For state legislation to have a realistic chance of passing, it must clear either the House or Senate by the end of the 30th day of the 40-day legislative session. Day 30, or “Crossover Day,” is scheduled this year to be Friday. Here’s where some of the most watched and debated bills in this year’s session stand. A list of the major bills that have already “crossed over” from one chamber to the other appears at the end.
Health care
HB 34: Would allow terminally ill patients faster access to experimental drugs that have not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Status: Approved by the Health and Human Services Committee.
Will it pass: Likely. Committee was eager to move it forward.
HB 354: Would require insurance companies offering coverage to state employees through Georgia's health benefits plan to include Level I trauma centers in their service networks. Insurers that don't meet this requirement would not be allowed to enter into contracts with the state to provide health benefit policies. The bill stems from a contract dispute between Grady Memorial Hospital and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia.
Status: Approved by a Judiciary Civil subcommittee.
Will it pass: Chances are good. It has not yet contended with any major opposition.
HB 482: Would eliminate a 50-bed cap on the Cancer Treatment Centers of America campus in Coweta County and eliminate the requirement that 65 percent of the hospital's patients come from out of state.
Status: Has not yet been heard by any committee.
Will it pass: Odds are slim. It faces significant opposition from hospital groups.
SB 86: Would create an administrative system that would handle all patients' claims of medical malpractice instead of the courts. The system would be first of its kind in the country.
Status: In Senate committee.
Will it pass: Unlikely. It faces stiff opposition from advocates and attorneys; similar bills have also failed in prior legislative sessions.
SB 185: The Senate's version of a medical marijuana bill. Would restrict access to only a very limited clinical trial program involving children with epilepsy.
Status: Passed committee.
Will it pass: Likely, with the goal of merging it with HB 1, the much more broad House proposal.
EDUCATION
HB 35: Would increase the tax credit pool from $58 million to $250 million for families who donate to a private-school tuition fund.
Status: Prefiled.
SB 124: Would set up a statewide grant program to establish support services at struggling schools.
Status: In Senate committee.
TRANSPORTATION
HB 60: Would eliminate the so-called "fourth penny" of the state tax on gas that currently goes into the state General Fund. Instead, that penny would shift to the motor fuel tax, currently at 3 percent. Motorists' taxes would be the same, but all the money would go directly to the Department of Transportation. Would also flatten and decrease the state income tax and gradually increase the excise tax on fuel from 7.5 cents per gallon to 22.5 cents per gallon by 2022.
Status: In House committee.
Will it pass: Doubtful. The House passed its preferred funding plan, HB 170.
HB 224: Would require drivers for ride-sharing businesses such as Uber to get the same background checks required for limo drivers.
Status: In House committee.
Will it pass: Unlikely. Sponsor has moved on to another bill. (See below)
HB 225: Similar to HB 224, but not quite as far-reaching.
Status: Passed committee.
Will it pass: Faces questions from leadership.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
HB 514: Would create a city of South Fulton.
Status: Passed House committee.
Will it pass: Probably.
SB 189: Would create a city of South Fulton.
Status: Passed Senate committee.
Will it pass: Probably.
HB 515: Calls for a referendum on a city of Tucker.
Status: Cleared House committees.
Will it pass: Probably.
HB 520: Calls for a referendum on a city of LaVista Hills.
Status: Cleared House committees.
Will it pass: Probably.
HB 539: Calls for a referendum on a city of Stonecrest.
Status: In committee.
Will it pass: Questionable.
SB 118: Would mandate community appointments of DeKalb County Board of Ethics members.
Status: In committee.
Will it pass: Unclear.
SB 120: Would strengthen DeKalb County purchasing rules.
Status: In committee.
Will it pass: Unclear.
SB 121: Would require an independent internal auditor for DeKalb County.
Status: In committee.
Will it pass: Unclear.
BUSINESS
HB 393: Would add an exemption to the state's franchise laws for any vehicle manufacturer — read: Tesla — who sells directly to the public if the builder has never used franchisees in Georgia.
Status: In House committee.
Will it pass: Doubtful. Was tabled in committee last week.
HB 535: Would allow local governments where Sunday sales of alcohol are already legal to let restaurants serve alcohol at 10:30 a.m., two hours earlier.
Status: Passed House committee.
Will it pass: Most likely.
SB 63: Would have allowed craft breweries to sell a limited amount of beer directly to customers. But major changes in committee now bar direct sales. Instead, breweries could charge for a tour and, depending on how much someone pays, the tour could include a single container of beer as a free souvenir. Would limit customers to 36 ounces of beer to be consumed "on-premise" of a brewery and up to 64 ounces of beer to be taken home.
Status: Passed committee.
Will it pass: Probably.
TAXES
HB 175: Would end the state's tax break on aviation fuel that benefits Delta Air Lines, among other air carriers.
Status: In committee.
Will it pass: Unclear. Its language was inserted into HB 170, the transportation funding bill.
HB 238: Would provide a tax break for expansion of the Georgia Aquarium.
Status: Passed committee.
