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 ,
Health Insurance ,
Income Taxes ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Legislative Committees ,
New Legislation ,
Property Owners ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Policy ,
Public Schools ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Rural Areas ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
State Legislatures ,
Tax Credits
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
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
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 and lobbyists braved an early morning downpour as action began early under the Gold Dome today. Committees began meeting at 7:30 a.m., and both chambers took to the floor at 10 a.m. The House completed their Rules...more
3/19/2021
/ Educational Institutions ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance ,
Juvenile Justice System ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lottery ,
New Legislation ,
Public Safety ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Tuition
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
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 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
Although the General Assembly was in adjournment today, legislative committees were hard at work. With less than 24 hours remaining for propositions to emerge from committee in the Senate and still be considered this year,...more
3/3/2021
/ Educational Institutions ,
Elder Care ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Long-Term Care ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Scholarships ,
State and Local Government ,
Students
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
Legislators closed out a long week at the State Capitol on Friday with a flurry of activity on the respective chambers’ floors. The House approved 16 measures, including bills enacting the Professional Counselors Licensure...more
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
Monday marked the nominal halfway point of the 2021 Legislative Session, but there is a keen awareness among lawmakers and lobbyists that more than half of the legislature’s work for the year lies in the legislative days to...more
2/23/2021
/ Budgets ,
Charter Schools ,
Educational Institutions ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
School Districts ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
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
Education was the theme on the floors of the Georgia House and Senate today as each body approved measures impacting K-12 teachers and students around the state. The Senate signed off on two such bills, including Governor...more
2/18/2021
/ Discipline ,
Educational Institutions ,
Foster Children ,
General Assembly ,
Georgia ,
Governor Kemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Teachers