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Clarke County, GA

Clarke County is home to Athens and the University of Georgia. The area has a vibrant arts and music scene, and a diverse economic base.

Local News

Bills related to this county

SB 36

“Georgia Religious Freedom Restoration Act”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to provide for the preservation of religious freedom; to provide for the granting of relief; to provide for definitions; to provide for construction; to provide for statutory interpretation; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and determinations; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Judiciary Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Setzler, Ed (37th); Brass, Matt (6th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Williams, Rick (25th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Albers, John (56th); Echols, Drew (49th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Burns, Max (23rd); Harbin, Marty (16th); Summers, Carden (13th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Still, Shawn (48th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Moore, Colton (53rd); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Watson, Ben (1st); Watson, Sam (11th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Goodman, Russ (8th)

Status History

04/04/2025: Act 6; 04/04/2025: Senate Date Signed by Governor; 04/03/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 04/02/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 04/02/2025: House Third Readers; 03/27/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 03/10/2025: House Second Readers; 03/06/2025: House First Readers; 03/04/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 03/04/2025: Senate Third Read; 03/03/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/28/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/04/2025, Senate Vote #142, 32, 23, 0, 1; 04/02/2025, House Vote #401, 96, 70, 2, 12

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Yay or Nay

SB 39

Employees’ Insurance and Benefits Plans; expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; prohibit coverage

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 18 of Title 45, Chapter 4 of Title 49, and Chapter 1 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the employees’ insurance and benefits plans, public assistance, and general provisions relative to state government, respectively, so as to prohibit coverage of expenses for gender-affirming care under the state health benefit plan or with any state funds; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited exceptions; to prohibit state healthcare facilities and healthcare providers employed by the state from providing gender-affirming care; to provide for related matters; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Health Senate Committee: Insurance and Labor

Sponsors

Tillery, Blake (19th); Summers, Carden (13th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Watson, Ben (1st); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Albers, John (56th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Burns, Max (23rd); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Williams, Rick (25th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Echols, Drew (49th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Watson, Sam (11th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Brass, Matt (6th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Dixon, Clint (45th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Sims, Freddie Powell (12th); Harbison, Ed (15th)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 04/02/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/13/2025: House Second Readers; 02/12/2025: House First Readers; 02/11/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 02/11/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/06/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/05/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/11/2025, Senate Vote #39, 19, 33, 1, 3; 02/11/2025, Senate Vote #40, 19, 33, 1, 3; 02/11/2025, Senate Vote #41, 33, 19, 1, 3; 02/11/2025, Senate Vote #42, 32, 18, 3, 3

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 42

Penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12; certain penalty provisions for the offense of prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering; repeal

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 16-6-13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to penalties for violating Code Sections 16-6-9 through 16-6-12, so as to repeal certain penalty provisions for the offense of prostitution, keeping a place of prostitution, pimping, and pandering; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Judiciary Non-Civil Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Hatchett, Bo (50th); Echols, Drew (49th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Payne, Chuck (54th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Ginn, Frank (47th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Watson, Ben (1st); Burns, Max (23rd); Summers, Carden (13th); Albers, John (56th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/25/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 03/25/2025: House Third Readers; 03/20/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 03/03/2025: House Second Readers; 02/28/2025: House First Readers; 02/27/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/27/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/24/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/21/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/27/2025, Senate Vote #100, 50, 0, 3, 3; 03/25/2025, House Vote #309, 169, 0, 5, 6

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 32

Obstruction of Public Administration; convicted of doing violence in the obstruction or hindering of law enforcement officers; provide for a mandatory minimum sentence

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 2 of Chapter 10 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to obstruction of public administration and related offenses, so as to provide for a mandatory minimum sentence for those convicted of doing violence in the obstruction or hindering of law enforcement officers; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Williams, Rick (25th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Albers, John (56th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Hickman, Billy (4th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Brass, Matt (6th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Burns, Max (23rd); Harbin, Marty (16th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Still, Shawn (48th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Cowsert, Bill (46th)

