ATLANTA – State Representative Mandisha A. Thomas (D-South Fulton) recently introduced a package of drafted legislation reflecting her legislative priorities for the 2024 legislative session.
“With the 2024 legislative session now underway, I am thrilled to unveil a comprehensive set of legislative priorities that will be at the forefront of my agenda,” said Rep. Thomas. “These priorities serve as a testament to my commitment to the needs of my constituents, and I look forward to providing updates on the progression of these priorities in the weeks to come.”
Rep. Thomas’ legislative priorities focus on affordable housing and maintaining sound environments for families to live and thrive without compromising their well-being. Rep. Thomas’ legislative priorities are as follows:
- House Bill 887 would prohibit the use of artificial intelligence in making certain decisions related to insurance coverage. Specifically, HB 887 would bar any determination from being made concerning any insurance, health care coverage or public assistance based solely on the results derived from the use or application of artificial intelligence.
- House Bill 888, or the “Georgia Not on My Deed Act,” would require an individual who is presenting a deed or other instrument to produce a government issued photographic identification card when a deed or other instrument is presented to the clerk of a superior court for recording, whether in person or through an electronic recording service.
- House Bill 889, or the “Parental Waiver Save My Young Life Act,” relates to juvenile court proceedings. Specifically, HB 889 would permit the court to order a child for rehabilitation and counseling in cases where the court has been unable to make contact on at least eight occasions within a 90-day period with such child’s parent, guardian or legal custodian. In these cases, the court would be required to find that parental, guardian or custodial consent shall be waived in order to properly provide the necessary rehabilitation or counsel to the child.
- House Bill 890 would allow for protections against discrimination by artificial intelligence and automated decision tools. Specifically, anywhere in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated or in any other law of the State of Georgia, however constructed, a prohibition on discrimination would include discrimination resulting from the use of or reliance upon artificial intelligence or automated decision tools. In addition, under HB 890, reliance upon artificial intelligence or automated decision-making tools could not be a defense to an allegation of discrimination.
- House Bill 891, or the “Home School Extracurricular Activity Act,” would provide a tax credit for certain social extracurricular expenses incurred by taxpayers for the benefit of home school students. Specifically, such expenses would be limited to tuition or fees for participation or attendance in this state at an in-person children’s sports league, children’s group instructional class for ballet, dance or martial arts or instructional camp for groups of children.
- House Bill 892, or the “Georgia Car Insurance Policy Saver Act,” would permit an individual to suspend a motor vehicle liability policy or buy a motor vehicle liability policy with reduced coverage when a vehicle is inoperable. Additionally, HB 892 would allow an individual to suspend and discontinue premium payments on a motor vehicle liability policy when the vehicle under such policy is inoperable and allow insurers to offer a reduced coverage policy for inoperable vehicles. HB 892 would also permit the suspension or reduction of insurance coverage when a motor vehicle is inoperable without the cancellation of registration of the vehicle.
- House Bill 893, or the “Georgia Farmstead Exemption Act,” would create a state-wide homestead exemption from ad valorem taxes for the full value of a homestead used for agricultural purposes. Specifically, each resident of the state of Georgia that meets the proper qualifications would be granted a three-year exemption on that person’s homestead from ad valorem taxes in the amount of the full assessed value of that homestead. In order to qualify, residents would have to be currently engaged in farming on the homestead property, be engaged in such farming for no more than five years at the time of the application and be engaged in farming on no more than five acres of the homestead property.
For more information on the aforementioned legislation, please visit the official House website here.
Representative Mandisha A. Thomas represents the citizens of District 65, which includes portions of Coweta, Douglas and Fulton counties. She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications and Industry and Labor committees.
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