[ March 27, 2023 ] This past week was our last full week of the legislative session. When you read this, we will be on the last day. Sie Die, the end, will be on Wednesday, March 29. Boy, there is a lot to happen between now and then! The 2024 Budget isn't done yet, and the House and Senate versions are quite a bit different; the folks trying to negotiate the difference between the two have a hard job ahead. It happens like this every year, and we get through it; but there is some stress involved in doing it right.

The work of committees has wound down, and the Rules Committee, on which I am officer, has been busy evaluating Senate bills for consideration on the House floor. It's a big job, as everyone wants their bill to pass and move on. Feelings get hurt if the House or Senate Rules Committee doesn't agree with you. This group meets every day at least twice in these last days to evaluate these bills.

I will go over a few of the bills I think you may want to hear about that we passed this past week.

Senate Bill 106, or the "Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Act," would create a Medicaid program to provide virtual maternal health clinical services to women with high-risk pregnancies through the Georgia Department of Public Health's (DPH) pilot home visiting program. When you learn that over 50 % of the babies born in Georgia each year are covered by Medicaid, this is important.

Senate Bill 93 was passed unanimously to prohibit the use of certain foreign-owned social media platforms on state-owned devices. This ban would only apply to social media platforms that are owned or operated by a foreign adversary or by a company which is domiciled in, has its headquarters in, or is organized under the laws of a foreign adversary. Proponents of this legislation aim to prevent TikTok from accessing critical, private information or collecting data about our state government's operations.

We also approved legislation on the House floor that would amend Georgia's "Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act," which was a House-led initiative in 2020 aimed at increasing affordable, quality health care options for Georgians. Senate Bill 20, or the "Consumer Access to Contracted Healthcare (CATCH) Act," would update this law to require insurers to contract with and maintain a sufficient and appropriate number of participating network providers, including primary and specialty care, pharmacies, clinical laboratories, and facilities. The bill would also give the state's insurance commissioner the authority to review network adequacy, which is a health plan's ability to deliver the benefits promised through reasonable access to enough in-network primary and specialty care and all other health care services included under the terms of the contract.

Senate Bill 61 has passed to permanently allow Georgia's private sector workers to continue to utilize their paid sick leave to care for a family member in need. This legislation would remove the end date of the current provision under the Family Care Act that requires employers to allow employees to use up to five days per calendar year of earned sick leave for the care of an immediate family member who is ill.

Oh, yes; we will be extremely busy in the days ahead as we work towards the last day; my number one job is to be your voice at the Capitol. I encourage you to visit me at my Capitol office, or call me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the state budget bills, the legislative process, or any other measures considered under the Gold Dome.

My Capitol office number is 404-656-7153. My email is rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.