2023 Legislative Session Wrap-Up

 The 2023 legislative session will be a year that state political junkies will talk about a decade from now. From a brand-new team in the Lt. Governor's office to a new Speaker in the House, to a later and slower start than usual, and an adjournment calendar that gave us all forty days of session from Day 1, it was refreshing, frustrating, puzzling, and chaotic.

From a GDA legislative perspective, we had a successful session. We made great headway with Tele-Dentistry, educating elected officials on what we ACTUALLY do now, what we COULD do, and what SHOULD be done with Tele-Dentistry moving forward. As a result of the disarray stated above, we did not make it out of the House Rules committee., However, because we are in the first year of the biennial, we are alive and well for next year to push forward without having to start completely over. And that is a win!

The only constitutional requirement of the legislature is to pass the state’s annual budget which - much to the chagrin of those in the hallways - happened dangerously close to the end of the day, with the House approving the conference committee report shortly before the clock struck midnight on Sine Die. The $32.4 billion budget includes pay raises for law enforcement (between $4,000 and $6,000 apiece) and pay raises for educators and university employees ($2,000). The budget also includes funding for the HOPE Scholarship (100% of tuition for eligible students…all of you with current high school students, rejoice. But don’t mess it up for those of us with current four-year-olds who are hoping this holds for at least the next 18 years) and $6.3 million for free breakfast and lunch for school children. Other interest groups, however, took large cuts – namely the University System of Georgia at a cost of $66 million (which is a smaller cut than the original proposal of $105 million and is still the talk of the state almost two weeks post session) and Georgia Public Broadcasting with a 10% hit totaling $1.4 million. However, the two most important issues to the GDA, Medicaid reimbursement for Dental care and tuition reimbursement for Georgia educated dentists, remained intact when the clock struck midnight (ish…read 12:30PM). In news that we are waiting with bated breath to scream from the rooftops, Dental Medicaid was expanded in the budget (and remained in the version that went to the Governor's Desk) that would allow for adults up to age 64 to receive the same benefits currently given to children. While the budget received the legislature’s approval, Governor Kemp still has final line-item veto power over the budget, which goes into effect at the start of the 2024 fiscal year on July 1, 2023. I feel good about this incredible development for the oral healthcare of those Georgians who need it most.

The two items that did not cross the finish line were the Rural Tax Credit for Physicians and Dentists and the study committee on the Licensure Compact. The first item is already in place for physicians and provides a tax credit for rural doctors who bring medical students into their practice. The goal was to include dentists as well. The bill was “put on the table” in the Senate on Sine Die, but never called up for a vote. In the Senate, the rule is that bills left on the table during the first year of the biennial can be called up any time in the next session for a vote. The GDA will be actively educating legislators on the benefits of the tax credit during the off-season and pushing for a vote at the beginning of next session. The study committee on the Licensure Compact was on the House side and was never taken up. The House has different rules as to where bills go if they are left on the table during the first biennial, but this is a study committee and doesn’t have to “vetted” by a committee. However, because of the costs associated with study committees, both chambers are cutting back on the number they let through. This is an issue the GDA will need to address in the off season in order to plan for next session.

There were hundreds of bills introduced over the course of the session.  Many never even got a hearing in committee, much less made it to the floor. Governor Kemp will have 40 calendar days to consider signing, vetoing, or taking no action on legislation passed by the general assembly.

One turn of events that occurred during the leadership change was Dr. Lee Hawkins becoming the Chairman of House Health. Dr. Hawkins was a great resource during the legislative session (and provided a nice hideout for that second cup of coffee in the mornings). Dr. Hawkins was also a constant during our LAW Days, coming to breakfast and offering insight from the House perspective, as well as helping to explain the process. He was an excellent partner on those early mornings and the GDA is fortunate to have him in a place of leadership.

We hosted six LAW Days and welcomed dentists from all over Georgia, some for the first time and others continuing a decades long tradition. Legislators continue to be excited to receive their tie and dental kit, but more than that, it was truly delightful to see faces light up with recognition of faces from home. The days are long during the legislative session and any chance to see someone from your “real life” is a welcome reprieve. In the midst of that, new relationships were cultivated, as well as some renewed excitement for our Contact Dentist Program connecting our Elected Officials with their “in house experts” at their local dental office.

Contentious legislation:

SB 140 - Ban on Trans-Gender procedures and hormone therapy for minors (PASSED)

HB189 - Increasing weight limits for 18 wheelers (PASSED)

HB318 - School Choice (FAILED)

SB 99 - Certificate of Need (NO VOTE ON HOUSE FLOOR)

HB 520 - Mental Health Bill (NO VOTE IN SENATE COMMITTEE)

Gambling, COAM, Horse Racing, Sports Betting (ALL FAILED OR FAILED TO GET A VOTE)

Just for fun…Weird legislation:

HB 237: Soap Box Derby as official soap box derby of the State of Georgia turned into Sports Betting without the Soap Box Derby language. That failed. The Soap Box Derby language ended up in a gutted Senate bill and passed on Sine Die after A LOT of drama in both committee and behind the scenes. You never know what’s going to “melt the building” as we like to say in the hallways. And this was a top contender this year.

SB 55: Lemonade Stands. I wish I was exaggerating when I say that this was debated on the House Floor for well over an hour. The bill “preempt a local government’s ability to establish or require any form of regulation for businesses owned by those under the age of 18 who sell less than $5,000 of a non-consumable good, prepackaged food item, lemonade, or other non-alcoholic beverage, and who conduct their business on private property with the knowledge and consent of the property owner.” Because this is an issue. For real. And the kids who got a firsthand experience with government’s role in regulating business and income came to the Senate committee to testify (in a hearing on just this bill that lasted a good half hour or so). After all that…it did pass. And I’m guessing the Governor will sign it, or at least not veto it.

Summary

The last day of the session really summed up the session as a whole. Sine die was the worst “hurry up and wait” day of all 40 days with pretty much nothing happening until about 10pm. The House cast more than 50 votes on the last day, with more than 20 bills considered after 10 p.m., and the Senate cast 62 votes, with nearly a third of those in the final two hours before midnight. If someone has never been a part of our state’s political process, that last day was a darn near perfect depiction of what the previous three months were like.

However, while some walked away disappointed and ready drink their woes away at any number of “we’re still alive after all that” after parties, the GDA walked out of the Capitol with more wins than disappointments and more than happy to just head home for much needed rest after a 17 hour day.

But, break’s over and it’s back to the table to start planning for both our off season and the next legislative session that will be here in just nine short months. Our Government Affairs team is groaning (in an excited and invigorated way) as they read this. Our momentum is strong, and your Government Affairs team is excited to keep moving forward. If you have questions or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out.