[March 31, 2025] | Last week we kicked off the 11th week of the 2025 legislative session. We passed several pieces of legislation this week that passed over from the Senate.
When you read this, we are in the last week of the session. We will finish the legislative session on Friday April 5th, the day we call "Sine Die," "The End."
So, you can imagine the tension between the two chambers wanting their legislation done and struggling over the final budget for the 2026 year.
It is pretty interesting, and you have to be very watchful, as some folks may agree to adding something to their bill you don't want to see made in to law. It is a lot of eye strain with all the reading you need to do. Here are a few bills we passed this week.
The House gave final passage to Senate Bill 123 this week, a measure aimed at addressing chronic absenteeism in Georgia's public schools. The bill would formally define chronic absenteeism as students who missed 10 percent or more of the school year. The legislation would also introduce targeted intervention strategies to boost student attendance, while providing support over punishment for schools and students struggling with absences. Last year, 22.6 percent of Georgia's public-school students-approximately 360,000 children-were chronically absent, missing 10 percent or more of the school year, underscoring the need for this legislation.
SB 85 would ensure that all individuals who are currently or formerly part of Georgia's foster care system receive coverage not only for tuition but also for other essential costs of higher education. The total award amount would be based on the cost of these expenses, minus any other federal or state scholarships, with a maximum annual grant of $30,000. Eligible students could continue to receive the scholarship until they earn a bachelor's degree.
Currently, patients with rare diseases seeking treatments in Georgia may need to leave the state to receive this individualized care. However, under SB 72, these patients would have access to individualized and physician-approved medications in Georgia. The bill would allow hospitals and healthcare professionals to provide cutting-edge care and treatments to patients based on their individualized condition and DNA. Under this legislation, physicians would be allowed to prescribe medications and treatments that have not yet gone through the full FDA process.
SB 79-- The Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act-- would strengthen penalties for trafficking fentanyl and its equivalents by amending state law related to the manufacture, delivery, distribution, possession, or sale of noncontrolled substances, would face mandatory minimum sentences, starting at eight years, and a $75,000 fine for amounts just over four grams and escalating based on the quantity involved.
These bills are now on their way to the Governor's desk.
Of course, this isn't all we did. If you want the whole list of bills we passed and their description, please let me know.
I encourage you to visit me at my Georgia Capitol office or call me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the bills, the legislative process, or any other measures considered under the Gold Dome.
My Capitol office number is 404-656-7153. My email is rick.jasperse@house.ga.gov. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Representative.