The Georgia state Senate meets in Atlanta, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, during the final day of the legislature's 40-day session. Lawmakers faced final votes on a state budget and sought to reach agreement on a plan to improve mental-health care.
Caption

The Georgia state Senate meets in Atlanta, Wednesday, March 29, 2023, during the final day of the legislature's 40-day session. Lawmakers faced final votes on a state budget and sought to reach agreement on a plan to improve mental-health care.

Credit: AP Photo/Russ Bynum

The panel

Kevin Riley, @ajceditor, editor-at-large, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Maya Prabhu, @MayaTPrabhu, government reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Meg Kinnard, @MegKinnardAP, political and legal affairs reporter, The Associated Press

Sarah Kallis, @SarahKallis, producer, GPB-TV's Lawmakers 

 

The breakdown

1. As the dust settles after Sine Die 2023, our panel recaps the winners and losers.

  • Senate Bill 233, which would grant public funds for students enrolling in private schools, lost by two votes. A coalition of Democrats and a handful of Republicans upset the bill.
  • Gov. Brian Kemp's educational agenda was otherwise successful — the Legislature fully funded the HOPE scholarship.
  • An expanded mental health care bill, House Bill 520, fell short, just one year after the late Speaker Ralston supported the initial bill.
  • Several bills that could have legalized sports betting all also fell short.
  • HB 144, which would add antisemitism to hate crime prosecution, ultimately failed.

LISTEN: Sarah Kallis on HB 144.

2. Both chambers saw new leadership with Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Speaker Jon Burns.

  • There was a new dynamic to the House and Senate. Jones faced some pushback from the governor's office over his support of a certificate of need bill, SB 99, related to hospitals.

LISTEN: Maya Prabhu on new leadership under the Dome.

3. "Tough on crime" policy wins; tenants' rights fall short.

  • Republicans pushed a "tough on crime" agenda, a reversal from Gov. Nathan Deal-era policymaking. Bills restricting cashless bail (SB 63) and judicial discretion for gang recruitment (SB 44) passed with full Republican support.
  • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's "Dangerous Dwelling" series led to an ultimately-failed bill, HB 404, that would have guaranteed that housing be habitable by humans. 

LISTEN: Sarah Kallis on SB 44.

4. State universities, Georgia Public Broadcasting face budget cuts.

LISTEN: Bill Nigut on cuts to Georgia Public Broadcasting's budget.

5. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making a media appearance at a Smyrna gun store.

  • DeSantis has faced pushback on several fronts. This appearance comes a week after a deadly shooting in Nashville at a private elementary school. DeSantis has also criticized U.S. involvement in Ukraine, a step outside of moderate Republican circles.
  • The Nashville shooting has more political fallout in Georgia: A bill proposed by Rep. Andrew Clyde which would undo new rules on pistol braces created by the ATF has had its hearing delayed.
  • Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was also suspended on Twitter for posting about a "Transgender Day of Vengeance" in connection to allegations that the shooter was transgender.

 

Friday on Political Rewind: Former columnist Jim Galloway joins the panel.