Parent Press: Week 8 of the 2023 Legislative Session
Dear Friend:
The Capitol has taken on a serious tone as we approach Crossover Day on March 6. We are now digging deep into policy and legislative strategy with long sessions in the Senate chamber. If you remember playing Red Light Green Light as a child, this is what being in the minority in the General Assembly feels like right now. The Republican majority is the traffic light.
We try to get a green light whenever possible to advance legislation, but mostly get stopped by the Republican majority at red lights. At yellow lights, we push to mitigate bad legislation that we don’t have the votes to stop with amendments or by poking holes in the often-twisted logic behind the bill to get it tabled.
Red Lights Glaring – Bills Stopped
Followed by our longest floor sessions of the 2023 Legislative Session, we saw more bills flounder and fail this week than I am used to seeing in my years at the Capitol.
SB 114 to carve out Buckhead to create its own city – the first time we would do this – failed thanks to the Governor messaging that he would not sign such a measure and 10 Republicans joining the Democrat minority to say “NO” for a second year in a row to this legislation. Allowing Buckhead to divorce Atlanta would have broad repercussions throughout metro Atlanta and our state with no strategy for how to solve a multitude of issues the separation would create. What’s more, the objective of reducing crime would likely not be achieved in the complex process. It was easy to cast a no vote on this bill.
SB 88 got the red light in committee hearings this week. The “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill would silence teachers in public and private schools when addressing students’ questions and concerns about gender, and we were very happy to get this bill tabled in a committee vote.
Allowing betting on sports like horse racing, failed on the Senate floor with 37 “Nays” on SB 52.
Yellow Lights Flashing
SB 145 received a vote this week. As I know many of you were against this legislation, I spoke from the well to address your concerns about the fumes, noise and environmental damage as well as state overreach in local matters. While we were not able to stop this bill from moving forward, I did work to lessen the blow by having a sunset provision so the bill will expire in 2031. I know that seems far away, and I know this isn’t the result we wanted. But, sometimes this is the best we can when we don’t have the votes to keep a bill from passing.
It’s not over yet though – the House needs to vote before it goes to the Governor’s desk. So, focus your advocacy efforts on members in the House and let them know you oppose this legislation that robs local government of its authority to respond to their communities who want to eliminate harmful noise and air pollution.
We Got a Green Light on Some Bills
In spite of the slew of bad legislation proposed by the Republican majority, there has been some healthy though all too rare bipartisanship in the Senate.
Senator Matt Brass and I worked together to make the dual enrollment program more effective and transparent as well as allow eligible students taking CTAE classes through the dual enrollment program to access to HOPE grant funds. After Sen. Brass filed SB 86 and I filed SB 52, we were able to combine them into one bill, SB 86 which passed this week.
SB 55, the Lemonade Stand Act, passed the Senate with wide bipartisan support. I was proud to introduce this bill on the Senate floor. Now, kids in Georgia can sell lemonade or any non-alcoholic beverage, pre-packaged food or any non-consumable goods (such as t-shirts or jewelry) on private property without the hassle or cost of permits, licenses or taxes as long as revenues are $5K or less in a calendar year. I am hopeful that my colleagues in the House will support this effort to allow kids in Georgia to engage in a long tradition of entrepreneurship. We had some fun promoting this bill, trying to lighten the mood after having to wait through an entire day of proceedings, debates and votes. Who wouldn’t want to share lemonade with kids?
SB 34 is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor on Monday, I hope. By establishing health and safety standards for third party food delivery services - previously unregulated – this legislation would go a long way to protecting consumers who order food from these third-party food delivery services as well as the restaurant establishments who make the food. Note that this bill does not apply to grocery stores.
Majority Crosses Green Lights on its Agenda
While many bills failed on the floor this week, several crossed the intersection.
SB 222 comes directly from the election denying members in the majority, but in this case the entire majority supported this effort to bar counties from accessing private funds to fill the cap of the unfunded mandates in our elections laws, specifically SB 202 passed in 2020.
SB 92, creates a Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission with powers to discipline elected District Attorneys. This is an anti-democratic piece of legislation that all but one member of the majority supported. I questioned why this commission would not apply to the Attorney General or prosecuting attorneys, pointing out the political agenda behind the bill. You can read more HERE.
On the Road – Dangerous Conditions Ahead
These bills are scheduled for a vote on Crossover Day on Monday.
SB 140 is scheduled to be heard on Monday. Gender is a complex issue and this bill is dangerous for many reasons.
SB 233, a reincarnated school voucher bill, will suck funds out of our public school system that guarantees every child in Georgia access to education. The bill fails to address proper oversight that would cost taxpayer dollars or appropriate methodology for measuring the impact of the many ways the voucher could be used.
Stay on the Road
Even though common-sense gun safety bills have not been allowed a vote in the Senate or in the House, this has not stopped advocates from coming to the Capitol to hold the traffic wardens in the majority party accountable. Never underestimate the power of your ability to make a difference and support us in our work.
Thank you for reading this update and staying engaged. If you know others who would like to be receive my newsletter, please direct them to elenaparent.com to subscribe.
It is an honor to serve and represent you in the Georgia State Senate.
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