As Legislature Looms, a Look at the Prefiles

On Sunday the 10th of next week, legislators, officials, lobbyists, journalists and general hangers-on will gather in downtown Atlanta to eat barbecue, drink sweet tea, reminisce and enjoy the last bit of non-partisan fellowship for at least a few months. The Wild Hog Supper has opened Georgia’s legislative session for 54 straight years and is a major fundraiser for the Georgia Food Bank Association.

The legislature will get into gear the following week but some legislators could not wait and have pre-filed legislation already for consideration.

Representative Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) was the winner this year for earliest pre-filed bills. She filed two bills related to driving rules and driver education back on November 16th. In an effort to combat a problem of street drag racing in Atlanta, Rep. Waites first pre-filed bill, HB 707, would change the rules of the road to make the offense of racing on highways or streets from a misdemeanor to a felony. HB 708 also relates to driving and would provide education “to ensure teenage drivers are equipped for driving on public roads” and “to require public schools with grades nine through 12 to offer an elective driver education and training course” and the bill would “provide for related matters”, presumably, funding.