Under The Gold Dome — By Blake Tillery

This week in the Senate, we passed two pieces of legislation and heard several more in committee. I know many of you are excited to hear legislation concerning broadband and healthcare, and I can assure you that those are coming up shortly.
Senate Bill 25 clarifies ambiguous language in last year’s House Bill 978 that allowed drivers to pass stopped school buses when driving in the opposite direction with only the separation of a turn lane. Law enforcement officials were concerned that students crossing a street with a turn lane might get hit. SB 25 clearly states that drivers can only pass a stopped school bus while driving in the opposite direction if there is a grass median, unpaved area or physical barrier separating the roadways.
Our area is pivotal to moving freight from the ports of Savannah and Brunswick. I want to see our area lead in logistics technology, including warehousing, trucking, and rail. Senate Resolution 19 creates the Georgia Commission on Freight, Innovation and Logistics to recommend where funding for future projects should be allocated to enhance the logistics industry. It would also come up with additional routes that improve travel for infrastructure without clogging up roads and endangering safety. I support this bill and have asked Senate Leadership to consider appointing me to this commission should it also pass the House.
Governor Kemp released the first part of his healthcare agenda to focus on development of a high-risk pool to reduce the cost of healthcare insurance premiums.
I was especially excited to see the Wheeler County 4-H club Thursday. The work 4-H does is wonderful and helps our students make friendships and connections across the state. Additionally, we had the UGA Blue Key chapter, of which I was a member several years ago, in the chamber.
Crossover Day will be March 7 and Sine Die will be April 2. If you or your children would like to page one of those days, call my office to schedule. If you are curious to know or want to schedule to visit on another “session day” – the days when we’re in chamber voting on legislation – those dates are available online at http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20192020/HR/152
I am more than happy to answer your questions via email at blake.tillery@senate.ga.gov or by phone at 404-656-0089.