Author
State Senate to consider reopening Georgia’s ‘flawed’ 2015 medical cannabis law
Georgia patients have been waiting for years to legally access medical cannabis products approved by the state Legislature years ago, and Thursday could be do or die for the latest bill aimed at fixing the process. In 2015, the Legislature voted to allow people suffering from serious illnesses like Alzeimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or cancer […]
Georgia Legislature sends bill to limit transgender care for minors to governor
A bill limiting the care Georgia doctors could provide to transgender children awaits Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature after passing the state Senate for a second time Tuesday. Senate Bill 140, authored by Cordele Republican Sen. Carden Summers, would prohibit doctors from performing gender-affirming surgeries or prescribing hormone replacements to Georgians under 18. Children who are […]
Proposed school voucher increase muscled through Georgia House panel, setting up floor vote
A bill to expand Georgia’s school voucher program moved forward in a House subcommittee Monday with a boost from powerful Republicans. It is expected to get a full committee hearing Tuesday ahead of a potential House vote. Cumming Republican Sen. Greg Dolezal’s Senate Bill 233 would provide $6,000 to parents in the state’s lowest performing […]
Georgia House OKs bill to limit transgender care for minors as GOP prevails in party-line vote
Republican House lawmakers have approved a controversial measure limiting the care doctors can provide transgender patients under the age of 18. The bill was unexpectedly teed up for a vote early Thursday morning and put before lawmakers two hours later. Under it, doctors will be allowed to prescribe minors drugs that block the effects of […]
Firearm safety bill gets rare hearing in GOP-controlled Georgia Legislature
A Georgia House subcommittee heard testimony on a bill aimed at punishing gun owners who negligently allow firearms to fall into the hands of unsupervised children. The bill, authored by Johns Creek Democratic Rep. Michelle Au, is not moving forward this year, but Au said getting the Republican-led Georgia House Public Safety & Homeland Security […]
Emotions run high as Georgia House panel advances bill limiting transgender care for minors
A Georgia House committee gave its approval Tuesday to a Senate bill aimed at restricting the type of care doctors could provide to transgender minors. If signed into law, Cordele Republican Sen. Carden Summers’ Senate Bill 140 would prevent doctors from providing surgical or hormone treatments for gender dysphoria to people under 18. Minors already […]
School spending, enhanced HOPE and vouchers on minds of Georgia lawmakers in session’s final days
Georgia students and families could see big changes to their public schools this year as lawmakers continue work on numerous education bills that pump more money into classrooms, sweeten the HOPE Scholarship and expand school vouchers. But as the chill of winter gives way to the pollen-coated warmth of spring, time is running short to […]
Senate backs ban on transgender care for children in late Crossover Day vote
Young transgender Georgians could be denied access to some forms of gender-affirming care if a bill that passed the Senate Monday night becomes law. Senate Bill 140, authored by Cordele Republican Sen. Carden Summers, passed on a party-line vote. It would outlaw surgical or hormone replacement treatments for gender dysphoria, with an exemption for children […]
Crossover Day wrap: Flurry of bills passed at pivotal deadline
Dozens of bills cleared a key legislative deadline Monday, with some controversial measures – like a ban on some gender-affirming care – squeaking by as the clock wound down. And in the House, it was notable what didn’t come up for a vote at all: sports betting. The bill likely represented the last shot this […]
Prospects fade for legalized sports betting as Georgia lawmakers scuttle planned constitutional amendment
This story was updated at 12:45 a.m. March 7 after the House adjourned without taking a vote on a sports betting bill. Lawmakers’ attempts to expand gambling in Georgia appear to have flopped yet again after two bills failed to pass on Crossover Day. Athens Republican Sen. Bill Cowsert’s Senate Resolution 140 received a majority […]
School vouchers, election laws, gender-affirming care on agenda as lawmakers race to beat the clock
It’s crunch time under the Gold Dome. After a slow start, lawmakers have shifted gears in the ramp up to a key legislative deadline Monday, when a bill must clear at least one chamber to have the smoothest path to the governor’s desk. Lawmakers will weigh in on dozens of bills in a marathon day […]
New anti-abortion bills, gun safety legislation among long-shots as lawmakers reach key deadline
They can’t all be winners. Monday is Crossover Day, the deadline for bills to move from one chamber to the other without extreme legislative maneuvering. Many measures will be left in the dust when time runs out, despite the earnest efforts of politicians, advocates and lobbyists. Other bills – like proposals for more abortion restrictions […]