Here’s a look at the status of some key issues.
ATLANTA – The Georgian General Assembly concluded its 2021 session on Wednesday, with legislators still to react to the state budget and many other bills. Some important proposals had already been passed, such as a revision of the state election law that restricts certain types of voting, and a slight reduction in income tax.
Here’s a look at the status of some key issues:
PASS
INCOME TAX reduction: Georgia will increase the amount of money someone could make before paying income taxes under House Bill 593, which Governor Brian Kemp has already signed, lowering total taxes by $ 140 million.
CITIZEN ARREST: House Bill 479 would abolish the Georgia law that allows individuals to arrest someone, while allowing security guards and camp workers to detain anyone they accuse of a crime until the police arrive. Kemp applauded the passage, saying the law “strikes a critical balance in allowing Georgians to protect themselves and their families while removing the civil war-era language in our laws that is ripe for abuse.”
TAX RELIEF: Senators and representatives are trying to negotiate an agreement on Senate Draft 6, which deals with new tax breaks and a revision of the state’s revenue if it waives it due to tax breaks.
SCHOOL VOUCHERS: Senate Act 47 would expand eligibility for a program that pays private school attendance for children with special educational needs. The House failed to take into account Bill 60, which would have created a new educational savings account program to provide vouchers for private schools and home schooling.
DEFINITION OF THE POLICE: House Bill 286 says cities and counties cannot cut spending on their law enforcement agencies by more than 5% a year.
LIABILITY FOR JURISDICTIONS: House Bill 112 would extend Georgia law through July 2022, protecting companies and others from being sued if someone blames them for contracting COVID-19.
STREET RACING: House Bill 534 would increase penalties for illegal street racing and stunt driving.
HOME SCHOOL ATHLETES: Public schools would be required to allow home-schooled students to participate in athletics and extracurricular activities as long as they take at least one online class through the local school under Senate Act 51 and Senate Act 42.
TIME CHANGE: House Bill 44 and Senate Bill 100 require Georgia to maintain daylight saving time permanently if the federal government permits.
HAZING: Senate Act 85 would make it an administrative offense to force people to consume substances that can cause vomiting, poisoning or loss of consciousness.
PORCH PIRACY: House Bill 94 would make it a crime to steal packages from three or more different addresses.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Senate Law 33 would allow victims or state officials to bring civil actions for damages against traffickers, while Senate Law 34 would make it easier for people who have been trafficked to change their names.
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE: House Bill 146 would provide nearly 250,000 state, public university, and public school employees with three weeks of paid parental leave at any time after the birth, adoption, or foster care of a child.
COCKTAILS TO GO: Guests in Georgia could order mixed alcoholic beverages to take away when ordering food under Senate Law 236.
DECLARED OFFICIAL SALARY: Senate Resolution 134 would let voters decide whether to amend the state constitution to suspend the pay of elected state officials who are charged.
SAMPLE TIME: Senate Act 105 would give some people the opportunity to ask a judge to release them from parole after three years of custody.
INCENTIVES FOR TEACHERS: House Bill 32 would give a state income tax credit of $ 3,000 per year to some Georgia teachers who agree to work in certain rural or underperforming schools.
FAILED
ADULT CRIMINAL AGE: The age at which most people would be charged with adult offenses would have increased from 17 to 18 in Georgia under House Bill 272.
COAL ASH: House Bill 647 would have required 50 years of groundwater monitoring in coal ash ponds near decommissioned power plants.
ALTERNATE DRIVING: Georgia drivers couldn’t avoid penalties by telling judges that they bought hands-free kits for their cell phones under House Bill 247.
SPORTS BETTING: Senate Resolution 135 and Senate Law 142 would let Georgia’s voters decide whether to allow sports betting. Lawmakers would divide the revenue into college scholarships for low-income students, expanded high-speed internet access, and rural health services.
PATIENT VISITS: Hospitals and nursing homes could be required to allow patient visitors after many visitors were restricted to House Bill 290 due to the coronavirus pandemic, although the Senate version is removing those mandates
WEAPON LAWS: House Bill 218 would relax Georgia law to allow anyone from any state with a concealed weapon permit to carry their weapon in Georgia and prohibit the closure of gun permits, gun sales, and shooting ranges in a state of emergency.
PROTEST LIMITS: House Bill 289 would require approval for any nationwide protest, making it an illegal gathering when two or more people molest someone in a variety of public places, and impose tougher penalties for acts like blocking highways.
STATE ADMINISTRATION ERROR: The state would set up a new commission to investigate and discipline elected district attorneys and prosecutors in House Bill 411.
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that HB 605 was passed in the Senate. This story has been updated to reflect this.
For the current report on the last day of the legislative period, click here.
