Fellow Georgians,

Last week we passed House Bill 112 to protect Georgia’s small business owners as they continue to prioritize safety while operating their businesses during this difficult time. I discussed HB 112 in greater detail in my most recent newsletter if you would like additional information on this bill.

We also passed House Bill 105. HB 105, sponsored by Rep. Heath Clark from Warner Robins, will allow members of the Georgia National Guard who volunteer for active duty without the Governor declaring a state of emergency to be compensated in the same way as members of the United States Armed Forces. The importance of our Georgia National Guard cannot be overstated. Their service to their fellow Georgians has made an enormous positive impact on our state and its handling of COVID-19. As a former National Guard member myself, I am incredibly proud of our National Guard and the work they continue to do across the state. 

On Wednesday, the House passed House Bill 153, sponsored by Representative Marcus Wiedower from Athens, which will provide transparency to Georgia’s corporate filing process with the Secretary of State’s office. Many private organizations offer corporate filing services to Georgia businesses. Often the solicitations sent to these businesses do not clarify that the solicitation is from a company that will perform the filings for a fee. This lack of clarity leads to confusion for Georgia businesses. These Georgia businesses may pay additional fees to complete their annual filings with the Secretary of State’s office without realizing that they are paying more than just the official filing fee. HB 153 will require any solicitation to provide corporate filing assistance to include a disclaimer stating that the document is not a bill or official government document.

We passed House Bill 208, sponsored by Representative Mike Cheokas from Americus, declaring the second Wednesday of February  “National Swearing-in Commitment Day.” This day will celebrate the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC). JROTC is a high school program designed to teach citizenship and leadership while instilling self-esteem, teamwork, and self-discipline. Participation in JROTC in high school prepares students to participate in JROTC at the college level or enter the military upon graduation from high school.

I was proud to cast my vote in favor of all four of these bills and look forward to seeing them succeed in the Senate. As I have mentioned in other newsletters, if you have questions or concerns about Georgia’s elections, please email Elections@FriendsofJonBurns.com, and I will forward your comments to our House’s election committee. As we engage in the 2021 Session,  do not hesitate to call (404-656-5052), email, or engage on Facebook.

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Jon Burns represents District 159 in the Georgia General Assembly where he serves as the House majority leader.