Wide range of Georgians speak against proposed mine near Okefenokee Swamp
ATLANTA – Georgians ranging from expert scientists to a high-school student testified against a proposed mining site on the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp Tuesday night during a virtual public hearing. The diverse group outlined the potential environmental and cultural...
Georgia Senate panel approves ‘transformative’ reform of CON law
ATLANTA - A state Senate committee narrowly approved legislation late Tuesday that would replace Georgia's certificate of need (CON) law governing hospitals with a less restrictive "special health-care service" license. The original version of Senate Bill 162...
New bill is the “next chapter” in Georgia’s mental health reform effort
ATLANTA – The state legislature is set to consider a wide-ranging mental health reform bill that aims at improving services for Georgians struggling with mental-health or substance-abuse challenges. House Bill 520 has bipartisan support and is...
Senate committee mid-year budget hints at slowdown in tax revenue
ATLANTA - Georgia Senate budget writers approved a $32.5 billion mid-year budget Tuesday that signals leaner times likely lie ahead in the coming fiscal year. The mid-year spending plan, up 6.8% over the fiscal 2023 budget the General Assembly adopted last spring,...
State Senate committee OKs sports betting bill
ATLANTA - A Georgia Senate committee approved a sports betting bill late Monday with little discussion. The Senate Economic Development Committee passed the legislation 8-1 and sent it on to the Rules Committee to schedule a vote of the full Senate. Senate Bill...
Study finds big bucks in early presidential primaries
2 Revisions ATLANTA - Moving up Georgia's presidential primaries to put the Peach State fourth in the primary calendar would reap huge economic benefits, according to a new study. Early Democratic and Republican presidential primaries next year could generate nearly...
State legislators take aim at foster care problems as U.S. Sen. Ossoff opens inquiry
ATLANTA – The state legislature is considering bills to address the problems Georgia’s foster care system faces, including the practice of housing children in hotels or state offices when placements cannot be found. “With the full weight of the governor's and...
Sports betting backers pushing end run around Georgia Constitution
ATLANTA - Legislative supporters of legalizing sports betting in Georgia are trying something different this year. To avoid amending the pesky state Constitution, which requires a two-thirds vote of the Georgia House and Senate, lawmakers in both chambers are pushing...