Fentanyl, IVF and China: Some of the Georgia laws that begin Tuesday

A slate of new laws is set to take effect Tuesday. Here are a few significant ones, with links to previous coverage from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Crime

Fentanyl: Increases penalties for fentanyl possession, distribution, sale and manufacturing (SB 79)

• Bill stiffening penalties for fentanyl trafficking advances to Kemp’s desk

Donald Trump

Election interference case: Allows President Donald Trump to attempt to recoup legal costs in the Georgia election case. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case by the Georgia Court of Appeals. Willis has appealed the case to the State Supreme Court. (SB 244)

• Will taxpayers pay Donald Trump’s Georgia legal bills? Here’s what we know
• Kemp signs bill that could allow Trump to recover Georgia election case costs

Foreign Policy

China: Three measures were aimed at protecting the state against threats from China. HB 113 prohibits state agencies from purchasing goods from foreign countries that pose a security threat. HB150 requires Georgia universities to produce reports about funding they receive from foreign countries of concern. HB 358 prevents certain foreign persons from acquiring land specifically near U.S. military facilities.

• A ‘modern-era Cold War’: Georgia targets China with bills in Legislature
• Georgia Senate passes bills targeting China and other foreign adversaries

Health

Mental health: Speed up the process for people with mental illness who have been accused of committing crimes to get treatment so they can stand trial (SB 132)

Experimental treatments: Individuals with life-threatening illnesses may seek “investigational” or experimental treatments (SB 72)

Pesticides: Pesticide manufacturers are no longer held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks, beyond those required for pesticides by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (SB 144)

• New Georgia law shields Roundup maker from some cancer-related lawsuits

Housing

Rental property: Requires property companies to have instate management staff (HB 399)

• Bipartisan legislation aims to address housing crisis in Georgia
• High hopes, small gains: Fixes for Georgia’s housing crisis stall under Gold Dome

LGBTQ+

Transgender dports: Restricts transgender girls from competing in high school and college girls’ sports (SB1)

• Kemp signs bill banning transgender girls, women from playing on female sports teams
• Ban on trans girls, women from playing female sports passes Georgia Legislature

Transgender inmates: Prohibits the state from paying for gender-affirming care for inmates in state correctional facilities. (SB 185)

• Kemp signs bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender inmates (SB 185)
• Democrats leave Georgia House chamber mid-debate of bill regulating transgender people

Pornography

Age verification: Requires pornography sites and other websites with sexually explicit material to use an age verification system to prevent minors from gaining access. (SB 351)

• U.S. Supreme Court clears way for Georgia law aimed at limiting porn access

Privacy

Judges: Protects the personal information of judges and their spouses. (HB 199)

Schools

Mental health: Creates an interstate compact for school psychologists, so professionals in other states can work in Georgia (HB 81)

Attendance: Develops new procedures to address school attendance, including that students who are chronically absent will not be expelled (SB 123)