PHOTOS: Crossover Day at Georgia legislature

Politics

PHOTOS: Crossover Day at Georgia legislature

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Steven Sainz (left), R-Woodbine, and Vance Smith (R - Pine Mountain) are bumping elbows before Crossover day begins at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Gov. Brian Kemp speaks as other officials standing behind during a press conference to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus, at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Hand sanitizer and tissue are on the table during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

03/12/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan (center) speaks with Senate majority leader Mike Dugan (left), R - Carrollton, and Senate minority leader Steve Henson (right), D-Stone Mountain, before presenting a suspension to the legislative session until further notice due to coronavirus during the Georgia Legislatures Crossover day, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Senator Dean Burke (District 11) reads a bills as they work on SB 463 (provisions and references regarding direct recording electronic voting machines) during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Gov. Brian Kemp speaks as other officials standing behind during a press conference to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus, at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March 12, 2020 Atlanta - Dr. Kathleen Toomey, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Health, speaks during a press conference to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 12, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

200312-Atlanta-Speaker of the House David Ralston huddles with representatives Thursday afternoon March 12, 2020 just before announcing that the Legislature would suspend the session on Friday due to the coronavirus. Ben@BenGray.com / Special

03/12/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia State Sen. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, gives a thumbs-up after his bill, SB 375, was approved during the Georgia Legislatures Crossover day, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - House representatives vote on HB 1026 (Education; number of REACH scholars to be designated by participating school systems) during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Speaker of the House David Ralston confers with Rep. Trey Kelley (left), R - Cedartown, during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during a press conference to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus, at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

03/12/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan speaks on the upcoming possible changes to the legislative calendar due to coronavirus during the Georgia Legislatures Crossover day, Thursday, March 12, 2020. "This is an ongoing situation continuing to monitor very closely," Lt. Gov. Duncan said. "In the coming hours, we should have a more definitive solution to potential adjustment to our upcoming schedule." A press conference about the updates on coronavirus in Georgia held by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp was scheduled for later in the afternoon. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Rep. Robert Dickey (R - Musella), who sponsors HB 1026 (Education; number of REACH scholars to be designated by participating school systems), speaks during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - House representatives vote on HB 1026 (Education; number of REACH scholars to be designated by participating school systems) during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

03/12/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia State Sen. Lester Jackson, D - Savannah, speaks on behalf of SB 40 during the Georgia Legislatures Crossover day, Thursday, March 12, 2020. Senate Bill 40, which prohibits school officials from having sexual intercourse with students, passed the Senate. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Senator Harold Jones II speaks about SB 463 (provisions and references regarding direct recording electronic voting machines) during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Speaker of the House David Ralston speaks as the morning session begins during Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Staff members prepare for Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

March12, 2020 Atlanta - Gov. Brian Kemp speaks as other officials standing behind during a press conference to provide an update on the state's efforts regarding COVID-19, after reporting the first death in Georgia related to coronavirus, at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

03/12/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Sen. Brian Strickland, R - McDonough, speaks on behalf of SB 426 during the Georgia Legislatures Crossover day, Thursday, March 12, 2020. SB 426, which makes notifications about Ethylene oxide gas mandatory for a facility to continue operating in Georgia, successfully passed in the Senate. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/12/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Sen. Elena Parent, D - Atlanta, react as Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan suspends the Senate's session due to coronavirus during the Georgia Legislatures Crossover day, Thursday, March 12, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

200312-Atlanta-Rep. Clay Pirkle (R-Ashburn) listens Thursday afternoon March 12, 2020, as Speaker of the House David Ralston announces that the Legislature would suspend the session on Friday due to the coronavirus. Ben@BenGray.com / Special

200312-Atlanta-Reps. Joe Campbell (R-Camilla), right, and Terry Rogers (R-Clarksville) listen on Thursday afternoon March 12, 2020, as Speaker of the House David Ralston announces that the Legislature would suspend the session on Friday due to the coronavirus. Ben@BenGray.com / Special

200312-Atlanta-Majority Leaders Rep. Jon Burns (R-Newington), left, and Sen. Mike Dugan (R-Carrollton) confer on the House floor Thursday evening March 12, 2020. Ben@BenGray.com / Special

200312-Atlanta-Rep. Calvin Smyree (D-Columbus), the Dean of the House, listens to debate on a maternity housing bill Thursday evening March 12. Ben@BenGray.com / Special

200312-Atlanta-Rep. Sam Watson (R-Moultrie) talks with Rep. Penny Houston (R-Nashville) on the House floor Thursday evening March 12, 2020. (Ben Gray for the AJC)l

200312-Atlanta-Rep. Richard Smith (R-Columbus), left, chairman of the House Rules Committee, and Rep. Rick Jasperse (R-Jasper), secretary of the committee, joke around Thursday evening March 12, 2020 after the committee added additional bills and resolutions for the House to consider. Thursday, also known as crossover day, is the final day for bills to pass one chamber of the legislature and still have a chance to be made into law this year. Ben@BenGray.com / Special

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March12, 2020 Atlanta - Steven Sainz (left), R-Woodbine, and Vance Smith (R - Pine Mountain) are bumping elbows before Crossover day begins at the Georgia State Capitol on Thursday, March 11, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

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