Status History

01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 33

“Georgia Hemp Farming Act”; total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; provide limits

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 23 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the “Georgia Hemp Farming Act,” so as to provide limits on the total THC concentration of consumable hemp products; to revise provisions concerning the certificate of analysis applicable to consumable hemp products; to revise and provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Senate Committee: Regulated Industries and Utilities

Sponsors

Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Watson, Ben (1st); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Watson, Sam (11th); Parent, Elena (44th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Albers, John (56th); Rhett, Michael ‘Doc’ (33rd); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Burns, Max (23rd); Harbison, Ed (15th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Harbin, Marty (16th)

Status History

03/11/2025: House Second Readers; 03/10/2025: House First Readers; 03/06/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/06/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/24/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/21/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/06/2025, Senate Vote #168, 50, 6, 0, 0

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 28

“Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 28, 31, and 50 of the O.C.G.A., relating to the General Assembly, health, and state government, respectively, so as to provide for procedures and processes concerning the enactment of legislation and the adoption of rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide a short title; to provide effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Senate Committee: Economic Development and Tourism

Sponsors

Dolezal, Greg (27th); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Robertson, Randy (29th); Brass, Matt (6th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Albers, John (56th); Summers, Carden (13th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Watson, Ben (1st); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Ginn, Frank (47th)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 03/20/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/27/2025: House Second Readers; 02/26/2025: House First Readers; 02/24/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 02/24/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/20/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/19/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/24/2025, Senate Vote #88, 32, 22, 2, 0; 02/24/2025, Senate Vote #89, 33, 21, 2, 0

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 30

Hospitals and Related Institutions; hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; prohibit prescribing or administering

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 31 and Article 1 of Chapter 34 of Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to regulation of hospitals and related institutions and the Georgia Composite Medical Board, respectively, so as to prohibit prescribing or administering certain hormone therapies and puberty-blocking medications for certain purposes to minors; to provide for definitions; to provide for limited exceptions; to provide for a remedy for a parent or guardian of a minor; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Public and Community Health Senate Committee: Health and Human Services

Sponsors

Watson, Ben (1st); Gooch, Steve (51st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Brass, Matt (6th); Albers, John (56th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Hickman, Billy (4th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Summers, Carden (13th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Anderson, Lee (24th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Still, Shawn (48th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Echols, Drew (49th); Burns, Max (23rd); Moore, Colton (53rd); Williams, Rick (25th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Watson, Sam (11th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 03/27/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/06/2025: House Second Readers; 03/04/2025: House First Readers; 03/03/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 03/03/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/18/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/13/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/28/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/27/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/03/2025, Senate Vote #119, 20, 34, 2, 0; 03/03/2025, Senate Vote #120, 34, 19, 3, 0

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 12

Inspection of Public Records; documents and records in the possession of private persons or entities; revise provisions

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to inspection of public records, so as to revise provisions related to documents and records in the possession of private persons or entities; to revise definitions; to revise provisions related to judicial enforcement of inspection requests; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Governmental Affairs Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Ginn, Frank (47th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Summers, Carden (13th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Still, Shawn (48th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Watson, Ben (1st); Tillery, Blake (19th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Albers, John (56th); Brass, Matt (6th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Goodman, Russ (8th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Watson, Sam (11th); Jones, Emanuel (10th); Wicks, Kenya (34th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Payne, Chuck (54th)

Status History

04/10/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 04/04/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub; 04/04/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 04/04/2025: House Third Readers; 04/02/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 03/20/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/26/2025: House Second Readers; 02/24/2025: House First Readers; 02/21/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 02/21/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/11/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/10/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/16/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/15/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/21/2025, Senate Vote #80, 49, 0, 5, 2; 04/04/2025, House Vote #432, 167, 1, 1, 11; 04/04/2025, Senate Vote #490, 53, 1, 1, 1

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