On Thursday at the Capitol, the Senate approved new hunting attire, and the House debated a familiar issue.

In the Senate, two bills came to the floor.

House Bill 81 is an initiative that would form a compact with a minimum of seven other states, to allow school psychologists to work in any of those states by allowing equivalent licensing.

"We are in desperate need of school psychologists," Sen. Larry Walker III (R-Perry) said. "There's a shortage, like we see in a lot of our workforce areas, and this bill will help with our workforce shortage in that area."

The bill was passed 48 to 2.

If losing your orange hunting vest when you want to go hunting has you seeing red, relax.

Think pink, HB 167 says.

"No longer will you be required to wear an only a fluorescent orange vest," Gainesville Republican Sen. Drew Echols said — fluorescent pink will be sufficient. "HB 167 does not limit the use of fluorescent to females. Gentlemen like my friend, the country lawyer from the 42nd who's very comfortable in pink and his manhood, he'll be able to wear that to the great outdoors as well."

But there seemed to be some questions as to which pink was best.

"Are you aware that there's 240 different shades of pink?" Sen. Bo Hatchett (R-Cornelia) asked.

"Now I am," Echols answered.

"And is there a specific shade in this bill that we're going to recognize as the official pink of Georgia hunters?" Hatchett asked.

"It's fluorescent pink," Echols said. "That's what we've addressed."

Despite some humorous filibustering by Democrats, it passed unanimously.

In the House, issues concerning the city of Mulberry were up for debate once again.

Senate Bill 139 would allow the city to annex certain parcels of land in surrounding unincorporated Gwinnett.

"This type of bad faith, this type of gridlock in the refusal to provide the constituents that I represent in McCollum and other members will represent from receiving the services that they are entitled to, that they pay for with their property taxes is unacceptable, and it does warrant action by the General Assembly when things get this bad," Rep. Chuck Efstration (R-Mulberry) said.

But Democrats representing Gwinnett County oppose the expansion.

"Well, annexation impacts every single citizen of Gwinnett County," Rep. Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville) said. "It impacts every single legislator who represents and is a member of the Gwinnett delegation, because it is county money that is otherwise being taken away."

The bill passed 96 to 74 along party lines.

The House then moved on to another Mulberry-related bill, SB 138, which dealt with Gwinnett sovereign immunity and access to county services.

"The bill does include a waiver of sovereign immunity in circumstances where Gwinnett County fails to comply with law as to how Mulberry is to be treated just for this transition period," Efstration added.

But once again, Democrats said no.

"I will not call it Mulberry because I will call it Freeberry," Rep. Dewey McClain (D-Lawrenceville) said. "You all heard my colleague. 'Freeberry' because they want everything free. They are looking for everything free. They're looking for a free police service. They're looking for a free EMS, free lawyers. I mean, everything is free."

That bill also passed along party lines in the afternoon.

The House took up a bill dealing with the health risks of some pesticides.

SB 144 would prevent pesticide manufacturers from being held liable for failing to disclose health risks other than what is required from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The bill garnered strong pushback from Democrats, who say it allows companies to put consumers' lives at risk.

"I refuse to be used by a corporation as a shield for the consequences of their actions," Rep. Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth) said, next referring to recent cuts in federal agencies like the FDA. "What this body is trying to do is trying to use federal government inefficiencies to say, 'We've done our due diligence.' But no, we haven't."

But Republicans say farmers need access to as much technology as possible.

"We have to have food in this country," Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella) said. "It's national security. You think egg prices went up? You wait till we can't get food in this country. When our production starts going down. The world population's going up. You better hold on to your wallet."

The bill passed 101 to 58.

Also, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus held a press event to mark the fourth anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings.

"This is a moment that leaves us with profound sadness and anger, but it is also a moment that demands our unity, our compassion, and our resolve," Rep. Sue Hong (R-Lawrenceville) said. "To the families and loved ones of the victims, your loss has been our community's loss. I hope you continue to remember to stand on the side of love, respect and dignity for all."

With nine days left in the session, there is a wait for the Senate's tort reform bills — Gov. Brian Kemp’s top legislative priority this session — to make their way to the House floor.

GPB's Lawmakers returns for Day 32 on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. Watch the previous week of Lawmakers here.

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