Legislative Day 40 is a roller coaster, full of ups, downs, and zero gravity turns (also known as conference committee reports). One goes from celebrating a bill achieving final passage to lamenting a measure being gutted...more
3/29/2024
/ Educational Institutions ,
Elder Care ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
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Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Legislative Committees ,
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Property Owners ,
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Regulatory Agenda ,
Rural Areas ,
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Tax Credits
Show us the money! In an early morning meeting on Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee and its subcommittees unveiled the House version of the FY 2025 Budget. While there are many goodies in the $36.1 billion spending...more
3/6/2024
/ Education Reform ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
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New Legislation ,
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Friday marked Legislative Day 5. The House and Senate convened at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned by 10:00 a.m. That’s about it. We call it “burning a day.”...more
Governor Brian Kemp, surrounded by his family, gives remarks at his Inaugural Gala at State Farm Arena on Thursday night.
After four legislative days filled with celebration, the first week of the 2023 Legislative...more
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
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
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
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 ,
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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
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 ,
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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 ,
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Educational Institutions ,
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Georgia ,
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Healthcare Facilities ,
Judges ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
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Public Health ,
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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
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
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 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
After a late-adjourning Crossover Day, legislators and lobbyists largely slept late today, with one notable exception — those appearing before the Human Development Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which...more
3/10/2021
/ Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
After promises all week for a short Friday convening, legislators proceeded to work into the afternoon today ahead of Crossover Day on Monday. Focus in the Senate was on sports betting, with members debating and ultimately...more
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
/ Charter Schools ,
Disabilities ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
Public Health ,
Scholarships ,
Special Needs Adults ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
Both chambers of the General Assembly were busy today in an effort to push forward numerous bills in advance of Crossover Day on March 8. The Senate approved a number of education-related measures, including SB 42 relating to...more
3/4/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
Colleges ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lottery ,
New Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Student Athletes ,
Universities
Legislative Day 19 felt particularly cold, wet, and sleepy as legislators wrapped up a short week that was filled to the brim with committee meetings and actions. But before most members headed for the exits, the chambers did...more
2/19/2021
/ Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long Term Care Facilities ,
Lottery ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
Sports Betting ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Universities ,
Vaccinations
Freezing temperatures and the threat of icy roads couldn’t keep legislators away from the Gold Dome as they kicked off yet another week of the Session. Both chambers OK’d a small slate of bills followed by a packed afternoon...more
2/17/2021
/ Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disabilities ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
School Districts ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Universities ,
Vaccinations