Citizen Whip Report Legislative Day 31
“You campaign in poetry. You govern in prose.” — Mario Cuomo
The House now has a trio a of Senate Bills on the Rules Calendar today as committee work continues.
The Senate, however, has a pair of House Bills on the floor for legislative day 31.
Citizen Whip Report
Date: March 13, 2025
House Bills
SB 81 – Motor Vehicle Franchise Practices & Consumer Data Protection
- Primary Sponsor: Brass (6th)
- Summary: Updates Georgia’s motor vehicle franchise laws to enhance consumer data protection in vehicle sales and leases, define data access rights, regulate third-party access, and establish penalties for violations.
- Definitions & Key Terms:
- Franchisor, Manufacturer, Distributor: Entities responsible for selling motor vehicles.
- Consumer Data: Information obtained during a vehicle sale or lease.
- Dealer Data System: Any system used by dealers to store and process consumer data.
- New Requirements or Changes to Existing Law:
- Requires franchisors and manufacturers to safeguard consumer data.
- Prohibits manufacturers from requiring direct access to dealer data systems.
- Limits data access charges to direct costs.
- Allows dealers to select third-party vendors for data integration.
- Mandates disclosure of all entities receiving consumer data.
- Who is Affected & How:
- Consumers: Enhanced protection of personal data in vehicle transactions.
- Auto Dealers: More control over their data and vendor choices.
- Franchisors & Manufacturers: Additional compliance requirements for handling consumer data.
- Penalties & Enforcement:
- Franchisors must indemnify dealers for third-party misuse of data.
- Noncompliance may result in legal action by affected parties.
- Implementation & Effective Date: Upon enactment by the General Assembly.
SB 138 – Transition of Services for Newly Incorporated Municipalities
- Primary Sponsor: Dixon (45th)
- Summary: Establishes procedures for transitioning services from counties to newly incorporated municipalities.
- Definitions & Key Terms:
- Qualified Municipality: A city incorporated on or after January 1, 2024.
- Transition Period: The time frame for shifting local government services.
- New Requirements or Changes to Existing Law:
- Requires counties to continue law enforcement services in new cities until notified.
- Specifies financial arrangements for taxes and fees collected during transition.
- Clarifies county responsibility for stormwater infrastructure unless agreed otherwise.
- Prevents mandatory renegotiation of service delivery agreements due to new incorporations.
- Who is Affected & How:
- New Municipalities: Greater clarity and financial support during transitions.
- Counties: New financial obligations and service requirements for newly incorporated cities.
- Penalties & Enforcement:
- Counties must reimburse cities for legal fees if they fail to comply with transition rules.
- Waives sovereign immunity for noncompliance penalties.
- Implementation & Effective Date: Effective upon approval by the Governor or passage into law.
SB 139 – Expansion of the City of Mulberry
- Primary Sponsor: Dixon (45th)
- Summary: Expands the corporate limits of the City of Mulberry by incorporating additional parcels of land.
- Definitions & Key Terms:
- Corporate Limits: The geographic boundaries of a municipality.
- New Requirements or Changes to Existing Law:
- Extends the city’s jurisdiction to include specific parcels in Gwinnett County.
- Who is Affected & How:
- Residents & Property Owners: Their properties will now fall under the governance of the City of Mulberry.
- Gwinnett County: Loses jurisdiction over the annexed areas.
- Penalties & Enforcement: Not specified.
- Implementation & Effective Date: Upon passage into law.
Senate Bills
HB 81 – Interstate Compact for School Psychologists
Primary Sponsor: Ballard (147)
Committee Assignment: Education
Summary
House Bill 81 authorizes Georgia to enter the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists, allowing school psychologists to practice in multiple member states without undergoing redundant licensing requirements. The compact is designed to improve mobility for school psychologists, address workforce shortages, and facilitate licensure portability, particularly benefiting military families.
Definitions & Key Terms
- Interstate Compact for School Psychologists: A formal agreement among participating states to recognize and facilitate licensure portability for school psychologists.
- License: In Georgia, this refers to a school psychology certificate issued by the Professional Standards Commission.
- Home State License: The primary state license under which a school psychologist is authorized to practice.
New Requirements or Changes to Existing Law
- Establishes an agreement allowing school psychologists licensed in one member state to apply for equivalent licensure in another member state without duplicative procedures.
- Requires participating states to share licensing information, disciplinary actions, and investigative reports to ensure compliance with state laws.
- Grants active-duty military members and their spouses automatic recognition of their licensure in their new state of residence.
- Establishes the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission to oversee the agreement, enforce standards, and facilitate cooperation among member states.
Who is Affected & How
- School Psychologists: Gain streamlined access to work in other compact states without going through redundant certification processes.
- Students & Schools: Benefit from an increased availability of licensed school psychologists, especially in underserved areas.
- Military Families: Have an easier transition for school psychologists relocating due to service-related moves.
- State Licensing Authorities: Must adopt rules and share information with other member states.
Penalties & Enforcement
- Member states retain the authority to investigate and discipline psychologists practicing within their jurisdictions.
- States can deny or revoke participation in the compact for psychologists with encumbered or disciplinary records.
- The compact establishes a dispute resolution process for resolving conflicts between member states.
Implementation & Effective Date
- The compact will take effect once at least seven states enact similar legislation.
- The Professional Standards Commission is authorized to implement rules and regulations to comply with the compact.
HB 167 – Authorization of Fluorescent Pink Hunting Outer Garments
Primary Sponsor: Hagan (156)
Committee Assignment: Natural Resources and Environment
Summary
House Bill 167 amends Georgia’s hunting laws to allow hunters to wear fluorescent pink outer garments as an alternative to the traditional fluorescent orange for safety and visibility purposes.
Definitions & Key Terms
- Fluorescent Orange/Pink: Bright, high-visibility colors used to increase hunter safety by making them more visible to others in the field.
- Firearms Deer Season: The period during which hunting deer with firearms is permitted, requiring hunters to wear high-visibility outerwear.
New Requirements or Changes to Existing Law
- Revises Code Section 27-3-24 to permit fluorescent pink as an alternative to fluorescent orange for hunting feral hogs during firearms deer season.
- Revises Code Section 27-3-25 to require fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink garments for bear hunting.
- Revises Code Section 27-3-40 to allow fluorescent pink as an alternative for deer hunters.
Who is Affected & How
- Hunters: Gain the option to wear fluorescent pink in addition to orange.
- Landowners & Hunting Outfitters: No longer required to enforce fluorescent orange exclusively.
- Wildlife Authorities: Must update regulations and education materials to reflect the new clothing requirement.
Penalties & Enforcement
- Hunters failing to wear the required 500 square inches of high-visibility clothing above the waist (fluorescent orange or pink) during designated hunting seasons may be subject to fines and penalties as defined by existing hunting laws.
Implementation & Effective Date
- Takes effect immediately upon passage, with enforcement falling under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources.
