Georgia Legislature Today: Beekeepers buzzing toward a special license plate

The Georgia General Assembly at a glance for Thursday, Day 14 of the 2018 legislative session:

Beekeepers: After being recognized in the chambers the day before — and passing out jars of honey to all of the lawmakers, the Georgia Beekeepers Association is the subject of the only bill scheduled for floor debate Thursday. House members are scheduled to vote on a bill that would create a Georgia Beekeepers Association license plate. If passed, the legislation, House Bill 671, will head to the Senate for its approval.

"Original 33": To kick off black history month, members of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus will honor what they are calling the "original 33" black members of the Georgia General Assembly during a press conference Thursday afternoon. In 1868, the free black lawmakers were expelled from the Georgia Legislature and later reinstated in 1870 by an Act of Congress.

Opioid crisis: The Senate Health and Human Services Committee are scheduled to discuss Senate Bill 352, which would create a director of substance abuse, addiction and related disorders, and combat "patient brokering" where unscrupulous rehabilitation centers get paid for taking and keeping patients rather than helping them get well. It is one of two bills backed by Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle that is aiming to address opioid addiction.

Special primary elections: Also scheduled for debate Thursday is a bill that would, among other things, create a primary process during special elections. That bill, Senate Bill 309, was filed by Republican Sen. Josh McKoon in response to the 6th Senate District special election resulting in two Democrats in a runoff for a seat previously held by a Republican.