GA Legislative Watch | Feb. 25, 2022

February 25, 2022
GLW, In the News

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GA Legislative Watch

By Brandeis Parkman • Feb 25, 2022
Smart Brevity™ count: 2.5 mins…712 words

Ohhh, we’re halfway there (whoa! livin’ on a prayer… ) — Thursday was Legislative Day 20, leaving 20 more days in the 2022 Legislative Session.

Crossover Day – the deadline for a bill to pass out of either legislative chamber — is approaching. Bills that fail to do so are no longer in consideration this session.

Committee hearings are set to begin at 8 am on Monday, with the full assembly convening at 10 am.

1 Big Thing: Big Thing: All Eyes on Ukraine

About 3,800 soldiers based at Fort Stewart near Savannah are deploying to Europe amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine to

“reassure NATO allies, deter further aggression against NATO member states and train with host-nation forces,” the U.S. military announced late Thursday.

Go deeper.

2. Notable Bills Passed or Introduced

Parents Bill of Rights — SB 449, backed by Gov. Kemp — passed out of the Senate along a party line vote.

The PSC may get new district boundaries with SB 472, passed by Senate Republicans over objections from Democrats.

Why it matters: 41 of 159 counties would move from one commission district to another with the new map.

Vaccine passports may not be mandated by state and local governments with SB 345, which was sponsored by the Senate Rules Chairman, Sen. Jeff Mullis and passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

Changes for Cobb — The Senate passed HB 1028 (Cobb Board of Education map) by a vote of 33-20 and HB 1154 (Cobb County Commission map) by a vote of 33-18.

What people are saying: Democrat Rep. Jen Jordan, who represents parts of Cobb County says this is a play to regain control over elections Republicans lost, and it specifically targets three women of color: Commissioner Jerica Richardson, School Board member Charisse Davis, and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, who was drawn out of the 6th Congressional District.
What’s next: The Republican-drawn maps are now headed to Gov. Kemp’s desk for signature.

SB 435, which would require students to participate in school sports based on their gender at birth, passed out of the Senate along a party line vote.

HB 1146, requiring law enforcement vehicles be equipped with blue flashing or revolving lights, passed out of the House.

SB 536 on Coin Operated Amusement Machines was introduced.

3. Big Political News

Stacey Abrams hired Sara Totonchi, a well-known advocate who most recently ran the Southern Center for Human Rights.

As the campaign policy director, Totonchi will become a state lobbyist to monitor legislation, particularly Gov. Kemp’s election-year agenda.

Backfire: A mail campaign by a national advocacy group promoting school vouchers attempted to tie Republican state legislators to Abrams and other “radical left” figures.

“This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Speaker Ralston.
He added that the voucher proposal is dead for the year.

Water and sewer systems in dozens of cities and counties will get $422M of federal COVID-19 relief money, as Gov. Kemp announced.

The grants are part of the $4.8 billion due to Georgia that congressional Republicans opposed a year ago.

Internet will be faster as $408 million in COVID-19 relief funds went to expand high-speed service for over 132,000 homes and businesses just three weeks after Kemp announced it would.

Medical cannabis oil may be available quicker thanks to parents and legislators who advocated for HB 1400, Rep. Powell’s bill that would alleviate the delay to access.

4. Budget News and Leadership Changes

Appropriations subcommittee hearings resumed with an update from Chris Tomlinson, Executive Director at State Road & Tollway Authority, Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority & Georgia Regional Transportation Authority.

Matt Westmoreland, holding the Post 2 At-Large seat on Atlanta City Council was appointed to the Atlanta Regional Commission.