How these new Georgia laws go into effect in 2023

Parts of a law revising mental health insurance coverage, new ways for parents to challenge materials used in schools and a tax credit for donating to the police are among the new laws that take effect Sunday in Georgia.

Most Georgia laws go into effect on July 1, but the General Assembly delayed some laws, or parts of laws, until January 1. This is particularly true in the case of some tax provisions for taxes collected annually.

Among the measures that took effect in early 2022 are the repeal of the requirement for a permit to carry a concealed weapon in public, a ban on teaching certain racial concepts that Republicans say are divisive, and a state tax rebate on $1.1 billion income that sent between $250 and $500 to many homes.

Here’s a look at some of the new laws and regulations starting January 1:

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online sellers

More online sellers will be required to post contact information under Senate Bill 332. Supporters say the law will make it harder to sell stolen or counterfeit goods online. It requires online marketplaces like eBay, Etsy, and Amazon to provide consumers with the full name of third-party companies or individuals with more than $20,000 in annual sales on the platform. The platform must also provide the seller’s address, phone number, and email address or other electronic messaging link, with some exceptions. The platforms are supposed to suspend non-compliant businesses and provide a phone number and email address for customers to report suspicious activity to the platform.

Mental Health Reform

Health insurance companies must begin reporting to the state Department of Insurance how they provide mental health coverage for children, adolescents, and adults under House Bill 1013, a statewide effort to make sure insurers comply with federal law that requires them to cover mental health care in the same way. pay for physical health care. Insurance Commissioner John King is supposed to seek data to examine compliance by May 15 and submit a report on his results by August 15. The department is also required, effective January 1, to create a system to track complaints about unfair denials of coverage. Grants to help with court-ordered mental health treatment in the community also begin January 1. Other requirements take effect later in 2023 and in 2024.

Food Truck Permits

Food trucks can now operate statewide with a health permit from their home county health department, instead of having to seek permits in multiple counties, according to House Bill 1443. The law is meant to reduce paperwork and costs for food trucks. Operators still have to send their health permit to other counties where they plan to operate and wait for that county to verify that the permit is valid. Other counties may inspect mobile food trucks and cite or close them if they fail inspection. Inspections fees are supposed to be limited to a county’s actual costs.

School Supplies Challenges

School districts must begin receiving complaints about books, websites, and other materials that parents believe are obscene or harmful to minors under Senate Bill 226. The bill was part of a series of culturally sensitive school laws. Conservatives passed in 2022 session. The new law requires principals or their designees to investigate within seven business days, decide whether to prohibit the materials or restrict access, and consult with the parent who filed the complaint within 10 days skillful. Dissatisfied parents can appeal to the local school board, which is supposed to decide within 30 days of receiving the appeal, while also giving the parent the legal right to address the board during a public meeting. The district must post the titles of any material involved in an appeal on its website for one year, and all parents must have access to such materials.

Hospital Tax Credits

Tax credits for donating to rural hospitals increase from the current $60 million to $75 million under House Bill 1041. Both individuals and corporations can donate money, up to certain limits, to 56 designated hospitals as designated by the Department of Community Health. Each hospital can raise up to $4 million a year. Hospitals collected a total of $59.4 million, close to the previous limit, in 2021. The state auditor found that the average hospital collected less than $1 million in 2021, although 17 collected more than $1 million.

Police Tax Credits

People can get tax credits on their state income tax by donating to law enforcement foundations that support local police agencies. Senate Bill 361 provides $75 million in tax credits per year, with up to $3 million per police department or sheriff’s department. The money can be used to increase officer salaries, provide more training, buy or maintain equipment, or pay for programs that send health and social workers to help with mental health emergencies.