Georgia Legislative Session Recap

The Georgia legislative session lasts for 3 months and concluded on Monday, April 4th. This session was an exceptionally busy one, with a potential vote on an anti-abortion bill coming down to the wire on Sine Die.

Here are some of the most important pieces of legislation and how it will impact Georgians moving forward.

The Good:

SB 338 Passed

• This bill extends Medicaid coverage for low income birthing people from 6 months to 12 months after delivery.

HB 1390 Passed

• This bill is a retaliation protection bill and will protect city and county workers against retaliation for responding to sexual harassment. 

SB 504 Did NOT Pass

• This bill would have required a cash bail for anyone charged with a felony.

SB 171 Did NOT Pass

• SB 171 would have incentivized municipalities to crack down on protests and placed restrictions on the right to protest. 

2022 Budget Passed

• (For the fiscal year starting in July) - Allocates funding for period products from grades 5 and up in Georgia schools.
• Allocates necessary funding for extending postpartum Medicaid for a full 12 months after delivery.
• Allocates funding for $2,000 teacher raises.
• Allocates funding for addressing workforce shortages for physicians and nurses

The Bad

SB 441 Passed

• This bill was amended to include what was formerly HB 1464. It gives the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) authority over election-related investigations of fraud. This role is currently led by state election officials.

HB 1084 Passed

• This divisive concepts bill was amended to include anti-trans language in regards to athletic participation. It allows local athletic associations to create policies that discriminate against transgender athletes. There was no floor debate about this bill and many legislators didn’t even have a chance to read the bill before it passed after midnight on Sine Die.

HB 1092 Did NOT Pass (Women’s CARE Act)

• HB 1092 would have allowed pregnant people sentenced by the criminal system to postpone the start of jail time so they could remain in the community during pregnancy, delivery, and the first six weeks after giving birth.

On Sine Die, no vote was taken on SB 456, a bill that would have prohibited medication abortion via telemedicine and added unnecessary barriers for Georgians to access vital health care. This is a major victory for reproductive rights in Georgia!

We’d like to recognize some of our reproductive rights champions who spoke out against SB 456. Representatives Shelly Hutchinson and Dr. James Beverly advocated for the effectiveness of telehealth visits on behalf of those who need abortion care during the House Human Health and Services Committee hearing. In the Senate, our champions included Senators Nan Orrock, Elena Parent, Gloria Butler, Kim Jackson, Nikki Merritt, Dr. Michelle Au, and Jen Jordan. They each spoke out against SB 456 and opposed the bill during the Senate vote. Thank you to all the legislators who fought back against this restrictive bill! We're also sending special thanks to the women across Georgia who have fought for years to get postpartum Medicaid extended. This initiative was led primarily by women of color and it was a long fight. Thank you for your dedication to help birthing people in Georgia!

Thank you for following along with us as we navigated through a busy session. Thank you to those of you who contacted your legislators, attended a hearing at the Capitol, or helped spread the word on social media - you made a difference in the lives of Georgians and helped ensure access to abortion care for those who need it. We will keep fighting year-round for Georgians to access the reproductive health care they need and deserve.