Lawmakers Huddle: A recap of Georgia legislative session Week 5

Caption

Speaker Jon Burns.

Credit: Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder

With the legislative session nearing its midpoint, Georgia lawmakers are moving forward on a range of key issues — from voting legislation to school safety and protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF).

In this week's Lawmaker Huddle on Morning Edition, GPB’s Pamela Kirkland catches up with Lawmakers host Donna Lowry to get up to speed on the flurry of activity happening under the Gold Dome.

TRANSCRIPT:

Pamela Kirkland: This is GPB. I'm Pamela Kirkland. It's been another busy week under the Gold Dome with voting legislation, school safety and new tax breaks moving through the General Assembly. Donna Lowry, host of GPB's Lawmakers, joins me now for our weekly Lawmakers Huddle segment. Happy Valentine's Day, Donna.

Donna Lowry: Happy Valentine's Day to you, too.

Pamela Kirkland: Thank you for joining. So lots going on this week. The debate over voting legislation sounds like it's heating up. What do we need to know?

Donna Lowry: Yeah, it's — really is heating up. Committee meetings and hearings are taking place on legislation. So more bills are moving into the chambers finally, especially in the Senate. On Tuesday, every Georgia Senate Republican, every one of them, voted for a bill to ban state employee health plans from covering gender-affirming care, saying state tax dollars should not be used for transgender surgeries. Democrats accused Republicans of targeting an already marginalized group, calling it an easy way for Republicans to score political points. And the House now gets that bill.

Pamela Kirkland: Another bill that passed this week creates a sales tax holiday for hunting season in October. What does that look like and why were lawmakers pushing for that?

Donna Lowry: Well, Republicans also overwhelming — overwhelmingly approved that legislation. Deer hunting season in Georgia for firearms begins in mid-October. And on Wednesday, the Senate passed legislation to create a sales tax holiday for guns, ammunition and gun storage devices. If it becomes law, that sales tax break would take place during 11 days in October. And senators also passed the so-called sanctuary city law. And that bill would allow the state to penalize local authorities that do follow — that do not, I should say, follow state and federal immigration laws. So a lot going on in the Senate. 

Pamela Kirkland: Yeah. And then school safety has been a really big focus this session, especially after the shooting at Appalachia High School last fall. Lawmakers passed a bill to support grieving families on that subject. What does that do?

Donna Lowry: Yeah, well, this was in the House. And that would double the payout for spouses and their children of certain public school employees who are killed or disabled at work. As you recall, in the Appalachia High School shooting, a math teacher and a coach were killed. And for their families, the indemnity amount would double from $75,000 to $150,000, an amount that matches the amount received by the families of first responders and law enforcement in those situations.

Pamela Kirkland: And I believe I read that that passed yesterday. So that heads over to the Senate?

Donna Lowry: Absolutely.

Pamela Kirkland: And staying with the House, House Speaker John Burns announced last session that he supported protections for IVF in Georgia. What what's that proposal?

Donna Lowry: Well, we actually had a great Lawmakers last night with two lawmakers on the show talking about their personal stories when it comes to IVF. It was introduced mid-week, had dozens of signers. It's going to definitely pass. A lot of people interested. And that's because for countless individuals and couples, the journey to parenthood involves turning to IVF for possibly expanding their families. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, in the U.S., 19% of women and 11% of men face infertility issues. So the bill would codify some protect — protections for IVF.

Pamela Kirkland: And then looking at next week, what else are you keeping an eye on?

Donna Lowry: There's a lot coming up because things are rolling because we're going into mid-session next week, at the end of next week. So one bill deals with the homestead exemption bill that passed through both chambers and became law after the governor's signature last year. Then in November, voters approved this amendment; won by 63%. And essentially it ties home values to the inflation rate. It's aimed at lowering tax bills for homeowners, but it's become worrisome for jurisdictions. So under the new legislation that's being proposed, those who don't opt out by a deadline of March 1 will have and for years to be able to opt out after they figure out their financials in — in their particular jurisdiction, their school districts and government. So — and so then there's another bill that would make the state school superintendent an appointed rather than an elected position. So that bill is still dropping.

Pamela Kirkland: Gosh, already almost in mid-session. That's Donna Lowry, host of GPB's Lawmakers keeping us up to speed on the latest from the state capitol and keeping your eye on so many different things. Thank you so much for joining me, Donna.

Donna Lowry: Always good to talk with you, Pamela.

Pamela Kirkland: And you can catch Lawmakers every weeknight at 7 p.m. on GPB TV and streaming at GPB.org.