We had a busy week in the Georgia General Assembly as our efforts have been focused on the committee process. This is where we review legislative initiatives, listen to the testimony of those supporting and opposing the bills, and then make a decision whether or not it is acceptable to forward bills to the full House for a vote.

One of the most talked-about bills this year is House Bill 1 or Haleigh’s Hope Act. This legislation would change certain provisions relating to the use of cannabis oil for the treatment of specified medical conditions. The drive for this legislation has mostly been led by parents who are seeking relief for their children. Some of these parents have traveled to states that have legalized cannabis oil to purchase this medication.

Some of the conditions covered by the legislation include cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, mitochondrial disease, Alzheimer’s, muscle spasticity disorder, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, terminal illness, autism, Tourette’s syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sickle cell anemia.

Law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys are raising some red flags and suggesting this language is too broad. Rep. Allen Peake commented the “drug itself would not be abused by recreational users as it is low in the chemical that makes the user high.”

Consequently, this bill will be watched closely by many concerned citizens in Georgia. As we go back to work, I will watch the movement of this bill. Safeguards built into the bill appear adequate to prevent the recreational use of cannabis oil and to safely provide this product to our citizens suffering from these specific disorders.

The House Education Committee passed HB 91, sponsored by Chairman Brooks Coleman. This is an extremely important piece of legislation that has the potential to change the lives of 8,000 people who were not able to graduate high school because they failed part of the Georgia High School Graduation Test. This legislation will allow local boards of education to award diplomas to students who completed all of their graduation requirements but failed to pass the GHSGT.

The committee heard about many students who maintained high GPAs but could not get a diploma because they failed one portion of the test. This kept them from applying to colleges or entering the workforce or the military. This common-sense action will allow many young people to complete their high school education.

This week, HB 57 will be on the House floor. HB 57 is a solar power bill to provide for the financing of solar technology by retail electric customers who wish to generate their own electric energy used on their property. This legislation is considered an environmental-friendly bill that allows property owners to create clean energy. Georgia Power and the EMCs will be able to compete directly with private lenders to offer financing the homeowners.

Even in these early weeks of the legislative session, we are reviewing important and sometimes controversial issues. Your comments and input are important to me. Please feel free to contact me at (404) 656-5099 or at jon.burns@house.ga.gov.