State House declines proposal for regulating psychedelic therapy clinics
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers declined to tighten regulations for clinics that administer Ketamine and other drugs used for psychedelic therapy, but the debate is not over yet. The 73-88 vote against House Bill 717 on the House floor Tuesday was a rejection of a request...
Georgia’s youngest lawmaker hopes to implement ‘foundational change’ this legislative session
At 22, Georgia Rep. Akbar Ali, D-Lawrenceville, is the state’s youngest lawmaker. Whether he was organizing climate marches in high school or rechartering the Gwinnett Young Democrats, Ali has long been civically engaged. The driving force behind Ali’s desire to...
Republican state senators push changes to Georgia voting machines
ATLANTA — Georgia Senate Republicans pushed last-minute amendments to the state's election procedures through a committee hearing Monday in an effort to meet their self-imposed deadline to use hand-marked ballots this year. Critics noted that the two-year delay since...
Lawmakers consider harms of artificial intelligence, social media, particularly for children
ATLANTA — Concern about the effects of algorithms and artificial intelligence has been driving an onslaught of legislation at the Georgia General Assembly. Lawmakers have unleashed more than half a dozen bills that would hold companies or individuals to account for...
Alabama and Georgia end decades-long legal conflict
ATLANTA — No blood was shed, but it will go down as one of the longer conflicts in memory. Last week, Alabama finally raised a white flag after nearly four decades of legal battles with Georgia in one front of what came to be known as the "Tri-State Water Wars," which...
Georgia lawmakers seek to reduce insurance costs
ATLANTA — After approving one-time income and property tax rebates for Georgians earlier this week, the state House returned with four more affordability measures, this time aimed at insurance costs. The legislation passed by the House Thursday aims to curb excess...
Students who skip school could face new punishments, including loss of driver’s license
ATLANTA — Students with too many unexcused absences would be barred from playing sports and could lose their driver's license under legislation approved by the state Senate Thursday. "These are privileges," said Sen. Jason Dickerson, R-Canton. "And this bill...
Georgia lawmakers approve midyear budget, restoring major cuts by adding money
ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers reached a compromise on the mid-year budget Wednesday, fulfilling priorities of the three main players with a little help from extra money. To overcome an impasse after the state House and state Senate took money from each other's...
Bill allowing broader sales of craft beer by Georgia breweries falls short
ATLANTA — An attempt to permit Georgia breweries to sell beer to restaurants, bars, and stores failed Tuesday when state senators refused to vote on the bill. The proposal’s demise means that craft brewers can still only provide alcohol to in-person customers, who are...