Legislation that would make it easier for defendants in death penalty cases to establish intellectual disability as a defense cleared a Georgia House committee Wednesday.

In the House, members passed a couple of bills related to criminal justice. The business of farmland then took up most of the Senate's attention and two bills dominated the rules calendar.

On Tuesday, the topic of Hurricane Helene damage relief took up a large part of the deliberations in both chambers.

On Thursday at the Capitol, a celebration of new citizens and a debate on immigration policy. Recently sworn in, citizens were honored today for the contributions immigrants and refugees make in Georgia. The new citizens met with lawmakers to discuss policies that impact their communities.

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 as the legislative session nears its midpoint.

It was a busy day in both chambers with lively debate over some controversial issues.

The Senate took up another controversial bill and the House approved several measures unanimously. 

It was a busy day in the Senate and a late start in the House on Day 14. Four bills were voted on in the Senate.

In this week's Lawmaker Huddle on Morning Edition, GPB’s Pamela Kirkland catches up with Lawmakers host Donna Lowry to break down the latest from the Gold Dome. where the Georgia General Assembly passed its first bills of the session, including an amended budget to fund hurricane relief, prison upgrades, and school safety measures. Meanwhile, the Senate advanced a controversial ban on transgender athletes, and Democrats pushed to put abortion rights on the ballot.

Thursday at the Capitol, the House OK'd millions of dollars in state funds and the Senate took up a controversial bill.

Today at the Capitol, another cultural celebration and a protest against President Trump. The day kicked off with another Latino celebration, this time outside the Capitol at Liberty Plaza. Advocacy groups and lawmakers celebrated contributions from the Latin American community in Georgia and used the opportunity to condemn President Trump's immigration policy.

On Tuesday, Rep. Bill Werkheiser (R-Glennville) introduced legislation to the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee that would provide pretrial proceedings in death penalty cases when the accused has an intellectual disability.

Tuesday at the Capitol, lawmakers hit on school safety and girls’ sports — and also recognized an important community in Georgia.

On Monday, lawmakers from both parties announced education legislation. Speaker of the House Jon Burns announced his specific plans to make schools safer at a morning press conference.

On Thursday at the Capitol, the big news of the day was the unveiling of Gov. Brian Kemp's tort reform legislation package. The legislation, which will be carried by Sen. John F. Kennedy, lays out rules for civil lawsuit proceedings.