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
It was Mental Health Day under the Gold Dome, headlined by the unveiling of Speaker David Ralston’s (R-Blue Ridge) much discussed, and anticipated, mental health parity bill. House lawmakers, members of the Behavioral Health...more
1/27/2022
/ Charter Schools ,
Clinical Trials ,
Complaint Procedures ,
Credit Repair Services ,
Expert Witness ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Labor Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Pending Legislation ,
School Districts ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
Students
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
The floors of the House and Senate were unusually active on Monday compared to a typical Fifth Legislative Day. Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) welcomed Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens to address his chamber amidst the...more
1/25/2022
/ Congressional Committees ,
Economic Development ,
Internet Retailers ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Political Appointments ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Right to Vote ,
Senate Judiciary Committee ,
Stalking ,
State and Local Government ,
Tax Credits ,
Teaching Hospitals ,
Term Limits
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
Following a teaser at the Eggs & Issues breakfast on Wednesday, Governor Kemp threw open the curtain on his policy platform and budget proposals in yesterday's State of the State address. ...more
Politicians and policy wonks were atwitter about the legislative propositions–and proposed budget outlays–announced by Governor Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, and Speaker David Ralston at the Georgia Chamber’s...more
1/13/2022
/ Child Abuse ,
Crime Victims ,
Grants ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Refunds ,
Voting Rights
With many legislators rushing to appointments in Indianapolis, the first day of the 2022 Georgia Legislative Session concluded as quickly as it began–but not before Glory, Glory rang through the hallways as jarringly as the...more
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