Nuggets From the Gold Dome
Vol. 3, No. 6
March 9th – March 13th, 2015
Good Afternoon, All!
Below is your weekly installment of “Nuggets from the Gold Dome.” There are just 10 days left in the 40-day General Assembly. Friday was “Crossover Day,” and lawmakers worked well into the night for bills to meet this deadline. What is Crossover Day you ask? Check out this great video here. Our advocates continue to educate their representatives on important issues at the capitol – consider joining them for the final push as April 2nd is scheduled to be Sine Die, or the final day of the session.
For more information, hyperlinks have been added and are in blue and underlined.Official reports of daily legislative activities can be accessed at:
House Daily Reports
This Week in the Senate
Your Weekly Nuggets
What “crossed over” and what didn’t: Marking the 30th of 40 legislative days, Georgia lawmakers passed numerous measures on Friday in order to meet the General Assembly’s first deadline of the session. The AJC has a list of what passed here and the Athens Banner-Herald has more on what did NOT crossover here. This is the first year of a two-year session, any legislation that did not cross over can still be considered in 2016.
Solar Freedom: HB 57, The Free-Market Solar Financing Act Sponsored by Rep. Mike Dudgeon (R-Johns Creek) has been favorably reported out of the Senate Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee. This legislation enables Georgians to secure third party financing for the installation of solar technology on their home or business. The measure has already been unanimously supported in the House and awaits a vote from the Georgia Senate. Atlanta Progressive News has more here, as does Georgians for Solar Freedom.
Opportunity School District: The Senate has approved Governor Deal’s plan to help turn around failing schools – but only if voters approve the ballot measure. SR 287 would put the question to voters and amend the Georgia Constitution to allow the state to take control of up to 100 failing schools. The measure now moves over to the House. WABE has more on the issue here, as does the AJC.
Playing with Fireworks in the House: The Georgia House of Representatives easily passed HB 110, Sponsored by Rep. Jay Roberts (R-Ocilla), which would lift the current ban on the sale of fireworks in the state. Every state that borders Georgia (excluding North Carolina) sells fireworks. The AJC has more on the issue here as does the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
What We’re Following/Take Action!
Post-Secondary Education and Employment Study Committee: HR 642, sponsored by Rep. Katie Dempsey (R-Rome), would create a joint study committee to better understand Post-Secondary Education and Employment outcomes for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. Also sponsoring this Resolution are: Rep. Bubber Epps (R-Dry Branch), Rep. Buddy Harden (R-Cordele), Rep. Sharon Cooper (R-Marietta), Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), and Rep. Terry England (R-Auburn). If these are your legislators, please contact them to thank them for their support of Post-Secondary Education and Employment First.
Take Action!
To find your representatives, use
For more on Federal issues:
AUCD Disability Policy News In Brief
Tuesdays with Liz: Disability Policy for ALL
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, or would like to see something added to the Nuggets, do not hesitate to contact me at .
Nuggets from the Gold Dome is a weekly newsletter about selected issues being considered by the Georgia General Assembly. It is authored by J. Ryan Johnson of the Center for Leadership in Disability at Georgia State University and is for educational purposes only. We welcome questions, comments, and concerns. If you would like to see something added to theNuggets, do not hesitate to .