Georgia House approves dozens of bills in marathon session; repeal of COVID testing for long‑term care draws opposition

ATLANTA — The Georgia House of Representatives passed a large set of bills on March 7, approving measures that range from tax changes and consumer protections to health‑care and public‑safety rules. Lawmakers approved changes to vehicle ad valorem taxation, new consumer protections for automatic renewals, amendments affecting municipal liability, and alterations to public‑health and criminal‑justice procedures during a late session that stretched into the evening.

Why it matters: The package includes bills that affect taxes and fees, health coverage and disclosure rules, protections for workers and inspectors, and criminal‑justice procedures. One of the highest‑profile moments came when the chamber voted to repeal a rule requiring COVID‑19 testing of staff in long‑term‑care facilities — a move that prompted an extended floor exchange and an outspoken floor objection from Representative Lisa Campbell.

The House opened with a series of presentations of bills by their sponsors and committee reports. Many measures proceeded under the rule requiring adoption of a committee substitute and were then put to an immediate vote.

Health and safety debates Representative Joe Campbell (presenting HB 618) said the bill would require sellers of real property to disclose flood‑damage history, putting buyers on the same footing as renters. “Georgia homebuyers deserve the same right,” Campbell said, describing the measure as restoring parity between renters and buyers on flood disclosures.

The chamber also debated House Bill 6 45, which repeals a statutory requirement that staff in long‑term‑care facilities be tested for COVID‑19 as part of admissions and hiring rules established during the pandemic. Representative LaHood, the bill’s sponsor, described HB 6 45 as a measure to “return to normalcy” and said infection control practices would remain in place.

Representative Lisa Campbell opposed that bill on the House floor, citing recent case and death data and arguing testing remains an inexpensive and effective protective tool for vulnerable residents. “COVID‑19 continues to be a highly communicable virus that still leads to illness and death,” Campbell said, noting higher recent case rates in nursing homes and low staff vaccination coverage cited from CDC sources. Her remarks were recorded on the floor before the chamber voted to approve the repeal.

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