PHOTOS: Georgia lawmakers consider new powers for Gov. Kemp amid coronavirus

Politics

PHOTOS: Georgia lawmakers consider new powers for Gov. Kemp amid coronavirus

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Rep. Alan Powell, R - Hartwell, wears a protective mask during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Minority leader Steve Henson (from left), D - Stone Mountain, Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, and Majority leader Mike Dugan, R - Carrollton, confer before the vote. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Sen. Matt Brass, R - Newnan, applies hand sanitizer before the session begins. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia House Majority Whip Rep. Trey Kelley (left), R - Cedartown, asks Georgia House Majority leader Rep. Jon Burn, R - Newington, a question pertaining to HR 4EX during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. House Resolution 4EX passed. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Signs in the senate chamber say "Don't shake hands". Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan hits the gavel after the resolution passed in the senate. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - The resolution passes in the senate. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Senate members and staff confer before the vote. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Sen. John Albers, R - Roswell, applies hand sanitizer before the session begins. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Sen. Mike Dugan, R -Carrollton, urges a yes vote on the resolution. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Senators vote on the resolution. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia House Majority Whip Rep. Trey Kelley (left), R - Cedartown, speaks with Rep. Calvin Smyre (right), D- Columbus, during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. Both Rep. Kelley and Rep. Smyre were praised for their bi-partisan collaboration in passing House Resolution 4EX. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Rep. Donna McLeod, D - Lawrenceville, takes a photo of the final vote on the House resolution while wearing gloves during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Members of the Georgia Senate meet with Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan in the Senate Chambers during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. Georgia lawmakers gathered in a special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This is the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency. Gov. Kemp has cast this as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

March 16, 2020 - Atlanta - Senate aids pass out the resolution. Georgia lawmakers gathered in an extraordinary special session on Monday and voted to grant Gov. Brian Kemp sweeping new powers to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. It's the first time in state history a governor has declared a public health emergency, and Kemp cast it as essential to deploy all available resources to contain a disease that's sickened dozens of Georgians and has killed one. Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Sen. Gail Davenport, D - Jonesboro, looks over HR 4EX during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. The Senate passed the House Resolution. This legislative session will be suspended until April 15. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mike Dugan, R - Carrolton, speaks on behalf of HR 4EX during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. The Senate passed the House Resolution. This legislative session will be suspended until April 15. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Members of the Georgia House watch as voting transpires for HR 4EX during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. House Resolution 4EX passed. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, reacts as members of the Georgia House vote to pass HR 4EX during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia House Majority leader Rep. Jon Burn, R - Newington, speaks on behalf of the House resolution during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. House Resolution 4EX passed. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- A pair of gloves sit atop Rep. Lynn Smith's ,R - Newnan, desk during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Senator Minority Leader Steve Henson (left), D - Stone Mountain, speaks with Rep. Trey Kelley (third from right), R - Cedartown, and others during a recess of both the Senate and House chambers during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Rep. Rhonda Burnough, D - Riverdale, prepares to vote on the House resolution during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. The House resolution passed. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston, R - Blue Ridge, presides during a special called session in the House Chambers at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

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03/16/2020 -- Atlanta, Georgia -- Georgia Rep. Alan Powell, R - Hartwell, wears a protective mask during a special called session at the Georgia State Capitol Building, Monday, March 16, 2020. (ALYSSA POINTER/ALYSSA.POINTER@AJC.COM)

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