Sen. Matt Brass

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, so as to exempt certain baby products from taxation; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis Georgia Senate resolution (SR 188) honors Investigator Taylor Jaimeson Bristow, a Carroll County Sheriff's Office officer who died in the line of duty on August 23, 2024. The resolution expresses the Senate's condolences to his family and commemorates his service, including his prior roles with Ware County Sheriff's Office and Waycross Police Department. It does not create policy changes or affect any specific group beyond formally recognizing his life and sacrifice.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 95) names Georgia's new legislative office complex the "Sonny Perdue Legislative Building" to honor former Governor Sonny Perdue's lifetime of public service. It does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is a ceremonial designation for a physical building. The resolution cites Perdue's service as Georgia's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, his role as U.S. Agriculture Secretary, and his current position as Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. The building will serve as the new home for Georgia's state legislators.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-8-3 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from sales and use taxes, so as to exempt sales of firearms, ammunition, gun safes, and related accessories during an 11 day period each year; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION commending the impact of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD), community service boards (CSBs), and first responders; and for other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 147) is a Senate recognition of the Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct (L.E.A.D.) Center for Youth, an Atlanta-based nonprofit. It commends the organization for using sports-based programs (baseball for boys, tennis for girls) in Atlanta Public Schools to help Black youth develop leadership, academic skills, and social-emotional resilience while addressing poverty and trauma. The resolution does not create new laws or allocate funding; it is a formal expression of support for the L.E.A.D. Center's work. It specifically acknowledges their model where program participation is tied to academic and behavioral commitments, removing cost barriers for families.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 152) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the Georgia Academy of Audiology (GAA), a nonprofit organization representing licensed audiologists in Georgia. It commends the GAA for its work in advocating for hearing healthcare policies, providing continuing education, and raising public awareness about hearing loss prevention and treatment. The resolution does not create new laws or funding; it simply honors the organization’s service to Georgians affected by hearing and balance disorders. The GAA supports audiologists who diagnose and treat hearing issues in settings like hospitals, schools, and clinics across Georgia. The Senate passed this resolution on February 11, 2025, as a formal expression of appreciation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (SR 151) formally recognizes February 26, 2025, as "Self-Direction Day" in Georgia. It highlights self-direction - a service model allowing individuals with disabilities to control their home and community-based care, including decisions about who provides services and when. The resolution notes Georgia has used this approach since 2005 across five waiver programs, emphasizing benefits like greater independence, improved satisfaction, and reduced costs compared to traditional systems. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or alter existing programs.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5B of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the State Accounting Office, so as to require that any payroll system utilized by the state allows for credit union deductions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to professions and businesses, so as to authorize the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists to establish a professional health program to provide for monitoring and rehabilitation of impaired healthcare professionals; to authorize the Georgia Board of Nursing to establish a professional health program to provide for monitoring and rehabilitation of impaired healthcare professionals; to provide for definitions; to provide for funding or gifts in kind; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.