IMPACT AREAS

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Financial Protection

Through our Financial Protection Program (FPP), we focus on safeguarding consumer protections and issues that impact consumers’ wallets and quality of life, including identity theft, home foreclosure and predatory lending.

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Healthcare Access

The Health Access Program (HAP) seeks to ensure and expand access to safe and affordable healthcare for all Georgians through consumer empowerment, policy development and advocacy.

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Consumer Energy

The Consumer Energy Program (CEP) advocates on behalf of Georgia’s residential and small business customers in energy-related matters before Georgia’s Public Service Commission (PSC) and at the state capitol.

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Civil Justice

We seek to protect the right to trial by jury and promote access to the courts for all Georgians, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or economic level.

CONSUMER GUIDES

Advocacy Guide

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Advocates, community members, and others working on issues at the state-level often seek to spur legislative change.

The guide is designed to be used both independently and together to help shape your advocacy strategy and connect with elected officials.

Medical Bills and Debt Guide

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If you are one of millions of people struggling with medical bills or want to know how to lessen and manage your medical debt, this guide is for you!

Military Consumer Guide

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Military families are at a shockingly high risk for scams and deceptive business practices. The Guide will teach you how to protect yourself from common scams and inform you about your rights as a consumer.

Resource Directory

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Use this guide to jumpstart your research, explore avenues of advocacy you may be unfamiliar with, and connect with organizations working in your community.
This directory was curated as a guide for resources from individual and community-level perspectives. Organizations that provide assistance or guidance within each issue area are sub-categorized by geographic region.

Safer Lending Guide

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This guide takes an in-depth look at the types of small-dollar loans permitted in Georgia, how they are regulated, and who predatory lenders target.

POLICY PAPERS

Equity Impacts of Legislation

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This paper provides recommendations for adopting and implementing an Equity Impact Tool (EIT) to help lawmakers evaluate the positive and negative effects of certain legislation on historically disadvantaged groups in Georgia.

Keeping the Lights On

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Community solar presents an ideal alternative for low-income households who rent, cannot afford the high upfront costs of rooftop solar panels, live in multi-family housing, or lack suitable rooftops for panels.

Managing Garnishment Actions

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This paper provides recommendations for state law amendments to help Georgians pay off their debt while still maintaining a livable wage.

GEORGIA NEWS

Georgia Watch receives renewed funding from Community Catalyst to address disparities in healthcare
Georgia Watch receives renewed funding from Community Catalyst to address disparities in healthcare

By Natasha Taylor, Senior Director of Policy and Access, Georgia Watch We are thrilled to...

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State efforts to regulate earned wage access are heating up
State efforts to regulate earned wage access are heating up

By Miriam Cross, American Banker — Attempts across state legislatures to regulate earned wage...

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Floyd, Redmond earn “A”s for safety; roughly 4 in 10 Georgia hospitals receive a ‘C’ grade
Floyd, Redmond earn “A”s for safety; roughly 4 in 10 Georgia hospitals receive a ‘C’ grade

By Rome News-Tribune Staff, Rome News-Tribune — When it comes to quality, some Georgia hospitals...

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Roughly four in 10 Georgia hospitals receive a ‘C’ grade
Roughly four in 10 Georgia hospitals receive a ‘C’ grade

By T.A. DeFeo, The Center Square — (The Center Square) — When it comes to quality, some Georgia...

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Why Georgia Power power bills are rising
Why Georgia Power power bills are rising

By Emma Hurt, Axios Atlanta — Georgia Power bills will grow several times, for several reasons...

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State regulators hear pleas for relief from rising electric bills in Georgia Power fuel rate case
State regulators hear pleas for relief from rising electric bills in Georgia Power fuel rate case

By Stanely Dunlap, Georgia Recorder — Savannah resident Evelyn Jackson told Georgia utility...

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Cracking the Code: Understanding the All-Payer Claims Database for Better Healthcare Decision-Making
Cracking the Code: Understanding the All-Payer Claims Database for Better Healthcare Decision-Making

By Rahwa Yehdego, Policy Research Associate, Georgia Watch An All-Payer Claims Database (APCD)...

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What Georgia Consumers Should Know About State and Federal Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills
What Georgia Consumers Should Know About State and Federal Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills

By Rahwa Yehdego, Policy Research Associate, Georgia Watch Surprise billing, also called balance...

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Corporate lobbyists, trial lawyers set to rejoin battle next year after legislative split decision
Corporate lobbyists, trial lawyers set to rejoin battle next year after legislative split decision

By Stanely Dunlap, Georgia Recorder — A renewed debate about how victims are compensated in...

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Credit scores shed some medical debt; critics say it’s only partial help
Credit scores shed some medical debt; critics say it’s only partial help

By Michael E. Kanell, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution — Medical bills of less than $500 have...

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