Rep. Bill Hitchens

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 40 and Code Section 48-5C-1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to registration and licensing of motor vehicles and alternative ad valorem taxation of motor vehicles and title ad valorem tax fee, respectively, so as to repeal the requirement to display a revalidation decal as evidence of annual motor vehicle registration renewal; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a section of State Route 23 in Tattnall County as the Sidney R. Miles Memorial Highway to honor the life and service of Sidney R. Miles, a retired Georgia State Patrol Colonel who served for 30 years. The legislation authorizes the Department of Transportation to install and maintain signs marking the dedication and directs the Clerk of the House to provide copies of the resolution to Miles's family and the Department of Transportation. The bill is a commemorative measure that does not change operational policies or affect public services, but rather recognizes Miles's contributions to law enforcement and public safety in Georgia.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 37 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions for governing and regulation of mental health, so as to provide for a pilot program to support clinical research of certain eligible breakthrough treatments and provide such treatments to certain veterans and first responders suffering from certain conditions; to provide for definitions; to provide for funding and use of funds; to provide for eligibility; to provide for an annual report; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for termination and automatic repeal; to provide for related matters; to provide for contingent effectiveness upon appropriation of funds; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Department of Administrative Services, so as to provide for preferences in certain public works construction contracts to a contractor or subcontractor participating in a registered apprenticeship program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution that formally recognizes The Claxton Enterprise, a newspaper in Georgia, for its long history and contributions. It commends the publication for over 100 years of service, noting its establishment in 1912 and its growth under current leadership. The resolution authorizes the Clerk of the House to provide a copy of the commendation to the newspaper. This is a ceremonial measure with no impact on laws, budgets, or public policy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution honors Jesse and Emily Cole, the founders of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, and their nonprofit Bananas Foster. It recognizes their work in using their sports platform to raise awareness about foster care needs in Georgia and across the United States. The bill directs the House Clerk to provide copies of the resolution to the Cole family and their organizations. This is a commemorative measure that acknowledges their achievements rather than creating new laws or policies.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 40-2-74 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to license plates for persons with disabilities, so as to provide for the issuance of special license plates that display the International Symbol of Access upon the special license plate issued to current and former members of the General Assembly for qualified applicants; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penal institutions, so as to limit the time that Department of Community Supervision can hold certain inmates in a county facility; to increase the amount of reimbursement paid to counties by the Department of Corrections and the State Board of Pardons and Paroles for housing inmates; to provide revised time periods for when such reimbursement begins and ends; to prohibit certain inmates from serving sentences in a county facility following conviction, revocation of probation, or revocation of parole; to provide for exceptions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 40 and 44 of the O.C.G.A., relating to motor vehicles and traffic and property, respectively, so as to establish the "Georgia Consumer Protection Towing Act"; to provide for applicability; to provide for consumer protections for emergency towing, owner requested towing, and private property towing; to provide for estimates and invoices; to provide for notice requirements; to provide for recording; to provide for the release of towed motor vehicles; to provide for fees; to provide for towing company certificate requirements; to provide for prohibitions; to provide for penalties and enforcement; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 34-9-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to applicability of workers' compensation to employers and employees generally, so as to provide that the chapter shall not apply to employees of an employer covered by and providing coverage under the federal Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 901, et seq., as amended, and its extensions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.