Here’s a glimpse of legislation passed earlier this year that became law Tuesday:

• HB 85 — Ensures patients get directed to the proper treatment pathway when diagnosed with cancer or certain autoimmune conditions by requiring coverage of biomarker tests. These tests help identify the appropriate treatment pathway for patients so that they can receive life-saving care in a timely manner.
• HB 95 — Revises terms and include certain provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Codes into Georgia law.
• HB 121 — Provides restrictions and requirements regarding wake surfing and wakeboarding in certain bodies of water within the state.
• HB 129 — Provides temporary assistance to pregnant women.

• HB 165 — Authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to keep normally public information about local historic entities or resources private if that disclosure could cause harm.
• HB 203 — Removes unnecessary barriers by allowing low-risk individuals to renew their contact lens prescriptions through telemedicine.
• HB 207 — Updates provisions related to the registration, operation, and sale of watercrafts, such as rules and regulations on criminal violations involving boat accidents.
• HB 295 — Revises certain procedures regarding consumer protection against surprise billing. 
• HB 302 — Enables courts to grant temporary or permanent protective orders in cases of stalking.
• HB 315  — Provides rules and regulations regarding cost-sharing requirements for diagnostic and supplemental breast- screening exams.
• HB 340 — Provides daily duty-free planning periods for teachers in 6th-12th grades.
• HB 374 — A municipal deannexation bill that also bans cities from forbidding the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.
• HB 383 — Protects health care workers by increasing penalties for those who commit violent acts against them. It also allows  hospitals to create campus police forces.
• HB 416 — Enables qualified pharmacy technicians to administer certain vaccines.
•  HB 480 — Changes certain provisions in state Workers’ Compensation benefits such as increasing compensation benefits for total and temporary partial disability.
• HB 493 — Revises a provision of verification of competency for registered professional nursing licenses. 
• SB 1 — No state government agency in Georgia shall require proof of COVID-19 vaccination of anyone as a condition of providing services or access to any facilities, issuing any license,  permit or other type of authorization, or performing any duty of such agency.  
• SB 20 — The Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act will ensure consumer access to quality health care by setting standards for network plans offered by an insurer.
• SB 27 — Prohibits health care insurers from requiring an ophthalmologist or optometrist to extend any discounts on services that are not covered by eye care services.
• SB 46 — Requires physicians and health care providers to test pregnant women for HIV and syphilis at the first prenatal visit, 28-32 weeks gestation and at delivery.
• SB 56 — Requires the state revenue commissioner to contract with the board of the Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia to offer certain options to participate in a state-administered deferred compensation plan.
• SB 65 — Authorizes the Department of Insurance to create and administer a state-based health insurance exchange.
• SB 93 — Restricts the use of certain social media platforms on state equipment.
• SB 106 — “The Healthy Mother, Healthy Babies Act” advances maternal health by codifying a pilot program for maternal health home visits through the Department of Public Health.
• SB 131 — Repeals  laws on permanent guardianship and provides a guardianship petition hearing to determine the best interests of the child who was adjudicated as a dependent child.
• SB 133 — Creates  a uniform process to assume custody of children as a result of disposition orders and reporting requirements.
• SB 134 — Authorizes a child witness who is deemed competent to testify without taking an oath.
• SB 135 — Requiring all parties to submit genetic testing to determine paternity by experts in the field of genetic testing.
• SB 148 — Simplifies and modernizes provisions, bylaws and articles relating to nonprofit corporations.
• SB 168  — Allows a chiropractic practice to have a lien on a cause of action accruing to an injured person.
• SB 193  — Authorizes the Department of Community Affairs to decide where locations that are eligible for state or federal money can provide broadband services.
• SB 197 — A health care bill that prohibits deceptive or misleading terms or false representations by health care practitioners in advertisements and representations.
• SB 204 — Enables certain accrediting agencies to evaluate the quality of public education in Georgia.
• SB 216  — Authorizes respite care for foster parents for up to 72 hours or longer depending on the circumstance.
• SB 223 — Authorizes reimbursement of patient-incurred expenses related to participation in cancer clinical trials. 

Header image: Gov. Kemp speaks at Tallulah Gorge State Park on April 20, 2023. (Credit: Office of Gov. Kemp)