Jon Burns
HOUSE REMEMBERS U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CHARLIE NORWOOD

The Georgia House has just completed our sixth legislative week and it is with great sadness that I say our work was overshadowed

by the passing of our good friend, U.S. Representative Charlie N o r w o o d . Charlie was a d e d i c a t e d

public servant,

a faithful Christian, an honest soul, a tireless advocate for patient's rights, and a loving friend and family man. The House unanimously approved a substitute version of House Resolution 50 honoring the life and work of our beloved Congressman. The State of Georgia, and especially his hometown of Augusta, will miss this important Washington leader.

In legislative business this week, we passed House Bill 24 also known as the "Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care Act." If enacted, provisions in this bill would clarify an individual's end of life directions to health care providers and family members making a very difficult time easier. This bill received unanimous support in the House and moves to the Senate for consideration.

The House also adopted House Bill 89 correcting a conflict in current law pertaining to Georgians' second amendment rights to carry firearms. The bill allows an individual licensed to carry a firearm to transport that firearm in a vehicle stored in the place of their choosing. If enacted, this will remove the provision in current law that specifies a firearm be fully exposed or kept in a specified compartment and will protect lawful, licensed firearm owners from criminal prosecution. HB 89 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

The newly created House Budget and Fiscal Oversight committee has been hard at work. Their first piece of legislation came to the floor this week requiring all state agencies, departments, commissions, and authorities to provide the General Assembly with an annual fiscal report. House Bill 91 is an important step in creating greater accountability in how taxpayer dollars are spent. This bill was unanimously approved and now moves to the Senate.

I was pleased to welcome Christopher Kieffer, son of Allen and Shelba Kieffer, and William Clay Robertson, son of Jim and Dana Womack, all of Effingham County to the Capitol. Both students served as PAGEs for a day. The PAGE is open to Georgia students age 12 and up, and gives them an opportunity to see their state government up close.

As the session progresses, I will continue to keep you up to date on key pieces of legislation and important events at the State Capitol. As always, if you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact me at my Capitol office at (404) 656-0213.