Sen. Nikki Merritt

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 2 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elections and primaries generally, so as to provide for a permanent absentee voter list; to provide for procedures regarding such list; to provide for maintenance of such list; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 4 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to minimum wage, so as to revise certain provisions regarding the minimum wage law; to provide for an increase in the minimum wage; to provide for annual minimum wage increases to match the rising cost of living; to provide a credit toward the minimum wage for employers of tipped workers; to eliminate various eligibility exemptions from the minimum wage; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 10 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to barbers and cosmetologists, so as to remove the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers from the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State; to make such board a division of the Department of Public Health; to make conforming changes; to revise and provide for definitions; 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 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state's Employee Benefit Plan Council, so as to require such council to establish health savings accounts and to continually provide for education or salary reductions for such accounts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 4 of Title 49 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to medical assistance generally, so as to create and establish a purpose for the Georgia Interested Parties Advisory Group within the Department of Community Health; to provide for such advisory group's composition and duties; to provide for the collection of certain data by the Department of Community Health and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; to provide for annual reports; to provide for definitions; 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 Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding landlord and tenant, so as to prohibit landlords from requiring tenants to provide income information; to authorize tenants to withhold rent payments under certain conditions; to provide for liability of landlords; to prohibit certain late fees; to provide for habitability; to prohibit retaliation; to provide for fair housing; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A RESOLUTION congratulating the University of Georgia women's tennis team for winning the 2025 ITA National Team Indoor Championship; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-9-6.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to disclosure of certain information to persons undergoing certain surgical or diagnostic procedures, failure to comply, exceptions, and regulations establishing standards for implementation, so as to prohibit certain examinations on an anesthetized or unconscious patient without prior informed consent; to provide that informed consent shall be deemed valid consent for other medical personnel under certain conditions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to codes of ethics for government service, so as to provide a definition of "formal charges" regarding ethical violations by members of certain boards, commissions, or authorities; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Maddy summarySR 251 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing May 2025 as Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month in Georgia. It does not create new laws or alter funding but aims to raise public and professional awareness about osteoporosis prevention, leveraging statistics on its prevalence (e.g., 54 million U.S. cases, 48,000 Georgia Medicare fractures in 2016) and emphasizing prevention through diet, exercise, and screening. The resolution has no binding requirements but directs the Senate Secretary to distribute copies for public awareness.