Legislative Session Report Week 3
January 29, 2021
GENERAL ASSEMBLY CONTINUES BUDGET WORK
The General Assembly returned to the Capitol on Tuesday for the 5th day of the legislative session. The legislature met through Friday this week putting them at day 8 of the 40-day session. The pace at the Capitol has picked up some, with both the House and Senate taking up proposed legislation. 拨款听证会本周恢复，议员们继续修改21财年预算，并制定22财年预算. On Thursday the House passed the $26.6 billion amended FY21 budget (reflecting a 2.5% increase) and transmitted it on to the Senate. In addition, committees have begun to meet, 参议院农业和消费者事务委员会将于周四召开第一次会议.
Legislators will return to the Gold Dome on Monday, February 1st for day 10 and are scheduled to work through Thursday, February 4th. 佐治亚州农场局(GFB)的工作人员将在国会大厦监督和保护对我们的成员和佐治亚州农业重要的问题. To read which bills have been proposed affecting Georgia agriculture, please see the Bills of Interest section below.
周四，众议院拨款主席特里·英格兰(R-Auburn)提交了经修订的21财年预算.
RURAL CAUCUS CONVENES; GEORGIA FARM BUREAU TO HOST NEXT WEEK'S LUNCHEON
The Rural Caucus, the 2nd largest caucus of the General Assembly behind the majority caucus, convened Wednesday for their first meeting of the year. The group is made up of legislators representing our rural communities and agricultural interests, 每周的会议是他们讨论相关政策想法和听取佐治亚州农场局(GFB)等组织的演讲的有效途径。. This week was hosted by GFB’s close ally, Georgia Agribusiness Council, 谈话主要集中在农民的创新工作上，他们在2020年加大了力度，为全州的家庭提供新鲜的格鲁吉亚农产品. One shining example was the work of Rep. 凯西·卡彭特(R-Dalton)创建了佐治亚收集货物生产箱-利用合作伙伴，如众议员. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie), Drew Echols of JAEMOR Farms, and others — to provide local food options with pop-up markets throughout the summer.
Next week’s meeting will be hosted by Georgia Farm Bureau.
Georgia Agribusiness Council President Will Bentley speaks to the Rural Caucus
SENATE AG COMMITTEE MEETS; UGA CAES DEAN PLACE VISITS
参议院农业和消费者事务委员会周四举行了新一届会议的首次会议. The new chairman, Sen. Larry Walker (R-Perry), began the meeting with brief introductions from all committee members, including several freshmen Senators.
委员会听取了佐治亚大学农业与环境科学学院(CAES)新任院长的意见。, Dr. Nick Place. 他在农场长大，之前曾担任佛罗里达合作推广服务中心的院长和主任, Dr. Place is well prepared to lead the way for CAES in the coming years. 他谈到了他的目标，即保持乔治亚州在农业领域的领先地位，以确保农业仍然是该州的头号产业.
Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) looks forward to working with Dr. Place and CAES in promoting and protecting our state's agriculture industry. To learn more about Dr. Place, watch GFB's "Digging In" virtual series featuring an interview with the Dean.
UGA CAES Dean Nick Place speaks to the Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee
"DIGGING IN" WITH THE NEW SENATE AG CHAIRMAN
Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Chairman Larry Walker (R-Perry)
Georgia Farm Bureau's (GFB) "Digging In" virtual series 是去年夏天创建的，旨在为我们的十大靠谱网赌官方平台提供一种替代方案，以取代因Covid-19大流行而取消的许多面对面会议和活动. As access to the State Capitol continues to be limited this session, we are bringing the Capitol to you through the next installation in our "Digging In" series, 新上任的参议院农业和消费者事务主席拉里·沃克(R-Perry)和GFB主席汤姆·麦考尔之间的对话.
对乔治亚州议会或参议院农业和消费者事务委员会有问题吗? Click here 或回复这封电子邮件，就有机会让你的问题出现在“深入挖掘”的下一个装置中. Larry Walker!
USDA SUSPENDS CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CFAP) PAYMENTS
In accordance with the White House memo, Regulatory Freeze Pending Review, 美国农业部(USDA)已暂停冠状病毒食品援助计划(CFAP)额外援助的处理和支付，并已暂停实施，直至另行通知. 农业服务局当地办事处将在评估期间继续接受申请, which ends on February 26, 2021.
美国农场局联合会主席Zippy Duvall对美国农业部暂停CFAP付款发表了评论.
“The pandemic has taken an unprecedented toll on American agriculture, 冠状病毒食品援助计划为全国各地的农民和牧场主提供了生命线. 许多以前没有资格获得援助的种植者继续遭受损失，需要CFAP提供的帮助.
