Do-or-die time: Legislators must wrap it up today

At some point today, possibly as the clock approaches midnight, House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram) and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle will each pick up a phone with one hand, raise a gavel with the other, and slam the 2009 legislative session to a close.

Or at least that’s the way it’s supposed to end. Last year, Richardson was so angry with Cagle over a certain tax proposal, the speaker banged the House to adjournment without waiting to hear from the other side.

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But one way or another, by virtue of Article III, Section IV, Paragraph I of the Georgia Constitution, the General Assembly must end today, lawmakers’ 40th day at the Capitol.

The Senate convenes at 9 a.m., the House at 10 a.m. The top issues still out there are the 2010 budget and plans for governing and funding transportation. Those bills are now before conference committees where House and Senate negotiators seek compromise.

But there are many other bills still to be considered today. Here’s a look at key proposals still searching for a path to the governor’s desk. And for live reports all day, visit blogs.ajc.com/

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• House Bill 119 — The one thing lawmakers must do, under the Constitution, is pass a budget. Both chambers have passed a version of the $18.6 billion spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1.

• HB 481 — Series of business tax breaks, including tax credits for companies that hire and retain the unemployed. In conference committee.

• HB 480 — Would eliminate property taxes on cars bought starting this year but add a big titling fee. Passed House; on Senate floor.

• House Resolution 1, Senate Bill 83 — One would cap assessment increases on property; the other would increase the state homestead exemption. Neither has gotten the required two-thirds majority, but either could be attached to other bills and tried again.

• SB 168 — Originally an ethics bill, amended in House committee to require Department of Revenue to report the names of lawmakers who fail to pay state income taxes. Passed Senate, on House floor.

• H.R. 672 — A resolution urging President Barack Obama to name Thomas Harrold of Athens as ambassador to Germany. Sponsored by Republicans, the resolution could face opposition over GOP’s blocking of HR 673, which honors Obama. On House floor.

• HR 673 — Honors President Barack Obama. Passed Senate, sent to House Rules Committee

• SB 42 — Overhauls the state’s public defender system. Passed Senate, on House floor.

• SB 56 — Creates electronic system of tracking the sale of over-the-counter drugs that can be used to make methamphetamines. Passed Senate, on House floor.

• SB 86 — Requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. Passed Senate, on House floor.

• SB 200 — Would overhaul transportation planning. Passed Senate, amended in House. Likely headed to conference committee.

• HB 277 — Transportation funding. Passed House, amended in Senate. In conference.

• SB 120 — Allows MARTA to use more of its money for operations. Passed Senate, in House Rules Committee; could be brought to floor today.

• HR 161 — Would pay $709,090 to a man wrongfully convicted of rape. Passed House, on Senate floor.

• HB 388 — Provides for the adoption of human embryos. Passed House, amended in Senate; could go to conference today.

• HB 2 — Would deny state road-building money to local governments that don’t check to make sure their new hires are not illegal immigrants or that those who receive public benefits are in the country legally. Passed House and Senate; could go to conference today.

• SB 67 — English-only driver’s license exams. Passed Senate, amended in House; could go to conference today.

• HB 228 — Reorganization of the state Department of Human Resources. In conference.

• HB 63 — Re-enactment of the Georgia Redevelopment Powers Law. It changes the definition of a tax allocation district, or TAD, which is used to redevelop blighted areas. Passed Senate; could be added to House calendar today.

Note: House is expected to add more bills to its floor agenda today; Senate unlikely to follow suit.

— Staff writers James Salzer and Mary Lou Pickel contributed to this article.