Evans Examiner: Week 9
This week marks Week 9 of the legislative session. The Capitol is as busy as ever, and the finish line is nearing.
Honoring a Labor Legend - Tasso Knight
I had the privilege of recognizing the impactful life of Tasso Knight from the House Chamber Well this week with a Resolution honoring his life.
Tasso Knight was a champion who dedicated his life to fighting for working people and to uphold the Labor movement and the power of collective bargaining. He began his journey as a phone line technician serving much of metro Atlanta. Soon after he served as the Political Director for CWA District 3 and the Georgia AFL-CIO. Tasso's commitment to serving working families in Georgia is an inspiration. Tasso also poured into so many young people, including me. He was the adopted uncle to so many of us who got our start in the Democratic Party through the Young Democrats of Georgia. He was always there for us, holding a special place in my heart, and I was so honored to be able to honor him.
Bills that Passed the House this Week
There were a lot of bills up for consideration and voted on this week. Read about them below.
SB 160: Reigning in Reckless Stunt Driving
This bill requires an intelligent speed control device to be installed on vehicles belonging to individuals who have a second or subsequent conviction of a violation in regard to reckless stunt driving, a/k/a drag racing. The maximum speed limit for the device will be no greater than 20 percent above the posted speed limit, and costs related to installation are incurred by the offender. I voted yes.
SB 177: Foreign Interference in Georgia Politics
This bill's stated aim is to ensure that the public and policymakers know when countries unfriendly to the United States are trying to influence Georgia’s laws, elections, or government decisions. That is a noble goal, but the bill is written too broadly so as to make Georgia subject to constitutional challenges like other states that have tried similar approaches. The bill has no minimum thresholds for amounts it would consider political activity or foreign support, which will make it extremely difficult for nonprofits to avoid being designated a foreign supported political organization. Further because of a lack of clarity in definitions, otherwise ordinary interactions may be considered “hostile.” For example, a purchase from a Chinese company may cause a business or campaign to become a “foreign supported political organization.” The bill lacks due process protections for accused organizations. We could pass the stated aim of this bill in a constitutional way, but because we did not do so, I voted no.
SB 383: Strengthening the Child Fatality Review Committee
This bill expands who must serve on the child fatality review committee, clarifies which child deaths must be reviewed, changes reporting timelines to 90 days, adds training and enforcement requirements, and updates how reports are handled and shared. It refines procedures for coroners, medical examiners, and committees in identifying child deaths meeting review criteria. The bill also modifies the Georgia Fatality Review Panel regarding subpoena power. I voted yes.
SB 399: Automated External Defibrillators in Georgia
This bill would require all entities that possess an automated external defibrillator (AED) to notify the appropriate emergency medical services (EMS) of the AED’s existence and location. State communications officers must learn to help people over the phone with AED usage. The training must be based on nationally recognized courses offered by organizations such as the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association. The legislation also requires instructors providing AED-related training must complete a nationally recognized instructor certification course. The need for this bill came to our attention when a student died after an AED was brought to the scene of an injury, but didn't work, and in another instance an AED was available, but its location was unknown. I voted yes.
SB 427: Licensing Internationally Training Physicians in Georgia
This bill allows the Composite Medical Board to issue a limited provisional license to an internationally trained physician to practice in Georgia. A physician that holds this limited provisional license would be eligible to apply for a full license after four years of active medical practice in a rural county, a licensed hospital, a federally qualified health center, or an accredited medical school in this state.
The bill outlines requirements that must be met, as well as situations that would cause the provisional license to be revoked. The board will submit a report to the chairperson of the House Committee on Health and the Senate Health and Human Services Committee no later than December 1, 2027. I voted yes.
SB 523: Curbing Discrimination
This bill would create a centralized system to track and monitor discrimination and harassment complaints across all public schools, including colleges and universities. It establishes a detailed reporting process for complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 much of which is already governed by existing federal requirements. The bill also allows the state to withhold funding from institutions that fail to comply with this bill. I voted yes.
SB 444: Artificial Intelligence and Insurance Reviews
This bill allows health insurance claim reviewers to use artificial intelligence to automate tasks, reduce administrative burdens, and evaluate insurance claims. I worked on this bill last week with the Technology and Infrastructure Innovation committee to ensure the bill had strong language to protect Georgians. Artificial intelligence cannot be the only basis of a denial, human eyes have to be involved in a full review for any denial, and AI cannot overrule a clinical peer reviewer’s recommendation. I voted yes.
SB 570: Georgia Human Trafficking Prevention Training in Hotels
This bill requires hotels and third-party managed short-term rental properties' employees to complete a training course annually on identifying and reporting suspected human trafficking. Owners, operators, or managers who violate this Code section will be subject to a fine of $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second offense, and $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation. Trafficking in hotels is a real problem, and we can no longer accept inadequate training as an excuse from places like these. The provisions of the bill do not apply to short-term rental properties managed exclusively by the property owner and offered for rental fewer than 15 days per calendar year. I voted yes.
Post Sine Die Legislative Town Hall — Less Than a Month Away!
Make sure your calendars are marked for my upcoming joint townhall with State Senator Sonya Halpern. We will be going over what we have witnessed so far under the gold dome.
We also will be answering questions, so please come with a curious mind! RSVP is not necessary but encouraged so we can anticipate crowd size. RSVP to Elijah Johnson at elijah@staceyevans.com.
What’s next?
I encourage you to stay engaged. Please continue to reach out to my office with your questions, concerns, and ideas. It is a privilege to serve you, and I remain committed to fighting for District 57 every single day. Stay up to date with the links below!
👩⚖️ Tune into the Appropriations Committee Meeting at 8am - Tuesday
📸 Tune into the Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee Meeting at 10am - Tuesday
⚖ Tune into the Retirement Committee Meeting at 2pm - Tuesday
📷 Watch the House Floor Session at 10am - Wednesday
In service,
Stacey Evans