2006 Georgia General Assembly
January 27, 2006
Week 2 Session Report, Days 6-9
Highlights
? Governor signs voter ID bill
? Governor signs tax cut on propane and natural gas
? Senate passes telecommunications bill (SB 120)
? Joint session on the State of the Judiciary, presided over by the new
Chief Justice, Leah Ward Sears
? Senate passes bill which modifies the calculation of child support (HB
221)
Overview
This week, the General Assembly worked ?in session? on Monday through Thursday,
session days 6-9 respectively.
To date, the session can be categorized as emotionally charged. Much of the
introduced legislation, action, and subsequent press continue to emphasize:
protecting children and shielding consumers. Other issues which continue to
receive emotional debate include: child support payment reform, gun owner
rights, voter identification, and redistricting.
Although there was minimal committee and floor action, those bills that were
considered were discussed at length. After five hours of debate, the voter
identification bill passed in a series of emotional party line votes.
Leadership in both chambers continues to focus on protecting children. The
House Leadership sponsored numerous bills relating to child sexual predators.
The Senate introduced a bill, co signed by all 56 Senators, (SB 425) which
creates the "The Georgia Child, Family, and School Communications Protection
Act.? This establishes a registry for parents and schools to register
children?s e-mail addresses in order to protect them from inappropriate or
adult content. A person or business will be prohibited from sending a
registered child any message that advertises a product or contains content that
a minor is prohibited from purchasing, viewing, possessing or otherwise
receiving. A person violating this law could be found guilty of a computer
crime and a felony punishable by incarceration up to five years or a fine not
to exceed $200,000, or both.
On the business front, conversations abound regarding the need for regulation
or deregulations in various industries. In response to the high cost of
heating, Senate Democrats are considering measures to re-regulate natural gas.
The Senate passed SB 120, which formally prevents the Public Service Commission
from regulating the emerging technologies industry (broadband, voice over
internet protocol, wireless). This bill is based on the work of the Emerging
Communications Technology Study Committee.
Next week, the legislature will be in session Tuesday through Thursday, days
10-12 respectively.
Notables for the week:
This week there was the following action regarding specific bills you may be
interested in:
Bills Introduced:
HB 962 establishes a state policy regarding annexation
HB 1063 provides an ad valorem tax exemption for business inventory
HB 1065 provides a funding mechanism of projects and services through the levy
and collection of a municipal sales and use tax
HB 1069 provides a method of tracking young drivers
HB 1074 provides a homestead exemption
HB 1076 provides a homestead exemption
HB 1081 related to member requirements of the County boar of tax assessors
HB 1084 eliminates the prohibition of local governments from requiring
registration of residential property
HB 1086 provides for a Georgia Arts Trust
HB 1091 related to Eminent Domain
HB 1121 related to exemptions from sales and use tax; exempts tangible personal
property used in direct connection with the construction or improvement of the
National Infantry Museum and Heritage Park
HB 1131 related to speech and expression
HR 1112, a constitutional amendment to limit eminent domain
SB 433 increases the minimum reimbursement rate paid to counties for housing
state inmates
SB 435 related to the appointment of county directors of family and children
services
SB 458 related to Eminent Domain (nonbinding arbitration)
SB 459 related to Eminent Domain (redefine blighted areas, authority of
governing authority)
SB 460 related to Eminent Domain (require good faith negotiations)
SB 462 places courthouse security under the authority of the sheriff
Bills in Action:
HB 719, Municipalities; courts; home rule powers; maximum fines; Passed
Committee
HB 950, Public employees and students; celebration of holidays; prohibit
restrictions; Passed Committee
HB 960, Urban Redevelopment Law; Passed Committee
HB 989,Clerks of superior courts; sunset dates; change; Passed Committee
HB 1019, creating the "Taser Certification Act"; Passed Committee
SB 435 related to the appointment of county directors of family and children
services; Passed Committee
SB 84, Voter ID Bill, Passed Chambers, SIGNED BY GOVERNOR
Attached, please find your tracking which serves as a tool to monitor all
legislation of interest to you. Please let us know if you have any questions or
concerns.
Thank you,
Sheila
Sheila G. Humberstone
Manager-State Affairs
Troutman Sanders Public Affairs Group LLC
404-879-6502
404-962-6684 (fax)
Sheila.Humberstone@troutmansanders.com
http://www.troutmansanderspag.com
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