By: Sen. Mike Dugan (R – Carrollton)

The 2023 Georgia Legislative Session gets busier with each new day as Crossover Day quickly approaches on Monday, March 6. There were 33 items of legislation passed this week with many still to come before the Senate for consideration. We continue to strive for meaningful change here at the State Capitol and look forward to the ninth week of session.

There are a few bills of note that the Senate deemed worthy of passage this week. Senate Bill 132, sponsored by Sen. Brandon Beach (R – Alpharetta), would prohibit the acquisition of farmland by certain non-residents within the state. It would also prohibit the purchase of land by an adversary of the United States within a 25 mile radius of a military base or installation. This bill aims to maintain national security by protecting farmland within the state of Georgia and I was proud to see the Senate pass this measure with a substitute vote of 35 to 20.

The Senate also passed Senate Bill 109, sponsored by Sen. Shelly Echols (R – Gainesville). This legislation would require the Department of Community Health to include continuous glucose monitors as a pharmacy benefit for Medicaid recipients. SB 109 requires the recipient of this coverage to meet certain requirements such as a diagnosis of diabetes and proper training by the individual or their caregiver in the use of continuous glucose monitors. The recipient must also have an in-person or telehealth visit with their treating practitioner once every six months to maintain their treatment plan. Keeping Georgia healthy is of the upmost importance, and the passage of this bipartisan legislation is a great step in the fight to maintain quality healthcare in this state.

The State Senate welcomed many visitors to the State Capitol during our eighth week of session. It was a pleasure to see students from the Model United Nations Program, advocates for Teen Dating Violence Prevention, and visitors from the Georgia Peanut Commission throughout the halls of the Capitol this week. I was also proud to see the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce in the Senate Chamber and am grateful for their visit. I look forward to seeing more smiling faces in the Senate chamber throughout the days to come.

As we look to legislative days 28 through 31 of the 2023 Georgia Legislative session, I assure you that we are keeping the interest of Georgia’s citizens in mind through each decision that we make. I look forward to working with my colleagues as this session progresses through the coming weeks. The days ahead will be packed with committee meetings, bill hearings, and presentations all over the Capitol, and it is certainly an exciting time here underneath the Gold Dome. If you have any questions, comments or concerns about matters relating to the Georgia Senate, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.