Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns (R - Newington) speaks at the Georgia State Capitol on March 6, 2023 (GPB News / Sarah Kallis)

Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns (R - Newington) speaks at the Georgia State Capitol on March 6, 2023. Our panel breaks down which bills survived Crossover Day.

Credit: GPB News / Sarah Kallis

The panel

Rep. Dave Wilkerson, @repdwilkerson, (D) Powder Springs

Dr. Kendra King Momon, professor of political science, Oglethorpe University

Leo Smith, @leosmithtweets, Republican consultant and CEO, Engaged Futures

Tamar Hallerman, @TamarHallerman, senior reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

The breakdown

1. An expanded school voucher bill survived Crossover Day.

  • The proposed voucher would give parents of children in private school $6,000 to be used on educational expenses.
  • The bill's detractors say it would take necessary funding out of public schools.

 

2. Two sports gambling bills failed to secure enough votes.

  • Two bills that would legalize sports gambling, one through a constitutional amendment, didn't receive enough votes to clear their chamber of origin. 

LISTEN: State Rep. David Wilkerson on sports betting.

3. A bill that would ban gender affirming care for minors passed the Senate.

  • Senate Bill 140 would prohibit doctors from prescribing hormone therapies or gender reassignment surgeries for Georgians under 18.

4. State Rep. Esther Panitch's updated hate crime bill passed, which would address antisemitism.

  • The bill passed 136 to 22. Its detractors said the bill wouldn't address discrimination against other groups. Rep. Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn) argued “A bill such as this may unintentionally have the effect of having each marginalized group wondering where is their definition in the code.”
  • Panitch removed language that would add use of a swastika to legal motive.

5. Twenty-three additional activists were charged with domestic terrorism after weekend fires at a future Atlanta police training site.

  • More than 20 activists from around the country were charged with domestic terror after vehicles were burned at a police outpost at the planned police training center site.
  • The charge is a felony that carries up to 35 years in prison.

 

Wednesday on Political Rewind: The Current's Margaret Coker joins the panel.

Tags: Georgia  Georgia Politics  Atlanta  Macon  Savannah  Crossover Day  Legislature  transgender care  school choice  gambling