'Lawmakers' Day 32: New labor commissioner, House OKs new minimum wage for disabled Georgians

On Tuesday at the Capitol, Gov. Brian Kemp announced the new labor commissioner, and the Senate debated a controversial resolution.

The Senate also passed three bills and four resolutions.

House Bill 89 would allow the Maternal Mortality Review Committee to acquire psychiatric and medical records related to the maternal mortality cases in the state.

"What this bill is, is an effort to try to lower the rate at which people are passing away after they give birth," Sen. Bo Hatchett (R- Cornelia) said.

HB 223 would provide tax relief for timber farmers who suffered economic losses from Hurricane Helene.

"This bill will allow payments made to producers from USDA block grants, and crop loss payments related to storm damage, to be exempt from state income tax," Sen. Russ Goodman (R-Cogdell) said.

Both bills were easily passed.

House Resolution 32 and its enabling law, HB 90, would allow farmers to double the amount of farmland that they can own and receive lower tax rates on.

"This legislation will allow farmers in one name to own up to 4,000 acres," Sen. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) said. "Just trying to bring our code up to date with the family farm.  Family farms have grown over the years."

Both the bill and resolution were easily passed but now will have to be approved by voters to change the state's constitution regarding the increase.

More controversial were two Senate resolutions praising Republican politicians. Senate Resolution 245 recognize former Georgia U.S. representative and current Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins.

"Collins is the first Iraqi War veteran to serve as Secretary of the Veterans Affairs," said Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch. "His vision for veteran’s care is rooted in his life as a military veteran, ensuring world class care for our American heroes."

While some Democrats supported the resolution, others said that Collins' complicity in reducing federal workers from the agency could not be overlooked.

"Unfortunately, Secretary Collins has decided that he is a card-carrying member of the DOGE crew," Sen. Josh McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs) said. "That he is on board with 80,000 cuts. At least 25% of the VA's workforce is veterans. So, it's the jobs at the VA, but it's also the services the veterans receive."

That resolution was passed, and a similar resolution, SR 246, commending President Donald Trump was debated for over an hour.

"It is highly fitting that this resolution be presented to you guys today, and I hope that this body will join me and commend these pro-American policies," said Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch. "And we commend President Donald Trump, who has gained the confidence of millions and millions of American voters and workers."

Democrats pushed back again, wondering why the need for a commendation to a sitting president.

"The only time that a resolution like this was passed in 2017, when this body did the exact same thing when Trump was elected the first time," Sen. Nikki Merrett (D-Grayson) said. "And when matched up against presidents in my lifetime, both Dem and Republican, I don't see the need or the worthiness for him to have any type of acknowledgment or recognition. We've actually fired him during his last presidency."

They also called the resolution political pandering.

"The majority thinks that they have to continue to bend the knee to the president in order to get favor or preserve funding in Georgia or get endorsement in next year's elections or whatever the motivation is," Sen. Jason Esteves (D-Atlanta) said.

As expected, the resolution passed along party lines, 31 to 18.

Also, Kemp appointed Barbara Rivera Holmes as the state's new commissioner of labor. Holmes replaces Bruce Thompson, who died last year from pancreatic cancer.

"I will advocate for good paying jobs that tap into our state's talent, ensure safe working conditions and protect secure benefits," Holmes said. "I look forward to working with my colleagues, legislators and communities to advance this mission: strengthening Georgia's position as the No. 1 state for business and the best place to live, work and raise a family."

In the House, members gave final approval to Senate Bill 55, which would require companies to pay Georgians with intellectual disabilities minimum wage. Under current law, they can be paid as little as $0.22 per hour.

"We have eight of those programs out of 60 or so still functioning in the state of Georgia," Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta) said. "This bill would do away with those problems and have them adapt. They would have two years with federal assistance, helping them go from what they're paying now, which most is about the lowest I think it's $2 an hour and help them get up to the federal minimum wage of $7.50.

"That's what the program does," she added. "It's about dignity and fairness and making sure that people with disabilities are paid, at least what we consider the bare minimum wage for all other workers."

The House also passed SB 6, which would allow strips that test if drugs have been contaminated with fentanyl or another substance to be sold to the public. It would also exclude those strips from the drug paraphernalia classification.

"Anything we can do to prevent deaths," Rep. Sharon Cooper said. "As long as somebody is alive we have a chance of helping them overcome an addiction. When they're dead, there is no hope."

The bill passed unanimously and now heads to Kemp's desk to be signed into law.

On Wednesday, the committees work to pass legislation. The House and Senate convene again on Thursday.