New COAM reform bill hits General Assembly
ATLANTA - A state lawmaker is renewing a bipartisan push to reform Georgia's coin-operated amusement machines (COAM) industry. House Bill 353, sponsored by Georgia Rep. Alan Powell, would award non-cash redemption gift cards to winners that could be redeemed anywhere...
Georgia lawmakers mulling legalizing gambling through constitutional amendment
ATLANTA - The General Assembly will get a choice this year whether to legalize gambling in Georgia by statute or constitutional amendment. Legislation introduced into the state House and Senate this week takes the constitutional amendment approach, which would put the...
New bill would create innovation commission focused on intellectual and developmental disabilities
Sen. Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, introduced a bill this week to create an innovation commission focused on better serving Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. (Photo credit: Rebecca Grapevine) ATLANTA – Georgia disability advocates are calling for...
State Senate approves wide-ranging reforms to Georgia’s gang laws
Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, speaks about his bill addressing gang violence. (Photo credit: Rebecca Grapevine) ATLANTA – The state Senate Thursday approved a wide-ranging bill aimed at stemming the tide of gang-related crime in Georgia. Sponsored by Sen....
Fulton County grand jury in Trump case recommends perjury charges
Then-President Donald Trump headlined a campaign rally in Dalton on Jan. 4, 2021. (Photo by Beau Evans) ATLANTA - The Fulton County special purpose grand jury that investigated allegations of criminal interference in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia is...
Religious freedom debate resurfaces in General Assembly
ATLANTA - A fight over religious freedom legislation that roiled the General Assembly seven years ago is back before Georgia lawmakers. State Sen. Ed Setzler introduced a bill Wednesday protecting the right of Georgians to “free exercise of religion” from intrusion by...
Georgia Senate unanimously approves bill widening Georgia’s “do not call” law
ATLANTA – The state Senate unanimously approved a bill Wednesday that would expand Georgia’s law governing telemarketing calls. The bill would allow Georgians to hold companies liable for telemarketing calls made by third-party contractors as well as...
Port of Savannah saw business slowdown in January
ATLANTA - Business was down at the Port of Savannah last month, with total containerized cargo dropping by 55,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) compared to January of last year. The decrease was fueled in part by a reduction in orders from retailers and...