State Senate session report: Week three.
Monday, January 22, 2024.
The GOP’s priorities: We can’t study the impact of firearm storage on children’s safety but we can drive a Slingshot without a helmet and lie about the 2020 election.
A lot went down yesterday under the Gold Dome!
In the Floor Session:
Brandon Beach (R-21) called for Fani Willis’ disqualification and the dismissal of charges against Trump and his conspirators.
Nikki Merritt (D-9), Elena Parent (D-42), and Nan Orrock (D-36) Sheikh Rahman (D-5) recognized the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and advocated for SR 136, to enshrine reproductive freedoms in our state constitution.
Freddie Sims (D-12) implored her colleagues to stop using racist rhetoric.
HB 571 passed, updating the State Plan for Alzheimer's and related dementias.
Randy Robertson (R-29) and Josh McLaurin (D-14) discussed SB 159, setting penalties for contractors smuggling contraband into state prisons.
In Finance:
HB 82, a rural physician tax credit was discussed but needs updating.
A discussion about SB 349, limiting taxation and millage rates, devolved into a debate about the long-term negative effects of homestead freezes where John Albers (R-56) rudely cut short the expert from Muskogee County.
In Government Oversight:
SB 337, authorizing the governor to appoint an honorary title for life, was presented. Colton Moore (R-53) used this opportunity to rant about Fani Willis’ RICO case and the southern border.
In Health & Human Services:
HB 181, defining kratom as Schedule 1 controlled substance, was presented and will be revisited on Wednesday.
In Judiciary:
HB 30, addressing antisemitism with the IHRA definition, was debated before passing unanimously.
SB 359, expanding hate crimes legislation to include misdemeanors when intended to intimidate, was also discussed and passed.
In Rules:
SR 203, a senate study committee on pediatric-safety and firearm storage was introduced and promptly tabled. Cowards.
In Transportation:
Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
There was some BS under the dome! Skip ahead to Ethics and Rules for the maddening stuff.
It never ceases to amaze how the Cult of Trump goes after Republicans who don’t bend the knee. Or, in this case, who do their constitutional job. Photo by Vanity Fair.
In the Floor Session:
12 senators were absent.
Max Burns (R-23) made the case for a veteran’s cemetery in Augusta.
The Japanese consul spoke about the deep economic connection between Japan and Georgia.
In Children & Families:
Randy Robertson (R-29) argued for SB 342, authorizing the disclosure of records to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Happily, this passed!
In Education & Youth:
SB 208 and SR 189, regarding the collection of impact fees for schools, passed unanimously.
SB 147, allowing student transfers between school systems, also passed.
In Ethics:
Randy Robertson (R-29) presented SB 355, prohibiting ranked-choice voting. He repeated fraudulent lies about the 2016 & 2020 elections and spun that rhetoric into a non-sensical argument against ranked-choice. Republican witnesses from other states backed him up and the bill passed.
Max Burns (R-23) introduced SB 358, removing Sec of State Brad Raffensperger from the State Election Board and authorizing that board to investigate him. The bill passed but one Senator commented, “It seems that we're creating another investigative body wasting precious taxpayer money that could be allocated to other agencies.”
In Regulated Industries:
HB 498, reinstating lapsed funeral director and embalmer licenses, passed unanimously.
SB 354, exempting cosmetologists and barbers from licensure, also passed.
In Rules:
These guys never post an agenda. Matt Brass (R28) is not a serious person.
Greg Dolezal (R-27) introduced SR 465, creating a special committee with subpoena powers to investigate Fani Willis. It passed 10-3.
SB 338, regarding the Cobb County Board of Elections map; SR 323, studying family caregiver service; and SR 344, establishing Purebred Dog Day all passed.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024.
So much is going on, it’s time for a new format to keep the focus on the bills…
In the Floor Session:
John McLaurin (D-14) implored state Republicans to stop voicing support for Trump’s election lies.
SB 338, redefining Cobb’s School Board maps, was engrossed so it can’t be modified. Ed Setzler (R-37) defended the bill, mostly citing how behind schedule it is. Jason Esteves (D-6) pointed out the map still violates the court order and disenfranchises Black and Hispanic voters. John Albers (R-56) reminded everyone that “hours” of meetings informed their work. With a floor vote of 32-19, it failed to reach the 2/3 majority and won’t move on.
SR 344, declaring May 1 as Purebred Dog Day, earned over five minutes of defense and crosstalk before it’s (inevitable) adoption. FR, I’m all for symbolic resolutions but maybe save ‘em for the back-half of the session and do real business first.
SR 323, creating a committee to study family caregiver services, was overwhelming adopted.
In the committees:
SB 366, to improve legislative transparency, earned Americans for Prosperity’s (a Koch Bros joint) in-person endorsement. Jason Esteves (D-6) amended the bill, adding a bipartisan requirement. The bill moves on to Rules.
SB 340, providing a sales tax exemption for gun safes and safety devices, passed and moves on to Rules.
Buddy Carter (CD-1) presented HB 343, reducing Rx costs by passing drug rebates on to patients. Business reps argued it would hurt business and patients plead their case.
HB 130, offering student loan repayment assistance for peace officers, was amended and passed.
HB 63, HB 279, and HB 362—all relating to modifying current insurance practices in the state—passed.
