House members tackling final measures in session's last day

11:37 p.m.: House pages just came in

The latest sign that things are wrapping up: The House just applauded the young people who serve as pages.

11:35 p.m.: Getting closer to midnight, getting rowdy

The House is still taking up bills, but things are getting raucous in the chamber.

Even as they vote, some members are zipping paper airplanes around the room. Speaker David Ralston even had to calm down the room and restore order, even though the House is near adjournment.

11:31 p.m.: Deal reached to save thousands their jobless paychecks

The House has agreed to a conference committee report that will extend unemployment checks for more than 22,000 Georgians.

The Senate has already agreed to the report on House Bill 500, which also funds job-training centers as the original House proposal did. The latest version keeps a change in state law to match federal eligibility for extended jobless benefits. The benefits, which average about $244 a week in the state, kick in for 20 weeks after a recipient has used up 79 weeks of unemployment.

The report passed, 125-35.

11:28 p.m.:House approves tweak to highway worker bill

The House agreed to some minor language changes in a bill, which helps state highway employees who are injured or killed while doing their job on the road.

Senate Bill 58 is similar to a House Bill 156, which passed unanimously earlier this year. But the Senate version is retroactive so it will cover Spencer Pass, the highway emergency response operator who was killed on I-85 while helping a motorist in January.

Only highway workers who work outside will be added to the list of jobs such as police officers and emergency personnel who qualify for indemnification pay under the bill, which passed 166-1. The pay for death is $100,000. Injuries with partial disability pay $35,000, and full disability pays $75,000.

The bill passed 150-7 and now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal.

11:24 p.m. Inching closer to the end

In a sure sign the session is about to end, Rules Committee Chairman John Meadows has called for all items left on the general calendar be sent back to their respective committees.

That leaves those measures up for consideration next year, the second year of a two-year session.

"We're getting things sort of organized up here," said Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge.

11:15 p.m.: House OKs health insurance bill without coverage mandates

Female lawmakers were unable to defeat a bill that lets insurance companies sell individual health insurance plans that don’t include the coverage requirements of Georgia law.

Women in both the House and Senate had beaten back similar efforts in recent years, because of the lack of consumer protections. Mandates in Georgia law require a range of benefits, from breast cancer screenings to 48-hour hospital stays for new mothers and babies.

Supporters argue that letting Georgians to buy individual policies approved by other states could make insurance more affordable and convince more people to get coverage. About one in five Georgians has no health insurance.

The House voted 98-58 to approve House Bill 47 with the amendments that lift the mandates. The issue now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal.

11:11 p.m.: House approves bill to aid families

Nine hours after delaying it, the House approved a bill that helps the families of state workers killed in the line of duty.

The House postponed voting to agree to a Senate change to House Bill 107, which would allow surviving family members of state workers killed in the line of duty to stay on the state medical plan.

Instead of covering only those in public safety or Department of Transportation jobs, the measure would apply to all state employees. The House agreed to that change, 159-1.

The bill is a direct response to the plight of the family of Trooper Chadwick LeCroy, who was killed during a traffic stop on Dec. 27. His widow, Keisha LeCroy, would have had to pay more than $900 through COBRA to maintain her husband's health insurance for her and their 10-year-old son.

The bill also applies to the family of Spencer Pass, a HERO operator who was struck and killed while helping a motorist on I-85 in January.

10:50 p.m.: House again takes up legislative fix

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Wendell Willard has again asked his colleagues to take up House Bill 30, which would fix a legislative error in an Amendment on non-compete clauses from last year's election.

Willard asked the House disagree to a Senate substitute to the bill, which added a provision that the governor cannot approve a contract with any Indian tribe without two-thirds legislative approval. The amendment addressed concerns that a potential Indian reservation could to break Georgia law, such as environmental or tax laws, or establish a casino.

The original bill fixed an oversight on Amendment 1. The amendment, which passed with 68 percent of the vote in November, allows courts to modify agreements between firms and their workers instead of accepting or rejecting them outright.

But legislation leading up to the amendment deferred to the amendment language to set a date for the change to take effect. It didn't.

The House voted to disagree with the Senate substitute. That sends the bill back to the Senate for review and keeps the issue alive, at least until the legislative adjourns for the session in about an hour.

10:46 p.m.: House starting to get restless

With just a little more than an hour to get their work done, the House is moving quickly on bills but also beginning to get restless.

