Rep. Angie O'Steen

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2A of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to the Department of Public Health, so as to provide that if certain employees of a county board of health become employees of such department such employees will retain accrued annual and sick leave; to authorize rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other state symbols, so as to designate cotton as the official state fabric; to provide legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a resolution that formally recognizes and commends Wellspring Living, a nonprofit organization in Georgia, on its 25th anniversary. The legislation highlights the organization's work since 2001 in providing housing, therapy, education, and job training to survivors of sexual exploitation. By passing this resolution, the House of Representatives acknowledges the group's contributions to fighting human trafficking and supporting vulnerable individuals. The bill does not create new laws or change policies; it serves as an official statement of appreciation from the state legislature.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to homestead exemption by qualified disabled veteran, filing requirements, periodic substantiation of eligibility, persons eligible without application, and retroactive award, so as to extend a homestead exemption for unremarried surviving spouses or minor children of a disabled veteran to include any future homestead; to clarify language; to provide for related matters; to provide for compliance with constitutional requirements; to provide for a referendum, effective dates, and automatic repeal; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 9 of Title 30 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to Georgia Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE), so as to prohibit the Department of Community Health from making claims for Medicaid estate recovery of funds from ABLE accounts maintained through any qualified ABLE account, except as required by applicable federal law; to provide a definition; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to county and municipal hospital authorities, so as to allow rural hospitals to join together to allow further purchasing power with third-party payors but retain their independence; to provide for legislative findings and intentions; to provide for the application doctrine developed in federal antitrust jurisprudence; to provide for construction; to provide for immunity; to provide for collaboration; to provide for joint negotiations with third-party payors; to provide for best practices; to provide for shared staffing; to provide for certain immunity; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution acknowledges the effectiveness of arts-based health initiatives in improving mental health outcomes. As a non-binding House resolution, it does not create new laws or policies but formally recognizes the role of arts programs in mental health care. It directly affects the House of Representatives through its ceremonial acknowledgment, with no specific provisions or affected groups beyond this symbolic recognition.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other education programs under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide for home study students and private school students to enroll in college and career academies located in certain RESA service areas and adjacent local school systems; to revise what courses are available to such students; to revise a definition; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 14 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to other educational programs relative to the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to expand which healthcare professionals may conduct preparticipation physical examinations; to provide for the period of validity for such examinations; to require healthcare professionals to include a cardiovascular prescreening as part of such examinations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 80 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to prohibit counties, municipal corporations, and other governmental entities from charging disabled veterans certain fees related to residential improvements to be made to accommodate such veteran's disability status; to provide a definition; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.