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Sine Die 2023: What are some of the big bills moving on?

Historically, legislators must finish business by midnight.

ATLANTA — Wednesday night was a busy one under the gold dome in Atlanta as lawmakers looked to give their final stamp of approval on several bills. As always, the clock was ticking.

Historically, legislators must finish business by midnight, but in 2022, they went well past the deadline. 

Gang Sentences

SB 44 passed both chambers, and heads to Gov. Brian Kemp's desk for final approval. The bill would require a five- to-20 year sentence for anyone convicted of recruiting someone into a gang. That sentence would be added on top of any additional crimes that person may have committed. People under 18, or folks with disabilities convicted of a gang crime, would get a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

School Vouchers

Around 9 p.m., the House voted against a bill that would provide some parents $6,500 per child to help pay for private school. The bill failed by just four votes, 89-85. Representatives voted to reconsider the bill, but as of the time we set out to publish, the bill had not come back up for consideration.

Mental Health

We've also kept an eye on House Bill 520. That bill focuses on recruiting mental health professionals to Georgia, and helping to streamline the way mental health professionals exchange patient information. The bill had overwhelming support in the House, but lost momentum in the Senate.

Wednesday, senators added portions of that bill into Senate Bill 23, which reorganizes and renames certain state entities and committees. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, they added the information exchange clauses only. The House later approved those amendments.

Macon-Bibb Election Supervisor

We're also watching Senate Bill 227, which would allow Macon-Bibb Mayor Lester Miller to choose the county's next election supervisor. According to Sen. John Kennedy's office, that bill did not make it out of committee, and likely will not pass this year.

FY24 Budget

The House gave final approval to the FY24 budget at 11:56 p.m. It passed the Senate earlier Wednesday after a conference committee vote. 

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