In passing its own version of the state's 2018 spending blueprint, the Senate moved one step closer last week to satisfying the General Assembly's lone constitutional obligation.
The House had previously passed a budget, setting aside monies for teacher and state employee pay raises, that was mostly adopted by the Senate but which diverged on a series of particulars that will need to be harmonized in a special conference committee before Sine Die on March 30.
Education
Governor Nathan Deal's legislative attempt to assist chronically failing schools continues to be the subject of debate in the Senate Education Committee, which is weighing a version of the proposal that satisfies the governor's desire for the newly created "chief turnaround officer" to remain under the governor-appointed State Board of Education, but extends by a year the time period for schools to demonstrate improvement before they are eligible for a state takeover. The bill moved out of committee today and on to the Rules Committee.
The same committee is separately considering legislation that would simplify the process for charter schools obtaining unused public school buildings.
Fantasy Sports
A hearing for public comment was held last week and a final hearing and vote in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee was held today. The bill passed out of committee and is headed to Rules.
Craft Beer
Compromise legislation to allow craft brewers and distillers to make on-site sales to consumers passed the House overwhelmingly last week, but House lawmakers' addition of distillers to the Senate plan, which only included craft brewers, requires agreement by both chambers. The Senate is expected to vote in favor of the House version on Wednesday.
Opioid Addiction
A house bill aimed at cracking down on opioid addition by requiring doctors to check and utilize a state registry before prescribing opioids has cleared the Senate Health Committee. The measure heads next to Senate Rules before possibly advancing to the floor for full consideration later this week.
Campus Carry
The Senate Judiciary Committee last week advanced one of the session's most controversial proposals: a bill that would permit gun owners over the age of 21 to carry concealed handguns within designated areas of public colleges and universities.
The bill exempts student housing, fraternities and sororities, child care centers, sports facilities, and buildings at which high school students can take courses at technical colleges. The exemption universe does not, however, includes two areas of concern to the governor—administrative offices and buildings that house disciplinary hearings.
Medical Marijuana
The House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee on Friday approved a compromise revision to the state's still-young medical cannabis oil law. The bill upholds the state's existing allowable THC level, which had been dropped from an earlier version, and expands the universe of conditions eligible for treatment. They include: autism spectrum disorder, Tourette's syndrome, Alzheimer's, AIDS, epidermolysis bullosa (EB) and peripheral neuropathy.
The bill must next pass muster with the House Rules Committee.
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