Government & Politics
Politics aside, supporters pushing expansion of Georgia’s mental health services stay optimistic
A measure designed to expand access to behavioral health treatment in Georgia has been trimmed down but remains in play for this year, even if it may take some extraordinary maneuvering to push it through the Senate at this late stage. The House bill, which builds on last year’s major mental health bill, appears to […]
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 lawmakers poised to create oversight panel with power to remove local prosecutors
Momentum continues to build in the Georgia Legislature for a proposed law that could allow state officials to remove district attorneys from office for misconduct. The Georgia House moved a step closer this week to establishing a prosecutor oversight commission, the first of its kind in Georgia, as the House Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill […]
Priorities for rail safety bill debated in U.S. Senate hearing with Norfolk Southern CEO
Members of a U.S. Senate committee on Wednesday previewed what they would push for in bipartisan rail safety legislation likely to progress through Congress in the aftermath of the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment. Democrats and Republicans on the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hinted they wanted to strengthen requirements about reporting hazardous cargo, […]
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 bill to shield government worker information from public records narrowed to law enforcement
A Senate measure that would have limited the public’s access to personal information of politicians and government employees – like their home address – has been narrowed down to only apply to law enforcement officers. The original bill had alarmed First Amendment advocates who argued lawmakers were creating a broad public records exemption that would […]
Trump lawyers try to smother Fulton grand jury report on 2020 election interference
Former president Donald Trump has launched a legal challenge to block the release of the Fulton County special grand jury report and stop the district attorney from pursuing criminal charges against him, his inner circle and other supporters connected to interference in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election. Trump’s attorneys filed a motion in Fulton County Superior […]
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 […]
Listen up: New wave of Georgia lawmakers accents state’s shifting demographics
In the last decade, Georgia’s population has grown more diverse, especially as the state welcomes an increasing number of immigrants and refugees. As a result, much of the work taking place at the Capitol is beginning to reflect the state’s changing demographics – and accents. At least 83 non-white members participated in the 2023 legislative […]
Online sports betting back on the table as Georgia lawmakers hijack soapbox derby bill
A late entry in the 2023 legislative session revived hopes for supporters of sports betting in Georgia. There are five chances left for the full chambers of the Georgia Senate and House to vote on online sports betting legislation that was given new life last week when a Senate panel hijacked a bill intended to […]
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 […]