Georgia General Assembly Archives - The Florida Capital Star

First Battlefront Drawn in Georgia in Epic Fight over Future of American Elections

March 26, 2021June 14, 2021 Florida Capital Star Staff

Over just a few hours Thursday, Georgia’s Legislature and Gov. Brian Kemp drew the first battle line in the high-stakes struggle to decide how American voters will cast ballots in the future after the pandemic-ridden election of 2020.

The Republican-controlled state put itself firmly in the camp of voter ID requirements, limited drop boxes and expanded weekend voting. And depending on the eye of the beholder, it was either a win for election integrity or a return to the era of Jim Crow voter suppression.

Georgia Legislators Want to Require Law Enforcement and 911 to Speak Languages Other Than English

March 24, 2021June 14, 2021 Chris Butler

Members of the Georgia General Assembly filed various bills this week that would, if enacted into law, require law enforcement agencies to speak in languages other than English when working with members of the public. The first bill, SB 308, calls on the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority (GECA) and the state’s 911 systems to have a statewide system of language translation services. The Georgia General Assembly’s website identifies State Sen. Sheikh Rahman (D-Lawrenceville) as the bill’s primary sponsor. Nineteen other state senators, all Democrats, are co-sponsoring the bill.

Georgia State Rep. Barry Fleming Loses Hancock County Attorney Gig Because of Stance on Voter Integrity

March 13, 2021March 13, 2021 Chris Butler

Georgia State Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) is reportedly no longer the designated attorney for Hancock County because of voter integrity legislation he’s filed with the Georgia General Assembly. This, according to the Atlanta-based Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Georgia House Democrats Want to Expand TANF Benefits, Repeal Drug Felony Ban for Recipients

March 10, 2021March 9, 2021 Chris Butler

Six Democrats in the Georgia General Assembly filed a bill this week that calls on state officials to expand access to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. According to that bill, HB 741, those Democrats also want to make eligible people convicted of felony drug charges. The bill also would, if enacted into law, increase the lifetime maximum for TANF benefits and stipulate that the government could disregard a person’s assets when determining eligibility.

Georgia Republicans File Bill to Expand Number of People Accountable for Supervising Elections

March 10, 2021March 9, 2021 Chris Butler

Six Georgia House Republicans filed legislation that would provide for a probate court judge to cease acting as a superintendent of elections and then create a board of elections to assume that judge’s prior responsibilities. This, according to a bill that State Rep. Mitchell Scroggins (R-Cartersville) filed this week.

Georgia Bill Would Give State Election Board Greater Powers to Replace Election Superintendents

March 6, 2021March 5, 2021 Chris Butler

A new bill in the Georgia General Assembly would provide the State Election Board with greater powers to suspend, appoint, and replace superintendents who oversee elections at the city or county level. The Georgia General Assembly’s website identifies State Rep. Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) as the sole sponsor.

Georgia Voter Integrity Bill Prompts Angry Protest in Atlanta

March 4, 2021March 3, 2021 Chris Butler

Late last week a group of activists who were angry over a voter integrity bill disturbed the peace at the Georgia General Assembly. Law enforcement officials did not arrest them.

Georgia Lawmakers This Week Propose Additional Ways to Reform State Elections

March 4, 2021March 3, 2021 Chris Butler

Officials at the Georgia General Assembly this week proposed what they said were new methods to reform Georgia’s elections. House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) proposed that the Georgia Department of Driver Services offer state ID cards, free, to all eligible Georgians.

Georgia Chamber of Commerce Influences David Ralston in Ways Average Georgians Won’t Like, Former Legislator Says

March 2, 2021March 1, 2021 Chris Butler

A former state representative said the Georgia Chamber of Commerce influences the agenda of House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge), even though that agenda favors large corporate entities and sometimes frustrates average Georgians’ best interests. As The Georgia Star News reported last week, former State Rep. Jeff Jones said “the Georgia Chamber of Commerce is not the friend of the average Georgia citizen.”

Georgia Bill Would Regulate People Who Pass out Absentee Ballot Applications

February 28, 2021April 20, 2021 Chris Butler

Six members of the Georgia House of Representatives filed a bill last week that would regulate third party entities who distribute absentee ballots applications. The Georgia General Assembly’s website identifies State Rep. Rick Williams (R-Milledgeville) as the primary sponsor.

Georgia Bill Would Provide Hearings for People Denied Right to Vote

February 21, 2021February 20, 2021 Chris Butler

Five state senators in the Georgia General Assembly filed legislation late last week that would, if enacted into law, provide people the right to a hearing when government officials challenge whether they may legally vote. The Georgia General Assembly identified State Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R-Dallas) as the bill’s primary sponsor.

New Bill Would Mandate That Absentee Ballots Go Only to Registered Georgia Voters

February 20, 2021February 19, 2021 Chris Butler

Georgia legislators have filed a bill that would require that government officials mail absentee ballot applications only to registered voters. The Georgia General Assembly’s website identified State Sen. Max Burns (R-Sylvania) as the bill’s primary sponsor.

Georgia Bill Would Honor Certain Out-of-State Professional and Occupational Licenses

February 19, 2021February 18, 2021 Chris Butler

A new bill in the Georgia General Assembly would, if enacted into law, help individuals who relocated from out-of-state obtain a license to practice certain professions and occupations. State officials could grant expedited licenses to those people — other than dentists, physicians, and osteopaths. This, according to a bill that 12 Georgia legislators filed late last month.

Georgia Legislators Debate Limits on Governor’s Emergency Powers

February 18, 2021February 17, 2021 Chris Butler

A new bill in the Georgia General Assembly wants to define limits on the governor’s emergency powers. This, nearly one year after the COVID-19 pandemic first affected the United States.

Georgia State Senators Want to Make it a Crime for Someone Under 17 to Access Firearms

February 16, 2021February 15, 2021 Chris Butler

Georgia State Sen. Elena Parent (D-Atlanta) has filed legislation that would, if enacted into law, make it a crime for an adult to knowingly have unsecured or unsafely stored firearms around minors. Six other state senators are co-sponsoring Parent’s bill, according to the Georgia General Assembly’s website.

New Bill in Georgia Legislature Imposes Restrictions on Ballot Counting

February 11, 2021February 10, 2021 Chris Butler

Fifteen members of the Georgia General Assembly have filed a bill that, if enacted into law, would require that election officials immediately count and tabulate ballots when the polls close. “After the close of the polls on the day of a primary, election, or runoff, the board of registrars shall notify the election superintendent of the total number of absentee ballots received by the close of the polls that were certified by the board of registrars, and the election superintendent shall post such information publicly,” according to the language of the bill.

Georgia Bill Proposes New Position to Oversee State’s Election Practices

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 Chris Butler

Seven members of the Georgia General Assembly have filed a bill that would call on members of the State Election Board to appoint a chief elections assistance officer. According to the language of the bill, this person would work for the secretary of state to help manage and oversee elections.