Members are mingling around the room as votes are taken. Still outstanding this year is whether lawmakers will extend unemployment benefits by tweaking state law to match federal requirements.

10:21 p.m.: Legislative fix to Amendment from last year fails

A bill that would fix a legislative error failed in the House, throwing into question how noncompete agreements in the state can be enforced.

The House had approved House Bill 30 earlier this year, but Thursday's late vote on the issue revealed the ongoing debate of what impact Amendment 1 could have on Georgia workers.

The amendment, which passed with 68 percent of the vote in November, allows courts to modify agreements between firms and their workers instead of accepting or rejecting them outright.

But legislation leading up to the amendment deferred to the amendment language to set a date for the change to take effect. It didn't.

House Bill 30 originally fixed that oversight. But the Senate this weekend added a provision that the governor cannot approve a contract with any Indian tribe without two-thirds legislative approval. The amendment addressed concerns that a potential Indian reservation could to break Georgia law, such as environmental or tax laws, or establish a casino.

The House removed that provision before defeating the original bill, 54-111.

10:13 p.m.: House approves tax breaks for scholarship donations

The House has given final passage to a bill that would increase the tax credits available to individuals and corporations that donate to scholarship programs to help public school students attend private schools. The tax credits have been capped at $50 million annually, but will be indexed each year through 2017 according to the Consumer Price index under the legislation.

House Bill 325 passed 107-60.

10:11 p.m.: Immigration headed to governor

The House has agreed to the Senate amendment to the session's main immigration bill. House Bill passed 112-59.

House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta,  lost an objection to the House voting on the amendment on procedural grounds. Speaker David Ralston overruled her concerns that the amendment to an amendment could not pass, except by unanimous consent.

The measure now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal.

10:02 p.m.: The House is taking up immigration

House Bill 47, the immigration bill that caused headaches all session long, is now finally before the House.

The House is expected to agree to the Senate amendment on the bill, which phases in a federal database that checks that workers are legal U.S. residents.

"We are finally at the end of what has been a long and arduous process," said the bill's sponsor, Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City.

9:59 p.m.: Road-sign bill now about chicken litter

Two measures that couldn't clear the House have just passed both chambers, the result of an entire rewrite of a bill.

Senate Bill 54 originally dealt with signs along state highways. The language on that is now gone.

In its place is language that lets haulers of chicken litter -- yes, that's the waste from poultry farms -- tree bark and hot mixed asphalt get a 5 percent variance on weight limits. It also doubles how far haulers can go, up to a 200 mile radius from the farm or point of origin.

The measure passed 154-15.

9:48 p.m.:Arts bill passes without sales tax provision

A proposal to let local communities vote themselves a sales tax for economic development projects is out of an arts bill that has cleared the House.

House Bill 264 initially called to move the state Council for the Arts from its current home in the state budget office to under the umbrella of the state Department of Economic Development.

A Senate amendment added language from House Bill 73, would let counties and cities hold a referendum on dedicating up to 1 cent of sales tax for any economic development project.  Supporters claimed the measure would boost the arts and local government services, but only if voters agreed.

That provision, which did not clear the House, was removed before House vote. The House approved the original arts bill 168-2.

9:40p.m.: House back in session

The House has again convened. First up: Agreeing to a conference committee report on Senate Bill 140, which increases the bonding power of the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority, from $300 to $400 million.

The bill, which passed 143-18, also further defines what constitutes a self-liquidating project, including the World Congress Center.

9:10 p.m.: Another recess

Yelling support for staff can really take it out of you. The House is again in recess, this time for 10 minutes.

9:08 p.m.: Yes, that's applause you hear

Don't worry, the sound of hoots and clapping from the House doesn't mean the day is over.

Speaker David Ralston just stopped action for a while, to congratulate and thank employees who kept things running this session. Members applauded everyone from door keepers -- who handle the ongoing stream of comings and goings from the chamber -- to House Clerk Robby Rivers, who shows up early enough every day to make coffee for his staff.

8:52p.m.: House extends clean energy credit

Georgians could continue claiming an income tax credit for installing renewable energy systems in their homes under an amendment added onto House bill dealign with income tax.

House Bill 346 relates to the definition of a nonresident for purposes of income tax. The Senate added, and the House agreed to, House Bill 146 being inserted in the bill. That extends the current $2.5 million annual fund for clean energy that is set to expire in June. The fund will grow to $10 million, to pay out over four years.

