Georgia Legislature Puts Hurricane Relief and Transgender Rights in Sports at the Forefront of Their Agenda

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s General Assembly is kicking off a new two-year session on Monday. This means 180 state representatives and 56 state senators are officially taking their seats after winning their elections in November.

The Republicans will keep control of both the House and Senate. They’re sticking with the same 33-23 majority in the Senate, while their edge in the House has dropped slightly to 100-80 after some redistricting changes.

This session will see 18 new members in the House and four new senators being sworn in.

Some of the main topics expected to come up include Governor Brian Kemp’s plans to limit lawsuit payouts and responses following a tragic shooting at Apalachee High School. Even though revenue growth is slowing, Georgia boasts an $11 billion surplus that lawmakers might tap into if Kemp allows it.

Here are a few issues on the agenda:

Easing Hurricane Helene Damage

After Hurricane Helene caused significant destruction from Valdosta to Augusta, Georgia’s leaders are welcoming a relief package from Congress. However, they believe further steps are needed. When Hurricane Michael hit in 2018, Georgia provided an additional $470 million to help with recovery efforts. This included income tax credits for farmers and funds for emergency response and clean-up.

State officials have already approved $100 million in loans for affected farmers and timber owners. House Speaker Jon Burns is particularly concerned about fallen timber, which could pose a wildfire risk if not addressed.

Transgender Participation in School Sports

Republicans in Georgia are focused on a potential ban for transgender women and girls in women’s school sports. Previously, the Georgia High School Association decided to restrict their participation. Now, leaders, influenced by political discussions, want to make changes at both the high school and college levels.

Opponents, like Jeff Graham from Georgia Equality, argue that this issue is being blown out of proportion since there are no known cases of transgender athletes in the state participating in these sports.

Prison Reform

Lawmakers are also looking to address serious issues in Georgia’s prison system, following reports of unsafe conditions. The U.S. Department of Justice criticized the treatment of inmates as “inhumane.” Governor Kemp is proposing a significant investment of over $600 million to renovate prisons and hire additional staff, as well as build a new prison.

Officials want to control contraband access and increase mental health support for inmates.

Election Rules Debate

The conflict surrounding election laws in Georgia is far from over. The Republican Party is attempting to change rules regarding voter registration and absentee voting. Some lawmakers want to revisit rules recently blocked by a court, such as the counting of ballots and certification processes.

Concerns about electronic voting might lead to proposals requiring hand-written ballots instead.

Sports Betting Discussions

Legalizing sports betting in Georgia continues to be a hot topic, with backing from various influencers, including the Metro Atlanta Chamber and local sports teams. However, previous attempts have stalled, and several questions remain about how to proceed, including potential constitutional amendments and how to manage tax revenues from betting.

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