iFriday marked the end of what felt like the longest week in legislative history — and the beginning of a three-week sprint to Legislative Day 40. While most lawmakers and lobbyists are eager for adjournment sine die, it cannot come fast enough for the 28 House members and 12 State Senators who have drawn opposition in the General Primary on May 21. But there is a group of legislators who likely look to savor these last legislative days — the 10 House members and four State Senators who did not qualify to seek re-election. Among the retirees are the Minority Leaders from both chambers, Senator Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain) and Representative James Beverly (D-Macon), and several other veteran legislative leaders. We offer our deepest appreciation to those who have served and are heading home, a complete list of which is included in this #GoldDomeReport.
In this Report:
- Retiring Legislators
- Floor Notes
- New Legislation
- What’s Next
Retiring Legislators
The following legislators did not qualify to seek re-election in the 2024 General Primary:
House
- Representative James Beverly (D-Macon)
- Representative Roger Bruce (D-Atlanta)
- Representative J. Collins (R-Villa Rica)
- Representative Gloria Frazier (D-Hepzibah)
- Representative Penny Houston (R-Nashville)
- Representative David Knight (R-Griffin)
- Representative Jodi Lott (R-Evans)
- Representative Pedro Marin (D-Duluth)
- Representative Clay Pirkle (R-Ashburn)
- Representative Mandisha Thomas (D-South Fulton)
Senate
- Senator Gloria Butler (D-Stone Mountain)
- Senator Shelly Echols (R-Alto)
- Senator Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale)
- Horacena Tate (D-Atlanta)
Floor Notes
The House took up the following measures on Legislative Day 32:
- HR 1066 - Iranian people; desire for a democratic, secular, and non-nuclear Republic of Iran; express support — RECOMMITTED
- SB 19 - Courts; collection of passport application and processing fees by clerks of superior courts and probate court judges; provide — PASSED 162-0
- SB 334 - "Helping Firefighters Beat Cancer Act"; enact — PASSED 164-0
- SB 389 - Georgia National Guard; adjutant general to be the official sponsor of the state sponsored life insurance program; provide — POSTPONED
The Senate took up the following measures on Legislative Day 32:
- HB 876 - Banking and finance; update terminology; revise procedures; provisions — PASSED 48-0
- HB 1162 - Internal Revenue Code and Internal Revenue Code of 1986; revise terms and incorporate certain provisions of federal law into Georgia law — PASSED 49-0
- HB 1078 - Buildings and housing; provide circumstances under which a manufactured or mobile home shall become real property — PASSED 49-1
- HB 43 - Council on American Indian Concerns; revise membership — PASSED 49-0
New Legislation
The following new legislation of interest has been introduced in the House:
| H.B.1464 | Low THC Oil Patient Registry; add dysmenorrhea to list of conditions for which medical marijuana may be prescribed and used | Rep. Mandisha Thomas (D-065) | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/68683 |
| H.R.1359 | State of Georgia; recognize cannabis as a vital mechanism to alleviating the opioid crisis; urge | Rep. Mandisha Thomas (D-065) | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/68685 |
| H.R.1360 | House Study Committee on Alternatives to Opioids for Pain Management; create | Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-013) | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/68686 |
| H.R.1377 | Georgia CORE and the Five Regional Cancer Coalitions; commend; Cancer Prevention Month in Georgia; February 2024; recognize | Rep. Debbie Buckner (D-137) | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/68703 |
What’s Next
The General Assembly will reconvene for Legislative Day 33 on Monday, March 11 at 10 a.m.
The House is expected to take up the following measures on Legislative Day 33:
- SB 50 - Education; local boards of education which operate a school with grades nine through 12 may provide instruction in lifeguarding and aquatic safety; provide
- SB 335 - "Safeguarding Adopted Children from Sexual Violence Act"; enact
- SB 348 - Notification of Suspicious or Unusual Deaths; individual had not been seen by a physician prior to death; revise the period
- SB 370 - Human Trafficking Hotline Information; certain establishments to post human trafficking hotline information; require
- SB 421 - Obstruction of Public Administration; offense of transmitting a false public alarm; enhance penalties
- SB 436 - Farm Use Vehicles; define a term
The Senate is expected to take up the following measures on Legislative Day 33:
- HB 299 - Georgia Code; add appropriate references to United States Space Force; provisions
- HB 385 - Retirement and pensions; add appropriate references to United States Space Force
- HB 563 - Fair Employment Practices Act of 1978; hearing before an administrative law judge; provide
- HB 1181 - Income tax; limit carry-forward periods of certain income tax credits
See our coverage of Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16, Day 17, Day 18, Day 19, Day 20, Day 21, Day 22, Day 23, Day 24, Day 25, Day 26, Day 27, Day 28, Day 29, Day 30, Day 31 the Committee Work Day, and the Crossover Day.
