Georgia Legislative Watch

After a week off, the Georgia General Assembly will come back into session tomorrow at 10am and committee will be in full swing all week. You can view the Senate committee schedule here and the House committee schedule here. Live video of committee meetings are available online here.

As Grift Drift notes…it’s crunch time for legislators. After three days of joint budget hearings, appropriators have a very tough task in front of them and things aren’t getting any better.

While appropriators do battle over the budget with the governor and state agencies, legislative and business leaders will attempt to come up with a new funding scheme for transportation. This is the issue to watch, other than the budget. It could get ugly and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle has the most to lose from a public debate.

Legislation to watch
Senate:
- SB 1: The Zero-Base Budget Act, sponsored by Sen. David Shafer (R), could be moved forward this year as a way to eliminate some of the waste in Georgia’s government. You can read more about zero-based budgeting here.
- SB 5: This legislation, bi-yearly tradition for Sen. Don Thomas (R), would require use of seat belts in pickup trucks.
- SB 16: Would allow counties to determine to allow alcohol sales on Sunday.
- SB 17: Would increase fines for candidates and lobbyists that file late disclosure and contribution reports.
- SB 31: Early cost recovery for Georgia Power for new nuclear power facilities at Plant Vogtle.
- SB 39: Regional 1-cent transportation sales tax or T-SPLOST. This is the enabling legislation for SR 44.
- SR 1: Would require supplemental revenues to be designated for specific purposes (education, fund budget shortfalls or pay debt).
- SR 7: This is here simply because it fun to watch the back and forth. This is the legislation urging the IRS to pull the tax-exempt status of ACORN.
- SR 44: This is a constitutional amendment for the T-SPLOST. It would require approval by 2/3 of both chambers and then it would be sent to voters on in the 2010 general election.

House:
- HR 1: A constitutional amendment that would cap property tax assessments.
- HB 17: Would eliminate the state’s inventory tax.
- HB 19: Would prohibit use of cell phones by all drivers.
- HB 21: Would prohibit cell phone use by drivers with a Class D license.
- HB 22: Not much if at all different from SB 5. It would require use of seat belts in pickup trucks.
- HB 32: Would eliminate unanimous requirement for death penalty, requiring only ten jurors to vote for death.
- HB 39: Would increase Georgia’s cigarette tax by $1. The tax would also apply to loose or smokeless tobacco products.
- HB 61: Would reform Georgia’s motor fuel tax.
- HB 101: Allows transit agencies to sell commercial ads on vehicles or in facilities.
- HB 104: Allows stadiums to sell alcohol on Sunday.
- HB 107: Would create a state Board of Locksmiths.
- HB 118: Amended FY 2009 budget. Budget documents available at the House Budget Office.
- HB 119: FY 2010 budget.