Rep. Ron Stephens, Guest columnist

The Georgia House of Representatives kicked off the fifth week of the 2023 legislative session. With more than a month of session behind us, the pace certainly picked up this week. More bills made their way out of their respective committees and onto the House floor for a vote, and we saw the passage of several House bills that would impact Georgia’s infrastructure, roadways, and transportation laws including legislation I introduced to help the Georgia Ports Authority and the several municipalities that surround our port.

This week, my colleagues overwhelmingly passed legislation I co-sponsored to protect our critical infrastructure overseen by the Georgia Ports Authority, including the Port of Savannah. House Bill 35 would give the GPA’s security employees the ability to protect its properties, projects and certain areas surrounding its campuses.

Specifically, GPA security personnel and peace officers would have the authority to investigate criminal incidents and handle traffic offenses within one mile of their properties, including making arrests and controlling and investigating pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents. This legislation would support the surrounding communities by allowing local law enforcement to dedicate less resources to this state authority’s operations and ease some of the burden that comes with having such a successful port system along our coast. Local municipalities impacted by the port system have also expressed their support for HB 35, and this legislation has been sent to the Senate for its consideration.

Additionally, we passed House Bill 52 on the House floor this week to update several other transportation and infrastructure laws.

First, to protect the privacy of Georgians, this bill would exempt the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) from open records when a driver’s data on public roadways reveals their vehicle information or other personally identifiable information.

This provision would ensure that no one could use the Open Records Act in an attempt to obtain an individual’s personal information from this agency. This legislation would make changes to how fatal car accidents are handled on our interstate highways and limited access roads.

We also passed legislation to update a recent law that would affect Georgia drivers.

Currently, Georgia’s Spencer Pass Law requires drivers to safely change lanes or slow down when approaching stationary emergency or service vehicles on our roadways so that drivers do not pass directly next to stopped emergency vehicles. This week, we passed House Bill 119 to update this law to also require drivers to move over for any disabled vehicle, such as another car or tow truck, that displays flashing hazard lights and/or yellow, amber, white or red lights if it is safe to do so. A number of drivers and workers who provide crucial services to drivers have been killed by passing vehicles over the years, and this legislation aims to keep these drivers and roadside workers safe from other motorists.

We also took time to honor Mr. Louis Graziano on his incredible bravery as a U.S. soldier in World War II. Born in 1923, Mr. Graziano is the last surviving World War II veteran to witness Germany’s surrender. Mr. Graziano was a master sergeant and fought in the third wave of the Omaha Beach invasion on D-Day.

After D-Day, he also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he almost lost his feet to frostbite. He then served at the Special Headquarters Command in Reims, France, where he witnessed Germany sign the surrender document and then took the Germans to meet General Dwight D.

Eisenhower. Mr. Graziano’s visit to the State Capitol coincided with his 100th birthday, and I was inspired to meet this American hero and hear his incredible story.

I encourage you to contact me with your input and thoughts on proposed legislation or current events that may impact our community.

I am in 226-A of the State Capitol. My office phone number is (404) 656-5115 and my email is ron.stephens@ house.ga.gov. I look forward to continuing this session and serving all of you.