Photos: Sine Die 2015 at the Georgia Legislature

Politics

Photos: Sine Die 2015 at the Georgia Legislature

Photos of Sine Die - the final day of the 40-day Georgia legislative session on April 2, 2015 in Atlanta.

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Sine Die in the senate, which adjourned after midnight. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 3, 2015 Atlanta: Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle keeps the Senate working past midnight as the House chamber in the foreground is in recess just after midnight Friday April 3, 2015. Traditionally the House and the Senate end the session in unison just as the clock strikes midnight. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta -Senator Joshua McKoon looks through the senate rules. He was expected to try to block a vote to allow HB 202, a "Christmas Tree" bill. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Reps. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), left, and Winfred Dukes (D-Albany) confer in the back of the House chamber late Thursday evening April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: As the last legislative day moved into the evening Thursday April 2, 2015, and the halls outside the House and Senate buzzed with activity, the fourth floor of the Capitol was one of the few quiet places for a phone call. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Reps. Bert Reeves (R-Marietta), left, and Christian Coomer (R-Cartersville) huddle over legislation in the House chamber Thursday evening April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Senator Fran Millar, who carried HB 520 in the house to incorporate the City of LaVista Hills in DeKalb County, gives a thumbs up as he votes for the measure, which passed in the senate. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Natalia Pak, 3, daughter of Rep. B.J. Pak (R-Lilburn), poses so her mom Sandra Pak can take a photo on the final day of the 2015 legislative session Thursday evening April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Gov. Nathan Deal makes his way out of the House chamber after thanking the representatives for their work on the last day of the 2015 legislative session Thursday evening April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Sen. Bruce Thompson (R-White), from right, Sen. Judson Hill (R-Marietta), Rep. Jay Powell (R-Camilla) and Rep. Paul Battles (R-Cartersville) huddle over legislation in the anteroom of the House chamber late Thursday evening April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Rep. Ed Setzler (R-Ackworth), left, talks to Rep Tom Weldon (R-Ringgold) before a House Rules Committee meeting late Thursday April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Rep. John Meadows (R-Calhoun), chairman of the rules committee, holds his head while trying to concentrate as a representative explains a Senate bill that had three other bills added to it in a last minute political maneuver late Thursday evening April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Senator Joshua McKoon, sponsor of the Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act, seemed to be in good spirits as he talked with fellow senators on the senate floor. As of this hour, any form of a religious liberty bill had made it to the floor. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Rep. David Clark- R, talking to Rep. Mack Jackson-D, broke out his star covered sports coat for the last day of the 2015 legislative session. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Fellow Democrats Senator Nan Orrock (left) and Senator Elena Parent pause for a selfie, while Senator Steve Henson, Democratic Leader, behind them, leans in with a smile. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Senator David Lucas (right) leans back with an unlit cigar as he waits for the next bill to called in the senate. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Lobbyists watch the session via a closed circuit in the hall. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Senator Brandon Beach, R - Alpharetta. presents HB 213, a transportation related bill to allow the counties that fund MARTA to increase the tax that supports it, after it had passed in the house. It also passed in the senate. Democrats were promised passage of the bill in order to secure a vote on the big transportation bill. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Senator Nan Orrock (from left), Senator Elena Parent, and Senator Charlie Bethel sort through reams of legislation and amendments as the senate hits the evening of it's final day. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Rep. Barry Fleming, R - Harlem, confers with fellow legislators on the house floor. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Rep Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) looks through a bill as the final day of the 2015 legislative session moves into the evening Thursday April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: Rep. John Deffenbaugh (R-Lookout Mountain) rubs his eyes as the final day of the 2015 legislative session moves into the evening Thursday April 2, 2015. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: A House page hands out copies of a conference committee report as he makes his way through the chamber Thursday evening April 2, 2015, the final day of the 2015 legislative session. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

April 2, 2015 Atlanta: A House page hands out copies of a conference committee report as he makes his way through the chamber Thursday evening April 2, 2015, the final day of the 2015 legislative session. Ben Gray / bgray@ajc.com

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April 2, 2015 - Atlanta - Sine Die in the senate, which adjourned after midnight. With the legislative session ending Thursday, GOP leaders OK'd a slew of tax increases, gave the state more control over local public schools and shot down 'religious liberty' efforts -- all while working hand-in-glove with Democrats to beat back fringe Republicans who've otherwise split the majority caucus. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

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