The Georgia House put in a full day on Thursday, taking up twelve propositions across two Rules Calendars before adjourning near 4PM. Representatives unanimously approved a bill strengthening Georgia’s Childhood Lead Exposure...more
3/4/2022
/ America Competes Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Education Reform ,
Employer Mandates ,
Federal Funding ,
General Assembly ,
Healthcare Reform ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Low-Income Issues ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Utility ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Vaccinations
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
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
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
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
March came in like a lion with 40 mile per hour wind gusts this morning and weighty rules calendars and committee agendas acknowledging the nearness of Crossover Day. In the House, all eyes were on the omnibus election reform...more
3/2/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Nursing Homes ,
Public Schools ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
Whew! The pace is becoming fever pitched as lawmakers push toward crossover day! Sports betting remains a hot topic - both on the Floor and in committee. We report more on that below. Yet, Georgia’s management of the pandemic...more
2/26/2021
/ Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Governor Kemp ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Probation ,
Public Schools ,
Scholarships ,
School Transportation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
The Georgia State Senate kicked off the second half of the 2021 Legislative Session on Tuesday by considering four measures on the hot topic of the year — Georgia’s election laws. Each bill passed, although three of four were...more
2/24/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
Election Laws ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Insurance ,
Insurance Industry ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Life Insurance ,
New Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
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
Legislative Day 14 was a bit like Christmas for lawmakers and lobbyists under the Gold Dome. Everyone got something — a Senate vote on the Amended FY21 Budget (which now proceeds to the House for reconciliation), a House vote...more
2/10/2021
/ Colleges ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Insurance Industry ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Universities ,
Vaccinations
While the House and Senate floors remain quiet, the afternoons under the Gold Dome most decidedly are not. Committee meetings abound, and lawmakers and lobbyists alike are confounded by the complexities of trying to attend...more
Today, one needed to have his or her skates on (or the ability to click a mouse quickly) to catch all the action as House and Senate committees began hearing bills and resolutions. Gaming was in particular focus today, with...more
2/3/2021
/ Charter Schools ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Gambling ,
Gaming ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Governor Kemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Schools ,
Small Business ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Teachers
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 ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mental Health ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Vaccinations
Topics of conversation today under the Gold Dome covered a variety of policies from vaccine availability and distribution, to the FY 2021 Amended Budget, and casinos and horse racing. Georgia schools are pressing for vaccines...more
Lawmakers returned to the Capitol despite the downpour of rain and quickly got down to work for the people of Georgia. The first task tackled was the House Appropriations Committee taking action on its complete...more
After a week of public budget hearings (and almost certainly a weekend of budget negotiations behind closed doors), the General Assembly reconvened today and pushed the Amended FY21 spending plan a bit further along its fast...more
The General Assembly’s Appropriations Committees resumed today on their work around the Governor’s recommendations for FY 2021 Amended and FY 2022 budgets. Today’s focal points were the state’s health and human services’...more
1/22/2021
/ Appropriation ,
Budgets ,
Child Care ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Disabilities ,
General Assembly ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Legislative Committees ,
Medicaid ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Vaccinations
Amidst a transition of power in our nation's Capital, the Georgia General Assembly continued its review of Governor Kemp’s budget recommendations for FY 2021 Amended and FY 2022. The focus for much of the day was on safety...more
1/21/2021
/ Appropriation ,
Budgets ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
General Assembly ,
Governor Kemp ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Public Health Emergency ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees convened jointly to begin their review of Governor Kemp’s proposals for the Amended FY21 and FY22 State Budgets revealed last week. With most members participating remotely via...more
In the longest legislative session in Georgia history – caused by the long COVID pause from mid-March to mid-June – lawmakers handled a number of thorny and difficult issues, including the passage of a...more
8/21/2020
/ Appropriation ,
Budgets ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
General Assembly ,
Governor Kemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Liability ,
Public Health Emergency ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures
In the waning hours of the General Assembly’s legislative session on June 26, 2020, the Georgia State Senate agreed to the Georgia House of Representative’s proposal to provide substantial liability limitation to businesses...more
Today, the General Assembly reconvened for its 31st Legislative Day (the second legislative day of the COVID era), and the environment remains both strange and amusing. While the people watching is supreme (and included one...more