Political Rewind: Taxes, cannabis, abortion pills, gambling and other issues face Sine Die deadline

Caption

Morning rises on the state Capitol in Atlanta, Ga., on the final day of the 2022 legislative session.

Credit: Stephen Fowler, GPB News

The Panel: 

Riley Bunch — Public policy reporter, GPB News

James Salzer — State government and politics reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Rahul Bali — Politics reporter, WABE

Jim Galloway — Former political columnist, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Breakdown:

1. What is Sine Die, and why is it important at the Georgia Capitol? 

• Sine Die is the final day of the legislative session.
• Many bills have already passed before tonight's deadline. 
  • A bipartisan mental health push and party-line permitless gun carry bill crossed the finish line earlier in the session.

2. A stripped-down election bill nears passage before tonight's deadline.

• But Georgia legislators restored key pieces of House Bill 1464 this morning.
  • These measures include expanding GBI fraud enforcement and unsealing paper ballots for public inspection.

3. Lawmakers seek to ban abortion pills sent by mail.

• Senate Bill 456 awaits a full vote in the state House.
• If it passes, patients will have to visit a doctor in person to get the medication.

4.  Legislation to drastically change the state's tax code is running out of time.

• Last month, the Georgia House passed a billion-dollar state income tax cut.
• Now legislators are debating on how much to cut the state’s 5.75% income tax rate. 

5. Will Georgia finally legalize gambling?

• Legislators are trying to put a referendum about gambling on the ballot in November.
• The measure, a constitutional amendment, requires two-thirds support in both the House and the Senate.

6. "Divisive concepts" bill threatens teacher autonomy, and school education.

• A bill restricting how teachers talk about race is now front and center.

7. Bill looks to simplify the medical cannabis oil program in Georgia.

• In 2019, Gov. Brian Kemp passed The "Georgia Hope" Act, allowing the state to produce low-THC oil.
  • HB 1400, hopes to clear up the licensing process on the matter.
• More than 23,000 people are waiting on Georgia’s low-THC oil registry.
  • ALS, autism, and intractable pain are illnesses covered in the registry.

8. Rep. Calvin Smyre to retire after a 48-year career. 

• Smyre was first elected in 1974 and is the longest-serving member of the state legislature.
• The Democrat from Columbus spoke to Lawmakers host Donna Lowry about moving on from the legislature. 

Tuesday on Political Rewind:

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Tamar Hallerman joins us.