State Senate session report: Week nine.
Monday, March 4, 2024:
House bills, & golden elephants, & antisemitic tweets, oh my.
Photo by LAIKEARTS.
While challengers and incumbents alike lined up in the South Hall of the Georgia Capitol to qualify for office, our state Senate returned from Crossover Day and pivoted to taking up legislation already passed through the state House:
HB 375, tightening the rules for state-sanctioned conservators and guardians of an adult.
HB 563, amending the “Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978” to provide for hearings before an administrative law judge.
HB 871, revising Ad valorem tax rules for qualified disabled veterans, their spouses and minor children.
HB 873, creating a juvenile treatment court as an alternative to the traditional judicial system.
HB 946, revising requirements for a Special district mass-transportation sales and use tax.
HB 1078, establishing and implementing the Georgia Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
HB 1083, extending the grace period for adult residential mental health services licensing.
There was also a raft of House bills regarding judge appointments reviewed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But that doesn’t mean the Senate didn’t have any business of its own. In a refreshingly a tongue-in-cheek presentation on the Senate floor, Josh McLaurin (D-14) won the Golden Elephant Award—an honor usually reserved for Republican senators. Majority Leader Gooch (R-51) called out McLaurin’s role in passing some Crossover Day legislation but McLaurin accepted the award with good humor, saying:
If there are any Republicans in my district who accuse me of being a left-wing nut, this is my answer.
LOL.
McLaurin then used his honorary majority membership to condemn a recent antisemitic tweet by Congressman Mike Collins (CD-10)—specifically citing the recently passed and signed HB 30, Georgia’s new antisemitism law.
Tuesday, March 5, 2024:
Isn’t it ironic. (Don't you think?)
Just to be clear, this song was never ironic. Which, I suppose is a form of irony. Photo by Alanis Morissette.
The Senate is still spinning up for the final act of this year’s legislative session. Multiple House bills are making their way through committee leaving the Floor Session open for guest presentations and matters of personal privilege.
And given the priorities some of our senators voted for over the first 28 days of the session, two of the issues celebrated on the floor were a little … ironic.
MENTAL HEALTH
Gloria Butler’s (D-55) guest, Dr. Drew Contractor eloquently implored the 45 attending senators to prioritize mental health, saying:
Mental health is an invisible issue that we all deal with that's difficult to repair, remove, or eliminate from children to the elderly. Mental health conditions worsen all health problems, reduce productivity, increase addiction, and put our individual and community safety at high risk. Georgia ranks one of the lowest of five in the United States for mental health access. [The Lt Gov checks his watch] I implore you to prioritize this as a foundation of our state's health and safety.
While the Senate has advanced some mental-health bills, Georgia ranks worst state in the country for healthcare (Forbes) ad fourth worst for mental health. A Public Safety subcommittee is also attacking the state’s largest mental healthcare provider—the overwhelmed and failing Fulton County Jail.
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING
Billy Hickman (R-4) celebrated several attending leaders of Reach Out & Read, a nationwide literacy advocacy group that’s given more than 2.7 million new children’s books to young children in Georgia through pediatric service providers. He even distributed a children’s book to all the senators for them to read to their children and grandchildren—an act that might’ve been touching if he didn’t joke that the book had been approved by pro-censorship and anti-ALA senator, Larry Walker (R-20).
Don’t insult us by praising “the power of reading to young children every day” while supporting efforts to censor books, undermine librarians, and override local boards of education.
Wednesday, March 7, 2024:
The amendments on the bus go round & round.
“Here comes the bus” takes a whole new meaning when it’s enabling vigilante lawsuits. Photo by Renan Kamikoga on Unsplash.
Wednesday could’ve been such a nice day in the Senate. Without a Floor Session, committees could hear all the crossed-over House bills without—
Surprise! Our opponent’s Public Safety committee unexpectedly added an amendment to HB 301 allowing residents to sue local “Sanctuary Cities” they accuse of not following immigration laws and—if a superior court judge agrees—strip that locality of all non-emergency funding.
WAIT, WHICH BILL IS THIS FOR?
Right‽ HB 301 revises penalties for passing school busses or speeding in a school zone. Even the bill’s House sponsor seemed confused.
And he should be. This amendment is much more in-line with HB 1105, requiring local law-enforcement to enforce immigration law when detaining non-citizens and threatening non-compliant departments and officials with losing funding.
AREN’T SANCTUARY CITIES ALREADY ILLEGAL?
They sure are! But since there’s no legal definition of “Sanctuary City,” state Republicans can both ban sanctuary cities (15 years ago!) an continue to complain about them in an election year.
THIS FEELS RUSHED
Right‽ Public Safety Chairman John Albers (R-56) said Republican senators were “working nonstop” on the bill, explaining why committee members and the public couldn’t review the new language until the Wednesday hearing. As a result, many issues were left unclear (e.g., which monies would a city lose, what are the costs imposed on law enforcement for their expanded role enforcing Federal law, etc).
Hiding the amendment in a motor-vehicle bill, not allowing adequate time for review, and rushing it through committee (it passed) all betray the democratic process.
DOES THIS AMMENDMENT MAKE US SAFER?
Maybe? Had these bills and amendments been in place before Riley’s murder, the tragedy in Athens likely would not have been averted.
WOW. ALBERS IS RUDE.
Right‽ I mean, watch the stream—any of his streams. Our opponent is just so rude and condescending—especially toward women.
As of this writing, the amended bill isn’t yet available online.
Thursday, March 8, 2024:
A potpourri of House bills.
Did you feel a lightness in Georgia today?
It was more than just sunshine and warmer weather. And more than just the existential charm of Friday eve. Rather, it was the psychic calm of a quiet day under the Gold Dome radiating out across a hotly divided state.
This isn’t to say nothing happened. On Wednesday, the Senate Special Committee on Investigations spent hours interviewing Ashleigh Merchant, the lawyer representing Trump co-defendant Michael Roman. And on Thursday, electric vehicle start-up Rivian announced it will delay construction of its Georgia plant.
But for the moment, rather than rant about some cruel or unjust bill, let’s appreciate a potpourri of helpful and constructive House bills making their way through Senate committees:
HB 880, allowing military spouses to use existing licenses in good standing from another state. A huge boon to service families.
HB 896, making it easier for individuals to change their married surname to their previous surname following a divorce.
HB 993, strengthening the penalties for adults grooming minors for indecent purposes. Sadly, a much needed protection for our kids.
HB 1010, doubling paid parental leave for public officers and employees to 240 hours per year. Six weeks still falls short of what parents need for births and adoptions, but it’s ok to celebrate progress if not perfection.
HB 1033, strengthening the penalties for assaulting on a public utility worker on the job.
HB 1100, allowing electronic notifications and communications to motor vehicle owners regarding their driver’s licenses and registrations. I mean, it is 2024—let’s try email!
A closing reminder: The Georgia Presidential Primary is on Tuesday and, even though only two candidates remain in the field, there are eight options for Republicans and three for Democrats on the ballot and your vote can still send a message. Use it. 😉
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