“我们认识到新政府希望审查重要的农民和牧场主援助计划，我们敦促美国农业部考虑我们的 comments on how to improve such programs. We appreciate that CFAP applications will continue to be accepted, 我们鼓励迅速恢复将物资分配给那些努力保持美国食品储藏室库存的人们.”
BILLS OF INTEREST
HB 90:
Reps. Williamson, Burns, Dickey, Hatchett, Morris, Watson
HB 90试图解决一个问题，即现有的1939年法规没有适当地涵盖现代林业实践，涉及工厂购买砍伐木材和这种交易后的责任链. 这项立法得到了乔治亚银行家协会和乔治亚林业协会的支持.
Assigned to House Judiciary Committee on 1/26/2021.
HB 139:
Reps. Mainor, Dukes, McClain, Mallow, Thomas
该法案将禁止火车阻塞任何交通道口超过15分钟(安全原因除外)。, and also require signage at crossings providing a telephone number to report such instances.
Assigned to House Transportation Committee on 1/28/2021.
HB 150:
Reps. Williamson, Hatchett, Kelley, Frazier, Parsons, Smith
In a concerning trend, some state and local authorities in the U.S. 为了实现“无碳”目标，是否采取措施禁止在新建筑中使用某些燃料(丙烷和天然气). HB 150将禁止乔治亚州的政府机构根据燃料的类型或来源禁止连接任何公用事业服务. GFB supports this bill, as many agricultural producers rely on these resources.
Assigned to House Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications Committee on 1/28/2021.
SB 29:
Sen. Anavitarte
该法案将要求那些希望在乔治亚州选举中通过缺席投票投票的人附上他们的驾驶执照复印件, voter ID card, U.S. passport, government employee ID, military ID card, 或部落身份证，在申请缺席投票和返回时. Members of the military and overseas voters would be exempt from this requirement.
Assigned to House Ethics Committee on 1/28/2021.
SB 30:
Sens. Beach, Harbison
参议院第30号法案将规定在该州有限数量的有执照的马术中心举行赛马比赛, create the Georgia Horse Racing Commission, and provide for the comprehensive regulation of pari-mutuel horse racing and related activities.
Assigned to House Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee on 1/28/2021.
2021 GEORGIA FARM BUREAU DAY AT THE CAPITOL CANCELED
Due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and other uncertainties in the state's capital, 乔治亚州农场局做出行政决定，取消每年在国会举行的农场局日活动, originally scheduled for February 9, 2021 in Atlanta. Please mark your calendars for next year's event, expected to take place on February 8, 2022.
2021 GEORGIA AG FORECAST
Georgia Farm Bureau is a sponsor for this annual seminar, which will be held virtually and is free to attend for 2021. It will take place on Friday, January 29, beginning at 9:30 a.m. 农业预测分享最新的研究和信息，从佐治亚大学教师，以帮助农民和农业综合企业在格鲁吉亚的第. 1 industry. Keynote topics are agritourism and the impact of COVID-19 on Georgia farmers. Breakout sessions will cover: livestock and poultry; cotton, peanuts grains and oilseeds; green industry and vegetables; fruits and tree nuts; and forestry and land taxation. Click here to register.
NOT A MEMBER OF GEORGIA FARM BUREAU? JOIN TODAY!
The Georgia Farm Bureau Federation has a membership of almost 250,000 and serves as state's the largest general farm organization. Our goal is to provide leadership and assistance to the agricultural sector, to promote farm products, to aid in ag-related procurement, to be a spokesman for the farmer in the legislative arena, to be a leader in the development and expansion of farm markets, and to strive for more agricultural research and educational funds and facilities.
With members in all 159 Georgia counties, Georgia Farm Bureau is dedicated to promoting and improving agriculture in our counties, 不断改进和扩大我们的十大靠谱网赌官方平台服务计划，以提高所有格鲁吉亚人的生活质量.
Membership in Georgia Farm Bureau is open to everyone. You don't need to be a farmer or have insurance with us to join Farm Bureau!
If you would like to become a member of Georgia Farm Bureau, you can start your membership online right now! We have a simple application process, and you can be our newest member in just a couple of minutes. Click the button below or use our County Office Locator to find the office nearest you.
Georgia Farm Bureau Public Policy Department Staff
Jeffrey Harvey, Director
Joe McManus, Assistant Director
Alex Bradford, State Affairs Coordinator
Raynor Churchwell, Agricultural Programs Specialist
Tripp Cofield, National Policy Counsel
Katie Duvall, Advocacy and Policy Development Coordinator
Renee Jones, Office Coordinator
Jake Matthews, Governmental Affairs Specialist
Jeremy Taylor, Agricultural Programs Specialist
** Photos courtesy of Georgia House and Senate photography gallery.