Trump legislation awaits decision from Kemp as Georgia veto deadline nears
It’s decision day for Gov. Brian Kemp.
Today is the deadline for the second-term governor to either sign or veto bills that passed the state Legislature this year.
Of the 370 bills on his desk, Kemp has already signed more than 100. But he hasn’t vetoed anything yet, typically waiting until the last moment before delivering the bad news to lawmakers.
The red pen is no idle threat under Kemp’s watch as governor. He has vetoed dozens of measures since he took office in 2019, including 12 bills last year.
Two of the bills awaiting Kemp’s action relate to Donald Trump.
One would allow the president to recoup millions of dollars in legal fees needed to defend himself against criminal charges in Fulton County’s 2020 election interference prosecution.
Another would create a new Georgia license plate emblazoned with Trump’s slogan — “America First.”
Here’s a look at some bills that are pending:
- Senate Bill 244: Trump and his 18 co-defendants could collect millions of dollars spent on legal fees in Fulton County’s election interference case if Kemp signs this bill. A portion of the bill would also make it easier for the wrongfully convicted to seek recompense.
- House Bill 296: Georgia already offers digital driver’s licenses. But about the only place you can use them is the airport. This bill would require police departments to accept digital IDs during traffic stops by July 1, 2027. Worth noting: You still can’t use digital IDs to vote.
- House Bill 339: This would exempt ride-hailing companies like Uber from certain liability lawsuits. Uber says this would lower its insurance premiums, which would result in lower fares for riders.
- House Bill 176: This bill would let people appeal their criminal convictions even if they have some related charges still pending. It’s partly in response to a 2021 state Supreme Court ruling that prevented a man from appealing his conviction.
- House Bill 426: This bill would require nonpartisan elections for all magistrate judges. Of the 1,600 judges in Georgia, about 38 are still elected in partisan elections. This bill was a priority of former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Boggs before he left office.
- Senate Bill 199: This would require candidates for state office to file campaign finance disclosures four times per year. Right now, they must file these reports six times per year in election years and twice per year in nonelection years.
- House Bill 129: This reinstates Georgia’s expired tax credit for postproduction expenditures in film and television. Companies that spend at least $500,000 on qualified expenditures on a project would receive a 20% credit, with an additional 10% if the project is shot in Georgia. There’s another 5% add-on if postproduction work is completed in a rural county.
- Senate Bill 291: This creates an “America First” license plate for Georgia. While echoing a popular slogan from President Donald Trump’s campaign, the bill says the purpose is to “represent patriotism, a commitment to prioritize the interests of this nation above all else, and to reinforce a sense of national pride and unity.” Money from the sale of these plates would go back to the state’s general fund.
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