Under the Gold Dome: March 3, 2025

This year, ACPC is keeping an eye on the Georgia General Assembly. Each week, we will highlight selected bills, report on critical topics, and preview the schedule for the upcoming week.

What just happened? 

Yet more transphobic testimony

Last week, HB 267, the Riley Gaines Act, passed the full House with a vote of 102 to 54, with three Democrats voting in favor. This bill is similar to the one passed in the Senate but is broader. It would prohibit transgender people from using a number of public spaces that align with their gender identity, in addition to playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. 

Interestingly, a number of legislators did not vote on HB 267: 14 representatives were recorded as excused, and 10 were a “no vote.” It is often assumed that most of these representatives did not want to go on the record supporting or opposing this bill. This is sometimes referred to as “taking a walk.”  A total of 24 legislators either “excused” or not voting is an unusually high number. 

Tort Reform takes a turn

The Governor’s tort reform bill, SB 68, passed the Senate and moved to the House. But last week, it took an unusual detour. It was assigned to a newly created Subcommittee of Rules on Lawsuit Reform comprised of a few members from both parties from both the House and the Senate. The Senate also passed SB 69, the companion tort reform bill, on Thursday unanimously, and it awaits a vote in the House. 

RFRA reappears

Despite the past 11 years of trying to pass a RFRA bill, the Republicans have again introduced a new Religious Freedom Restoration Act, SB 36, with 33 eager Republican sponsors. It was introduced in late January but was just voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee Friday. RFRA-type bills, which have been implemented in other states, are intended to protect religious minorities but can be used as a way to discriminate against religious groups, LGBTQ+ people, women, and other groups. This bill likely will be put on the Senate calendar this week.

What’s coming next? 

The Sprint to Cross-Over Day

This coming week is a legislative sprint until Thursday—known as Crossover Day—when bills must be voted out of one chamber to be considered by the other. Crossover Day is usually hectic and long. If a bill does not meet this deadline, it is unlikely to have a path to be voted into law. Some bills have already been voted out of one chamber, but a number of significant bills are awaiting either committee votes or votes on the floor of the originating chamber. 

On the House side: 

Monday, the two House bills, HB 561 and 562, which would protect the Trail Ridge along the eastern border of the Okefenokee Swamp from future titanium mining, will be heard in the Natural Resources and Environment Committee. 

HB 123, which would clarify procedures for a person with an intellectual disability to be given the death penalty, is on the House calendar for a floor vote today. Also, HB 215, which would prohibit the secretary of state from participating in any multistate list maintenance organization for voter registration databases, is up for a vote today. This bill targets the national organization ERIC, Inc, which helps member states maintain accurate voter rolls. ERIC has been targeted by right-wing voter conspiracy advocates but has received good reviews from member states, including Georgia. 

And in the Senate: 

We’ll have even more transphobic talk in the Senate today when SB 30, which would ban minors from accessing puberty blockers and other gender-affirming care, and SB 185, which would prohibit incarcerated individuals from similar care, will both be on the Senate floor. 

Other bills that are not currently on the Senate calendar but might be added this week are:  

SB 34, which requires the Public Service Commission to ensure that Georgia Power ratepayers are not saddled with the cost of providing electricity to power-hungry data centers; SB 7, which authorizes Fulton County to utilize the Atlanta City Detention Center; and SB 74, which bans “obscene” material from libraries. 

Advocacy Days

The best way to learn about the legislative process and to advocate for particular issues is to come to the Capitol for an advocacy day.

On Tuesday, the Georgia Water Coalition will host Capitol Conservation Day. The Legacy Table, a collaboration of the ACLU of Georgia, the League of Women Voters of Georgia, the NAACP Georgia State Conference, and the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, will host a Lobby Day for training and advocacy on various issues. The Human Rights Campaign of Georgia will hold Pride to the Capitol Day.

On Thursday, Youth at the Capitol will have its lobby day hosted by the Georgia Youth Justice Coalition.