Freedom Index

A Legislative Scorecard Based on the Principles of the U.S. Constitution

 
Butch Parrish

Butch Parrish

House of Representatives

District HD-158

Republican

Contact:

Phone: (404) 463-2246  |   (478) 237-3838
Office: 245 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334

Pro-liberty Votes

Score Session
48% Cumulative
55% 2023-2024 Regular Session 2023-2024 Regular Session
67% 2021-2022 Regular Session 2021-2022 Regular Session
17% 2019-2020 Regular Session 2019-2020 Regular Session
Butch Parrish

Butch Parrish

House of Representatives

District HD-158

Republican

Status: Active Legislator

Contact:

Phone: (404) 463-2246  |   (478) 237-3838
Office:
245 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Local Office:
District Address
132 Victory Drive
Swainsboro, GA 30401

 

Pro-liberty Votes

Score Session
48% Cumulative
55% 2023-2024 Regular Session 2023-2024 Regular Session
67% 2021-2022 Regular Session 2021-2022 Regular Session
17% 2019-2020 Regular Session 2019-2020 Regular Session

Voting History

Vote Vote Date Good Vote Vote
SB379 12/Mar/2020 Good: No --
More licensure for barbers
We Oppose. SB379 More Licensure for Barbers (Passed 49 to 5 on 3/12/2020). Would add a new certification for barbers and estheticians to obtain, increasing the amount of licensure they must obtain.

SB379 would increase the amount of required licensure for barbers and estheticians in the state of Georgia by adding a new “master barber” certification.

The Georgia State Senate passed SB379 on March 12, 2020 by a vote of 49 to 5. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this only serves to stifle business and entrepreneurship. The government should not get in the way of business, especially by adding a new certification that will take them away from work if they want to obtain it.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/57322
SB318 09/Mar/2020 Good: Yes --
University free speech
We Support. SB318 University Free Speech (Passed 32 to 21 on 3/9/2020). Ensures campuses cannot create so called "free speech zones" and ensures that public universities must maintain the right to free speech.

SB318 would ensure that public universities would have to be places of free speech, where people are allowed the freedom of expression protected by the 1st Amendment.

The Georgia State Senate passed SB318 on March 9, 2020 by a vote of 32 to 21. We have assigned pluses the ayes because this bill supports expanding free speech rights. The 1st Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech”.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/56941
HB105 05/Aug/2020 Good: No Yes
Public Transit Tax
We Oppose. HB105 Public Transit Tax (Passed 150 to 7 on 6/18/2020). Takes tax money from ride share transactions and puts it toward public transit projects around the state.

HB105 would take money taxed from any ride share services (Uber, Lyft, taxis, etc.) and put it toward public transit projects statewide.

HB105 was passed in the Georgia State House of Representatives on March 12, 2020 by a vote of 150 to 7. We have assigned pluses to the nays because taxing private services in favor of public services is governmental overreach. Private services are better suited to handle the needs of citizens.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54469
HB426 26/Jun/2020 Good: No Yes
Hate Crime Hoax
We Oppose. HB426 Hate Crime Hoax (Passed 127 to 38 on 6/23/2020). Adds penalties to the sentences of those who are charged with hate crimes.

HB426 would add further punishments for hate crimes committed in the state of Georgia.

The Georgia State House of Representatives passed HB426 on June 23, 2020 by a vote of 127 to 38. We have assigned pluses to the nays because many hate crime laws may infringe on the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression. “Hate” is a difficult and subjective term that doesn’t mean the same thing to each person.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/55281
HB426 26/Jun/2020 Good: No --
Hate Crime Hoax
We Oppose. HB426 Hate Crime Hoax (Passed 29 to 22 on 6/23/2020). Adds penalties to the sentences of those who are charged with hate crimes.

HB426 would add further punishments for hate crimes committed in the state of Georgia.  

The Georgia State Senate passed HB426 on June 23, 2020 by a vote of 29 to 22. We have assigned pluses to the nays because many hate crime laws may infringe on the First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression. “Hate” is a difficult and subjective term that doesn’t mean the same thing to each person.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/55281
HB105 05/Aug/2020 Good: No --
Public Transit Tax
We Oppose. HB105 Public Transit Tax (Passed 41 to 3 on 3/12/2020). Takes tax money from ride share transactions and puts it toward public transit projects around the state.

