Numerous new Georgia laws in effect July 1

New Georgia laws aimed at cracking down on street racing, fentanyl and slumlords take effect Monday.

• Here's a roundup of some of the state's noteworthy new laws.

🗳️ Voting: Three new laws will impact Georgia voters.

• Polling stations can have fewer voting machines . Election workers have to be U.S. citizens. Candidates can review ballot drafts before they're finalized. Poll watchers get closer access to the vote-counting process.
• Voters can be removed from the voting registration list for several new reasons, including death, voting or registering to vote elsewhere, or if tax exemptions prove their primary residence is elsewhere.
• Ballots will have watermarks and pictures of the ballots will be posted online. Optical character recognition technology will be implemented in a new ballot auditing program.

🧑‍⚖️ Cash nail: 30 additional crimes — including failure to appear, racketeering, domestic terrorism rioting, and forgery — require cash bail under a new law.

• The intrigue: On Friday, a federal judge blocked part of the law that requires groups that post bail more than three times a year to register as a bail bond company.

Illegal immigration : Requires state law enforcement to work with federal immigration officials to report and detain suspected illegal immigrants with crime charges.

🤑 Taxes: The income tax exemption increases by 33%. Income taxes for residents and corporations in Georgia are reduced to 5.39%.

✋ Squatters: Homeowners can press misdemeanor trespassing charges and seek fines for back rent against folks staying in the owner's house without permission.

🚨 Swatting: Falsely reporting bomb threats and other violent situations to the police is punishable by up to 15 years behind bars and a $25,000 fine.

Drive-by shooting: Drive-by shootings are punishable by up to 20 years behind bars.

🏚️ Landlords : The Safe at Home Act requires rental units to be fit for people to live in. Properties must comply with all housing codes and health and safety standards.

• Landlords cannot seek security deposits that exceed two months' rent.

💊 Drugs: Drug dealers face felony aggravated involuntary manslaughter charges and life in prison for fatal fentanyl overdoses.

• Schools can possess naloxone and any other medications used to help prevent drug overdoses.

🏎️ Street drag racing : The act of knowingly attending or facilitating vehicular street racing events is punishable as a misdemeanor and a $250 fine.

• Drag racers face felony charges and five years behind bars.

🏘️ HOAs: Homeowners associations are required to notify their members about violations. They also have to give members time to fix the issue before the association can involve lawyers in the matter.

☎️ Telemarketers: Residents can now sue companies for illegal telemarketing calls from third-party contractors. Violators face a $1,000 fine.

🏦 Student loans: Peace officers , and licensed mental health and substance use professionals are eligible for student loan relief.

🚑 Vehicles : Requires tow trucks and other emergency vehicles to have flashing or revolving amber lights.

🚍 Schools: School districts must prioritize bus routes preventing students from crossing roads with speed limits of 40 mph or more. Drivers get a $1,000 fine and up to 12 months behind bars for driving by school buses actively picking up children.

• Schools are required to keep automated defibrillators outside.
• Parents can receive up to $6,500 in vouchers for their students.
• Schools will guide children on social media use and internet safety.

🧒 Child welfare: Children who are either homeless or in legal custody of the Division of Family and Children Services can get free , state-issued ID cards.

• Parents, courts, and Georgia's foster care agency are required to quickly find a permanent placement for a child removed from their home.

🪪 Licensing: Beauticians who apply makeup or blow-dry and wash hair are no longer required to have a license.

🐄 Holy cow: Stealing livestock is illegal and punishable by up to 15 behind bars and a $10,000 fine.

🦐 State mascots: Shrimp is Georgia's new official crustacean. Bubba Gump would be proud.