State taxpayers can claim 35 percent of the purchase and installation of systems such as solar heating, wind-powered systems and geothermal heat pumps.

8:42 p.m.: Conference committee next stop for zero-based budgeting

The question of whether Georgia will use zero-based budgeting is going to a conference committee.

The House has insisted on its version of Senate Bill 133, which calls for a system where all government departments justify all spending periodically during budgeting by starting its accounts at zero.

The sticking point is no longer  having each department come up for review every six years. At issue: The House version calls for eliminating the Senate Budget Office, at a projected savings of $1 million a year. The Senate, not surprisingly, doesn't want to lose its office.

The Senate had overrode a veto in the first days of the session on a version of the budgeting approved last year. The House declined to take up that veto, instead coming up with its own bill to present this year. That language is now in the Senate bill.

8:26 p.m: House tacks two bills, including one from Attorney General, on fee legislation

The House has added two bills that cleared the chamber earlier this year to another piece of legislation approved by the Senate.

Both chambers have approved House Bill 129, which originally prohibited fees on the conveyance of property.

In agreeing to minor changes to the Senate version, the House just tacked on two other measures by a vote of 111-63. The House only approved it after an effort to table the bill with its changes failed.

The changes already passed the House earlier this year. One is House Bill 237, part of Attorney General Sam Olens' agenda, which criminalizes falsifying documents in foreclosures. Changing the documents has been done to speed up the foreclosure process in some instances,and the bill also gives Olens and district attorneys more power to investigate claims of fraud in those matters.

The second change adds House Bill 110, which limits how much communities can charge in fees and fine for foreclosure registries to $100 and $500 per month. The measure especially affects DeKalb County, which created the first vacant property registry last year by charging a $175 filing fee and threatening fines up to $1,000 a day for problems. At the time, DeKalb had nearly 14,000 foreclosed properties.

8:06 p.m.: Lawmakers agree to allow yard waste in landfills

So much for composting.

A conference committee from both chambers have agreed to allow lawn clippings into landfills, earlier a sticking point to House Bill 274. The Senate had removed that provision, but a conference committee issued a report calling for it to be reinstated, even before the Senate had named who would represent it on the committee.

Rep. Randy Nix, R-LaGrange, insisted the change does not hurt the state's composting industry and will in fact help the state by encouraging renewable energy from landfills. The House agreed, passing the bill 118-48.

The measure also renews a $1 tire cleanup fee for another three years without requiring the fee be spent on cleanup. The money instead goes to the general fund.

7:54 p.m.: Someone new in front of the chamber

Matt Ramsey, the author of the House's immigration bill this year, is acting as speaker right now.

Ramsey, R-Peachtree City,  is calling on members to discuss bills as Speaker David Ralston is standing to the side, checking his phone and having pictures taken.

7:42 p.m.: Conference committee with take up extending unemployment

The House has just named its conference committee that will try to find an agreement on House Bill 500, which has a provision that would extend unemployment checks for more than 22,000 Georgians.

The Senate has already named its members for a conference committee, with the sticking point being whether to fund job-training centers as the original House proposal did. The latest version keeps a change in state law to match federal eligibility for extended jobless benefits. The benefits, which average about $244 a week in the state, kick in for 20 weeks after a recipient has used up 79 weeks of unemployment.

7:36 p.m.: Sunset Act likely going to conference

Lawmakers from the House and Senate are likely to soon be hashing out just how to review state agencies, boards, departments and commissions for possible elimination.

The House just disagreed to changes in Senate Bill 223, which sets up the Sunset Advisory Committee. The 14-member committee, to be appointed by the House speaker and lieutenant governor, could also suggest a change in mission or a consolidation with other departments.

If the Senate insists to hold its position, a conference committee is likely.

7:26 p.m.: House is back

Dinner is over and the House is taking action again.

6:15 p.m. House on dinner break

The House is in recess for dinner. It reconvenes at 7:15 p.m.

6:01 p.m.: House zipping through bills

The House has agreed to a half dozen minor bills from the Senate in record time.

The pace has quickened as word has spread that the Senate approved House Bill 87, the main immigration measure, in a way that keeps E-verify in place.

