Crossover Day Completed
CROSSOVER DAY COMPLETE
Crossover Day was its usual, exhausting mess, with the passage of 75 bills in one day, but with good and bad proposals left on the table with uncertain futures. I left the Capitol about 11PM and was very happy to get home.
I specifically want to report on three bills that did pass: HB 399, HB 79, and HB 612. It's also very important after Crossover Day to report on the bills that did not pass. There were four meetings of the Rules Committee that produced four additional calendars for House consideration. The final calendar, published around 9PM, included a bill providing for a referendum on sports betting, but it was never called for a vote. Additionally, one of the single-family home purchase bills, HB 555, was added to the last Supplemental Calendar but also was not called for a vote. A good bill providing compensation for individuals wrongfully convicted did pass in the last hour of the day. HB 500, which would have updated and benefitted the TANF program, passed Rules but did not come up for a vote. HB 602, a bill many of you wrote asking me to oppose that took away the scholarships of students who protested on their school campuses, was also not called for a vote. In the midst of it all, thanks to Malia Wright for serving as my page! I also want to thank my Emory ethics intern Kit Moore, who stayed the entire day and attended and also very helpfully reported on each new Calendar in all four Rules Committee meetings.
HB 399
House Bill 399 creates a small measure of accountability for out-of-state hedge funds and investors who are purchasing large numbers of single-family homes in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Please watch my House speech below that resulted in favorable passage. HB 399 is now before the State Senate Economic Development Committee chaired by Brandon Beach. As you may remember, there were five different bills introduced in the House which addressed the issue of out-of-state purchase of large numbers of single-family homes: three from Republican sponsors and two from Democratic sponsors. HB 399 was the only bill to successfully pass the House, and I expect there to be continuing arguments made for the remaining Republican bills that were not favorably acted upon. I will keep you updated on the progress in the Senate, and am grateful for your interest.
HB 612 - MENTAL HEALTH PARITY
HB 612 passed the House and provides additional measures of enforcement of mental health parity entitlements set forth in HB 1013. I will be working for Senate final action. The 2025 proposals from the Behavioral Health Commission include legislation for the forensic population currently held in jails and prisons, and also include substantial budget proposals. Our Fiscal Year 2026 Budget from the House will be revealed Monday, and I'll report on the most significant funding additions for mental health reform.
DFCS "SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT"
DFCS wants to fund and create an in-house police force - bad idea. We need more cooperation between DFCS and local police, not competition and conflict. Child abuse protocols are the law - follow the law, don't create obstacles. The AJC quoted Department of Human Services Commissioner Candice Broce as saying the following in a House Judiciary Juvenile Justice Committee hearing: “I recently formed the DHS Special Victims Unit, which reports directly to me, to work with Georgia law enforcement to better serve Georgia’s most marginalized children." Read the entire AJC article by Caleb Groves HERE. I am also quoted in the article.
HB 79 - GUN STORAGE TAX CREDIT
HB 79 passed the House, and I spoke from the House well in support of additional tax incentives for gun owners who purchase gun safes and take gun safety courses. You can view my speech below. Perhaps I was a little too subtle in my comments, because HB 79 is a great disappointment, considering all the energy and support behind numerous and much stronger gun safety proposals. Nonetheless, HB 79 is the first bipartisan gun safety bill to pass in several years. The fact that it lacks substance and meaningful protections is very depressing. I told the primary sponsor, Dr. Mark Newton, an ER doctor, how badly I felt about supporting such a weak bill. He was polite.
HB 243 - STONE MOUNTAIN
House Bill 243, which created new mission language for the Stone Mountain Authority and removed references to confederate memorialization, was never called for a hearing by the Government Affairs Committee Chair. Unfortunately, I am also not hopeful that our bill to rename Memorial Drive as Veterans Memorial Drive will receive attention. However, the Stone Mountain Action Coalition continues to do amazing work, and I know that one day they will be rewarded for their efforts. The below segment on HB 243 aired on the CBS Evening News just last week. I shared this CBS national news clip with the Governmental Affairs Chair. This is the second year in a row our Stone Mountain bills have not received a hearing and it's very disappointing. It is, however, exciting to have a bill I introduced shown on the national news. Please watch this fantastic segment.
ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS
The two bills to protect the Okefenokee Swamp never received a Committee vote in the Natural Resources Committee before Crossover Day. Chair Lynn Smith has refused for two years in a row to allow a vote on legislative protections for the Okefenokee despite the fact that a majority of House members support the protections and are co-sponsors of HB 561 and HB 562. There are ongoing efforts for the purchase of the Trail Ridge property that that would save this particular area of the Okefenokee from mining. Many of us are hopeful that this will provide the necessary protections if legislation is not allowed to do so.
Another controversial environmental bill, HB 211, would create immunity for the carpet industry and other large manufacturers from lawsuits regarding PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. The Judiciary Committee held several hours of hearings, but gratefully HB 211 did not receive a vote in Committee before Crossover Day.
As with all bills on Crossover Day, any action is not a final action. There are always maneuvers or amendments that can be offered to allow alternative routes for legislative action. The last days of the Session can be very dangerous. Watch for efforts that will not be totally transparent in order to resurrect bills that allegedly died on Crossover Day. Stay tuned and stay vigilant.
SCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERAS
Despite all of our efforts, as well as the extraordinary efforts of Decatur Mayor Patti Garrett and Decatur Chief of Police Scott Richards, two school zone speed camera bills passed the State House on Crossover Day: HB 225, introduced by Rep. Dale Washburn, which bans all speed cameras across the state of Georgia; and HB 651, introduced by Rep. Alan Powell, which allows speed cameras but puts strict parameters in place. The speed camera bill in the Senate did not pass. Watch the recent Associated Press video news segment below that discusses school zone speed cameras in Decatur and the fight over these cameras in the Georgia General Assembly.
EMORY UNIVERSITY BUDGET MEASURES
Emory University announced signifcant budget cuts and hiring freezes in light of recent mandates from the Trump Administration. Read below President Greg Fenves' announcement to the Emory community as well as a recent news segment with my interview and comments on 11 Alive News.
March 5, 2025
Dear Emory Community,
In recent weeks there have been many directives, policy changes, and legislative proposals from the federal government that have serious implications for Emory. I have been collaborating closely with deans and university leadership to evaluate scenarios regarding these changes. While there is still tremendous uncertainty, we must stay true to the values that define our university while upholding the law.
The education, research, and patient care undertaken at Emory are as essential as they have ever been, and our commitment to academic freedom—the bedrock of teaching and discovery—is unwavering. Equally steadfast is our dedication to fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus environment that provides opportunities to talented individuals of diverse backgrounds and perspectives. This commitment is integral to our mission, and it is core to who we are as a university community. We will continue to make the case for inclusivity and the many ways it supports excellence at Emory.
With potential changes in university funding looming, Emory must take prudent measures to prepare for what may be a significant disruption to our finances. In addition to the ongoing impacts to research, we are tracking proposed regulations and legislation that could significantly affect other revenue sources, including a possible increase in the federal tax on university endowments. To reduce expenditures and create financial capacity, the university is immediately implementing the following steps:
- A hiring freeze for staff positions
- Limitations on faculty hiring
- A freeze on compensation adjustments
- Significant reductions in operating expenditures
Emory’s academic deans and unit leaders will soon share additional details about these measures, including how each step will be implemented and, where relevant, the exception processes related to hiring and compensation.
Many in our community have reached out to me personally to express their concerns and to ask what they can do to help during this uncertain time. First and foremost, please continue to take care of yourselves and each other. Show compassion. Recognize that each person at Emory is experiencing these changes differently and that grace and understanding are a responsibility we share. Above all, know that your work here is vitally important. You teach, you heal, you learn, you guide, you discover, and you innovate—all in service to humanity.
