Parent Press: Week 7 of the 2023 Legislative Session
Dear Friend:
The pace has quickened at the Capitol with committee hearings, floor sessions and votes. I wish I could say to you that we are working on your priorities. Unfortunately, the culture wars are in full swing, in spite of the majority’s promises to not drag us into trench warfare on discrimination against our transgender and LGBTQ youth or debating whether local governments can ban gas powered leaf blowers even though no municipality has moved to do so.
Town Hall Meeting: March 2
I hope to see you at the Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 2 at 7pm at Druid Hills Middle School. I will be joined by Senator Kim Jackson and Representative Mary Margaret Oliver.
Submit Questions in advance: bit.ly/TownHallMar2
Join by Zoom at: bit.ly/TownHallZoomRegistrationMar2
Legislative Progress
While I am disappointed that we haven’t made much obvious progress on big issues like common sense gun safety, expanding Medicaid, reforming the redistricting process or fully funding our public schools, I am proud of our success in getting 3 bills voted out of committee after hearings this week and am hopeful that the Rules Committee will bring these bills to the floor for a vote.
SB 34 was heard for a second time in the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Consumer Affairs and the vote was unanimous to move the bill to the Senate Rules Committee. By establishing health and safety standards for third party food delivery services - previously unregulated – this legislation would go a long way to protecting consumers who order food from these third-party food delivery services as well as the restaurant establishments who make the food. Note that this bill does not apply to grocery stores. Several of my Republican colleagues are supportive of this legislation, and I am optimistic that I can work to get this bill passed.
SB 52 was also voted out of the Senate Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday. This bill would require data tracking for dual enrollment, a fantastic avenue open for Georgians to take college classes, work towards a college degree and build marketable skills to join the workforce. With college enrollment down nationally and demand for qualified workers rising in several industries, we must take the necessary steps to prepare young Georgians for the workforce. Data tracking is the first step to ensuring that our dual enrollment programs are efficient and equitable, and that they work for ALL Georgians. The next step for this bill is either to go to the Rules Committee or it may be rolled into SB 86 since both address the dual enrollment program.
SB 55, the Lemonade Stand Act, had a second hearing after a few changes were made so that the bill would allow children to sell non-consumable goods (such as t-shirts or jewelry) and non-alcoholic beverages without requiring permits or licenses or incurring any tax as long as revenues are $5K or less in a calendar year. The bill was amended to allow for the sale of pre-packaged foods. The bill passed with a unanimous vote, and I am optimistic about the Rules Committee allowing this seemingly simple legislation to proceed to the floor for a vote. I am hopeful that my colleagues will support this effort to allow kids in Georgia to engage in a long tradition of entrepreneurship. It’s never too soon for our children to learn the value of hard work, though I hope they have fun too.
You can help these bills get to the floor by urging members of the Senate Rules Committee to bring them to the floor for a vote.
As I’ve done before, I sponsored SB 118, the Georgia Work and Family Credit Act, which was heard in the Senate Finance Committee. This bill provides an earned income tax credit and a childcare tax credit in the form of state tax refunds, helping families who can use this money for rent, groceries, childcare, medical expenses, and other expenses that are vital to their safety and wellbeing. This policy is a winner for all because the money cycles right back into the local economy, and further strengthens the economy by allowing parents to afford childcare and return to the workforce. We know this policy is effective at the federal level and it makes sense for Georgia. We would be joining countless other states that have already had the good sense to implement these tax credits, and over 70% of Georgian’s support this policy. The committee has not voted yet and this bill is unlikely to attract sufficient support from enough members of the majority to join the Democratic caucus.
Watch Out
SB 145 is legislation in search of a problem that has not materialized yet as no local government has banned gas powered leaf blowers. But we can’t ignore this proposed legislation for many reasons. Many of you have expressed your opposition to this bill, and I agree with you. The state should not be dictating to local government on this issue, and we know that fossil fuels pollute our environment with fumes and noise, damage our ecosystem, and create health problems. The bill will be heard on the Senate floor on Monday morning at 10am. If you want to help stop this bill, come to the Senate chamber and call Republican Senators out of the chamber to hear why you want them to vote against this.
SB 140 was voted out of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services after hearings by Republicans who are determined to treat a complex delicate issue with a blunt ax that has the potential to harm the transgender youth this bill is claiming to protect. Banning non-reversible hormones and surgery for all transgender minors could leave many vulnerable to life threatening mental health conditions. As we get into a heated debate, we are trying to focus on the facts and not the hyperbolic emotional arguments. The Democratic Senate Caucus heard from expert Dr. Ren Massey, former President of the Georgia Psychological Association and transgender man who helped write the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Adolescent Transgender Care.
SB 233 was filed by Republicans this week to once again attempt to divert state funds from our public schools. Public education is important in every community in Georgia, and we cannot afford to siphon off funds needed to educate our children and future workforce. There are many misconceptions about school vouchers which is essentially what the promise scholarship accounts this bill would create are. You can learn more from researchers and analysts at the Georgia Budget & Policy Institute.
Literacy
I addressed what I believe should be at the top of the legislature’s agenda twice this week. I spoke from the well on Dyslexia Day to honor Decoding Dyslexia for their tireless efforts to push for intervention programs in public schools. I spoke also to alert my colleagues to the pervasive issue among our children who are struggling to read because of this neuro-divergent condition as well as all the other children who are struggling to read. We have failed to effectively implement statewide programs to help the nearly 70% of our third and fourth graders who are not reading at grade level.
We know we can do better because other states have and pilot programs within Georgia – for example, in Marietta – have increased literacy rates by funding and supporting proven programs that help children read. I went to the well again during the debate on the amended budget to plead for sufficient funds to fulfill the promise we made in 2019 when we passed SB 48 so that every kindergartner is screened for dyslexia along with children in grades 1-3 as needed. I hope the Governor was listening and that Georgia will do the right thing. You can see highlights of my plea for funding here.
Black History Month
Black History Month is always important but seemed to take on a special significance this year with headlines about silencing teachers and school librarians. It was a privilege and an honor to recognize Dee Smith and her coalition on the Senate Floor for their commitment to true history.
As a life member of the NAACP, Dee founded and chairs the NAACP DeKalb Remembrance Project, a coalition of more than 50 DeKalb citizens and community, political, civic, and religious groups who came together for the sole purpose of erecting a memorial to the victims of lynchings in DeKalb County. The group has installed 3 plaques in Dekalb to commemorate DeKalb County lynching victims.
One of these lynchings occurred just blocks from where I live. Porter Turner was killed by KKK members while he was just doing his job driving a cab back in August 1945. While today we would call this an act of domestic terrorism, at the time, this killing didn’t make the news or enter the history books. But the impact was felt far and wide - among Mr. Turner’s family, who were robbed of his love and financial support, and among the black community who feared befalling the same violent end and who seethed with anger at the injustice. Justice was never served.
I can’t thank Dee enough for her work in making sure we don’t forget. Dee uncovered the facts, many of which had been long forgotten, and brought them to light. She also made sure people have an opportunity to learn about this history by erecting a plaque at the corner of Ponce and Oakdale.
I spoke to remind my colleagues of the importance of black history in the US, in the state of Georgia and in our local communities and to urge them to commit to not allowing history to be erased. With several bills filed that would silence teachers, school administrators and librarians, and coaches, we need to work to protect the freedom to teach the truth.
Thank you for reading this update and staying engaged. If you know others who would like to be receive my newsletter, please direct them to elenaparent.com to subscribe.
It is an honor to serve and represent you in the Georgia State Senate.
Sincerely,
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