program from $58 million to $100 million. Status: passed the House on 2/28/17 and was voted down in the Senate on 3/30/17. Conference Committee report passed on March 29, 2018, that included more transparency, but also a “sunset” provision in 10 years. Must be signed by the governor.

Senate Bill 17 — expands the sales of alcohol on Sundays. In 2011 the General Assembly enacted a law that allowed local municipalities to vote to allow sales of alcohol on Sundays (prior to that, there was a state-wide ban). However, it prohibited alcohol sales on Sunday before 12:30 p.m. This new bill allows alcohol sales to begin at 11:00 on Sunday morning. Status: Senate voted in favor of it 38-18 on 2/13/18. House voted in favor of it 97-64 on 3/12/18. Gov. Deal expected to sign it into law.

House Bill 118 — would expand gambling in Georgia as well. It legalizes Daily Fantasy Sports leagues. Click here for an excellent synopsis of this legislation. Status: passed the House and passed out of Senate Committee. Scheduled to be voted on in the Senate on 3/27/18, but was never voted on by the end of the session on March 29, 2018.

Senate Bill 233 — adds the same provisions of the 1993 federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act to Georgia. Status: an effort was made to attach the language of this bill to another bill during one of the final days of the session. However, it failed to receive a vote. Status: in the Senate Rules Committee.

Senate Bill 79 — would allow casino resorts in Georgia. It requires a change in the Georgia constitution. House Bill 158 is the companion House bill. The Senate bill is supposedly dead for 2017, fallen under the weight of reality. The reality that it will not be the economic windfall that is being promised. The reality that Casino destinations like Atlantic City have acknowledged that they are not benefiting from casinos. The reality that selling casinos to voters requires a lot of smoke and mirrors and downright deception. The reality that it will bring crime, including more human trafficking, for which Atlanta has gained quite a reputation. The reality that changing the Georgia Constitution is not easy. The AJC reported that the casino bill sponsor, Sen. Brandon Beach said, “I will double down and plan to crisscross the state starting in April” to build support for the bill in 2018; which he is, of course, entitled to do. I will be crisscrossing the state, too, speaking in churches across Georgia, doing what I can to raise awareness, so that people of faith can continue to communicate to their legislators this message: “not in my state.” Status: neither the House or Senate version received a vote before the session ended on March 30, 2017. It was NOT taken up again in 2018.