ATLANTA — Monday was Crossover Day. It's the final day for any proposed bill to move from one legislative chamber to the other.
Any legislation that doesn't pass is dead for the session. However, lawmakers could slide language into bills that did crossover. Both the Georgia House of Representative and the Georgia Senate have a series of bills set for votes.
The Georgia General Assembly didn't pass a sports betting bill in either chamber. The Georgia Senate passed a bill banning gender reassignment surgeries and hormone replacement therapy for transgender minors.
Here are a few of the key bills lawmakers considered. This story was updated Monday and early Tuesday.
Georgia Senate
The Georgia Senate had 74 bills eligible for a floor vote Monday, according to the rules calendar on its website Sunday night.
Some of the key legislation includes:
SB 31: The Georgia Attorney General’s Office would be reimbursed expenses for prosecuting a criminal case or cases if a local district attorney failed to prosecute. The AG’s Office would have to obtain a guilty plea or verdict. Update: This bill passed 35-20.
SB 124: This bill states that counties don’t have the power to redraw their own election maps and districts. The bill comes after Cobb County adopted its own commission maps rather than the boundaries drawn by state legislators. Another bill, SB 236, would reinstate the state-drawn map. Update: This bill didn't receive a vote Monday.
SB 140: This bill would ban transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming healthcare. Hospitals and related facilities can’t provide sex reassignment surgery or hormone replacement therapy to people under 18 years old. Update: This bill passed 33-22.
SB 146: Providers of electric vehicle chargers must charge customers per kilowatt hour for the electricity they sell rather than time spent charging. This comes as more electric vehicles enter the market. Update: This bill passed 55-1.
SB 155: Called the Cruelty to K-9s Act, it updates punishments for taunting, injuring or causing the death of a law enforcement animal. Update: This bill passed 41-14.
SB 172: This bill establishes a gaming commission to oversee sports betting and the number of operational licenses granted. The bill also lays out further terms for how sports gaming would operate in the state. Update: This bill was not considered because its companion, SR 140, failed.
SB 176: This bill prevents individuals, businesses and governments from publishing personally identifiable information of a judge, law enforcement officer, prosecuting attorney or public defender. This includes home number, cell phone number and home address. Update: This bill was tabled. A companion bill, SB 215, previously passed the Senate. It protects certain personal information of public employees.
SB 186: Called the Georgia Landowners Protection Act, it would make it more difficult for people injured on someone else’s property to sue the owner. Update: This bill didn't receive a full vote Monday.
SB 195: This bill speeds up the professional licensing process for active or transitioning military members and their spouses. Update: This bill passed 54-0.
SB 217: Referred to as the “Eliminating Ghost Plates” Act, the bill aims to prevent drivers from obstructing or removing license plates. There are also punishments for drivers who use plates assigned to another vehicle. Supporters of the legislation argue obstructing plates make it more difficult for law enforcement to track crimes. Update: This bill passed 51-4.
SB 233: The legislation would give $6,000 to Georgia students to cover assorted education-related costs for parents to take their children to private schools. The money could be used to cover tuition. An amendment added Monday limits the scholarships to students zoned for public schools that are in the bottom 25% of certain state measures. Update: This bill passed 33-23.
SR 46: A resolution urging Gov. Brian Kemp to study whether the state can produce low-cost insulin products in the state. Update: This resolution didn't receive a vote Monday.
SR 140: A resolution to make an amendment to the state constitution to legalize sports betting. Georgia voters would cast ballots to ratify or reject the amendment. SB 172 is a companion bill. Update: This resolution failed to pass. Senators voted 30-26 in favor. It need 38 or more to pass.
Georgia House
The Georgia House’s calendar was less full as of Sunday night. Seven pieces of legislation are scheduled for a Monday vote in front of the full body. Additional bills were added throughout the day.
- HB 30: This bill provides a definition for anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitic attacks could be treated as a hate crime. Update: This bill passed 136-22.
- HB 231: This bill would create a commission that has the power remove or discipline solicitors-general and district attorneys. Update: This bill passed 98-75. A similar Senate bill, SB 92, previously passed.
- HB 249: This bill would expand need-based aid for Georgia college students. A student in a four-year program would be eligible for the aid after completing 70% of the program. A student in a two-year program would need to complete 80% of their program. The maximum award amount would be increased to $3,500. Update: This bill passed 148-1.
- HB 364: This bill would create a commission to determine how the state should compensate people who are wrongly convicted. Update: This bill passed 157-17.
- HB 458: The legislation would set new parameters for hemp farming and quality testing requirements in Georgia. Update: This bill passed 168-2.
- HB 462: This bill would give juvenile courts jurisdiction over 17-year-olds accused of most crimes. Update: This passed 145-22.