The Georgia General Assembly convened on January 11, 2021 and is scheduled to finish session on March 31, 2021. Bills will be introduced daily, but below is those we are monitoring.

Senate Bill 200 — The Faith Protection Act. Allows religious institutions to continue to resume operations during certain states of emergency. Status: Senate Bill passed the full Senate on 03/05/2021, and is now in the House Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 86 — Georgia Lottery Mobile Sports Wagering Integrity Act Companion bill in Senate is SB 142. If this becomes law it will skirt the Georgia Constitution and allow betting on sports in our state under the Georgia Lottery Corporation. This bill will only require a simple majority vote to pass, rather than the 2/3 majority that is required to change the Georgia Constitution. Our friend, Mike Griffin, has written an excellent article debunking the false reasons for legalizing sports gambling. Status: HOUSE BILL STALLED, as there does not appear to be enough votes. However, Senate Bill 142 passed the full Senate by the 2/3 majority vote needed, and is now in the House Economic Development & Tourism Committee.

House Resolution 30 — Allows Georgia citizens to vote on a Constitutional Amendment that would…provide by law for casino resorts, gambling on horse racing, and sports betting via phone app. Status: Did not get a vote by Crossover Day, so is “technically” dead, but can always be added as an amendment to a bill that did cross over in time.

House Bill 276 and Senate Bill 266 — Two companion bills intended to protect girls’ sports. Would make it unlawful for a public school, or a private school whose students or teams compete against a public school, to permit a person whose gender is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for females. Status: Neither the House nor Senate bill got a vote by the end of Crossover Day.

Senate Bill 226 — Would prohibit the distribution of explicit materials to minors in schools. Status: Passed Senate on Crossover Day (3/8). Now is in the House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee.

Senate Bill 47 — Expands Georgia’s Special Needs Scholarship. Status: Passed Senate on March 3. Now in House Education Committee.

Senate Bill 30 — “Rural Georgia Jobs and Growth Act” — Will establish Georgia Horse Racing Commission to allow betting on horse racing. Status: Did not pass by the end of Crossover Day. However, could still be added as an amendment to a bill that did cross over.

House Bill 517 — Expands the tax-credit scholarship by raising the limits on donation amounts given to a Student Scholarship Organization (SSO); adds “interest earned” to the amount that an SSO must allocate to student scholarships. Status: Passed the House on Crossover Day and is now in the Senate Education Committee.

House Bill 60 — Georgia Educational Scholarship Act This legislation would provide for qualified education expenses; i.e., state education money follows student. Status: Did not pass by the end of Crossover Day. However, could still be added as an amendment to a bill that did cross over.

House Bill 1 — FORUM Act. Prevents the creation of “free speech zones” at public institutions of higher education, because they limit free speech. Status: Did not pass by the end of Crossover Day. However, could still be added as an amendment to a bill that did cross over.