The Second Session of the 156th Georgia General Assembly has officially adjourned Sine Die. After a few relentless weeks of votes, the gavel has fallen for the final time this year and signaled the conclusion of our legislative business for another year. This year proved to be a productive one, with both chambers of the legislature granting final approval to a combined total of nearly 200 bills and resolutions, many of them with overwhelming bipartisan support.

This year, we took on the issues most important to you. We fought for our schools and students by increasing parental involvement in the classroom and eliminating mask mandates. We supported public safety through a creative tax credit program that encourages citizen involvement and financial support of local law enforcement. We built on Georgia’s legacy as the best state in the nation to do business by incentivizing apprenticeship programs and expanding the college to career pipeline. We defended our Second Amendment rights by passing Constitutional Carry legislation. We brought much needed reform to Georgia’s mental health landscape by passing landmark legislation to bring parity for healthcare coverage of mental health illnesses. We stood up for our agriculture community and offered our farmers enhanced protection against unfair lawsuits. While these are just a small sampling of what we have accomplished this year, these achievements represent significant changes in policy in direct response to the priorities and needs of Georgians across the state.

One of our biggest accomplishments this session was for the benefit of Georgia’s farmers and foresters. Over the past few years, we have seen an increase in frivolous nuisance lawsuits being filed against farms and agricultural support facilities, particularly those involved in livestock production and processing. House Bill 1150, the Freedom to Farm Act, would make clear that after an agricultural operation has been up and running for two years it can no longer be considered a nuisance as long as the nuisance does not arise from the negligent, improper or illegal operation of the enterprise, with a reset of this two-year window for a newly established concentrated animal feeding operation (or CAFO). Agriculture is our state’s number one industry, with food and fiber production and related industries representing $69.4 billion in economic impact and contributing to more than 352,430 jobs, based on 2020 statistics. Georgia, additionally, is ranked number one in the nation for broiler production, peanut production and forestry and in the top five in a number of other crops as well. In order for Georgia to remain a leader in agriculture and forestry and support these vital industries, we must ensure that growers, support facilities and processors, once established, are shielded from the uncertainty and crippling legal expenses that result from nuisance lawsuits. I was honored to carry this bill in the Senate, which will protect existing farmers and foresters, encourage new investment and expansion of agriculture in Georgia, and allow future generations to continue providing our food, fiber and shelter.

Earlier this session, I sponsored a bill in support of our local law enforcement agencies, known as the LESS Crime Act. I am pleased to say that this measure, Senate Bill 361, received final passage last week and is now on its way to the Governor for approval. The LESS Crime Act gives Georgia taxpayers an opportunity to show their support of local law enforcement and make a meaningful contribution to the safety of their city or county by providing a dollar-for-dollar state income tax credit to those who donate to their community's public safety initiatives through authorized law enforcement foundations.  This tax credit has a statewide cap of $75 million and a $3 million cap for any one foundation. Law enforcement needs our help, now more than ever, and this measure signals that the legislature backs our brave men and women in uniform.

On Monday, Governor Brian Kemp officially signed House Bill 1013, the Mental Health Parity Act, into law. This bill was a priority of the General Assembly this year and emphasizes the importance of mental health care in our state and places mental health and physical health on equal footing in how these cases are treated. Essentially, HB 1013 would require that insurance companies who offer mental health coverage cover it in the same fashion as physical health, as well as enact reporting measures to ensure the law is being followed. Many Georgians learned over the course of the pandemic just how critical quality mental health services are and this bill brings Georgia one step closer to closing the gap on how mental health care is treated in our state.

From the final day of the session, Gov. Kemp has 40 days to sign or veto legislation (or allow it to be-come law without his signature). As mentioned, he has already begun signing bills, and I’m confident he will sign the bills highlighted in this column in addition to many other important pieces of legislation. While the legislative session may be over, it does not mean that our work as legislators is finished. We are here to serve you year-round and remain available to address any questions or concerns you may have. If there’s anything my office can do for you, please do not hesitate to reach out.