Call it Crossover Day, the prequel. The Georgia Legislature Wednesday plowed through a heavy schedule of bills, meeting late into the afternoon.
On the session’s 29th day, The House and Senate approved a stream of bills. Most passed quickly, but a few flash-points of controversy popped up. After taking Thursday off, the House and Senate will return Friday, the last day for legislation to pass one chamber and receive consideration on the other side.
Because of the busy agenda, the first Senate Transportation Committee meeting on House Bill 170, the transportation spending proposal, was postponed until 10 a.m. Thursday.
In the Wednesday crunch, the House passed one bill of particular urgency: Senate Bill 103, allowing bars in Savannah to open on Sunday for St. Patrick’s Day, or a Sunday close to the Irish celebration, like this year. Rep. Bob Bryant, D-Savannah, agreed that it’s a “green beer,bill.”
Bryant said that the legislation would allow any city in the state to allow bars to open on one Sunday a year. The legislation passed 144-21, one of a handful of bills approved by both chambers so far this year.
A bill regulating Uber, Lyft and other ride sharing companies along with limousine and taxis passed the House 160-10. Author Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, said he had letters from Uber and Lyft agreeing to the bill. He described the bill as “deregulation” and pro-business legislation designed to boost competition. It would allow the companies to continue their own criminal background checks for drivers, according to state requirements.
House Bill 279, which will give top judges $12,000 raises as well as bring lower-paid Superior Court judges, district attorneys and public defenders up to the state average of $155,000 a year, was approved 142-21. The bill is sponsored Ways and Means Chairman Jay Powell, R-Camilla.
A bill to make school board elections in Echols County nonpartisan unexpectedly touched a chord. Rep. Mark Hamilton, R-Cumming, asked why the Legislature would want to make a school board election nonpartisan, considering “the political environment we’re in right now.” Rep. John Corbett, R-Lake Park, the bill’s author, said the small county’s school board members receive $50 a month, and few people are willing to run. The bill passed 122-46.
National politics also came into play. The Senate urged Congress to draft a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. Senate Resolution 155, sponsored by Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, passed 37-17. The Senate also passed another resolution by Hill, 37-18, urging Congress to repeal the 16th Amendment and approve a federal sales tax.
LaVista Hills, Tucker Incorporation bills pass: A new city of LaVista Hills could be formed in DeKalb County under legislation approved by the House Wednesday morning 128-31.
The bill sets up a referendum for voters to decide on creating the city. Rep. Tom Taylor, R-Dunwoody, the bill’s author, said that recently incorporated cities such as Sandy Springs and his own Dunwoody have run in the black and resulted in lower taxes.
Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, objected to the bill, saying t her constituents on the western side of LaVista Hills’ proposed boundaries want to join the city of Atlanta. Oliver said she’s “51 percent confident that this will be resolved” before the legislative session ends April 2. She said that the bill’s approval in committee violated the Legislature’s rules against passing such legislation when border disputes are involved.
A similar bill allowing a referendum for Tucker passed later in the afternoon, 122-46.
AP history resolution approved: A resolution asking the College Board to make changes to its AP History curriculum framework passed the Senate 38-17 Wednesday.
Senate Resolution 80 by Sen. William Ligon, R-Brunswick, says the College Board’s changes distort the country’s past by not emphasizing “American exceptionalism.” The resolution, which heads to the House, also calls upon governors to take steps to increase competition for the College Board.
“I introduced Senate Resolution 80 to ensure that our students have the best learning opportunities available as they prepare for college,” Ligon said in a statement. “Unless we have competition, Georgia will continue to be at the mercy of one organization with the means to control coursework and testing for all college-bound students. Since Georgia taxpayers pay for these courses and tests, Georgia taxpayers need accountability and alternatives.”