SB 352, balancing front-to-back vehicle suspensions, passed. Stop pointing those headlights at the sky!
SB 255, expanding the state’s dogfighting prohibition to cockfighting, passed. Parents, stop taking your kids to animal fights.
HB 30, the antisemitism bill, passed and will be voted on the floor, Thursday.
Thursday, January 25, 2024.
Ellie and I were fortunate enough to participate in the Roswell Citizen Police Academy when their vice unit broke open a huge human-trafficking case. A fascinating and scary reminder of the metro-area’s position at the center of our country’s human-trafficking problem. Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash
All this election denial BS makes me tense. I need a massage. Thankfully, our legislators covered both issues, yesterday!
In the Floor Session:
SR 443, appointing election denier Rick Jeffares to the State Election Board, passed 32-17 despite Jason Esteves (D-6) very persuasive objection.
HB 30, defining antisemitism and providing guidelines for law enforcement, engendered 2 hours of debate about its interpretations, inconsistencies, and classroom issues. The bill passed 44-6.
In the committees:
Several bills increasing public employee retirement benefits—SB 85, SB 105, SB 143, SB 308, SB 328, and HB 285—passed.
SB 189, requiring election recounts to use ballot text instead of QR codes, relies on expensive OCR technology—meaning ballots are still scanned but with a higher risk of error and at local cost. This does not solve a real problem but rather one created by election deniers—it makes elections more expensive and error prone. It passed.
SB 212, transferring Probate Court Judges duties to local election boards, was introduced.
SB 333, calling for a referendum to create the city of Mulberry in Gwinnett with an appointed mayor, passed.
SB 335, adding adoptive relationships to the state’s incest laws, passed
SB 363, establishing a law enforcement union within the Georgia Public Safety & Training Center, required several amendments before passing.
SB 369, creating a commemorative license plate for the US 250th anniversary in 2026, passed.
SB 370, to combat human trafficking in massage parlors—a serious issue in our district—passed.
SB 373, streamlining licensure for mental-health therapists, passed.
HB 500, defining a new crime for setting fire to law enforcement vehicles, is completely redundant since arson is already a crime but it will expand prosecution options for Cop City protestors. It passed.
Thoughts:
The rules committee is intentionally opaque. The chair publishes no advance agenda and he runs informal and rapid meetings with little room for discussion. It’s little more than a rubber stamp and we deserve better.
Friday, January 26, 2024.
Jason Esteves (D-6) called Friday “Distract From Donald Trump Being a Criminal Day.” Let’s see how right he was.
In the Floor Session
Elena Parent (D-42) called for action to protect Georgians from gun violence. 💯
Jason Anavitarte’s (R-31) SR 158, studying NW GA’s supply chain, was adopted.
Randy Robertson’s (R-29) SB 355, prohibiting ranked-choice voting, was adopted.
Max Burns’s (R-23) SB 358, removing the Sec of State from the State Election Board and investigating him, was adopted.
• Greg Dolezal’s (R-27) SR 465, creating a special committee to investigate Fani Willis, was adopted.
There was a lot of debate about SB 355, SB 358, and SR 465. Some bangers:
Josh McLaurin (D-14): “If you think you can inflame that base, feed them or let them persist in their misinformation and not face the consequences … you're mistaken.”
David Lucas (D-26): “Where was the special committee when the ex-president told the Sec of State to find 11,000 votes? … You finna [sic] get a referendum on you, next election. If you think folks are going to forget, it ain’t going to happen.”
Lt Gov Burt Jones (R) cut off comments, prompting Esteves (D-6): “If you don't want to listen to legitimate arguments against junk politically-driven bills, then don't drop and push junk politically-driven bills.” Zing.
In the committees
SB 337, authorizing Gov Kemp to appoint honorary “Georgia Colonels” title for life, carried
SB 342, disclosing records to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, carried.
SB 353, authorizing coroners to quickly clear highway fatalities, carried.
SB 354 exempting some cosmetologists from licensure, carried.
HB 130, offering student-loan assistance for peace officers, carried.
HB 455, creating a safe haven for healthcare worker counseling, carried.
Thoughts
• Another light Friday. Do our senators support the four-day workweek?
• Matt Brass (R-28) lowered himself (again) cracking a homophobic joke about “fairies” v “ferries.” He also noted, “I consider us above” the House. Come on…
JD JORDAN FOR GEORGIA STATE SENATE DISTRICT 56
For anyone in East Cobb, Roswell, or Woodstock alarmed by the state’s escalating attacks on our bodies, our families, our doctors’ offices, our classrooms and libraries, even our polling places, I’m running for state senate district 56 to fight for our freedoms and to deliver a better future for everyone in Georgia.
And unlike my opponent who’s spent 14 years rolling back our freedoms, failing to safeguard our kids, and gerrymandered his district to stay in office, I promise to bring everyone in the 56—regardless of ideology—the best possible constituent experience so you feel heard, valued, and supported. As we all deserve to be.
I’m running for the 56. Let’s make a better Georgia for all of us.
—
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT
Jordan For Georgia, LLC
10800 Alpharetta Hwy Ste 208 #629
Roswell, GA 30076-1467
jdjordan@forthe56.com
706.804.0456
