End Seventh Week
As we end our seventh week of legislative work at the State Capitol, I would like to take a moment to thank those constituents from the 25th district who have taken the time to engage in the legislative process.
I have met with countless students, members of special interest groups and concerned citizens who all call the 25th district home. Your involvement means so much to me, and I am privileged to work on your behalf.
With Crossover Day set for Monday, March 3, we must pass all bills to the House of Representatives before the midnight deadline. If any bill does not receive a passing vote in its original chamber, then it cannot move on in the legislative process and must be revived in the next legislative session.
On Monday, I was honored to host the first annual Jackson-Butts County Day at the Capitol. I was proud to welcome members of the community to visit the Capitol and speak with legislators about issues affecting our community and to promote economic development.
The hard work our leaders and community members conduct throughout our district deserves recognition and praise. I want to give a special thanks to Jackson Mayor Kay Pippin, Butts County Commission Chairman Roger D. McDaniel, Sheriff Gary Long, Chamber of Commerce Chairman John Rainwater and Partners for Smart Growth Chairman Joe Westbury for making the trip to Atlanta.
This week the Senate gave our final stamp of approval to the Amended FY ’14 supplemental budget. This $20.2 billion budget runs through June 30, 2014, and includes increases to K-12 education and the State Health Benefit Plan. Since the House and Senate have come to an agreement on this budget, the bill will now head to Governor Deal’s desk where it will receive his signature, thus signing it into law. Now we are focusing all of our attention on the General FY’15 budget which the General Assembly is required to pass by the end of session.
Passed Senate Legislation:
Senate Resolution 415 proposes a constitutional amendment limiting the power of the Georgia General Assembly to raise the state income tax above its current rate.
Senate Bill 93 allows the use of suppressors on legal hunting firearms and suspends hunting privileges of a person convicted of violating certain hunting regulations.
Senate Bill 343 would create the High School Athletics Overview Committee and also amends portions of Georgia code related to the athletic association participation in the Quality Basic Education Act.
Senate Bill 397 would require insurers to cover children six years of age or younger who are diagnosed with an ASD. Coverage for applied behavior analysis may be capped at $35,000 annually.
Senate Bill 167 would allow Georgia to move away from national standards, currently known as the “Common Core,” and limits the collection and sharing of student data. The bill also provides new protections for the privacy of students in order to prevent life-long data tracking.
The General Assembly will convene again on Monday, March 3 for Day 30 of the 2014 Legislative Session. Although there are only 10 legislative days remaining, I will continue spending a lot of time at the Capitol working for you. If there are any issues you wish to have addressed, I would love to hear from you.
It remains a pleasure to serve you, the constituents of the 25th Senate District. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.
Sen. Burt Jones represents the 25th Senate District which includes Baldwin, Butts, Greene, Jasper, Morgan and Putnam counties and portions of Bibb, Jones and Walton counties. He may be reached at 404.656.0082 or via email at burt.jones@senate.ga.gov.