Gambill cites mental health bill, tax cuts as top legislative victories

For District 15 State Rep. Matthew Gambill (R, Cartersville), few legislative victories in 2022 have been as triumphant as the passage of House Bill 1013 — a bill that looks to create "parity" for mental health insurance throughout Georgia.

"So that mental health is covered by the insurance carriers and treated just like any other condition would be treated," he told The Daily Tribune News. "I feel like that's a huge step in the right direction for helping our state address the mental health crisis that we have had going on for some time now."

HB 1013 passed in the State Senate on March 30 by a 54-0 vote. That same day the Georgia House of Representatives voted 166 to zero to approve the Senate amended bill.

"Every insurer authorized to issue accident and sickness insurance benefit plans, policies or contracts shall be required to make available, either as part of or as an optional endorsement to all such policies providing major medical coverage which are issued, delivered, issued for delivery or renewed coverage for the treatment of mental health or substance use disorders for children, adolescents and adults," the bill language reads, "which coverage shall be at least as extensive and provide at least the same degree of coverage as that provided by the respective plan, policy or contract for the treatment of other types of physical illnesses."

Gambill said he was also happy to see tax reform legislation make it through the House.

HB 1437, which was approved by the Georgia House of Representatives 115-52 on March 9, would see the State income tax rate reduced to 5.25% — a measure Gambill said would result in a $1.2 billion cut statewide.

"The Senate is making some adjustments to that, but right now that is what we have voted out," Gambill said.

Last month Gov. Brian Kemp signed HB 1302 into law. That legislation would result in about $1.1 billion in tax refunds paid out to Georgia residents.

"For $250 for individuals filing and then $500 for a married couple filing jointly," Gambill said. "That will be coming out, as well."

Other legislative efforts in 2022, Gambill said, have produced salary increases en masse.

"We gave teachers a $2,000 pay raise, which brings them up to a $5,000 total pay raise since 2018," he said. "And then also, we have given State employees a $5,000 pay raise, which they have not received a pay raise in, I believe, at least 12 years, maybe 14 years."

As for his own legislation, Gambill said he was especially proud to see HB 1059 progress in the latest General Assembly session.

"It was something that insurance agents requested that allows them to offer loss mitigation products in the sale of property and casualty insurance," he said. "Those are things like smoke detectors and water leak sensors, and that'll help to deploy those technologies into homeowners' homes, where they may not have otherwise gone out and bought it on their own."

House Bill 1193, he said, helps funeral directors renew lapsed licenses, pending they complete continuing education programs and pay certain fees. House Bill 1297 deals with fortified construction standards — "it will allow insurance companies to recognize that," Gambill said "and at their own determination, provide you with an incentive of some kind within your policy."

Then there's House Bill 92, a piece of legislation Gambill said was forged at the request of local genealogists.

"That will allow them to be able to access death certificates and marriage certificates," he said. "The transfer of those from the State registrar over to the State archives, rather than it being 100 years, it'll now be 75 years."

Overall, Gambill said it was a fairly productive legislative session.

"Our State budget is strong, our tax collections our strong, we are very well-positioned," he said. "That's why you see the continued growth to the State of Georgia, and of course, we see it right there in Bartow County from the jobs and investments that many companies are making in our community."

Still, Gambill said there are more than a few unresolved issues in the wake of the 2022 General Assembly session.

"I know there's always issues that get carried over and focused on in later sessions," he noted. "Taxes is a big discussion we're having down here … there is conversation about comprehensive tax reform, and looking at the merit of going towards a statewide sales tax and getting rid of State income tax."

Gambill said he's seen some projections for just how much that may cost the State of Georgia, adding that there's lively discussion regarding whether or not the proposal would constitute an "equitable" tax shift.

"That, I think, will continue to be a big discussion for us as we move into 2023," he said.

Before that session, however, there's the 2022 Georgia gubernatorial race. The outcome there, Gambill said, is bound to have humongous implications on the legislative agenda for the year ahead.

"I think that voters will have a choice of whether or not they want to continue the leadership that we've had under Gov. Kemp, or potentially Stacey Abrams … and then, of course, David Perdue is running," he said. "Any three of those variables could significantly alter the direction of where some of the legislative focus would remain."

Regardless of who the governor of Georgia may be in 2023, he said he does not expect the top priorities of the House of Representatives to change.

"I think we'll stay the course for where we're at, but I think should we stay under Gov. Kemp, we'll stay under the leadership that he's provided," Gambill said. "And move forward in the right direction."