Four state senators and two state representatives from Cobb County have thrown support behind "religious liberty" bills this legislative session.
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Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta), Sen. Bruce Thompson (R-White), Sen. Hunter Hill and Sen. Lindsey Tippins (R-Marietta) have co-authored the controversial "Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act." Read more about SB 129 here.
Supporters of the bill cast it as a new line of defense to protect people of any religion from interference. Opponents warn it could allow business owners to cite religious beliefs to deny people service.
Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Acworth) and Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) have co-authored a bill that simply says that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed in 1993, applies across Georgia. Read more about HB 837 here.
There are at least seven other active bills in the Legislature proposing some type of religious liberty protection.
More bills Cobb County representatives support
Sen. Michael "Doc" Rhett (D-Marietta) co-authored a bill that would make simple possession of marijuana a misdemeanor. Read more about SB 254 here
Rhett also co-authored "Bou Bou's Law," a bill that would require officers to present probable cause that knocking would pose imminent danger to life or evidence before conducting a no-knock search warrant.
The bill is named after Bounkham "Bou Bou" Phonesavanh, the 19-month-old who sustained severe injuries to his face and chest, along with possible brain damage, after a stun grenade deployed during a May 2014 raid landed in his playpen. Read more about SB 45 here.
Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) has authored a bill that would ban businesses from turning away customers based on their race, color, religion or national origin.
Right now, Georgia is one of only five states without a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in public accommodations. Read more about HB 849 here.
Rep. Setzler has proposed a gas tax swap and flat tax that eliminates the so-called "fourth penny" of state tax on gas that currently goes into the state General Fund and shifts it to the motor fuel tax. Read more about HB 60 here.
>> Track legislation and your lawmakers using the AJC Legislative Navigator here
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