Number of legislative days remaining: 23
The House and Senate convene at 10 a.m. Each chamber has a small number of bills to consider, only one of which is likely to spark much debate. That's HB 870, which would prevent student athletes from being disqualified for showing their religious beliefs – literally. The bill was prompted by an incident last year in which a high school runner who wore a headband with a Bible verse was disqualified.
Outside the Capitol, civil rights groups plan to rally at noon against the eight "religious freedom" bills floating. They're gathering at Liberty Plaza to declare that all these bills, in varying degrees, discriminate against the LGBT community and others.
Sen.Brandon Beach is holding a 1 p.m. press conference. Beach has introduced two bills on expansion of MARTA. The press conference may reveal a solution to the dilemma of the two bills, at least one of which is expected to have a hearing today.
The Judiciary Committee will take up HB 849, Rich Golick's Civil Rights Act. There may be an effort to amend Golick's bill to include the LGBT community. Judiciary also is slated to take up a bill designed to make clear that it's illegal to sell fetal tissue.
Not to be outdone by the Marco Rubio camp, Hillary Clinton's campaign holds a Georgia early vote kickoff press conference today at 2:30 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda. U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, R-Tifton, was here Monday to announce a long list of Georgians who are on board for Rubio.
On the lighter -- some might say -- silly side, the House to takes up a bill to make shoal bass the official state native riverine sport fish.
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