Requiring businesses use the federal database that indicates whether hires are legal U.S. residents has been a sticking point between the two chambers' versions of the bill. With a phasing in of E-verify, the House is likely to sign off on the bill and send it off to Gov. Nathan Deal.

5:44 p.m. Deal is speaking to the House

Gov. Nathan Deal has begun addressing the House.

Speaker David Ralston lauded the governor in his introduction, going so far as to call Deal “his excellency” moments before Deal began speaking.

“I think this has been an exciting and productive session, and this state is grateful for his leadership,” Ralston said. “We look forward to continuing the good work we have started this session, under his stewardship.”

Deal began his remarks complimenting members of both parties who have worked with him this year. The comments were a clear shout-out to House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who took heat for her support of the governor’s revamping the HOPE scholarship program.

Deal also reminded lawmakers they will return to session “sometime around Aug. 15” for a special session on redistricting. He later said he would see lawmakers that day, basically setting a date for that session while praising the work done this year so far.

“I am not going to enumerate the accomplishments you have made this session,” Deal said. “I think it speaks volumes you are not going to be working in the wee hours of the night on a budget. That is somewhat historic.”

Deal said he will begin his review of bills as soon as the session concludes tonight at midnight.

5:36 p.m. Ralston returns, governor about to enter

Speaker David Ralston has returned to his place in front of the chamber. His first announcement: "a few minutes" with Gov. Nathan Deal.

Deal is now entering the House, escorted by various leaders. No word yet on what his address will include.

5:24 p.m. Change in funding for victims of sexual assault headed to governor

The House has agreed to technical changes to a bill that shifts who pays for the medical exams of sexual assault victims.

House  Bill 503 shifts the cost from the local law enforcement agency to the Georgia Crime Victims Emergency Fund. By approving the Senate substitute with the minor changes, the measure now heads to Gov. Nathan Deal.

4:57 p.m.: House signs off on ethics law

The governor can close a loophole in state ethics law regarding lobbyist spending on state employees with his signature.

The House voted 152-9 to agree to a Senate change to a bill that requires lobbyists disclose money spent on any public employees. The change makes the law take effect on Gov. Nathan Deal's approval.

The amendment was added to Senate Bill 160, which allows employees of utility companies to make campaign contributions.

4:57 p.m.: House rejects Senate change on zero-based budgeting

The House has disagreed with the Senate's version of a bill on zero-based budgeting, the system that calls for all departments to justify all spending periodically during budgeting.

The question now heads back to the Senate, which overrode a veto in the first days of the session on a version of the budgeting approved last year. The House version calls for each department, including the Legislature, to come up for review every six years instead of every three.

4:51 p.m.: Prescription monitoring issue headed to governor

The House has agreed to a Senate change to a prescription monitoring bill, requiring those receiving the most addictive drugs sign their name in a legible way.

With that, Senate Bill 36 heads to Gov. Nathan Deal. The bill requires pharmacists and doctors who dispense medicines to report to the state weekly on who receives prescriptions of Schedule I to Schedule V drugs. The lower-numbered drugs are the most potentially addictive and run to the higher number drugs, which  include such medications as antidiarrheals.

The bill passed 131-32.

4:44 p.m.: House again rejects provision that helps charter school students

The House has agreed to the Senate version of House Bill 285, but only after removing an amendment that benefits charter school students.

The changed bill, which must head back to the other chamber, passed 153-5.

The bill initially allowed criminal background checks for educators. The House agreed to changes that, when teachers recertified, they must take a class in staff development that focuses on student achievement. The updated bill also requires that an ethics course be offered online for teacher training.

But the House removed a Senate amendment that would allow students at a charter school participate in extracurricular activities at their local public school. The House also rejected that amendment to an education bill earlier in the day.

“I think we understand why we removed that,” said House Education Chairman Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, who called the provision unfair.

The updated bill also adds language from House Bill 172,  which allows teacher records to be destroyed after seven years if the teacher is found innocent of an accusation. Coleman said the state professional standards commission has more than 30 years of records that need to be destroyed for space.

The changed bill now returns to the Senate.

4:28 p.m.: House changed its mind on tax refund bill

Rick Austin, R-Demorest, kicked the session back into gear, asking the House to reconsider its vote on House Bill 133.

Ellis Black, R-Valdosta, defended the tax refund bill for its savings.

"I had a constituent got a refund check for 23 cents," Black told lawmakers. "He called up, frustrated we spent 41 cents to send him that. This is a good bill that changes that."

