2018 Legislative Session
January 18, 2018

Table of Contents
Georgia Senate
Georgia House
Upcoming Schedule
Day on Capitol Hill Registration Now Open
Day 5
Georgia Senate  
 
Due to this week's winter weather, the Joint Appropriations hearing scheduled for Wednesday was cancelled. On Thursday, the state Senate convened at 1:30 p.m. Senators welcomed their new colleague from the 17th District, Sen. Brian Strickland (R-McDonough) before assigning bills to committee and taking roll. Minority Leader Steve Henson (D-Stone Mountain) spoke on a point of personal privilege, referencing the  news that Atlanta has made Amazon's 20-city short list for its new headquarters . Henson stressed the importance of a comprehensive transportation system. Senate Transportation Committee Chair Brandon Beach (R-Alpharetta) then stepped into the well of the Senate to honor the service of a Georgia Department of Transportation employee who was struck and killed by a train . After several other senators spoke on a variety of topics, including the death of Mrs. Betty Russel Vandiver,  wife of former Gov. Earnest Vandiver, the senators engaged in gentle hazing of the senator from the 17th. 
 
Senators representing Fulton County then debated local legislation limiting county property tax increases. Several senate Democrats spoke in opposition to SB 317, sponsored by Sen. John Albers (R-Roswell), which they worry may negatively impact Fulton County Schools. The legislation enables Fulton County voters to limit their property tax liability for school purposes by voting on the following referendum in November 2018:
 
" Do you approve the Act which provides a new homestead exemption from  Fulton County school district property taxes for educational purposes in the  amount of the difference between the current year assessed value of a home  and its 2016 base year assessed value, provided the base year assessed value  shall be adjusted each year by the lesser of 3 percent or any percentage
increase in the inflation rate?"
 
SB 317 passed in a motion to engross, which prevents amendments to the legislation. 

HB 159, the long-awaited adoption bill, sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Jesse Stone (R-Waynesboro) passed after a long discussion. The Senate adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow. 
Georgia House

The House met briefly Thursday focusing mainly on morning announcements and first reads of new bills, none of which relate to education. House Speaker David Ralston (R - Blue Ridge) welcomed newly elected Rep. Geoff Cauble, a Republican general contractor from Locust Grove. 

Rep. Kevin Tanner, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee, also paid respects to the fallen GDOT worker. 

The House adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow.
Upcoming Schedule

Friday, Jan. 19
Legislative Day 6

Monday, Jan. 22

Legislative Day 7


 

Education Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, 3-4 pm, 406 CLOB


 

Tuesday, Jan. 23 Legislative Day 8

Wednesday, Jan 24 Legislative Day 9

Thursday, Jan 25 Legislative Day 10
Day on Capitol Hill Registration Now Open
 
Please join us on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, for Day on Capitol Hill. PAGE is partnering with the Georgia Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (GACTE) and the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) again in 2018. Our focus this year is Georgia's teacher pipeline, and we'll spend time under the Gold Dome and at our luncheon session discussing the future of the pipeline with state policymakers. We'll also hear from education budget expert Claire Suggs and Georgia's newly hired Chief Turnaround Officer Eric Thomas, Ph.D. Please register now for this FREE event and invite your House and Senate member to lunch on Feb 20. 

Margaret Ciccarelli - Director of Legislative Affairs
mciccarelli@pageinc.org

Josh Stephens - Legislative Policy Analyst
jstephens@pageinc.org
  


PAGE's core business is to provide professional learning for educators that will enhance professional competence and confidence, build leadership qualities and lead to higher academic achievement for students, while providing the best in membership, legislative and legal services and support