2021 Legislative Session Summary
The house adjourned for the final day of the 2021 Legislative session on April 1. During our time at the capitol, numerous bills were reviewed, voted on, and some were given final passage to be reviewed and signed by the governor. The governor can sign or veto legislation over the next 40 days, and any legislation that has not been signed or vetoed will automatically become law. During the 2021 legislative session, Governor Brian Kemp and the Georgia Legislature took steps to ensure that our state continues to grow and prosper. Below you will find a list that highlights some of the accomplishments from this legislative session.
It has been an honor to serve our district in the capitol, but I look forward to being with you for the remainder of the year. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can reach me throughout the year at my capitol office at 404-656-0116, or by email at robert.pruitt@house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your representative and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Election Reform
Senate Bill 202 the “Election Integrity Act of 2021,” makes changes to areas of election process and administration, such as requires the submission of identifying information when applying for an absentee ballot, allows counties to hold advance voting on the second or third Sunday, and also prohibits giving money or gifts to an elector within 150 feet of a polling place, within a polling place, or within 25 feet of a voter standing in line to vote.
Tax Cuts
House Bill 114 increases the current tax credit for adoption of a foster child from $2,000 to $6,000 per foster child for the first five years of adoption and returning to $2,000 per year until the child reaches the age of 18.
House Bill 265 includes an increase in the deductibility of medical expenses, charitable contributions, and business meals as well as clarification of the tax treatment of loan forgiveness from the ‘Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
House Bill 593, or the Tax Relief Act of 2021, increases the standard deduction for taxpayers that are single and heads of household from $4,600 to $5,400, taxpayers that are married and filing a joint return from $6,000 to $7,100, and taxpayers that are married and filing individual returns from $3,000 to $3,550, beginning tax year 2022.
Health and Human Services
House Bill 146 allows eligible employees of state government and local boards of education to be eligible for a maximum of 120 hours of paid parental leave for qualifying life events after six continuous months of employment.
House Bill 567 authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to create a newborn screening system to help prevent serious illness, severe physical or developmental disabilities, as well as death caused by inherited metabolic and genetic disorders in newborns.
House Bill 231 creates a separate temporary protective order (TPO) for dating violence that is not covered by a TPO for family violence.
The House passed Senate Bill 88, which would require local school systems to support a nontraditional teacher certification pathway for veterans to become certified teachers.
Criminal Justice
House Bill 286 prohibits counties and municipalities from reducing their police force budgetary appropriations by more than five percent unless specified conditions exist.
House Bill 479 repeals the citizen’s arrest statute from the Code, provides instances in which law enforcement officers may make arrest outside of their jurisdiction, and establishes when certain private citizens may detain individuals.
As the State Representative for District 149, Robert Pruitt serves Dodge County, Telfair County, Wheeler County, Cadwell, and Hazlehurst. During the second week of the 2021 Legislative Session, Rep Pruitt was appointed to serve on the Industry and Trade, Economic Development, and Small Business committees for the next two years. Robert and his wife Kelly have been long time residents of Eastman.
By Rep. Robert Pruitt (District 149)
