Book ban versus parent control, lawmakers debate purpose of bill that could send librarians to jail
ATLANTA - Legislation to strip librarians of their criminal immunity from a law that makes it illegal to give "harmful" books and other content to minors is moving quickly through the Georgia General Assembly, after passing a House committee in a partisan vote Friday....
State House tweaks Kemp’s mid-year budget
ATLANTA — The state House completed its proposed adjustments to the current year budget, sending the Senate its changes to Gov. Brian Kemp's spending plan for the state through June. The $42.3 billion amended fiscal year budget approved overwhelmingly Thursday left...
Overwhelming vote backs efforts to investigate campaign money pumped into Georgia
ATLANTA — Millions of dollars of out-of-state campaign money flowing into Georgia could soon be more strongly policed in the wake of mysterious political TV ads and big spending on recent elections. A bipartisan state Senate voted 50-1 to pass a bill Thursday that...
Proposed change to law would expose librarians to jail risk for loaning ‘harmful’ materials to minors
ATLANTA — Legislation that seeks to expose librarians to criminal prosecution for loaning the wrong books to children has resurfaced at the Georgia Legislature. Senate Bill 74 passed the Senate last year, the first half of the biennial legislative session, and...
Wealthy businessman Rick Jackson challenges Republican candidates for Georgia governor
ATLANTA — Billionaire Republican health care executive Rick Jackson’s entry into the Georgia governor’s race this week could shake up a contest that has so far been dominated by three statewide GOP officeholders. Jackson, 71, pitched himself as an outsider and...
Bill capping annual property tax increases advances through Georgia Senate
ATLANTA — Georgia homeowners’ property values couldn't rise faster than the inflation rate, putting a brake on annual property tax increases, according to a bill that passed the state Senate on Tuesday. Property taxes pay for most local services, including schools....
Georgia election review panel recommends gradual shift to hand-marked ballots
ATLANTA — After six lengthy hearings around the state last year, a special legislative committee studying the elections process has recommended incremental changes to Georgia's voting system. The study committee chaired by Rep. Tim Fleming, R-Covington, who is running...
Georgia might criminalize using AI to create obscene images of people
ATLANTA — It could soon become a serious crime in Georgia to use AI apps to create obscene, computer-generated images of real people. State senators considered a proposal Monday to create the crime of “virtual peeping” by using artificial intelligence to virtually...