Georgia Legislature Today: Lowering the boom on fireworks
The Georgia General Assembly at a glance for Wednesday, Day 37 of the 2018 legislative session:
Ka-boom: The blast of fireworks might be silenced in some areas under a bill up for a vote in the Senate. The legislation, House Bill 419, allows cities and counties to pass noise ordinances that apply to fireworks. Fireworks would still be allowed statewide until 11:59 p.m. on July 3, July 4, Memorial Day and Labor Day, and until 1 a.m. after the New Year.
2019 budget: The Senate Appropriations is taking its shot at Georgia's $26 billion annual budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The spending plan will include funding for school security, rural communities, public education, Medicaid and more. House Bill 684 is expected to pass the committee Wednesday and move toward a vote in the full Senate.
Key committee: The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to consider bills dealing with sexual predators and distracted driving. One measure, House Bill 605, would extend the statute of limitations for victims to sue, and allow them to sue both individuals and organization. The distracted driving legislation, House Bill 673, would make it illegal for drivers to hold their phones while driving. Both bills are scheduled to be heard at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
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About the Author
Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.
