HB495: Georgia Environmental Justice Act of 2023; enact

Legislative Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 12 of the O.C.G.A., relating to conservation and natural resources, so as to create the Environmental Justice Commission; to provide for the duties of the commission; to provide that as a prerequisite for obtaining certain permits in neighborhoods consisting of persons of color or from low-income families applicants shall take certain actions to mitigate health hazards; to provide that governmental agencies shall consider the disproportionate effect of environmental hazards on people of color or people from low-income families in implementing certain environmental policies; to provide that no person in Georgia shall be excluded from any state funded program or activity because of race, color, or national origin; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.