The General Assembly returned to the Capitol on Monday, but the lack of floor action in the chambers seemed more like Legislative Day 3 than Legislative Day 32. Neither the House nor the Senate had Rules Calendars as the...more
As the countdown to Day 40 continues, the House and Senate Rules Committees have pressed the pause button on their meetings, which really cramps everyone's style. The House has yet to pass a Senate Bill or place one on its...more
After a late night, both the House and Senate had an afternoon start time. Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) announced the passage of 60 bills in the House yesterday. Meanwhile, Governor Kemp held a press conference on the...more
Work continues under the Gold Dome as this Report went live on Tuesday evening, with legislators in the House and Senate jockeying to get their bills and resolutions across the hall before the gavel falls on Crossover Day...more
3/16/2022
/ Education Reform ,
Insurance Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Opioid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Social Services ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform
The Georgia House went into extra innings on Friday as it worked to send as many measures as possible to the Senate on “Crossover Eve.” Next week’s deadline for legislation to cross to the opposite chamber loomed large with...more
Although the House and Senate took up a number of measures throughout the day, money matters drew the attention of most lawmakers and lobbyists under the Gold Dome on Wednesday. After approving a measure to reduce Georgia’s...more
With less than a week to go before Crossover Day, the General Assembly continued to advance major propositions through the legislative process on Tuesday. One of those major propositions, Speaker Ralston’s Mental Health...more
Legislators wrapped up the week with busy floor calendars on Friday that are sure to provide plenty to talk about back in their districts this weekend — and well into election season. The House took up and passed a trio of...more
The Georgia House put in a full day on Thursday, taking up twelve propositions across two Rules Calendars before adjourning near 4PM. Representatives unanimously approved a bill strengthening Georgia’s Childhood Lead Exposure...more
3/4/2022
/ America Competes Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Education Reform ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Funding ,
General Assembly ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Low-Income Issues ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Utility ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Vaccinations
The House and Senate did get some work done on Legislative Day 22, including approval of the $1.6 billion tax refund package proposed by Governor Kemp in his State of the State address by the House (HB 1302)....more
3/2/2022
/ Abortion ,
Cybersecurity ,
Education Reform ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Masks ,
New Legislation ,
Opioid ,
Patient Access ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Students ,
Surprise Medical Bills ,
Tax Liability ,
Vaping
Beginning the downhill slide into the second half of the 2022 Legislative Session on Monday, the Georgia State Senate spent its morning discussing the Second Amendment while the House discussed divesting any Russian assets...more
3/1/2022
/ General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HIV ,
Housing Discrimination ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Wage and Hour
The General Assembly wrapped up its workweek on Thursday by taking up a number of weighty issues in each chamber. The House approved the much-discussed “Student Technology Protection Act” (HB 1217), legislation allowing for...more
2/25/2022
/ Adoption ,
Clean Energy ,
Eavesdropping ,
Education Reform ,
General Assembly ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lottery ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform ,
Workers Compensation Awards
The General Assembly returned to the State Capitol for Legislative Day 19 on Twos-day (2/22/22) with multiple measures up for consideration in each chamber. The House approved a number of health-related propositions,...more
2/23/2022
/ Criminal Justice Reform ,
General Assembly ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HIV ,
Labor Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
Today’s work, as lawmakers close on the sixth week since the session’s opening, focused on local legislative initiatives in the House while there was more variety of subjects taken up by the Senate. There was also a pause of...more
2/18/2022
/ Apprenticeships ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Charter Schools ,
Congressional Committees ,
Employee Retention ,
Homestead Exemption ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Retirement Funds ,
Solar Energy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform ,
Waste Management
The General Assembly marked another day off the legislative calendar on Tuesday, and opossums and raccoons moved one step closer to being knocked off any time of the year in Georgia. HB 1147, allowing year-round hunting of...more
2/16/2022
/ Bail ,
Child Abuse ,
Congressional Committees ,
General Assembly ,
Hazardous Waste ,
Hunting ,
Lead Poisoning ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Motor Vehicles ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Sales & Use Tax ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Wrongful Conviction
The House and Senate largely avoided each other on Valentine’s Day, with the Senate quickly gaveling in and taking care of business this morning before the House rolled in for an afternoon convening. It’s unclear whether the...more
2/15/2022
/ Controlled Substances ,
Educational Institutions ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
LGBTQ ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
New Legislation ,
Opioid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Sex Trafficking ,
Stalking ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
State Legislatures
The General Assembly took a half day on Friday after a full week of floor debates and committee proceedings. Although the House and Senate addressed a collective six measures on their floors, legislators made quick work of...more
2/15/2022
/ Electric Vehicles ,
Farms ,
General Assembly ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Opioid ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform
Thursday marked the halfway point to Crossover Day, and members of the House Appropriations Committee got to work early approving their version of the Amended FY23 Budget. Although the House is proposing minimal changes...more
2/11/2022
/ Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Education Reform ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Special Education ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform
The House Chamber was filled with black robes (and maybe a nervous member or two) as the Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals assembled for the annual State of the Judiciary Address on Tuesday. ...more
The floors of the House and Senate were busy today as legislators quickly got back to work after the three-day weekend. The Senate took up several weighty measures, including SB 338, which would expand Medicaid coverage for...more
2/8/2022
/ Abortion ,
Cancer ,
Charter Schools ,
Employee Benefits ,
HIV ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Sales & Use Tax ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform
They say Thursday is the new Friday, and the State Senate took the sentiment to heart yesterday, quickly convening, dispensing with procedural business, and adjourning into a three day weekend. The House Rules Chairman...more
2/4/2022
/ Constitutional Amendment ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
General Assembly ,
Guardianships ,
Labor Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Nurses ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Right to Repair ,
Sales & Use Tax ,
Scholarships ,
State and Local Government ,
State Constitutions ,
State Legislatures ,
Teaching Hospitals ,
Tuition
The House and Senate had relatively short floor agendas on Wednesday, but each took up measures that will make waves in Georgia courts–and the court of public opinion. The House approved, HB 478, Representative Bonnie Rich’s...more
2/3/2022
/ Daubert Standards ,
Driver's Licenses ,
Federal Funding ,
Foster Children ,
Hunting ,
Impact Fees ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Senate Finance Committee ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform ,
Utility Rates ,
Workers' Compensation Claim
The General Assembly got back to work on Tuesday with a slate full of committee meetings to advance bills and resolutions through the legislative gauntlet. But before legislators receded into the meeting rooms in the State...more
2/2/2022
/ General Assembly ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HIV ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long-Term Care ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Scholarships ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Teaching Hospitals ,
Tort
Although Wednesday was Mental Health Day at the State Capitol, legislators and lobbyists appeared much more checked out on Thursday. Both chambers convened, and the House debated and passed HB 841 (putting forth a referendum...more
1/28/2022
/ Foster Children ,
Grants ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Income Taxes ,
Inmates ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
Mental Health Parity Rule ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Sales & Use Tax ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform ,
Wage and Hour
There was a great deal of action under the Gold Dome on Tuesday, including the biennial “class” portrait in the House where they had their panoramic photo taken. Other notable news of the day included the Senate Republican...more
1/26/2022
/ Adjournment ,
Complaint Procedures ,
Data Security ,
Expert Testimony ,
General Assembly ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Internet ,
Labor Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Organ Donation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Social Media ,
State and Local Government ,
Substance Abuse