Sincerely,
Gregory L. Fenves
President
LAST SURVEY POLL: HOW YOU ANSWERED
Should juries be capped in the damage amount awarded based on the negligence of someone else?
519 Total VotesYes - 28% No 72%
Thank you for responses!
MARTA
Thanks to Jennifer LaRose and Michael Rafshoon from MARTA for their terrific presentation to the DeKalb Delegation last week. Below are the schedules for you to give input on MARTA Bus routes - please attend!
HABITAT CAPITOL BUILD DAY: BY KIT MOORE, EMORY INTERN
Wednesday, March 5th, was Capitol Build Day! This event gathered volunteers and advocates for attainable housing onto the green at Liberty Plaza, where Habitat for Humanity and others framed a house that will become someone’s home in the near future. All had opportunity to sign their hard work with hopeful messages and offer tribute to former President Jimmy Carter. Construction and housing groups came from as far as Columbus and Ellijay to participate, bringing materials and tools, good people and good eats––all in support of fair housing initiatives and legislative efforts at the Capitol.
OUT AND ABOUT
Birthday party for Rep. Debbie Buckner!
Dr. Havel Kelli was initially sponsored by my church, All Saints' Episcopal Church, Atlanta as a refugee when he and his family came to the United States. Despite the negativity around immigrants and refugees at the Georgia Capitol, I remain proud of the many successful and beneficial citizens that refugees become if just given the chance to survive the horrors of war. Dr. Heval Kellli won the Distinction in Community Service Award from the Emory University School of Medicine on March 6th, 2025. Says Dr. Kelli: "The same institution that once felt like a distant world is now recognizing me for my commitment to serving the underserved." Thanks to Martha Sterne for sharing this Facebook post.
On March 3rd, union-supported construction apprentices came to the Capitol to advocate for passage of HB 613 before the Governmental Affairs Committee - I will help! Good bill!
I enjoyed visiting my cabin in North Georgia the first weekend of March. Three sightings of a bald eagle along Fightingtown Creek—- Wowza! No pictures yet, but stay tuned. Henry enjoyed a hike along the Oconee River on this beautiful afternoon.
I enjoyed welcoming students from the Decatur High School CloseUp group on February 27th!
February 26th: Good news! My HB 399 bill requiring out-of-state investor or hedge fund owners of single family homes to have an in-state resident to accept complaints and implement repairs is on to Rules and a House vote! And, I continue to meet with Capitol visitors— Trust for Public Land and Suicide prevention advocates—
Welcome all!
Thanks to Marcus Patton and the Stone Mountain Action Coalition for this terrific graphic supporting HB 243!
Rep. Imani Barnes and I enjoyed having Emory President Greg Fenves at the Capitol on February 24th!
UPCOMING DATES
Tuesday, March 11th - WABE Rose Scott Interview Friday, March 14th - Atlanta Master Chorale
Thursday, March 27th - DeKalb Education Foundation Event at Fernbank History Center
Friday, April 4th - SINE DIE
QUICK LINKS FOR YOU
I am on the following legislative committees. You can watch live every time they meet. Click on the links below for livestreams, agendas, archives and more.
Committees:
- Appropriations
- Governmental Affairs
- Judiciary
- Juvenile Justice
- Public Health - Secretary
- Technology and Infrastructure Innovation
Subcommittees:
- Appropriations - Human Resources
- Governmental Affairs - State and Local Government
- Judicial - Leverett (two)
You can search for and track bills, watch the House (or Senate) in Session, watch committee hearings, monitor legislation by committee, and find contact information —- all on the revamped General Assembly website. Here are quick links:
- General Assembly website: https://www.legis.ga.gov/
- House Session meetings and many committee hearings are available to watch online: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house
- Archived videos of meetings and hearings: https://www.legis.ga.gov/house/media-services
Make your views known and tell me what issues interest you the most.
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