Georgia Senate approves bills on trafficking penalties, newborn screening, health‑workforce data, litigation financing and tax appeals

ATLANTA — The Georgia State Senate passed several bills on Feb. 26 affecting criminal‑penalty language, newborn health screening, public access to health‑workforce data, rules for third‑party litigation financing and tax administration.

Senate Bill 42, sponsored by the first lady’s office and carried on the floor by Senator Hatchett (50th District), passed unanimously. The bill “seeks to remedy a rule of lenity issue currently in law regarding the penalty statutes associated with keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering, as well as human trafficking,” Hatchett said on the floor. The bill passed 50‑0.

The Senate also approved Senate Bill 101, which would add Duchenne muscular dystrophy to the newborn‑screening panel. Senator Robertson (20th/29th District), sponsor of the bill, told colleagues that earlier detection lets families plan and start therapies sooner: “This disease is 100 percent fatal,” Robertson said, adding that early detection can allow families to pursue gene‑replacement therapy and other treatment options. The bill passed on final vote, the clerk recorded 46 yays and 4 nays.

Senate Bill 131 would create a Georgia Health Care Professionals Data System to publish non‑identifying information about licensed providers and where they practice. Senator Hodges (3rd District) said…