Under the bill, Georgia would no longer send out tax refunds of less than 99 cents. The state also would not collect tax bills where that amount is owed.

With the House changing its mind, the measure now heads back to the Senate for review of the original bill. That referred to refunds/payments of $1 but allowed taxpayers to ask for their money back.

4:24 p.m.: House back in session

The House has reconvened, with Speaker Pro Tem Jan Jones taking over the chamber.

3:47 p.m.: Special tax district in DeKalb headed to governor

Gov. Nathan Deal's signature is the last hurdle to DeKalb becoming the first county in the state to have a special property tax fund for its Police Department.

Infighting between DeKalb's commissioners and its CEO prompted House Bill 607, with creates the tax district for police services that cannot be cut when trying to slash spending in the general fund. The Senate approved the measure for special districts, which would go into effect next year., earlier today.

3:33 p.m.: House again in recess

With bills inching along in the Senate, the House has again decided to take a break.

Speaker David Ralston, gaveling for a recess until 4 p.m., couldn't resist one more dig at his colleagues across the atrium.

"If you all want to have a caucus meeting, enjoy it," he said.

The Senate, meanwhile, is taking a brief break while an amended immigration bill is printed up for Senators to read. Senators should take it up next, with a long debate expected.

3:27 p.m.: House OK's tax refund bill that could save state millions

Georgia would no longer send out tax refunds of less than 99 cents under a bill the Georgia House narrowly agreed to approve.

House Bill 133 also no longer lets taxpayers ask for a refund of that amount or less. The original proposal would end the state from sending out tax bills for less than $1. Supporters say the change will eliminate the need for postage and printing, saving the state several million dollars a year.

The  bill passed 94-63.

3:15 p.m.: Extended unemployment question likely to end up in conference

The House has just disagreed to an amendment from the Senate on House Bill 500, setting the stage for both chambers to hash out a deal giving more than 22,000 Georgians their extended unemployment checks after they run out in May and June.

The Senate removed funding for job-training centers in the bill, the main focus when it passed the House earlier this year. But the latest version keeps a change in state law to match federal eligibility for extended jobless benefits. The benefits, which average about $244 a week in the state, kick in for 20 weeks after a recipient has used up 79 weeks of unemployment.

No conference has yet been set up on the issue.

3:04 p.m.: House back in session

The House has reconvened and is readying for more votes.

2:43 p.m.: Several new resolutions added to House calendar

The Rules Committee has voted to add eight resolutions to the House calendar for the day, all uncontested.

The list includes a new proposal, House Resolution 810, which creates a study committee for funding the state health insurance plan. The resolution notes the rapid rise in insurance premiums and prescriptions, as well as the impact of those costs on the state budget.

Also on the list is House Resolution 643, originally called a House study committee on the equine industry. The new language makes the point more clear: if approved, the House will create a committee on the horse racing industry. The group will study the possibility of pari-mutuel wagering as well as the training and racing of horses.

2:31 p.m.: House in recess, Rules to meet

The chairman of the House Rules Committee has called a meeting to begin immediately. Speaker David Ralston has called for the chamber to sit in recess until 2:45 p.m.

2:27 p.m. House agrees to DOT bill with pollution exemptions removed

The House has agreed to support a bill that no longer exempts the state Department of Transportation and its contractors from some fines involving pollution of Georgia's waterways.

The Senate removed from House Bill 137, a transportation omnibus bill, that would give the DOT two passes when cited by environmental authorities and refer fines to a mediation committee. Environmental groups opposed the amendment, which also drew concerns from legislators.

The House voted 159-1 to agree to the change.

2:20 p.m. House postpones approving bill to aid state workers' families

The House postponed voting to agree to a Senate change to a bill that would allow surviving family members of some state workers killed in the line of duty to stay on the state medical plan.

Instead of covering only those in public safety or Department of Transportation jobs, House Bill 107 would apply to all state employees.

The bill is a direct response to the plight of the family of Trooper Chadwick LeCroy, who was killed during a traffic stop on Dec. 27. His widow, Keisha LeCroy, would have had to pay more than $900 through COBRA to maintain her husband's health insurance for her and their 10-year-old son.

The bill also applies to the family of Spencer Pass, a HERO operator who was struck and killed while helping a motorist on I-85 in January.

