Crossover Day kicked off with Gov. Brian Kemp signing his first piece of legislation this session: the amended fiscal year 2025 budget.

Then the mad dash to pass legislation started up for the day, with the Senate passing three bills related to school safety.

Senate Bill 17, also known as Ricky and Alyssa's Law, named after two victims in high school shootings, would mandate mobile alert panic systems for schools to alert local responders to emergencies.

"The other part of this bill is a school mapping piece," Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) said, "and very simply, all it does is require that every school property in the state be mapped so that data is provided when an incident happens in real time. Our folks and friends in the public safety community know where to go to find the assailant, where to go save lives, where to evacuate people."

The bill passed unanimously.

SB 61 would add new charges that a student could be prosecuted for in Superior Court, including terroristic threats.

"I think it's important to point out at this point as well, that the bill preserves the existing authority for a DA at any time before indictment, after investigation, and for cause to decline the prosecution in Superior Court and bring the case to juvenile court for those between the ages of 13 and 17," Sen. Greg Dolezal (R-Cumming) said.

Democrats were less enthusiastic about this bill, as it passed 33 to 22 along party lines.

SB 179 requires the sharing of a student's disciplinary history when transferring schools, and holds parents legally responsible for not disclosing a current suspension.

"They will require that from sixth grade to 12th grade, students would be required to take a minimum of one year class or training on suicide awareness and prevention," Sen. Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) said. "Also, youth based violence prevention. They recognize if a student is potentially going to harm themselves or someone else."

It passed 54 to 1.

Sen. Colton Moore offered up his first bill, SB 163.

The bill would rescind all local city and county laws over guns and other weapons, and entrust the power of regulation exclusively to the state.

"When citizens in Northwest Georgia go to a place like Savannah, and there is a mayor there who has put in ordinances that violate their Second Amendment rights, my piece of legislation simply says that those citizens, just like your citizens, have a right of tort to sue those governments for violating those rights," he said.

The often-ostracized Trenton Republican took his time answering questions from the podium.

And in this case, it was enough, as the bill was passed 33 to 23 along party lines.

In the House, members contemplated an income tax cut for Georgians. House Bill 111 would change the flat income tax from 5.39% to 5.19%.

Republicans say the surplus allows the state to put more money in the pockets of taxpayers.

"While other states are raising taxes on their citizens — and while we're facing sky-high prices and can least afford it — we are doing the opposite here in Georgia," Rep. Soo Hong (R-Lawrenceville) said. "We have a surplus budget and we are able to put money back into our taxpayers."

But some Democrats say the tax cut disproportionately benefits the wealthy.

"The top 20% of earners will receive nearly 80% of the total tax savings, with millionaires receiving thousands of dollars and benefits annually," Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville) said. "Meanwhile, the bottom 60% of Georgians, those earning middle class or lower incomes will see less than $6 a month in savings."

The bill passed 110 to 60, mostly along party lines.

They also unanimously passed HB 112, a one-time tax rebate of $250 for single taxpayers and $500 for married couples.

Gwinnett County delegation members debated HB 657, which would annex more land for the newly formed city of Mulberry.

"This bill is about annexing 45 small parcels into Mulberry," Sandy Donatucci (R-Buford) said. "All of these parcels are in my district."

Some Democrats say the issue should have been dealt with on the local level.

"This process works," Jasmine Clark (D-Lilburn) said. "It has worked, and it recognizes that while bills must come through the Legislature, we respect our local government and will not force things down their throat."

The bill passed 98 to 76 and a mostly party-line vote.

GPB's Lawmakers returns for Day 26 on Monday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Watch the previous week of Lawmakers here.

Tags: Georgia  Georgia Politics  Lawmakers  georgia legislature  Georgia General Assembly  Gold Dome  Crossover Day