Crossroads Day: tracking bills in the Georgia House and Senate

Georgia's legislative season is nearing its conclusion, and lawmakers still have a lot to accomplish. With Transition Day upon us, the stakes for this year's various laws and resolutions have only increased. The legislative session calendar changes slightly each year, but follows the same basic rules: legislators meet for 40 days, during which time they must pass the state budget and all state laws. Laws begin in either the House or Senate, and must be passed in the other legislative body before Transition Day, which this year falls on a Thursday. Laws must be passed by the end of the session, known as "sein dye," to be sent to the governor's desk. The governor has 40 days to sign or veto the legislation. If he takes no action, the law automatically takes effect after 40 days. The 2024 legislative session is also the second in a two-year series, meaning that laws blocked in the last session have another chance to be enacted.

Here's what to look out for today - Transition Day.

House of Representatives:

Notable laws that have been passed:

• HB 971: An act relating to a tax credit for safe gun handling and storage. Authored by Rep. Mark Newton (R-Ohasta). Overview: In a last-ditch effort to improve gun safety, this legislation passed in the House of Representatives by a score of 162-3. It will allow Georgia residents who have purchased a gun safe or taken a gun safety training course to claim a tax credit of up to $300. Read the original text of the legislation here.
• HB 1018: An act relating to nondiscrimination by the armed services industry in Georgia. Authored by Rep. Jason Ridley (R-Chatsworth). Overview: A second gun law that would have prevented a distinction between gun-related purchases and other purchases made with debit and credit cards passed by a score of 106-60 after fierce debate on the House floor. Followers of the law say it is necessary to protect the privacy of gun owners, but opponents say it could prevent law enforcement from identifying gun copiers, taking away a tool that could be used to prevent mass shootings. Read the original text of the law here.
• HB 1339: An Act to revise the certificate of necessity. Authored by Rep. Butch Parrish (R-Swinsboro). Overview: Legislation that would revise, though not completely overhaul, Georgia's certificate of need (CON) program passed in the House nearly unanimously - by a score of 166-1. The law would ease restrictions on new health centers opening in Georgia, making it easier to open or expand facilities in rural areas. Read the original text of the law here.

The laws we follow:

• HB 1105: Georgia Criminal Alien Status Act of 2024 by Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah). Overview: This law would impose harsher penalties on sheriffs who refuse to report illegal immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and require correctional facilities to publicly publish the number of illegal immigrants held in their jails. The law would also require all admitted law enforcement agencies to participate in ICE's 287(g) program or risk losing government funding. Read the original text of the law here.
• HB 1116: Rehabilitation of historic structures. Authored by Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-Junction City). Overview: The bill would extend the tax credit for the rehabilitation and preservation of properties listed on the National or Georgia Register of Historic Places, provided several additional criteria are met. Along with this, the total available credit would be increased, raising it to $60 million. Read the original text of the legislation here.
• HB 1180: Movie production credit. Authored by Rep. Casey Carpenter (R-Dalton).

Senate:

Notable laws that have been passed:

• SB 421: Law Against "Symbolic Terrorism". Author: Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett). Overview: In light of several cases of "mass trolling" of officials - false police reports suggesting that they are facing a mass shooter, hostages, or some other extreme situation - lawmakers unanimously passed a law increasing penalties for those who commit false trolling. Under the bill, for the first offense, the perpetrator can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, while a second offense may lead to criminal prosecution, as well as imprisonment for a term of 5 to 10 years and/or a fine of at least $5,000. Read the original text of the law here.
• SB 473: Georgia Consumer Privacy Act. Author: Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell). Overview: The law, which promises to protect the data privacy of Georgia citizens, was passed in the Senate after a contentious vote of 37-15. The law establishes guidelines and consumer rights protections regarding online data, but opponents argue that it prioritizes business needs over individual privacy rights. Read the original text of the law here.
• SR 579: Sports Betting Bill. Author: Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens). Overview: A resolution that could legalize sports betting was passed in the Senate on Tuesday with broad bipartisan support. Under this measure, Georgia voters may hold a referendum on a constitutional amendment, with revenues directed towards pre-K programs statewide and the HOPE scholarship. Read the original text of the resolution here.

The laws we follow:

• SB 180: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Georgia. Author: Sen. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth). Overview: The law, which closely aligns with the federal legislation of the same name, offers greater protection for religious communities by limiting the powers of the state and local authorities in enacting or enforcing laws that contradict an individual's religious beliefs. Opponents of the law argue that it could lead to discrimination against various groups, such as women and the LGBTQ+ community. Read the original text of the law here.
• SB 182: Law against "doxxing". Author: Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-Atlanta). Overview: The law prohibits explicit "doxxing," which means publishing sensitive or personal information about a person online without their consent. Read the original text of the law here.
• SB 390: American Library Association. Author: Sen. Larry Walker III (R-Perry). Overview: This law will cut funding for all libraries in the state associated with the American Library Association and will also dissolve the State Library Certification Commission. While supporters of the law argue that disaffiliation from the association is necessary to preserve Georgian values in library institutions, opponents point to numerous unintended consequences of leaving the organization, especially for students seeking a master's degree in library science in the state. Read the original text of the law here.