LISTEN: Lawmakers keep eye on culture war bill ahead of Sine Die
There are less than 24 hours until the last day of the legislative session, and Georgia lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are looking out for a culture war bill.
House Bill 1104 was originally a suicide prevention bill proposed by freshman state Rep. Omari Crawford, a Democrat from Decatur.
Now four unrelated amendments have been tacked on to the bill, including a measure that would ban transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
The term for such a piece of legislation — which has had other unrelated measures attached to it, most likely because they failed to survive the Crossover Day cutoff — is “Frankenbill.”
Majority Leader Chuck Efstration says he knows firsthand how frustrating it is to have your legislation overridden, adding that Crawford is a hardworking member of the Legislature.
“I think there’s probably nothing more frustrating than your bill being changed from what you originally passed and your name being associated with legislation that you haven’t necessarily worked on,” the Auburn Republican says. HB 1104 now goes back to the House for its consideration.
Longtime state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, like Crawford a Democrat from Decatur, says she “will be surprised if the House allows the Senate ‘Franken-awful-bill’ to come to the floor,” adding that her chamber is the more “mature body” in the General Assembly.
Thursday on ”Politically Georgia”: We’ll watch the Legislature on the last day of the session, known as Sine Die.
Wrapping up: 2024 Georgia Legislature
Check on the status of top bills and resolutions we are watching on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Bill Tracker
At a glance: What passed, what didn’t on Day 40
Top headlines
- Kemp signs budget with raises for 300,000 teachers, state workers
- Veto day: Kemp’s deadline to sign or nix Georgia proposals
- Governor signs bill requiring cash bail for more offenses
- Bill requires Georgia sheriffs to enforce federal immigration law
- 5 things about the new Georgia school voucher program
Top politics news, delivered: Sign up for the subscriber-only Politically Georgia newsletter or the Politically Georgia P.M. Update for news by email.
About the Author
Natalie Mendenhall is an award-winning producer for the "Politically Georgia" podcast. She also steps in front of the mic, creating compelling segments for the show. Before joining the AJC, the Chicago native worked as a senior producer at Georgia Public Broadcasting.
