SWGA Politics

In Committee Today: Thursday, February 4, 2010

Senate Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee (pdf)

• SR 570, Senator Nan Orrock’s resolution expressing support of comprehensive immigration reform

Senate Higher Education Committee (pdf)

• SB 340, Senator Seth Harp’s bill regarding reporting systems for determining HOPE eligibility
• SB 341, Senator Seth Harp’s bill regarding HOPE GED vouchers

Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee (pdf)

• HB 168, Rep ’s bill to modernize competition on telecommunications

Senate Judiciary Committee (pdf)

• SB 300, Senator Ronald Ramsey’s bill regarding the “Consent Loophole”
• HB 185, Rep Wendell Willard’s bill regarding emergency powers of the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals

Senate Health and Human Services Committee (pdf)

• SB 344, Senator Lee Hawkins’ ‘Health Share’ Volunteers in Medicine Act
• SR 915, Senator Judson Hill’s resolution urging Congress to ignore recent guidelines for breast cancer screenings

House Ways and Means Ad Valorem Tax Subcommittee (link)

• HB 963, Rep Larry O’Neal’s bill regarding ad valorem tax technical corrections
• HB 1028, Rep Jay Roberts’ bill regarding changes to the Forestland Protection Act

House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee (link)

• HB 51, Rep Burke Day’s bill regarding bingo games
• HB 958, Rep Burke Day’s bill allowing security guards of the Georgia Ports Athority to enforce traffic laws
• HB 981, Rep Chambers’ bill allowing law enforcement vehicles to be painted a solid color
• HB 1033, Rep Rob Teilhet’s bill mandating DNA collection upon arrest

House Education Committee (link)

• SB 84, Senator Bill Heath’s bill regarding local school boards
• HB 908, Rep David Casas’ bill temporarily suspending several provisions of the Quality Basic Education Act

Note: This is the first agenda I’ve seen with any explanation of the thoughts of the Chair, and I recommend checking out the link.

House Ways and Means Sales Tax Subcommittee (link)

• HB 97, Rep Stephanie Benfield’s bill regarding a sales tax holiday for school supplies
• HB 347, Rep Terry England’s bill changing the definition of sales price
• HB 951, Rep Lynn Smith’s bill regarding a sales tax holiday for back to school and energy and water efficient products
• HB 952, Rep Lynn Smith’s bill regarding a sales tax holiday for back to school
• HB 953, Rep Lynn Smith’s bill regarding a sales tax holiday for energy and water efficient products
• HB 991, Rep Wendell Willard’s bill regarding baseball arbitration

House Human Relations and Aging Committee (link)

• HB 565, Rep Henry Howard’s Commission for the Blind and the Visually Impaired Act

House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee (link)

• HB 927, Rep Mike Jacob’s bill regarding bullying in schools
• HB 1015, Rep Rick Golick’s bill regarding street gang terrorism and prevention

House State Planning and Community Affairs Committee (link)

• HB 703, Rep Tommy Smith’s bill regarding county property
• HB 980, Rep Roger Lane’s bill regarding offenses concerning public officers and employees
• HB 1011, Rep Cecily Hill’s bill regarding gambling
• HR 1146, Rep Clay Cox’s “anti-czar” resolution

House Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee (link)

• SB 158, Senator Judson Hill’s bill providing exceptions for required fiscal notes regarding legislation
• SB 1, Senator David Shafer’s Zero Based Budgeting Act

House State Institutions and Property Committee (link)

• HB 1030, Rep Jim Cole’s bill regarding the Department of Corrections

The Senate Appropriations General Government (pdf) and Economic Development (pdf) Subcommittees will discuss the FY10 Amended Budget of several agencies. The Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee (pdf) will hear from Georgia Forestry Commission Director Bob Farris on prescribed burning. The Senate Transportation Committee (pdf) will have a hearing regarding GDOT accrual accounting actions. The House Insurance Committee (link) will hear from the Insurance Commissioner’s office. The House Small Business Development and Job Creation Committee (link) will hear from several groups. The House Ways and Means Committee (link) will meet to first read bills and assign them to subcommittee. The House Appropriations Higher Education Subcommittee (link) will discuss the 2010 Amended Budget.

The Senate Appropriations Human Development Subcommittee (link), as well as the House Rules (link) Committee will meet but has no agenda available online at the time of this writing. The Senate Rules Committee (link 1) (link 2) will meet twice today, and neither meeting has an agenda available at the time of this writing. The House Governmental Affairs General Government Subcommittee (link) will meet but has no agenda available online at the time of this writing.

The Senate Education and Youth (link) and Retirement (link) Committee, as well as the House Judiciary (link) Committee, meetings have been canceled for today.

C/P Georgia Legislative Watch