Thursday carried several distinctions under the Gold Dome. It was Leap Day, the quadrennial opportunity to celebrate those born on Feb. 29. It was Crossover Day, the day we all have to explain to our significant others each...more
3/1/2024
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No time for fun and games today — the Georgia House and Senate were all business on the final legislative day before Crossover. Each chamber took up numerous weighty issues with vigorous debate but, fortunately, no broken...more
2/28/2024
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Take a deep breath — this week is going to be a doozy. With Crossover Day looming just nine days away, committees shifted into high gear on Tuesday as legislators scrape and claw to get their bills and resolutions on track...more
2/21/2024
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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
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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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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
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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
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School Districts ,
Sick Leave ,
State and Local Government ,
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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
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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
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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
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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 ,
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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
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Colleges ,
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Georgia ,
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Long Term Care Facilities ,
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Public Health ,
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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
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Disabilities ,
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Georgia ,
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Medicaid ,
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The General Assembly was in adjournment today, but lawmakers and lobbyists were watching attentively the action in Room 341 this morning. There, beginning at 7:30 a.m., House appropriators began slowly revealing their...more
3/5/2021
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Special Needs Adults ,
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State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
Before the crack of the dawn, legislators were under the Gold Dome to continue their work for the people of Georgia. The Senate Appropriations Human Development Subcommittee kicked off discussions with a hearing at 6:30 a.m....more
2/1/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disabilities ,
Foster Children ,
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Georgia ,
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State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Vaccinations
The General Assembly closed the first week of its 2021 Legislative Session with a look ahead at Governor Kemp’s plans for the State’s budgets and his expected legislative initiatives. Before a joint session of the House and...more
1/15/2021
/ Budgets ,
Disabilities ,
Elder Care ,
General Assembly ,
Governor Kemp ,
Grants ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Policy ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government
Today was all about the numbers - State spending and revenue as well as the increasing count of Georgians diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. The House Appropriations Committee voted out its version of HB 793, the state’s...more
3/11/2020
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Teachers
With midnight and adjournment Sine Die quickly approaching, legislators and lobbyists continue to work this evening to get propositions across the finish line. ...more
4/3/2019
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A relatively quiet Committee Work Day erupted with activity late this afternoon as the Conference Committee on the FY 2020 Budget announced a compromise spending proposal. Details are still limited at our deadline, but it...more
It felt as if the eye of the storm centered over the State Capitol today as committee action slowed and legislators and lobbyists prepared for the flurry of action that will lead to adjournment Sine Die next week. ...more
After the relative calm of two Committee Work Days, legislators were back in action early this morning for Legislative Day 34. Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee were the early birds, and many did get worms in the...more
Lawmakers and lobbyists scampered through the halls of the State Capitol and Coverdell Legislative Office Building today as interests worked to push remaining bills through the committee process for the 2019 Legislative...more
Lawmakers returned for Legislative Day 31 today, although only one bill was heard between the chambers. Legislators made it count, though, with the Senate considering HB 316, Rep. Barry Fleming’s (R-Harlem) proposition to...more
The General Assembly was not in session, but there was plenty of business being conducted under the Gold Dome today. House and Senate committees used the “day off” to continue to digest bills and resolutions passed by the...more
Action under the Gold Dome was light today as members of the General Assembly (and lobbyists) adjusted to Daylight Savings Time. While the House convened at their normal start time, the absence of a Rules Calendar expedited...more