This is an informal rundown of the legislative happenings. This update is from the most recent legislative day – 03/13/23, or Day 32.
SB 21 – Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick
LINK: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63656
PASSED THE SENATE: 52-0
WHAT IT DOES:
- Amends the already existent ‘Georgia Veterans Service Foundation, Inc’
- Changes terms of service for the board of the foundation from 7 years to 3 years
- Changes meeting requirements for the board from once a year to once quarterly
- Changes the appointment of the Executive Director of the foundation from the board of directors to the commissioner of veterans services
CONCERN: None. The change in the appointment is a lateral bureaucratic move from one unelected unaccountable body of officials to a single unelected unaccountable official.
PASSED THE HOUSE: 169-0
SB 23 – Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick
LINK: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/63657
Substitute: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20232024/215760
PASSED THE SENATE: 50-0
WHAT IT DOES:
- Clean-up bill for inactive authorities, committees, advisory councils, offices, and commissions
- Also changes parameters for pre-filing legislation by lawmakers
- Repeals this code section which includes the pre-filing period to be from November 15-the Friday before session begins
CONCERN: Not sure of the angle in repealing pre-filing legislation. The law should be going the other direction – there shouldn’t be any bills filed outside of the pre-filing period. Then you could actually have fewer bills and a chance of lawmakers reading them.
PASSED THE HOUSE: 108-61