HB105 would take money taxed from any ride share services (Uber, Lyft, taxis, etc.) and put it toward public transit projects statewide.

HB105 was passed in the Georgia State Senate on May 18, 2020 by a vote of 41 to 3. We have assigned pluses to the nays because taxing private services in order to favor public services is governmental overreach. Private services are better suited to handle the needs of citizens.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54469
HB276 30/Jan/2020 Good: No Yes
Additional Online Taxes
We Oppose. HB276 Additional Online Taxes (Passed 111 to 54 on 4/1/2020). Increases the amount of sales tax that consumers would be paying with regards to online purchases.

HB276 would increase the amount of sales tax that consumers would have to pay on online purchases.

The Georgia State House of Representatives passed HB276 on April 1, 2020 by a vote of 111 to 54. We have assigned pluses to the nays as this bill only serves to increase the role of government in day-to-day life. Rather than increasing sales taxes, government must reduce both the tax burden for citizens and the size of government.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54880
HB276 30/Jan/2020 Good: No --
Additional Online Taxes
We Oppose. HB276 Additional Online Taxes (Passed 40 to 9 on 1/16/2020). Increases the amount of sales tax that consumers would be paying with regards to online purchases.

HB276 would increase the amount of sales tax that consumers would have to pay on online purchases.

The Georgia State Senate passed HB276 on January 16, 2020 by a vote of 40 to 9. We have assigned pluses to the nays as this bill only serves to increase the role of government in day-to-day life. Rather than increasing sales taxes, government must reduce both the tax burden for citizens and the size of government.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54880
SB72 07/May/2019 Good: Yes Yes
2nd Amendment for Hunting
We Support. SB72 Second Amendment for Hunting (Passed 105 to 61 on 4/2/2019). Allows hunters to use rifles in more scenarios, including in wildlife management hunting.

SB72 would allow hunters to use rifles in more scenarios, including in hunting on wildlife management areas.

The Georgia State House of Representatives passed in the house on April 2, 2019 by a vote of 105 to 61. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill is a win for gun rights and a step in the right direction. The right to own, possess, and carry a firearm is enshrined absolutely in the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54694
HB321 25/Apr/2019 Good: No --
Expanding Healthcare Schemes
We Oppose. HB321 Expanding Healthcare Schemes (Passed 50 to 2 on 3/29/2019). Would extend currently existing subsidy programs for rural hospitals, using tax money from the entire state to fund them.

HB321 would extend subsidy programs to low usage rural hospitals, and take money from the entire state to do so.

The Georgia State Senate passed HB321 on March 29, 2019 by a vote of 50 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays as government subsidies are unnecessary meddling. Taking money from taxpayers who would not use these hospitals constitutes theft.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54996
HB321 25/Apr/2019 Good: No Yes
Expanding Healthcare Schemes
We Oppose. HB321 Expanding Healthcare Schemes (Passed 147 to 19 on 3/29/2019). Would extend currently existing subsidy programs for rural hospitals, using tax money from the entire state to fund them.

HB321 would extend subsidy programs to low usage rural hospitals, and take money from the entire state to do so.

The Georgia State House of Representatives passed HB321 on March 29, 2019 by a vote of 147 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the nays as government subsidies are unnecessary meddling. Taking money from taxpayers who would not use these hospitals constitutes theft.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54996
HB221 02/May/2019 Good: No Yes
Increase in Debt
We Oppose. HB221 Increase in Debt (Passed 164 to 6 on 2/5/2019). Increases the amount of debt that the state of Georgia can take on by $100 million, with minimal provisions on where it can be spent.

HB221 would increase the limit on indebtedness by an extra $100 million, allowing the state to take on more debt.

The Georgia State House of Representatives passed HB221 on February 5, 2019 by a vote of 164 to 6. We have assigned pluses to the nays as this bill only serves to increase the debt being taken on by taxpayers. The government should not be expanding, as such growth only serves to impede citizens.

View vote details at legis.ga.gov/legislation/54767