6 things we learned under the Gold Dome today: ‘campus carry’ and Marta bills in the spotlight

It’s only Tuesday but the end of the week under the Gold Dome is already nearing. The lawmakers will be back in session on Wednesday and then off Thursday and Friday.

With Sine Die just three days away, there is yet again a lot to report.

So here is a look at six things that happened at the Georgia Capitol today that you should know:

1. The National Rifle Association has weighed in with some harsh words for Gov. Nathan Deal. ["Governor Deal's newfound concerns about this critical campus safety bill are baffling." Read the full statement here.]

2. An effort once presumed dead to expand MARTA's rail system found new life today when a House committee inserted it into another bill. [The bill would allow the city of Atlanta to hold a November referendum to determine whether to levy a half-percent sales tax to fund a MARTA expansion.]

3. Georgia back-to-school shoppers will again get a sales tax break, as will Super Bowl attendees, under legislation given final approval by the Senate today. [This bill just needs Gov. Nathan Deal's signature.]

4. A temporary moratorium on petroleum pipelines in Georgia received approval Tuesday from the Senate. [Despite efforts by business leaders to water it down.]

5. An effort to enforce limits on the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine, a common ingredient in some allergy and cold medicines that is also used to make methamphetamine, passed the Senate today. [The system would record a buyer's information and enforce the purchasing limit of the substance.]

6. The Senate passed a watered-down version of a swimming pool bill that initially could have exempted 70 percent of all Georgia pools from public health and safety inspections. [The bill would allow operators of townhouse, condo and subdivision pools to "opt out" of a 36-item public health inspection, provided each pool serves no more than 75 swimmers.]