The General Assembly races into Thursday's final day of the legislative session having dealt with charter schools, changes to the state tax code and next year's state budget. What's left?
Cuts to Georgians' unemployment benefits, a blanket ban on mass protests and a last-gasp chance to tighten restrictions on abortion. Those issues and more await legislators on Sine Die, which traditionally marks Day 40 of the 40-day session. Work begins at 9:30 a.m. in the state House and 10 a.m. in the Senate. It likely won't end until late into the night, as the final deals are done.
A number of high-profile bills will come down to the wire. Here's what's still at stake:
• Senate Bill 469
What it would do: It began as a bill targeting unions and union members who would picket in front of the homes of business leaders involved in labor disputes. The House amended the bill in the waning hours of Tuesday to broaden the target to anyone picketing any house at any time. Rep. Wendell Willard, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the bill would protect the "sanctity" of a person's home. Opponents of the bill see it as an attack on free speech.
What's next: Ready to be called for a House vote. If it passes, it would go back to the Senate, which would have to agree to the changes or work out a compromise in a conference committee.
• House Bill 954
What it would do: Restrict abortions. Abortion was one of the most passionately debated subjects this session, and this may be the biggest bill left standing. Time for elective abortions could be cut from 26 to 20 weeks, and other new restrictions could apply. The Senate amended this bill Monday to create a loophole, which means that for the bill to pass, the House must approve the change or call for a conference committee to work out a compromise. House Speaker David Ralston refused to appoint committee members Wednesday, complaining that the Senate was not serious about passing a strong abortion bill. Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, the president of the Senate, said he remains a strong opponent of abortion and that his chamber is ready to act.
What's next: Senate leaders so far have stood behind the change. Both sides are essentially in a standoff, although Ralston could make the appointments Thursday and urge resolution by night's end.
• House Bill 1176
What it would do: Change Georgia's criminal sentencing laws to divert nonviolent drug and property offenders away from costly prison beds, saving the state tens of millions of dollars in projected corrections spending. Low-level offenders would be steered to pretrial diversion programs such as drug and mental health courts, reserving the prison system for the state's most dangerous criminals.
What's next: A top priority of Gov. Nathan Deal, the bill received unanimous support Monday from the Senate and now must be approved once more by the House before it goes to the governor's desk for his signature.
• Senate Bill 458
What it would do: Originally intended to ban illegal immigrants from attending Georgia's public colleges and universities, House members stripped the bill of that language Tuesday. Now it's a housekeeping bill that tweaks the sweeping illegal immigration legislation that the General Assembly passed last year. The bill no longer includes the college ban.
What's next: Ready to be called for a House vote. If approved, it would go back to the Senate to confirm the change.
• House Bill 347
What it would do: Cut state unemployment payments from 26 weeks to as little as 12 weeks, impose a week of waiting before getting unemployment benefits and raise the amount businesses pay for unemployment insurance.
What's next: The Senate maneuvered Tuesday to get the bill into conference committee, although conference appointments have yet to be made. The House has also yet to have a significant floor debate on the bill opposed by Democrats. That could change Thursday.
• House Bill 811
What it would do: Force the state to spend money it collects as fees, such as the $1 per auto tire, on the programs they were designed for, such as cleaning up leaking dumps. The Senate amended the bill to mandate the state reserve has to be more than $1 billion before the money gets directed to its legislated purpose.
What's next: The House did not agree to Senate changes, and the Senate must back off or work out a compromise in a conference committee.
• House Bill 861
What it would do: Require parents who apply for public assistance to pay for and pass a random $17 drug test in order to receive benefits.
What's next: Amended by the Senate, it must go back to the House for agreement or be referred to a conference committee for a compromise.
• House Bill 448
What it would do: Limit the recovery of bad loans from developers when the loan is sold to a third party.
What's next: It was favorably reported by a House committee and could be called up for a vote.
• Senate Bill 321/House Bill 872
What they would do: Provide stricter guidelines for metal recyclers and sellers, and do away with cash payments for metal purchases. Both bills have had bipartisan support thanks to complaints about thefts of items as big as cars and smaller pieces of metal, such as manhole covers. But a compromise needs to be worked out in conference committee over the Senate's inclusion of a 14-day waiting period for payments to metal sellers -- which the recycling industry is fighting.
What's next: Committee members still need to be appointed and would have to reach agreement by night's end for any compromise to pass.
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