The Georgia General Assembly adjourned Friday, March 7th and has completed 34 of 40 Legislative Days.
The Legislature is set to be in Session for Day 35 on Monday, March 10 until Day 37 on Wednesday , March 12th, the same day as the 2nd Annual “Council Day at the Capitol” lunch and Day 38 on Thursday March 13th.
The following week the Calendar calls for Session Day 39 on Tuesday, March 18th, Session Day 40 “Sine Die” on Thursday, March 20th.
Next week will slow the pace on the House and Senate Rules Calendars, as the Committees will be busy hearing legislation that has crossed over. At this point, the number of new House or Senate bills will dwindle, as they will not be eligible for passage this Session. Onward to Day 40, as the Legislature continues to move at a quick pace as the end of the 2014 Session is less than two weeks away.
THIS WEEK’S ACTION UNDER THE GOLD DOME
Over the last several weeks, in “Under the Gold Dome,” the Council has written detailed reports on certain bills circulating in the Georgia General Assembly. The chances of any of the highlighted bills written about previously will now become law now depended on whether these bills managed to get passed in their respective houses by Crossover Day.
Below is an update on whether these bills “crossed over” during Day 30.
- House Bill 907, also known as the “Uber Bill,” did not pass in the House on Crossover day. This controversial bill sought to impose restriction on popular ride-share services, such as Lyft and Uber, which would have forced these services to function in a way similar to taxicabs.
- House Bill 796 did not pass in the House. This Bill sought to create an exception to the current public disclosures law that would have allowed a private contractor to keep payroll and employee personal records private despite the public disclosures requirement.
- House Bill 875, also known as “Georgia’s Gun Bill,” passed the House 119 to 56, and is now in the Senate Judiciary Non-Civil Committee. This bill will treat churches and bars the same way that other private property is treated under current Georgia gun law. Essentially, if property owners approve, gun-carriers will be able to carry guns into churches and bars.
- Senate Resolution 987 still remains in the Senate Finance Committee and is not subject to General Assembly approval, but Senate approval only and is therefore alive. This bill would create a committee to study the elimination of income tax in Georgia.
- House Bill 921 did not pass the House. This bill would have forced local development authorities to submit quarterly reports to local governments in pursuit of superficial transparency.
- Senate Bill 299 passed in the Senate 46-7, and is now in the House Rules Committee. This bill gives local governments oversight of watershed management regulations and allows flexibility in local government standards. The Council testified in the House Natural Resources Environmental Control Subcommittee and is written about in greater detail in the “Council Spotlight Issue of the Week” below.
- House Bill 153, known as the “Fractional SPLOST,” passed in the House 97 to 75 and is now in the Senate Rules Committee after passing the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday. The Council presented a letter and spoke in favor of the legislation. This legislation will allow counties, pending an intergovernmental agreement with local municipalities, to levy, pending voter approval, a special option sales tax of less than 1%.