By: Sen. Larry Walker (R – Perry)
The Senate is now halfway through the legislative session and while this five-day period has been arguably one of the busiest weeks to date, members of the General Assembly will begin to see an expedited process of discussing and voting on bills. Our duty is to represent all aspects of Georgia and while the legislation I and my colleagues have introduced aims to do that, we are also given a deadline. From here on out, we have until March 12th to give every viable piece of legislation the chance to be voted on by the full Senate body. As we continue on, the budget will remain a major topic of concern, but my priority as always, is to make sure the needs of Senate District 20 are meet and that our local businesses are given the chance to prosper.
As part of that, Senate standing committees took up consideration of consequential pieces of legislation that I believe would improve the quality of life in our state and my district. First and foremost is Senate Bill 397, which I presented in the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. SB 397 relates to Class B coin operated amusement machines (COAMs), also known as “video poker” or “video slot machines”. These machines are often present in local convenience stores and have been associated with cash payouts and other illegal activity. SB 397 allows for restrictions on their usage, so as to offer greater protections to the citizens of this great state. State law currently allows a maximum number of 9 of these machines, per location, and allows local governments the option of limiting the number to as few as 6 by local ordinance. My proposal would allow for a minimum of 3 per location. Furthermore, my legislation increases the percentage of net proceeds that go to the Georgia Lottery Corporation each year from 10% to 20%. COAMs can create a myriad of problems for communities: they facilitate addictive tendencies, lead to financial instability of vulnerable citizens and attract a crime element where they are located. Their prevalence exposes all of our communities, and citizens of any age and background, to the pitfalls of gambling. Reducing the number of available COAMs in local neighborhoods will help protect more vulnerable populations from mental and financial detriments, while raising the percentages of proceeds will help ensure that when these machines are used, more of the revenue they generate will go into funding Pre-K and Hope scholarships.
In terms of the Senate as a whole, we passed several critical pieces of legislation that would expand protections for the people of our state. One of the bills passed is Senate Bill 359, the Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act. This bill attempts to rectify one of Georgia’s longstanding medical care issues, related to large and unexpected charges from out-of-network providers, by prioritizing the patient’s needs above all else. Through this, SB 359 will take the consumer out of the middle of disputes between the insurance company and the health provider, by creating a system of negotiation and an all-payer health claims database. Recovering from a procedure or treatment process should take precedence above worrying about whether or not one’s health insurance is going to pay and the reasonableness of what a provider has billed. I am proud the Senate voted to unanimously pass SB 359, which will allow insured Georgians to be able to receive medical services without having to anxiously figure out how their finances might be impacted by a “surprise,” out-of-network medical bill. Insured Georgians, whether in need of unplanned emergency care at any facility or prior-authorized care at an in-network facility, should not have to choose between financial security and their health.
Another bill that we passed is Senate Bill 302, The Tax Credit Return on Investment Act. SB 302 would allow the Chairs of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Committee on Ways and Means to each request up to five independent economic analyses related to distinct tax credits concerning net change in state revenue, net change in state expenditures and net change in economic activity. Tax credits can be a valuable tool to incentivize certain types of investment in our state. They have played a key role in Georgia’s economic development, in areas such as manufacturing and the film industry, and they have helped us maintain our position as the number one state in which to do business. Yet despite the successes of certain tax incentives, others may not be offering the level of return into our economy that was expected. SB 302 will allow the legislature to analyze the fiscal notes on various tax incentive programs to make sure all of Georgia is getting the right “bang for its buck” and eliminate underperforming tax incentives.
The Senate will reconvene next week for four legislative days. More importantly though, Friday will signify the final point for bills to be voted out of various standing committees, in order to be eligible for consideration by the Rules Committee and a chance to get to the Senate floor by Crossover Day. My fellow senators and I will be working tirelessly to ensure Georgia remains a great place to live, work, play and pray, but if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. I want to make sure I am serving you to the best of my ability.
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Sen. Larry Walker serves as Caucus Vice Chairman for the Majority Party. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Houston, Laurens and Pulaski counties. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at larry.walker@senate.ga.gov.