2:02 p.m.: Delta tax break goes to committee

The House has set up a conference committee to work out a deal on a proposed tax break for Delta Air Lines.

The House is insisting on its version of House Bill 322, which  calls for the state to give the airline a $20 million exemption on the fiscal year that begins July 1 and $10 million the year after that. It would expire in 2013.

1:57 p.m.: House back in session, sets up new conference committee

The House has reconvened and read several resolutions into the record. Now it's calling for a conference committee on House Bill 274, a landfill bill. The Senate recently amended the bill to not allow yard waste into landfills. The measure also renews a $1tire cleanup fee for another three years  without requiring the fee be spent on cleanup.

12:05 p.m.: House breaks for lunch

Ralston recessed the House for lunch until 1:45 p.m., offering more pointed comments toward the slow-moving Senate, which spent much of the morning in caucus meetings.

“I got word the Senate has taken up one piece of business. One,” he said. “If that is still the case when we get back, we may have a caucus meeting. All of us will caucus together.”

11:45 a.m.: Immigration flier halts work in House

House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, halted action in the House for about 10 minutes and ordered pages to collect a handout he said violated rules against personal attacks on representatives.

The handout was a three-page essay slamming Rep. Matt Ramsey, R-Peachtree City, for reintroducing tougher language back into House Bill 87, an Arizona-style anti-illegal immigration bill.

The essay was headlined “Did Rep. Matt Ramsey Lie About HB 87, Again?” and was authored by an immigration attorney. It included the business card of Rep. Pedro Marin, D-Duluth.

“I take a very dim view of that,” Ralston said.

11:30 a.m.: House agrees to another tax break

The House narrowly approved a bill granting tax breaks to Gulfstream Aerospace and unnamed tourist attractions.

Rep. Ron Stephens, R-Savannah, said the tourism portion of the bill would encourage developments in the state “similar to Disney World.”

Rep. Mark Hatfield, R-Waycross, who tried to stop House Bill 234 on a parliamentary maneuver, questioned if the amendment allowed the owner of a tourist attraction to collect sales taxes and then pocket them as profit.

“It allows any private company to use 2.5 percent of sales tax collected … to go toward their investment in their company,” Stephens said.

The amended bill failed to get enough support on an initial vote, but passed 90-73 after Stephens asked that it be reconsidered.

11:15 a.m.: House opposes Senate amendment on education study bill

Representatives voted 119-36 to oppose a Senate version of a bill creating an education study committee after senators attached an amendment that would allow charter school students to participate in extracurricular activities in neighboring non-charter schools.

House Education Committee Chairman Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, said the amendment to House Bill 192 was unfair.

“This child chose to leave that school and go to another school and now wants to come back,” he said.

Several members said they saw no problem with the amendment since it only involved public schools.

10:55 a.m.: Delta jet fuel break to go to conference committee

The House voted 106-45 to revert House Bill 322, which renews a partial sales tax exemption for jet fuel purchased by Delta Airlines, back to the way it read when it passed the House.

"The Senate, as usual, has messed it up," said House Transportation Committee Chairman Jay Roberts, R-Ocilla.

The bill is one of several controversial tax breaks to industry that flew in the face of recommendations from the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness, which urged the state to repeal such exemptions and lower the overall tax rate instead. Lawmakers have put off the tax reform effort until a special session this summer or perhaps next year.

10:35 a.m.: House agrees to deer baiting bill

The House voted 110-39 to accept the Senate version of House Bill 277, which allows for hunters in the southern half of the state to get as close as they want to a baited field when hunting for deer.

State law already allows hunters to put out corn, wheat, apples or other food. The bill would remove the restriction that hunters remain 200 yards away and out of the line of sight of the feed.

The House version of the bill included a similar provision for hunting feral hogs, but hogs were pardoned by a Senate amendment.

9:37 a.m: House convenes for 40th and final day

House Speaker David Ralston gaveled the last day of the 2011 regular legislative session to order a few minutes late for the announced 9:30 a.m. start.

Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, noted a number of House members failed to vote present.

"They may be in a caucus meeting somewhere. I understand that's the rage these days," he said to laughter his thinly veiled poke at the Senate.

Republican senators have spent much of the session huddling in caucus meetings, a result of the chamber's divided leadership which has stripped Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle of much of his parliamentary power. Ralston has derided the situation as the Senate's "little experiment."