Ava’s mother, Anna, bends down to talk to her daughter over the din in the hallway. Her own smile is all business, with a wink to the camera.

“What did he say?” she asks, referring to state Sen. Tim Golden, head of the insurance committee. ” Did you tell him we need a hearing?”

“No,” says Ava. “But I will!”

This playful moment between mother and daughter would have been unimaginable just six years ago, when Ava was diagnosed with autism. Bullard’s spirits were high because news had come that a committee hearing for Ava’s Law had been scheduled.

If passed, Ava’s Law would require insurance companies to pay for “evidence-driven treatment” — or treatment that’s been scientifically shown to help kids with an autism spectrum disorder. The law would not affect the self-insured plans offered by bigger companies, which cover about 60% of insured people in the state, according to the Georgia Office of Insurance.