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AJC.com > Legislature > Georgia Beat > Archives > 2005 > January > 31
Monday, January 31, 2005
House passes Perdue’s land plan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia House cast its first vote today - a unanimous one for Gov. Sonny Perdue’s land conservation proposal.
The bill, which officially passed 174-0, would allow the creation of a pot of money — $100 million — to entice farmers, timber companies and other large landowners to permanently protect their pastures, forests and other landscapes from development.
The owners would still own their land and receive a flat sum for giving up their development rights, and tax breaks. In return, the state could forever protect fragile landscapes, including wetlands, an old-growth forest that’s home to endangered plants and animals, or Civil War battlefields.
The bill now goes to the state Senate for consideration.
After the vote, the House paused to pray for Republican state Rep. Paul Jennings of the Tucker area, who is having surgery today for bladder cancer.
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Bill would limit smoking across Georgia
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Senate convened at 1 p.m. today for a short session - just long enough to assign several bills to committee and hear a few announcements.
A bill to ban smoking in all indoor public areas across Georgia, sponsored by Sen. Don Thomas (R-Dalton), is headed to the Health and Human Services Committee. Last year, the measure passed the Senate 45-7. A coalition of Republicans and Democrats once again is backing the measure.
A measure that would establish a state-wide telecommunication system for blind and print-disabled Georgians also has bipartisan support. Sen. David Adelman (D-Decatur) and Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) introduced the bill Monday. It was assigned to the Regulated Industries and Utilities Committee.
The Senate approved the controversial measure to cap nonecomonic jury awards in medical malpreactice suits on its second reading. The bill may come to the Senate floor for debate later this week.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Stephens (R-Canton) told the chamber that both the House and Senate will meet on Saturday, March 12, for “Family Day” at the state Capitol. The Legislature will consider repealing old JIm Crow laws and other unenforced, antiquated statutes on the books. Stephens said he expects the bills, introduced in the House by state Rep. Tyrone Brooks (D-Atlanta), to move quickly through committee. Stephens asked for the Senate to support the legislation.
The Senate meets next at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
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