Georgia lawmakers support cracking down on immigration and protecting religious freedom as the deadline expires

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers pushed through dozens of bills ahead of a key deadline Thursday, the last day for legislation to be passed by either the House or Senate and sent to the other legislative chamber for consideration this year.

Lawmakers backed plans to tighten rules on how law enforcement cooperates with immigration officials and introduce government protections for religious freedoms.

Some key proposals advanced earlier, including a constitutional amendment that could allow a statewide vote on legalizing sports betting and a plan to cut the income tax. Proposals that would have limited automatic voter registration and restricted the way private schools could speak to students failed to advance.

Proposals not adopted by the end of Thursday could be revisited later this year, but it will be more difficult.

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PROGRESSIVE

IMMIGRATION: House Bill 1105 This would require local law enforcement Request the assistance of federal agents Enforce immigration laws and impose criminal penalties on sheriffs who do not contact federal officials to verify the immigration status of prisoners.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: Advocates say Senate Bill 180 would protect religious freedom from being trampled on by state and local governments, while opponents say it is a license for people and groups to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in the name of religion.

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION: Senate Bill 390 prevents state and local governments from donating money to the American Library Association. The sponsor says the group's ideology is harmful. Valdosta State University could still use private funds to maintain accreditation of its library science degree.

Film tax credit: House Bill 1180 Achieving this would require greater use of Georgia-based employees and contractors top 30% income tax credit on film production and would limit the credits that can be sold to third parties to 2.5% of the state's annual budget, or about $900 million.

SPORTS BETTING: Georgians could get a chance in November to vote on a state constitutional amendment allowing it Sports betting after the passage of the Senate Senate Resolution 579.

PROPERTY TAXES: Senators want limit future increases of the taxable value of a house to 3% per year Senate Bill 349while House members want to increase the number nationwide Homestead Tax Exemption from $2,000 to $4,000 below House Bill 1019. School districts could Reduce property tax rates and still receive state aid House Bill 987.

INCOME TAXES: An already planned government cut in income tax would be accelerated under House Bill 1015which gives the state a flat income tax rate of 5.39% retroactive to January 1st.

SOCIAL MEDIA: Senate Bill 351 aims to require social media companies to get parental permission before allowing children under 16 to create accounts. It will also ban the use of social media via school computers and the internet and introduce new anti-bullying rules.

CASH DEPOSIT: Senate Bill 63 would require a cash deposit 30 additional crimesincluding some misdemeanors, and would impose new rules charitable bail funds. It awaits Gov. Brian Kemp's signature.

ANTISEMITISM: Gov. Brian Kemp signed in January House Law 30 define anti-Semitism for use in hate crimes and anti-discrimination cases. Opponents warn that it is being used to censor free speech and equate criticism of Israel with hatred of the Jewish people.

Gun tax relief: Senate Bill 344 would allow people to buy guns, ammunition and gun safes without paying sales tax every fall for five days, during House Bill 971 would give a $300 tax credit to people who purchase gun safes or gun locks or attend firearm safety training.

CHOOSE: Senate Bill 358 would give the state-appointed election board the Power to investigate Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's handling of elections. Senate Bill 189 would dictate that Barcodes cannot be used Count ballots and House Bill 976 would require watermarks on ballots. Senate Bill 355 would prohibit Ranked choice voting in Georgia.

DISCIPLINE OF THE PROSECUTOR: House Bill 881 And Senate Bill 332 would revive a commission with powers Take disciplinary action and remove prosecutorsa move Democrats are warning against is aimed at Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis prosecuting former President Donald Trump.

JUDGE PAYMENT: House Bill 947 would create guidelines on this Increase and standardize wages for judges.

LIMITS OF ACTION: Senate Bill 426 would limit the ability sue an insurance company right after a truck accident, during House Bill 1114 would seek data for a future push to limit lawsuits.

UNION ORGANIZATION: Companies receiving government economic incentives would be excluded from participation Recognition of trade unions without a secret ballot Senate Bill 362.

HEALTH CARE APPROVAL: Some additional health care expansions would be permitted without government approvals House Bill 1339but this bill would not go as far as the Senate's proposal to eliminate the certificate of need rules.

WATER RIGHTS: House Bill 1172 would amend the law governing the use of Georgia's waterways for boating, fishing and hunting. Proponents say it strikes a balance between public use and private property rights.

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NOT ADVANCED

MEDICAID: House leaders had discussed this Expand Medicaid to more adults with lower incomes, but instead want to address the issue.

SEX EDUCATION: School districts could have fallen Enlightenment lessons and students would only have been enrolled if their parents specifically chose to do so Senate Bill 532. The measure would have banned all sex education in fifth grade and below.

SCHOOL LIBRARIES: Senate Bill 394 wanted Limit materials Depiction of sexual acts in school libraries during Senate Bill 154 would have subjugated K-12 librarians to criminal sanctions if they violate state obscenity laws.

GENDER IDENTITY IN SCHOOLS: Senate Bill 88 would have restricted the way public and private schools could speak to students about gender identity.

CHALLENGES FOR VOTERS: Senate Bill 221 would have stopped the Georgian system automatic voter registration and made it easier to challenge people's eligibility to vote based on residency issues.

OKEFENOKEE MINING: Georgia would have suspended future permits for a mine expansion near the Okefenokee Swamp for three years House Bill 1338although opponents who want an outright ban on any expansion say the moratorium would have been ineffective.

FOREIGN FARMLAND: People and companies from certain foreign countries would have been prohibited from purchasing farmland within 25 miles (40 kilometers) of a military base Senate Bill 420 And House Bill 452.

School certificates: House Bill 1186 would have required state education officials to reinstate an individual's assignment 100 points to describe the academic performance of a school.

Speeding cameras: House Bill 1126 Would have repealed authorization for automatic cameras to issue speeding tickets in school zones.