2018 Legislative Session
January 8, 2018

Table of Contents
House of Representatives
Senate
Adjournment Resolution - Upcoming Schedule
Day 1
Closure in most metro school districts did not stop the 2018 Georgia General Assembly from meeting its constitutional mandate to open on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. The House and Senate gavelled in shortly after 10 a.m. 
House of Representatives

After prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, House Speaker David Ralston (R-Blue Ridge) introduced newly elected House members and recognized new members of the House minority leadership team, including House Minority Leader Bob Trammell (D-Luthersville) and House Minority Chair James Beverly (D-Macon). House Education member Wayne Howard (D-Augusta) made touching comments thanking his wife and fellow House members for their support over a difficult 2017, during which he lost a daughter and parts of both legs. 
 
Readings of bills and resolutions commenced.  One resolution, presented by Majority Leader Jon Burns (R-Newington), invited Georgia Supreme Court Justices and Gov. Nathan Deal to the House for the governor's annual State of the State address this Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018.

There was no shortage of references to tonight's University of Georgia football national championship game throughout House business this morning. Dan Corso, son of famed-coach and ESPN College Gameday personality Lee Corso, representing the Atlanta Sports Council, briefly addressed House members before a rousing closing in support of the Georgia Bulldogs
Senate
 
Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle began the 2018 legislative session by welcoming three new senators: Sen. Nikema Williams (D - Atlanta), Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R - Marietta), and Sen. Jennifer Jordan (D - Atlanta). Preceding the introduction, former Senate President Pro Tempore David Shafer resigned his seat as he seeks election to the position of lieutenant governor and the current Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle seeks election as Georgia's next governor. Shafer introduced Sen. Butch Miller (R - Gainesville) as the next President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

The Senate followed procedure by removing all bills that were tabled at the end of the 2017 session from the table and sending all legislation back to the committees that last reported on the bill.

The Senate will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
Adjournment Resolution - Upcoming Schedule
 
Comments by House Majority Leader Burns indicated some friction between the House and Senate over the upcoming legislative schedule and with regard to which procedures should prevail should the legislative schedule need to be reset due to inclement weather. House members voted to insist on their preferred procedure, allowing the lieutenant governor and the speaker to reset the calendar if weather jeopardizes the safety of legislators and legislative staff. 

Legislative Day 1
Monday, Jan. 8

Legislative Day 2
Tuesday, Jan. 9 (Senate in session 10 a.m. House in session 1 p.m.)

Legislative Day 3
Wednesday, Jan. 10

Legislative Day 4
Thursday, Jan. 11

Joint Appropriations Meetings: 

Jan. 16-18 
Agency presentation hearings on Jan. 16-17, commencing at 9:45 a.m.

Block grant hearings on Jan 18, commencing at 1 p.m.

Legislative Day 5
Thursday, Jan. 18

Legislative Day 6
Friday, Jan. 19

Legislative Day 7: 
Monday, Jan. 22

Legislative Day 8
Tuesday, Jan. 23

Legislative Day 9
Wednesday, Jan. 24

Legislative Day 10
Thursday Jan. 25

Legislative Day 11
Monday, Jan. 29
Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs
mciccarelli@pageinc.org

Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst
jstephens@pageinc.org
  


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