Georgia legislative committee schedule for Wednesday, Feb. 8

APRIL 17, 2014 ATLANTA Photos showing the Georgia State Capitol, the old Department of Transportation building and the capitol parking deck, Thursday, April 17, 2014.  Crews start demolishing a 60-year-old parking deck across from the statehouse this week, beginning what could be a years long project to give Capitol Hill it's first major facelift since the Jimmy Carter was president. The parking area will be transformed into Liberty Plaza, a protest-rally-park area that could become home to a planned new monument to MLK. Contractors will also rip up and rework the "front door" of the Capitol, the steps where racist editor and politician Tom Watson's statue stood until November, and renovate the old DOT building into office space. State officials are also talking of closing and/or rerouting traffic around the Capitol, and a new judicial complex and history center are being planned. Liberty Plaza, which is scheduled to be open before the 2015 session, will be the first, non-parking addition to the Capitol Hill since the Twin Towers were completed in 1980s. The changes will cost the state millions of dollars but supporters say it is a long time coming for an area that was once surrounded by factories and rail yards. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC

Credit: KENT D. JOHNSON / AJC

APRIL 17, 2014 ATLANTA Photos showing the Georgia State Capitol, the old Department of Transportation building and the capitol parking deck, Thursday, April 17, 2014. Crews start demolishing a 60-year-old parking deck across from the statehouse this week, beginning what could be a years long project to give Capitol Hill it's first major facelift since the Jimmy Carter was president. The parking area will be transformed into Liberty Plaza, a protest-rally-park area that could become home to a planned new monument to MLK. Contractors will also rip up and rework the "front door" of the Capitol, the steps where racist editor and politician Tom Watson's statue stood until November, and renovate the old DOT building into office space. State officials are also talking of closing and/or rerouting traffic around the Capitol, and a new judicial complex and history center are being planned. Liberty Plaza, which is scheduled to be open before the 2015 session, will be the first, non-parking addition to the Capitol Hill since the Twin Towers were completed in 1980s. The changes will cost the state millions of dollars but supporters say it is a long time coming for an area that was once surrounded by factories and rail yards. KENT D. JOHNSON/KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

House

8:00 AM Energy Subcommittee of House Energy, Utilites, and Telecommunications 515 Coverdell Legislative Office Building (CLOB). Will take up House Bill 205, which would regulate exploration and extraction of gas and oil in Georgia. 

9:00 AM RULES 341 CAP  

1:00 PM The Fleming Subcommittee of the House Judiciary 

(Civil) Committee 403 CAP 

1:00 PM Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Finance and Property 133 CAP. HB 142, employers who fail to provide tax documents to employees by Jan. 31 face fines.  

1:30 PM APPROPRIATIONS PUBLIC SAFETY 415 CLOB  

2:00 PM STATE PLANNING 515 CLOB  

2:00 PM SMALL BUSINESS 606 CLOB . HB 87, which would allow for multi-year registrations for certain types of business organizations. 

2:00 PM INDUSTRY & LABOR 506 CLOB  

2:00 PM STATE PROPERTIES 403 CAP  

2:30 PM APPROPRIATIONS FULL COMMITTEE 341 CAP 

2:30 PM Ways and Means Subcommittee On Income Tax 133 CAP. HB 54, increases value of tax credits for donations to certain rural hospitals. HB 199, income tax credits for video game manufacturers.  

3:00 PM MEDICAL CANNABIS WORKING GROUP 406 CLOB 

3:30 PM HIGHER EDUCATION 403 CAP.  HB 179, which would lower the threshold for home school students to qualify for Zell Miller Scholarships, and HB 229, limiting ability of colleges and universities to raise tuition.  
Senate

8:30 AM URBAN AFFAIRS 125 CAP  

12:00 PM RULES - Upon Adjournment  450 CAP  

1:00 PM INSURANCE & LABOR MEZZ 1 

2:00 PM EDUCATION & YOUTH  307 CLOB  . SB 3 Would provide more work training opportunities for high school students.  

3:00 PM AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER AFFAIRS  450 CAP  

3:00 PM BANKING & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS  310 CLOB   

3:00 PM STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS  MEZZ 1    

4:00 PM JUDICIARY Group B Subcommittee  307 CLOB: SB 71, adds health savings accounts to list of assets exempt from bankruptcy; SB 15,which would exempt former law enforcement officers from paying fees for carry licenses; and will hold a hearing on SB 72  , related to the conveyance of land to churches and religious groups.