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03.03.25 Special Rules
02.26.25 Special Rules
02.19.25 Insurance Life & Health Subcommittee
IN THE NEWS
March 29, 2025
Douglas Appointed To Georgia High School Athletics Overview Committee
Georgia District 78 Rep. Demetrius Douglas, D-Stockbridge, was recently appointed to serve on the Georgia High School Athletics Overview Committee.
“I sincerely appreciate (House) Speaker (Jon) Burns for appointing me to serve on the High School Athletics Overview Committee to study high school athletics,” said Douglas. “As a former athlete, I understand how sports play a vital role in a student’s educational journey, fostering teamwork, discipline and a sense of belonging. By strengthening high school athletics, we can create more opportunities for young learners to grow, both on and off the field. I look forward to working with members of the committee to advance our efforts to support high school athletics in our great state.” | Read More
March 23, 2025
Douglas Appointed To Georgia Council On Literacy
Georgia District 78 Rep. Demetrius Douglas, D-Stockbridge, was recently appointed to the Georgia Council on Literacy.
“I want to thank (House) Speaker (Jon Burns for appointing me to serve on the Georgia Council on Literacy,” said Douglas. “Improving literacy is essential to giving all Georgia students the tools they need to succeed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to find practical solutions that will help increase literacy rates across our state. Together, we can make a real difference in helping more students build the skills they need for a better future.” | Read More
January 17, 2025
A Look Who Represents Henry County at the State Capitol
State lawmakers returned to the Capitol this week to start the 2025 session. Several new members to the house represent portions of Henry County. In total, four senators and six representatives make up the Henry County delegation. Here’s a look at who’s who for 2025-2026. | Read More
December 11, 2023
Legislators Conclude Work to Adopt New District Maps
State lawmakers concluded their 2023 special session on Thursday, December 7. The 2023 special session was to adopt new district maps for Congress and the state assembly.
The maps will now be considered by federal courts to determine whether they are sufficient. The special session was brought forth following a court order to add additional majority-black voting districts. | Read More
January 16, 2023
Bill would require instant replay at GHSA football championships
A controversial high school championship game has produced a new bill in the 2023 General Assembly to require an instant replay. The idea has support at the DeKalb County school that lost the championship last month. | Read More
February 11, 2025
GPB Lawmakers Day 15
The Senate passed a measure to ban state employee health plans from funding gender-affirming care, while the House passed multiple bills, including one for new license plates specifically for ambulances and hearses. Host Donna Lowry discussed the admissibility of artistic expression in court cases and cell phones in school with Reps. Kasey Carpenter, Eric Bell, Scott Hilton, and Demetrius Douglas. | Watch Now
September 21, 2022
Rep. Demetrius Douglas appointed to House Study Committee on literacy instruction
State Representative Demetrius Douglas (D-Stockbridge) was recently named by Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) to serve as a member of the House Study Committee on Literacy Instruction. | Read More
February 5, 2025
Georgia lawmaker wants NIL deals exempt from state income taxes to compete with other schools
A Georgia lawmaker wants to make sure our colleges and universities don’t lose more players to colleges in other states. Alpharetta state Sen. Brandon Beach is proposing exempting the NIL money from state income tax. But a Democratic lawmaker and former UGA All-American thinks there should be some safeguards for those athletes. Stockbridge Democratic lawmaker Demetrius Douglas is kind of an expert on all this. He’s a former UGA All-American from the 1980s. | Read More
March 4, 2022
Former Bulldog linebacker, now a legislator, wants mandatory school recess
A Henry County lawmaker wants to make recess mandatory for elementary schools all across Georgia, and he’s trying for the third time to make it happen. | Read More
PRESS RELEASES
March 6, 2025
Representative Demetrius Douglas Joins the Georgia Council on Literacy
In a development aimed at bolstering literacy efforts across the state, Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives Jon Burns has announced the appointment of Rep. Demetrius Douglas (D – Stockbridge) to the Georgia Council on Literacy. This appointment comes as part of a broader legislative effort to improve literacy rates and reading instruction methodologies in Georgia public schools.
Rep. Douglas steps into a role formerly held by Rep. Becky Evans and will serve a term concurrent with his tenure in the Legislature. The change underscores the state's commitment to revitalizing its approach to literacy, emphasizing evidence-based reading instruction strategies that promise a brighter future for Georgia’s youth.
In 2023, Senate Bill 211 led to the formation of the Georgia Council on Literacy, comprising 30 members appointed by the Governor, Lt. Governor, and Speaker of the House. The Council is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the science of reading instruction across all Georgia public schools. Additionally, it focuses on community engagement, investigates literacy strategies from other states, and prioritizes the educational needs of low-income, minority, and ESOL students.
With his extensive experience in public service and a deep commitment to educational improvement, Rep. Douglas is poised to contribute valuable insights and leadership to the Council's mission.
Reflecting on his new role, Douglas expressed his readiness to tackle the challenges ahead, stating, "Literacy is the foundation of all learning and the key to unlocking every child's potential. I am honored to join the Georgia Council on Literacy, and I am committed to ensuring that our children receive the best possible start in their educational journey."
The addition of Rep. Douglas to the Council is a promising step forward in Georgia's commitment to educational reform and literacy enhancement, signaling a hopeful future for educational outcomes in the state.
