LISTEN: GPB's Sarah Kallis delivers the Capitol Report for Day 20 of the Georgia legislative session.

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As we reached the halfway point in the session, it was a tale of two chambers — leading up to a major announcement from Gov. Brian Kemp.

 

A flurry of bills

It was a harmonious day in the Senate, with seven bills passing almost unanimously. Today’s most notable bill was one that promotes gun safety. 

The other bills that were passed include:

  • The creation of a new circuit court in West Georgia
  • Increasing fines for people and groups misrepresenting themselves as charitable organizations
  • Improving insurance benefits for Georgia National Guard members and small businesses
  • Changes to how trucking companies can insure themselves and their liabilities
  • And, finally, Senate Bill 334, which will allow firefighters to move to other fire departments and keep their cancer insurance coverage.

A bill to promote firearm safety passed in the Senate on Tuesday. SB 340 would provide a sales and use tax exemption for sales of gun safes and other gun safety devices.

Border defense

Activity in the House was more contentious.

Members passed a resolution that supported Texas’ controversial border defense. It also condemns President Joe Biden’s U.S. Mexico border policy. Republicans who support House Resolution 1019 say that every state is a border state. House Republicans also alleged stricter border security would reduce the flow of fentanyl. Democratic opponents said that the resolution would not do anything to mitigate the fentanyl crisis. The hourlong debate got heated over language, but the resolution passed along party lines, 99 to 71.

It also supported Kemp in doing what he feels is necessary to secure the border, which he addressed at a press conference later in the day. Kemp announced that he will send 15 to 20 Georgia National Guard troopers to Texas to help Gov. Greg Abbott at the border. 

Lawmakers will return to the Georgia Capitol on Thursday for Day 21 and Lunar New Year celebrations.  

Join host Donna Lowry and capitol reporter Sarah Kallis at 7 p.m. on GPB-TV for the 54th season of GPB's Lawmakers.

 

The House passed HR 1019 on Tuesday, a resolution that would give Gov. Brian Kemp the ability to allocate state resources for increased border protection. This comes as Kemp announced today he plans to provide additional support to the Texas Guard at their border this Spring.

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