HB1335: HB1335 Emergency management; certain longshoremen and related maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers to be considered essential workers; provide

Georgia law already lets the Governor set up a system to certify organizations and businesses that help move essential goods during emergencies, under O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58. This bill adds a new subsection covering longshoremen (dock and cargo workers) and related maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers employed by or contracted with those certified organizations. During a state of emergency declared by the Governor, these workers would be officially classified as essential for moving and distributing essential goods. Emergency orders, curfews, or movement restrictions issued by 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 set an effective date beyond standard enactment and repeals conflicting laws.

• Adds longshoremen and related maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers to the list of essential workers during a governor-declared state of emergency.
• Bars emergency orders, curfews, or movement restrictions from unreasonably stopping these workers from reporting to work.
• Directs the Department of Public Health to give these workers priority access to protective equipment, testing, and vaccinations during emergencies.
• Makes these workers eligible for temporary hazard pay, premium pay, or emergency compensation if the Governor authorizes it.
• Repeals any existing state laws that conflict with these new protections.

Longshoremen and other maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers employed by or contracted with businesses certified under Georgia's emergency essentials transport system, along with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, local officials, and the Department of Public Health.

During a hurricane, pandemic, or other declared emergency, these workers could keep reporting to Georgia's ports and warehouses without being blocked by curfews or movement rules, helping keep supply chains for essential goods moving while giving workers access to protective gear and possible extra pay.

• Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 38-3-58 by adding subsection (c.1) covering longshoremen and related maritime, port, warehouse, and logistics workers tied to certified organizations or businesses.
• Paragraph (1) classifies these workers as essential for transporting or distributing essential goods during a declared state of emergency.
• Paragraph (2) prohibits emergency orders, curfews, or movement restrictions from unreasonably impeding them from working.
• Paragraph (3) gives them priority access to protective equipment, testing, and vaccinations as determined by the Department of Public Health.
• Paragraph (4) makes them eligible for temporary hazard pay, premium pay, or emergency compensation authorized by the Governor.
• Section 2 repeals any conflicting state 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
• essential workers
• port and logistics workers
• hazard pay
• disaster response