February 26, 2025
Representative Demetrius Douglas Announces Introduction of House Resolution 40 to Create a Study Committee on Reinsurance for Essential Industries
In a significant move toward bolstering the resilience of Georgia's critical industries against unforeseen challenges, Representative Demetrius Douglas is proud to announce bipartisan House Resolution 40 (HR 40) before the Georgia General Assembly. This pivotal legislative initiative aims to establish a House Study Committee on Reinsurance for Essential Industries. The resolution is sponsored by Representatives Douglas (D), Carolyn Hugley (D), Darlene Taylor (R), Noel Williams, Jr. (R), Scott Holcomb (D), and Stacey Evans (D).
The purpose of HR 40 is to conduct a comprehensive study into essential industries of Georgia’s economy and the feasibility and potential frameworks for creating specialized risk pools catered to those essential industries within the state. Reinsurance capacity, or the ability for insurance companies to buy insurance for their own catastrophic losses, is the most critical component for premium pricing. Greater capacity in the reinsurance market allows primary insurers to offer their policies for lower premiums. This capacity plays a crucial role in risk management and financial stability within the insurance sector, thereby directly impacting the sustainability of key industries critical to Georgia's economy and residents' well-being.
"Essential industries such as Agriculture and manufacturing form the backbone of our state's economy, providing vital services and goods that our citizens rely on daily," stated Representative Douglas. "During the recent historic hurricane season, manufacturing and agriculture sectors were the hardest hit, through no fault of their own. The goal of this study committee is to explore Governor Kemp’s 1332 Medicaid Waiver framework for healthcare reinsurance, and see how much more reinsurance capacity we can create for the Commercial Property & Casualty market for Georgia’s most critical industries.”
HR 40 details the formation of a study committee that will explore the unique challenges faced by essential industries in Georgia, identify potential gaps in current insurance models, and examine the benefits and logistics of establishing a dedicated reinsurance program. This initiative reflects a proactive approach to safeguarding the state's economic health and ensuring the resilience of its key sectors against future uncertainties.
The study committee's findings could lead to groundbreaking legislative recommendations that fortify Georgia's essential industries through enhanced insurance solutions, ensuring they remain robust in the face of adversity.
"This resolution represents a critical step forward in our ongoing efforts to protect and support the essential industries crucial to Georgia's economic success and quality of life," Douglas further commented. "I look forward to the insights and recommendations that will emerge from this study committee's work.”
For more information about HR 40 and updates on its progress, constituents and interested parties are encouraged to contact the office of Representative Douglas or visit https://www.legis.ga.gov/members/house/817?session=1033
Update: The bill was passed out of the Special Rules Committee on March 3, 2025.
February 19, 2025
Georgia House Representatives Introduce Vital Legislation for Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency and Consumer Protection
Representative Demetrius Douglas, along with bipartisan colleagues, is proud to announce the introduction of two significant legislative bills, H.B. 100 and H.B. 101, aimed at enhancing transparency and protecting consumers in the sphere of prescription drug pricing.
HB 100: Ensuring Consumer Savings Through Mandatory Rebate Pass-throughs
House Bill 100, dubbed the Prescription Drug Consumer Financial Protection Act, ensures that Georgians benefit immediately from prescription drug rebates at the point of sale. The proposed legislation mandates that health insurers remits at least 80 percent of all prescription drug rebates to the insured. This directive comes as a response to growing concerns that savings from rebates, discounts, and concessions are not reaching consumers, particularly those facing chronic health conditions. If HB 100 were signed into law, pharmacy benefit managers would be required to share a majority of their savings with patients rather than exclusively providing it to health insurance companies. The bill was introduced by Representatives Douglas, Karen Bennett (D), Lee Hawkins (R), Michelle Au (D), Jasmine Clark (D), and Brian Prince (D).
HB 101: Enhancing Transparency with an Annual Rebate Report
In a complementary effort, House Bill 101 will require the insurers that are part of the Georgia State Health Benefit Plan to produce an annual public report detailing prescription drug rebates and other price concessions related to state employees’ health insurance plans. From July 1, 2026, onwards, this report will break down how these financial adjustments affect premium costs and will be accessible on the department’s public website. This initiative is set to improve the clarity and understanding of drug pricing impacts for beneficiaries of state health plans, including state employees, public educators, and University System of Georgia members. In addition, HB 101 mirrors the federal requirements for calculating rebates and would also serve as a compliance audit for HB 100. The bill was introduced by Representatives Douglas, Karen Bennett (D), Stacey Evans (D), Lee Hawkins (R), Trey Kelley (R), and Brian Prince (D).
“The introduction of these bills represents a monumental step towards understanding the finance of healthcare and transparency for all Georgians,” said Rep. Douglas. “It is essential that the benefits from negotiated drug pricing directly reach the consumers who need it the most, and that the process by which these prices are determined is clear to all stakeholders.”
These legislative measures underscore a bipartisan commitment to healthcare affordability and accountability, promoting a more transparent healthcare environment in Georgia. By ensuring that rebates and price concessions are passed directly to consumers and that their impact is accurately reported, Representatives Douglas, Au, Clark, Bennett, Evans, Hawkins, Kelley, and Prince aim to build a stronger, more informed Georgia where every citizen can manage their health needs without undue financial strain.
Update: A hearing of the bills was conducted by the Insurance Subcommittee on Life and Health on February 19, 2025.