Will it pass: Likely. Lawmakers routinely approve these kinds of breaks.
COURTS/LAW ENFORCEMENT
HB 56: Would create new restrictions on the use of no-knock warrants.
Status: In House committee.
Will it pass: Unclear. A similar Senate bill appears to be moving instead.
SB 45: Would limit use of no-knock warrants.
Status: In Senate committee.
Will it pass: Doubtful. Senate leadership has its own version.
SB 159: Would limit use of no-knock warrants.
Status: Passed Senate committee.
Will it pass: Future is in doubt after an amendment was added over law enforcement objections.
HB 93: Would restrict how long police agencies may keep images captured by automatic license-plate scanners.
Status: Passed House committee.
Will it pass: Has strong support.
HB 279: Would raise the pay of members of the Georgia Supreme Court and Court of Appeals by $12,000 a year, give raises of up to $30,000 to Superior Court judges in about half of the circuits, plus raises to some district attorneys. Public defenders would get $15,000 raises.
Status: Passed House committee.
Will it pass: Chances are good. Should reach House floor this week.
HB 310: Would overhaul the state's misdemeanor probation system, create a state Department of Community Supervision and adopt other recommendations of the Council on Criminal Justice.
Status: Passed House committee.
Will it pass: Likely.
SB 46: Would require body cameras for all Georgia police officers.
Status: In Senate committee.
Will it pass: Doubtful.
OTHER
HB 29: Government would have to adhere to a much higher standard to interfere with an individual's right to religious expression.
Status: Prefiled.
Will it pass: No. It was rolled into a different bill, HB 218.
HB 218: Government would have to adhere to a much higher standard to interfere with an individual's right to religious expression.
Status: In committee.
Will it pass: Faces steep opposition.
HR 1: A constitutional amendment that would allow for gambling on horse racing in Georgia.
Latest status: In committee.
Will it pass: Unlikely, although a similar Senate bill appears to be moving.
HB 110: Would legalize consumer fireworks in Georgia.
Latest status: Passed committee.
Will it pass: Likely. Is on the House floor on Monday.
BILLS THAT PASSED ONE CHAMBER
HB 1: Georgians would be able to legally possess a certain type of marijuana-based medication to treat a variety of disorders. Status: Passed the House.
HB 57: Would make it easier for homeowners, small businesses, churches and schools to get private, third-party financing for small solar power systems on their roofs. Status: Passed the House.
HB 71: Would require increased transparency from the State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Status: Passed the House.
HB 76: The state budget for fiscal 2016, which starts July 1. It would currently spend $21.8 billion in state funds, mostly on school and health care programs, and it includes $1 billion in borrowing for construction projects. Could be increased if the House and Senate agree on a bill to boost transportation funding. Status: Passed the House.
HB 91: Would allow former students who could not graduate because of the Georgia High School Graduation Test requirement to petition to obtain a high school diploma. Status: Passed the House.
HB 100: Would advance the birthday cutoff for students turning age 5 and enrolling in kindergarten. Status: Passed the House.
HB 170: House Republicans' effort to raise $1 billion in new revenue each year to fund transportation projects as well as transit. The bill would shift the state from a series of sales taxes on motor fuel to one excise tax of 29.2 cents per gallon. It has the potential to dramatically affect local governments. Status: Passed the House.
HB 190: Would require drivers for ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft to be insured at higher rates than the companies currently provide. Status: Passed the House.
HB 192: Would limit elected officials' use of purchasing cards. Status: Passed the House.
HB 213: Would permanently eliminate the requirement that MARTA spend 50 percent of its revenue on maintenance and 50 percent on operations, as long as the transit service conducts a regular internal audit. Status: Passed the House.
SB 1: Would mandate insurance companies provide coverage for autism spectrum disorders. Status: Passed the Senate.
SB 2: Certain high school students could complete college courses and credit would count toward their high school diploma. Status: Passed the Senate.
SB 3: Would allow parents to bypass the state's foster care system and place their children with families or friends. Status: Passed the Senate.
SR 7: A constitutional amendment to create the Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children Fund. Status: Passed the Senate.
SB 8: Would greatly revise laws related to sex trafficking and boost penalties for offenders. Status: Passed the Senate.
SB 133: Would set up the parameters of a state-run "Opportunity School District" to take over failing schools. Status: Passed the Senate.
SR 287: Constitutional amendment asking voters statewide for permission to fund the state-run "Opportunity School District" set up in SB 133. Status: Passed the Senate.
Bills that passed both chambers
HB 75: Midyear budget. Adds $276 million in spending, mostly for school districts, for the fiscal year that ends June 30. Status: Signed into law by the governor.
The Legislature reaches its fateful Crossover Day on Friday, the day on which most bills die for the session if they haven't passed at least one house. After Crossover Day, 14 calendar days remain until the expected end of the session, April 2. Follow the progress of every bill with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's bill-tracking tool, which includes the odds of each bill's passage. Try it at http://legislativenavigator.myajc.com/ and get complete daily coverage at MyAJC.com/georgialegislature.
