State Senator Jeff Mullis (R-Chickamauga), who represents Chattooga County and surrounding areas in the 53rd State Senate District of Georgia,  released an update from the General Assembly on Monday.  Crossover Day, the day that bills from the House must come to the Senate and bills from the Senate to the House, will be next Tuesday, March 15th.

This week marked our busiest yet, as our votes on the Senate floor and work in our committee meetings has accelerated in anticipation of Crossover Day, which will fall on March 15. Though this week brought with it long debates and passionate discussions, the end result was the successful passages of several bills that strengthen our Second Amendment rights, protect the health and safety of pregnant mothers and loosen long overdue restrictions when it comes to the use of masks by our students in schools. Additionally, the Senate passed its version of the amended budget for 2022, completing one-half of our yearly Constitutional obligation.

On Monday, we took the time to consider a number of bills related to gun rights, none more important than Senate Bill 319. SB 319 is known as the “Georgia Constitutional Carry Act” and, essentially, would waive the license requirement for any lawful weapons carrier to carry their firearm. Our Constitution makes it as clear as day that there should be no hurdles imposed by the government that inhibit a lawful weapons carrier from having their firearm. I will always stand up for the right of Georgians to exercise their Second Amendment rights and was proud to be a cosponsor on this measure.

Along with our Second Amendment rights, I also believe in standing up for the rights of the unborn. Under current law, a pregnant mother has the option to order, through telemedicine, a pill that will effectively terminate her pregnancy. There is currently no requirement to have an in-person examination by a medical professional and no requirement that a healthcare provider be present before, during or after the ingestion of this pill. This has the potential to cause irreparable harm to pregnant women and perhaps even endanger her life. Senate Bill 456 would prohibit the delivery of certain forms of abortion pills by mail and require an in-person examination by a health care professional, including an ultrasound, before such a pill  may be administered. By going through the proper procedures, we have the potential to protect mothers and babies..

Last week, we made significant progress in expanding the rights of our students and parents when it comes to their education. This week, we expanded those rights further though the passage of Senate Bill 514, which would prohibit any local school personnel from requiring a student to wear a face mask while on school property. Under this bill, a student may wear a mask if their parent so chooses; however, any mandate that all student must remain masked at all times is strictly forbidden. Again, our parents know far better than government officials or school administrators on what is best for their child. Blanket mandates serve no useful purpose and the ability to regulate the usage of masks by students should be reserved  solely by their parents.

On Friday, I presented Senate Bill 345, which would prohibit a state agency from requiring that an individual provide proof of vaccination or a “vaccine passport” in order to obtain services from a government agency.  I believe the vaccine should be an individual choice for each person to make on their own. I will always be opposed to a government mandating a vaccine, especially one that we still know so little about. I was proud to see this bill pass and advance through the legislative process.

Finally, the Senate successfully passed House Bill 910, representing the amended budget for the 2022 fiscal year (AFY22). This budget is based on a revenue estimate of over $30 billion, and while the bulk of that number will go towards education, we are also funding important issues such as expanding nursing capacity and providing our rural main streets with the funds they need to continue to attract opportunities for growth.

Next week will prove to be busier still, as our deadline to report legislation out of committee falls on Wednesday of next week. That being said, there is still ample time for your to contact your legislators and inform them of the issues that matter most to you. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

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Sen. Jeff Mullis serves as Chairman of the Rules Committee. He represents the 53rd Senate District, which includes Catoosa, Dade, and Walker counties and portions of Chattooga County. He can be reached at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.0057 or by email at jeff.mullis@senate.ga.gov.