Georgia Legislature Today: The ATL leaving the station
The Georgia General Assembly at a glance for Friday, Day 38 of the 2018 legislative session:
Bigger mass transit: The Georgia Senate is taking up a major effort to dramatically expand mass transit across metro Atlanta. The legislation, House Bill 930, would allow 13 counties to levy sales taxes for public transportation and also kick in tens of millions of dollars from the state. Regional transit funding and construction would be overseen by a new agency, The ATL. If the bill passes the Senate, its details will likely be negotiated in the final days of the 2018 legislative session next week.
Domestic escape: A bill allowing victims of domestic violence to break their leases without having to pay early termination penalties is up for a vote in the Senate. The measure, House Bill 834, previously passed the House but would need one more vote in that chamber since senators amended it.
Small-town internet: A plan that lays the foundation for internet expansion in rural Georgia areas will be considered by the state House. Senate Bill 402 permits local electric membership cooperatives to provide internet services and calls for the state to map areas that would be eligible for future state broadband subsidies. If approved, the amended legislation will return to the Senate.
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.
