GA Legislative Watch | Feb. 4, 2022

February 4, 2022
GLW, In the News

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GA Legislative Watch

By Molly McLoughlin ● Feb 04, 2022
Smart Brevity™ count: 2 mins… 581 words

Happy Friday! — Monday will be Legislative Day 12, with both chambers convening at 10 am and committees meeting all through the day. There are 29 more legislative days left this session.

1 Big Thing: All Eyes on Gwinnett

Gwinnett County Commission district boundaries will be redrawn under HB 873.

Carried by Gwinnett GOP Rep. Bonnie Rich, it passed in the House Governmental Affairs Committee and then on the House floor by a vote of 96-70 over the loud objections of Gwinnett Democrats.
The bottom line: The map includes a new northern district most likely to elect a Republican, and it threatens two incumbent commissioners’ seats.

Also, the school board may become a nonpartisan body thanks to the passage of SB 369.

Our thought bubble: Normally redistricting bills go through the local delegation and do not move to the House floor without their approval.

2. Notable Bills Passed or Introduced

Ditto☝🏽! Rep. Ginny Ehrhart (R-36) introduced HB 1028 to change Cobb County’s school district boundaries which were approved in December by the Republican-majority school board.

What they’re saying: “Republicans are seeking to seize power and overrule the voters,” said state Rep. Erick Allen (D-40), who serves as the Cobb delegation chairman.

“Constitutional Carry” legislation in the way of SB 319 passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee, allowing Georgians to carry a gun without a permit.

A transgender sports ban was introduced. SB 435 makes it unlawful for public or private schools that compete against public schools to “operate, sponsor, or facilitate athletic programs or activities that permit a person of one gender to participate in an athletic program or activity designated for persons of the opposite gender.” The bill is backed by high-profile support of allies of Gov. Kemp.

3. Big Political News

Dozens of Buckhead business leaders signed a letter asking the General Assembly to exclude the commercial district of Buckhead from the proposed Buckhead City.

By the numbers: Including many marquee names, the collective represents $4.7B in real estate accounting for $57M in annual property taxes to the city.

Stacey Abrams has raised $9.2M from more than 100,000 donors since entering the race for Governor in December.

She outpaced Kemp, who raised $7.4M the final six months of 2021 for a total of $12.7M in the bank.
Former U.S. Sen. David Perdue has yet to disclose what he’s raised.

Rep. Bee Nguyen (D-89) raised over $1M for her Secretary of State run.

Big exits, open seats:

Rep. Zulma Lopez (D-86) announced she will not seek re-election.
Rep. Mike Wilensky (D-80) announced he will not seek re-election.
Atlanta Planning Commissioner Tim Keane is resigning. Deputy Planning Commissioner Janide Sidifall will serve as interim commissioner until a national search turns up a replacement.

4. Leadership Changes

Odie Donald II, administrator of the Augusta-Richmond County consolidated government, is returning to his native Atlanta to serve as Mayor Andre Dickens’ chief of staff.
Rep. Matt Dollar (R-45) resigned to become deputy commissioner of the Technical College System of Georgia, setting up a special election in the coming months.
Rep. Mandi Ballinger (R-23), chair of the House Juvenile Justice Committee, was appointed by Speaker Ralston to serve as vice chairman of the House Rules Committee for the remainder of the 2021-2022 legislative term.
Sen. Gail Davenport is the new Senate Democratic Caucus Vice Chair replacing Sen Lester Jackson who is running for Labor Commissioner.

5. What’s Next

The Senate Rules Committee added the following bills to the Rules Calendar for Monday, Feb, 7:

SB 257 – Criminal history record restrictions for certain persons cited with or convicted of certain criminal offenses.

SB 326 – Placement of a monument of the Honorable Clarence Thomas within the capitol building or grounds.

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