Earlier primaries become law
Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Tuesday that moves primary elections for state and local offices from July to May 20, the earliest date for the contests in Georgia’s recorded history.
House Bill 310 was put on the fast track after a federal judge last year ordered the state to move up its federal primary to allow for at least 45 days of absentee voting by military and overseas voters in any runoffs for federal office. It’s the first legislation signed by Deal this legislative session.
Lawmakers wanted to sync state and county offices with the federal contests to spare the extra expense of setting up another round of votes, and the Secretary of State’s office is already bracing for changes.
The legislation sets the primary runoff for July 22 and the general election runoff for Dec. 2, four weeks after the Nov. 4 general election date. A runoff in a federal race would be held Jan. 6, nine weeks after the general election.
— Greg Bluestein
Panel approves bill seeking school fee info
The Senate Education and Youth Committee unanimously passed Tuesday a bill that would force groups such as the Georgia High School Association — which collects fees from public schools to organize interscholastic sporting events — to make public details about their finances.
Senate Bill 288 would bar any public high school from joining such a group that does not annually publish a comprehensive financial report, including an accounting of assets, liabilities, income and operating expenses.
State Sen. Charlie Bethel, R-Dalton, sponsored the bill. GHSA Executive Director Ralph Swearngin testified against it, saying his group is already open about its finances.
The bill now heads to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration about whether it will go before the full Senate for a vote.
— Kristina Torres
Jekyll Island land plan advances
A House subcommittee gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that spells out how much land on Jekyll Island may be developed.
House Bill 715 was unanimously approved by a Natural Resources subcommittee. It next goes to the full committee, which meets Thursday and could receive a vote on the House floor next week.
The bill changes the long-held policy of setting aside 35 percent of the island for development. Instead, HB 715 sets actual acreage amounts that may be used for commercial purposes. The bill has the support of the state’s environmental groups and was forged through a compromise with the Jekyll Island Authority.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
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