Every new year comes with a new set of laws and Georgia has a few that are rolling out along with 2022.

Starting Jan.1, several bills signed by Gov. Brian Kemp during the 2021-2022 legislative session will take effect.

Here’s a closer look at what will change:

In an effort to create more transparency for patients who are turning to healthcare providers, several lawmakers took aim at the prior authorization. Georgia’s new rule requires insurers to make any requirements or restrictions for prior authorization available on its website to the general public. It sets a new standard on how the process should work in the Peach State.

Georgia drivers may want to pay attention to this law as it changes the way fair market value is determined for leased vehicles. The bill targets alternative ad valorem tax and revises the definition of fair market value, according to the text. Dubbed the Lease Vehicle Tax Exemption bill, the legislation states the value of a motor vehicle leased mainly for personal use won’t include interest or finance charges in base or down payments.

A new Georgia law will clarify how a child could be faced with sexual exploitation adding “a caregiver or other person responsible for the care of a child who allows, permits, encourages, or requires a child to engage in sexual servitude,” or sexually explicit conduct will be included under the umbrella term.  The law also outlines what is considered abandonment and expands guidelines under which the state will recognize a parent who has foregone or relinquished parental duties. Additionally, it will require annual training for juvenile court intake officers and allow hearsay evidence in certain juvenile proceedings, according to the text.

WXIA