Like air out of a balloon, the Georgia General Assembly concluded its 2025 Legislative Session on Friday with an exasperated but exhausted "PFFFFffffT." While many lawmakers and lobbyists floated through the halls during the...more
4/7/2025
/ Appropriations Bill ,
Department of Education ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
Strike up the band! The penultimate day of the 2025 Legislative Session has come! Legislative Day 39 continues as this Gold Dome Report goes online, and Sine Die Eve has already proven to be a spectacle. From a marching band...more
4/3/2025
/ Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Insurance Regulations ,
Mental Health ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
They say March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, but “they” have never been in the Georgia State Capitol in the run-up to adjournment Sine Die. Monday morning’s meeting of the standing Senate Rules Committee was a...more
4/1/2025
/ Appeals ,
Education Reform ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
State Taxes ,
Student Athletes
As the end of the 2025 Legislative Session draws near, those who still harbor hope for the legislative process look ahead to next year — with study committees. Everyone’s favorite way to see lawmakers and lobbyists in...more
3/31/2025
/ Diversity ,
Education Reform ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Insurance Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
Senate Committees ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
Unusually heavy traffic that stalled commutes to the Georgia State Capitol for many on Thursday morning may prove to be symbolic of the waning days of the 2025 Legislative Session. With many bills and resolutions still...more
3/28/2025
/ Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Government Agencies ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Senate Committees ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits
Much like construction happening with the legislative offices, gutting and stuffing began in earnest today — the 35th day of the legislative session. But we aren’t talking about the Georgia Capitol renovations that are...more
3/26/2025
/ Data Privacy ,
Economic Development ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Students ,
Teachers ,
Tourism
Republican lawmakers left the Senate chamber on Friday like victors heading for the locker room, collecting high fives and fist bumps from lobbyists in the hallway on their way to the ice baths. They had reason to...more
3/24/2025
/ Education Reform ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Policy ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tort Reform
The Georgia House of Representatives achieved the trifecta on Thursday, combining three favorite legislative traditions in one moment on the floor: recognition of a local novelty with an invite resolution, the appearance of a...more
3/21/2025
/ Drug Pricing ,
Education Reform ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
While we spend much of our time watching bills and budgets under the Gold Dome, lawmakers and elected officials spend much of their time honoring constituents and other notable figures....more
3/19/2025
/ Controlled Substances ,
Department of Veterans Affairs ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
Blood rolled in the streets at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday — the LifeSouth Bloodmobile, to be exact. While some lawmakers and lobbyists chose to voluntarily give the gift of life, for others, it was a painful...more
3/14/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Senate Committees ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
Legislative days are better with dogs, even if they are the oversized mascot variety. Tuesday’s tail-wagger was CALi, the “spokespuppy” for Bright from the Start: Georgia’s Department of Early Care and Learning, who scampered...more
3/12/2025
/ Department of Insurance ,
Education Reform ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Insurance Industry ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
While many lawmakers and lobbyists crawled into the Georgia State Capitol on Monday after the double-whammy of Crossover Day and the return of Daylight Savings Time (to Senator Ben Watson’s chagrin), a few select legislators...more
3/11/2025
/ Committee Meetings ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Safety ,
School Safety ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
As lawmakers and lobbyists shake out the cobwebs from a Crossover Day that ran late into Thursday night, we’re pouring back over what was done and left undone. This special #GoldDomeReport provides a Crossover Day wrap-up of...more
3/10/2025
/ Criminal Procedure ,
Department of Education ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Education Reform ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medicaid ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform
Crossover Day coincided with Cattlemen’s Day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, and the event known for its coveted steak biscuits brought a different type of celebrity this year. The Georgia Mobile Dairy Classroom,...more
3/7/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
School Districts ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Credits ,
Tax Reform
When lawmakers and lobbyists were greeted by the aroma of grilled peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the Georgia State Capitol on Tuesday morning, there was no question what day it was. In addition to Crossover Eve,...more
3/5/2025
/ Civil Rights Act ,
Criminal Procedure ,
Education Reform ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Motor Vehicles ,
New Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
School Districts ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
March came in like a lion on Monday as the Georgia General Assembly began its blitz toward Crossover Day on Thursday. With over 80 measures slated for hearing in House and Senate committees, state senators began their...more
3/4/2025
/ Committee Meetings ,
Controlled Substances ,
Department of Education ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform ,
Veterinarians
Amidst the usual suits and blazers, white dresses and tuxedos have been appearing with increasing frequency around the Georgia State Capitol this spring. Apparently word is out amongst the city’s photographers that the...more
3/3/2025
/ Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Insurance Industry ,
Insurance Regulations ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Transparency
With one week to go until Crossover Day, lawmakers and lobbyists are already feeling the exhaustion and exasperation captured in the face of James Oglethorpe’s bust on the North Steps. As committees convene constantly to...more
3/3/2025
/ Committee Meetings ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
Look out biscuits — cornbread is making a comeback in the Georgia State Capitol. After failing to fully bake in the State Senate in 2024, legislation designating cornbread as the official state bread (HB 14) returned to the...more
2/27/2025
/ Data Centers ,
Educational Institutions ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare ,
Infrastructure ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Policy ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Utilities Sector
Lawmakers and lobbyists watching the Georgia State Senate on Monday saw a lot of green and red, but it wasn’t exactly Christmas. While some state agencies and contractors stand to see a few extra greenbacks in the Senate...more
2/25/2025
/ Education Reform ,
Employee Benefits ,
Georgia ,
Government Agencies ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform
With fewer fireworks than many expected, Governor Brian Kemp’s comprehensive tort reform legislation achieved passage by a comfortable margin in the Georgia State Senate on Friday. Garnering a 33-21 vote mostly along party...more
2/24/2025
/ Ad Valorem Tax ,
Department of Education ,
Educational Institutions ,
Employee Benefits ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Sales Tax ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Reform ,
Tort
As both lobbyists and legal nerds, our ears perk up when the Georgia General Assembly takes up legislation that directly implicates the workings of the State’s criminal and civil justice systems. So, we’re listening closely...more
2/21/2025
/ Criminal Convictions ,
Criminal Justice Reform ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Damages ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tort Reform
While many lawmakers and lobbyists are characters themselves, the Gold Dome was filled with a number of other caricatures on Wednesday. Eagle-eyed onlookers spotted Scrappy the Owl as the early bird in the halls celebrating...more
2/20/2025
/ Colleges ,
Data Privacy ,
Educational Institutions ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State Legislatures ,
Students ,
Universities
The Georgia General Assembly returned in a frenzy on Tuesday with lawmakers and lobbyists rushing between back-to-back committee meetings in the morning and afternoon on a legislative day bifurcated by a 1 p.m. convening....more
2/19/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Automotive Industry ,
Disaster Relief Fund ,
Education Budget ,
Franchises ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Motor Vehicles ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Relief ,
Taxation
The Georgia General Assembly wrapped up its work week on Thursday and vacated the State Capitol for a four-day weekend flanked by Valentine’s Day and the holiday commonly known as President’s Day. But President’s Day is...more
2/14/2025
/ Data Privacy ,
Department of Education ,
FERPA ,
Gender Identity ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
School Safety ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures