Atlanta, Georgia Local News
Georgia Politics: The Crossover Day Odyssey
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Crossover Day in Georgia means it’s the final day for any proposed laws that must move from one legislative chamber to the other for consideration. If a bill doesn’t pass, it is dead for that session. Here are some bills (and topics) of consequence that either passed or stalled on Crossover Day.
Georgia Republicans pass controversial illegal immigrant bill
House Bill 1105 passed along party lines, 97-74 after lengthy debate. According to the legislation, it requires Georgia law enforcement to cooperate with federal authorities in the administration and adjudication of immigration laws. This bill came to light after Georgia Governor Brian Kemp blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for the death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University student in Athens on Friday, February 23rd.
The alleged suspect, Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, is not a U.S. citizen. He resides in the Athens area. Ibarra faces charges of malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call, and concealing the death of another.
Additionally, the legislation does call for local agencies to be required to apply for and enter into memorandums of understanding in order to enforce federal immigration and customs laws and assist with the detention, removal, and investigation of illegal aliens and the immigration status of any person in Georgia.
Republicans launch another assault on LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia
The state Senate passed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), along party lines. What the bill does is instruct the state and local governments to not “substantially burden” an individual’s free exercise of religion. The only exception provided is if the government could demonstrate it had a “compelling governmental interest” in doing so and that it was using the “least restrictive means” of intrusion.
““It simply provides a tool to weigh the legitimate interests the government has against people’s religious rights,” state Senator Ed Setzler said, the author of the bill. “We’re not trying to take anything from anybody.”
Meanwhile, two days prior, many members of the LGBTQ+ community voiced their opposition to Senate Bill 180.
“We are telling LGBTQ Georgians and their families to leave our state and take their dollars elsewhere,” Georgia Senate Minority Leader Gloria Butler said.
It was one of eight bills targeting the LGBTQ+ community by Georgia Republicans. Senate BIll 88 and House Bill 1045 would have forced the outing of Trans students in Georgia’s public schools. It failed to get out of committee three times. Senate Bill 141 would have banned medical care for Transgender adolescents including medications that delay puberty. A similar bill failed to make it out of committee in the house. Next, Senate Bill 438 would have banned Transgender students from participating in high school athletics. That did not go anywhere. House Bill 1128 would define terms ‘female,’ ‘male,’ and ‘sex’ as terms to identify men and women based on only the characteristics that person had at birth. This is an attempt to discriminate against Transgender individuals.
The Reparations Bill stalls in the House
House Bill 955 would have created a reparations study commission. However, it was not called up for debate. On February 15th, 2024, a rally was held by the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. Joining them was ReparationsPush, the NAACP, the Urban League, and Black Voters Matter. Each support a Bill that offers reparations to millions of descendants of slaves who were affected by injustices. The bill was authored by state Representative Roger Bruce.
Mental Health Bill for High School Athletes Passes
State Representative Omari Crawford, a Democrat from South DeKalb, was able to successfully pass House Bill 1104. The legislation is designed to mandate participating public and private schools to address mental health risks for student athletes.
Additionally, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, would be tasked to develop and post about mental health risks for student athletes. It would raise awareness of mental health resources that are made available to student athletes. In developing such guidelines and materials, an athletic association may utilize educational videos available at no cost to the state for the purpose of educating school personnel and coaches.
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