HB 1335: Emergency management; certain longshoremen and related maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers to be considered essential workers; provide

Georgia law already lets the Governor certify organizations and businesses to keep essential goods moving during a declared state of emergency, under a system set out in the state's emergency management law (O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58). This bill adds a new section covering longshoremen (dockworkers) and related maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers employed by or contracted with those certified organizations. Under the bill, these workers would be officially classified as essential workers for moving and distributing essential goods. Emergency orders, curfews, or movement restrictions from the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency or local officials could not unreasonably stop them from getting to work. They would get priority access to protective equipment, testing, and vaccinations as decided by the Department of Public Health, and would be eligible for temporary hazard pay or emergency compensation if the Governor authorizes it. The bill does not include a separate effective date section, so it would take effect under Georgia's standard rules once signed.

• Adds workers such as longshoremen, port workers, warehouse workers, and logistics workers to the essential worker classification during a state of emergency declared by the Governor.
• Bars emergency orders, curfews, or movement restrictions from state or local officials from unreasonably keeping these workers from reporting to their jobs.
• Gives these workers priority access to protective equipment, virus testing, vaccinations, and other protective resources as decided by the Department of Public Health.
• Makes these workers eligible for temporary hazard pay, premium pay, or emergency compensation if the Governor authorizes it.
• Limits these protections to workers employed by or under contract with organizations and businesses already certified under Georgia's essential goods transport system (O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58).

Longshoremen and other maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers in Georgia, the businesses and organizations that employ or contract with them and are certified under the state's essential goods system, the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, local officials who issue emergency orders, and the Department of Public Health.

During emergencies like storms or pandemics, curfews or movement restrictions could otherwise keep port and logistics workers from their jobs, disrupting the flow of goods. This bill would guarantee those workers can keep working, get priority protective supplies, and possibly receive extra pay during declared emergencies.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58 by adding subsection (c.1), which applies only during a state of emergency declared by the Governor.
• Paragraph (1) classifies covered longshoremen and logistics workers as essential workers for transporting or distributing essential goods.
• Paragraph (2) protects these workers from being unreasonably blocked from reporting to work by emergency orders, curfews, or movement restrictions.
• Paragraph (3) grants priority access to protective equipment, testing, and vaccinations as determined by the Department of Public Health.
• Paragraph (4) makes these workers eligible for hazard pay, premium pay, or emergency compensation if authorized by the Governor.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2026-02-19House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-18House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-17House Hopper (House)

• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)Primary sponsor
• Ron Stephens (R, HD-164)
• El-Mahdi Holly (D, HD-116)
• Carl Gilliard (D, HD-162)
• Al Williams (D, HD-168)
• Mike Cameron (R, HD-001)

• emergency management
• port workers
• essential workers
• hazard pay
• supply chain