By Powell Cobb

Managing Editor

Several pieces of Georgia legislation signed off on in 2016 went into effect Jan. 1, bringing new laws to the state that range from fireworks sales to campus carry rules.

A 5 percent sales tax has been added to firework sales in Georgia. Fifty-five percent of the tax would be provided to the Georgia Trauma Care Network Commission, 40 percent provided to the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council to be used exclusively for improving equipment and training of firefighters and 5 percent provided to the local governments for public safety purposes.

House Bill 806 lengthens to expiration date of Georgia licenses from five years to eight years, and will be renewable on the license holder’s birthday in the seventh year of the issuance. Licenses will now cost $32

House Bill 792 allows students or employees of public colleges and universities that are at least 18 years old to carry electroshock weapons, commonly referred to as stun guns, with them on campus.

House Bill 870 relates to the Quality Basic Education Act and states that high schools that receive state funding cannot participate in an athletic association which prohibits religious expression on the clothing of student athletes.

House Bill 555 dictates the reporting of juvenile girls seeking abortions without parental notice. The bill clarifies that elective abortions are not covered under the state health insurance plan.

Under the new “Georgia Right to Try Act” (House Bill34), terminally ill patients can now use experimental drugs not approved by the FDA as treatment that would normally not be avaibnle to them, if they so choose.

Juvenile offenders are allowed to enroll in charter schools while being held in state facilities.

The NFL gets $10 million in sales tax exemptions on Super Bowl tickets sold for the 2019 Super Bowl at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.