ATLANTA – It was a long night for lawmakers in the Capitol as they worked to get new laws passed before midnight.
Sine Die, which means “no day” in Latin, is day 40 of the Georgia legislative session. According to the law, Georgian legislation can only meet 40 days a year.
“You know, miracles can happen on that day and of course fall into the water like the Titanic,” said Senator Jeff Mullis, speaking specifically about the likely decline in sports betting at that session.
Several bills are on their way to becoming law. In early March, Georgian lawmakers passed a law aimed at making takeaway cocktails from food companies permanent.
The General Assembly passed a law paving the way for the state to finally say goodbye to leaping forward and falling behind.
Georgia would switch to daylight saving time all year round with one major restriction – the US Congress must approve this.
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“The final resolution is for – if Congress ever acts – that’s a big if, and I get a couple of thumbs up, if Congress ever acts, we’d run daylight saving time year round,” said Sen. Ben Watson.
In a unanimous vote of the House, the General Assembly also approved the repeal of the Georgian law on the arrest of citizens. This bill is now on its way to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk for signature.
Break: Both houses of the General Assembly have now voted to repeal the civil war civil war law from GA – House vote 169-0. Go to the governor’s desk. pic.twitter.com/X9O8XzGO2i
– Justin Gray (@JustinGrayWSB) March 31, 2021
Another important law seems to have been neglected again this year. Sports betting is unlikely to take place in Georgia.
“They’re leaving tens of millions of dollars on need-based gap funding for the people who really need it,” said Mullis.
And then there are the last minute surprises. Last week the General Assembly passed the controversial new electoral law signed by Governor Brian Kemp.
On Wednesday, Ed Bastien, CEO of Delta Air Lines, criticized the law. Georgia Republicans were upset by his comments.
“You need to know that there are effects. We’re a Republican house, a Republican Senate, and a Republican governor, ”Watson said.
There was a late session that considered removing tax credits that were beneficial to the Atlanta-based airline, but in the end lawmakers failed to pass a bill.
Legislators also passed HB 94, known as the Porch Pirate Bill, which would make it a crime to steal mail or parcels from three or more different addresses.
The General Assembly also passed a law designed to prevent cities and counties from slashing their police departments’ budgets significantly.
A controversial bill that would have created classes to teach young drivers how to react when stopped by a police officer also failed.
Channel 2’s Richard Elliot said the bill passed the House but was rejected by the Senate. Opponents said it burdens the drivers, not the police.
