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
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Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
HIV ,
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Long-Term Care ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
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Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Scholarships ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Teaching Hospitals ,
Tort
Week one of the 2022 Legislative Session is in the books. The halls were relatively quiet on Friday as legislators filed in to receive copies of the budgets before sprinting home. ...more
1/17/2022
/ Bonds ,
Education Reform ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Funding ,
State Legislatures
Legislators and lobbyists alike faced a new reality under the Gold Dome in 2021 as the legislative session began amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. After the second half of last year’s bifurcated session provided a framework...more
7/1/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
Employees ,
Georgia ,
Governor Kemp ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lobbyists ,
Mental Health ,
Public Policy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
Just after midnight, the 2021 Legislative Session concluded with many legislative measures sneaking in under the wire—and many others lying dead on the House and Senate floors. The House and Senate compromise on the FY22...more
4/2/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
Charter Schools ,
Child Care ,
Community Development ,
Disabilities ,
District Attorneys ,
Educational Institutions ,
Federal Funding ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Judges ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Policy ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
The House and Senate floors remain active as our Report comes online this evening. Legislators continue to work at a fever pitch shepherding their bills and resolutions through the final stages of the legislative gauntlet...more
The General Assembly convenes for Legislative Day 40 on Wednesday, but we still have news to share from Legislative Day 39 as the Senate wound up its day’s work around 9:15 p.m. This special edition of the Report recaps floor...more
As expected (and feared), March madness has engulfed the State Capitol as legislators press to pass measures on the penultimate day of the 2021 Legislative Session. From late-arriving Rules Committee substitutes and...more
3/30/2021
/ Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Rebates ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
Legislative Day 38 continues as we publish this evening, a consequence of long floor calendars, weighty measures, and a quickly diminishing inventory of days remaining in the 2021 Legislative Session. Voting legislation...more
3/26/2021
/ General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
New Legislation ,
Nurses ,
Physicians ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Policy ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
Although the General Assembly was in adjournment today, legislators packed the day with committee meetings to consider languishing legislation, new amendments, and hastily drawn substitutes. One of the major points of the day...more
3/25/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
Colleges ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Nursing Homes ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
As quickly as it appeared, the Senate version of the FY22 State Budget descended into the shadows of a conference committee today, entering the final (and most secretive) phase of negotiations before final passage. Leaders in...more
3/24/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
Colleges ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Hospitals ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
New Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Student Athletes ,
Universities
The General Assembly kicked off the penultimate week of the 2021 Legislative Session early this morning with a number of committee meetings preceding early afternoon convenings of both chambers. Perhaps the most watched of...more
3/23/2021
/ Child Care ,
Disabilities ,
Educational Institutions ,
Federal Funding ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Scholarships ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Telehealth
Legislators and lobbyists braved an early morning downpour as action began early under the Gold Dome today. Committees began meeting at 7:30 a.m., and both chambers took to the floor at 10 a.m. The House completed their Rules...more
3/19/2021
/ Educational Institutions ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lottery ,
New Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tuition
There was green aplenty under the Gold Dome today, but the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow remains to be seen as Senate budget writers still deliberate the final touches on their version of the FY 2022 Budget. The House...more
3/18/2021
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Budgets ,
Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Human Trafficking ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Gatherings ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
Scholarships ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Universities
Seven legislative days remain in the 2021 Legislative Session, but you would not believe it based on House and Senate floor action today. Neither chamber held floor votes on any legislation, with the sole bill on the House...more
3/17/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
College Athletes ,
Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Insurance Industry ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Probation ,
Public Health ,
School Transportation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tuition ,
Vaccinations
The loss of an hour of sleep this weekend was apparent among lawmakers and lobbyists in the State Capitol today as the legislature slowly cranked back up for Legislative Day 32. Each chamber took up heavy calendars consisting...more
3/16/2021
/ Banking Sector ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
PACs ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Public Safety ,
Religious Institutions ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
Legislators wrapped up a long Crossover week today with short floor sessions and a variety of committee meetings. Most notably, subcommittees of the Senate Appropriations Committee rushed to complete hearings on the FY22...more
3/12/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Liability ,
New Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
School Districts ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Teachers
Work was swift today in both chambers as lawmakers adjourned quickly in an effort to move to committee discussions on pending legislation. Deliberations are intensifying on HB 81, the proposed spending plan for the state’s FY...more
3/11/2021
/ Clinical Laboratories ,
Colleges ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Universities