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Columbia County, GA

Bordering the Savannah River near Augusta, Columbia County has seen suburban growth and offers outdoor recreation. Evans is the de facto county seat.

Local News

Bills related to this county

SB 176

“Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act”; establish

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 17 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to criminal procedure, so as to establish the “Victims of Wrongful Incarceration Compensation Act”; to provide for a short title; to provide for eligibility; to provide for definitions; to provide for the compensation of wrongfully incarcerated persons; to provide for requisition procedures and for certification of eligibility for compensation; to provide for criminal records checks; to provide for the calculation, payment, and limit of such compensation; to provide for waivers and release; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Robertson, Randy (29th); Albers, John (56th); Summers, Carden (13th); Williams, Rick (25th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Payne, Chuck (54th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Anderson, Lee (24th)

Status History

02/18/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/13/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 177

Government Transparency and Campaign Finance; transparency in foreign funded political activities within the state; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to government transparency and campaign finance, so as to provide for transparency in foreign funded political activities within the state; to require agents of hostile foreign principals and foreign supported political organizations to register with the State Ethics Commission; to provide for registration requirements; to provide for definitions; to provide legislative findings; to provide for civil penalties; to authorize the Attorney General to bring civil actions or criminal investigations for violations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Senate Committee: Ethics

Sponsors

Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Albers, John (56th); Burns, Max (23rd); Robertson, Randy (29th); Williams, Rick (25th); Watson, Sam (11th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Still, Shawn (48th); Setzler, Ed (37th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Watson, Ben (1st); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Summers, Carden (13th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Gooch, Steve (51st)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 03/31/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/10/2025: House Second Readers; 03/06/2025: House First Readers; 03/04/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 03/04/2025: Senate Third Read; 03/04/2025: Senate Engrossed; 02/27/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/26/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/18/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/13/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/04/2025, Senate Vote #136, 29, 17, 4, 6; 03/04/2025, Senate Vote #149, 36, 18, 0, 2

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 147

Correctional Institutions of State and Counties; consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 3 of Chapter 5 of Title 42 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of detention generally relative to correctional institutions of state and counties, so as to provide consent for the release of certain criminal history, vocational, and educational information for inmates upon release; to provide for issuance of an identification card and a Program and Treatment Completion Certificate; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Public Safety and Homeland Security Senate Committee: Public Safety

Sponsors

Rhett, Michael ‘Doc’ (33rd); Albers, John (56th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Orrock, Nan (36th); Harbison, Ed (15th); Parent, Elena (44th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Lucas, David (26th); Sims, Freddie Powell (12th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); James, Donzella (28th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Echols, Drew (49th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Esteves, Jason (35th); Halpern, Sonya (39th); Kemp, RaShaun (38th); Harrell, Sally (40th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Wicks, Kenya (34th); Davenport, Gail (17th); Jones II, Harold (22nd); Jackson, Kim (41st); Burns, Max (23rd); Williams, Rick (25th); Rahman, Sheikh (5th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Mallow, Derek (2nd); Watson, Sam (11th)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/31/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub; 03/28/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/28/2025: House Third Readers; 03/20/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/11/2025: House Second Readers; 03/10/2025: House First Readers; 03/06/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended; 03/06/2025: Senate Third Read; 03/06/2025: Senate Taken from Table; 03/06/2025: Senate Tabled; 02/27/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/26/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/12/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/11/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/06/2025, Senate Vote #215, 55, 0, 1, 0; 03/28/2025, House Vote #337, 163, 0, 4, 13; 03/31/2025, Senate Vote #360, 51, 0, 4, 1

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 154

United States Department of Education; references from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; revise or remove

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 20, 35, and 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, law enforcement officers and agencies, and professions and businesses, respectively, so as to revise or remove references to the United States Department of Education from the Official Code of Georgia Annotated; to replace a reference to student aid reports with FAFSA submission summary; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Education Senate Committee: Education and Youth

Sponsors

Hatchett, Bo (50th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Albers, John (56th); Brass, Matt (6th); Watson, Ben (1st); Hickman, Billy (4th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Williams, Rick (25th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Harbin, Marty (16th); Burns, Max (23rd); Beach, Brandon (21st); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Echols, Drew (49th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Still, Shawn (48th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Watson, Sam (11th); Summers, Carden (13th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Tillery, Blake (19th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Setzler, Ed (37th); Dixon, Clint (45th)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/31/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub; 03/21/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/21/2025: House Third Readers; 03/18/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/10/2025: House Second Readers; 03/06/2025: House First Readers; 03/04/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 03/04/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/20/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/19/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/13/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/12/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/04/2025, Senate Vote #155, 21, 32, 1, 2; 03/04/2025, Senate Vote #156, 37, 17, 0, 2; 03/21/2025, House Vote #294, 144, 15, 7, 14; 03/31/2025, Senate Vote #363, 44, 8, 1, 3

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 144

Fertilizers or Pesticides; a manufacturer cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks above those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; clarify

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 6 of Chapter 7 of Title 2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to liability for use of fertilizers, plant growth regulators, or pesticides, so as to clarify that a manufacturer cannot be held liable for failing to warn consumers of health risks above those required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency with respect to pesticides; to provide for legislative findings; to provide for related matters; to provide for applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Senate Committee: Agriculture and Consumer Affairs

Sponsors

Watson, Sam (11th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Goodman, Russ (8th); Echols, Drew (49th); Summers, Carden (13th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Burns, Max (23rd); Brass, Matt (6th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Still, Shawn (48th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Robertson, Randy (29th)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/13/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 03/13/2025: House Third Readers; 03/13/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 03/10/2025: House Second Readers; 03/06/2025: House First Readers; 03/04/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/04/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/19/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/18/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/12/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/11/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/04/2025, Senate Vote #147, 42, 12, 2, 0; 03/13/2025, House Vote #277, 101, 58, 5, 16

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 145

Augusta Judicial Circuit; a sixth judge of the superior courts; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 15-6-2 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the number of judges of superior courts, so as to provide for a sixth judge of the superior courts of the Augusta Judicial Circuit; to provide for the appointment of such additional judge by the Governor; to declare inherent authority; to provide for related matters; to provide for effective dates; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Judiciary Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

Burns, Max (23rd); Jones II, Harold (22nd); Anderson, Lee (24th)

Status History

04/30/2025: Act 26; 04/30/2025: Senate Date Signed by Governor; 04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/18/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 03/18/2025: House Third Readers; 03/13/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 03/04/2025: House Second Readers; 03/03/2025: House First Readers; 02/28/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/28/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/27/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/26/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/12/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/11/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/28/2025, Senate Vote #109, 53, 0, 1, 2; 03/18/2025, House Vote #282, 172, 0, 3, 5

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 123

Compulsory Attendance; provisions of the state’s compulsory school attendance laws; update and revise

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Subpart 2 of Part 1 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20, relating to compulsory attendance, so as to update and revise provisions of the state’s compulsory school attendance laws; to provide that no student shall be expelled by a public school due solely to absenteeism;to provide for reporting requirements; to amend Code Section 20-4-141 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to establishment of pilot program, awarding of high school diploma to successful participants, skills and knowledge, eligibility for participation, and regulation, so as to make conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Education Senate Committee: Education and Youth

Sponsors

Kennedy, John F. (18th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Robertson, Randy (29th); Beach, Brandon (21st); Albers, John (56th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Dixon, Clint (45th); Still, Shawn (48th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Brass, Matt (6th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Watson, Ben (1st); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Echols, Drew (49th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd)

Status History

04/28/2025: Act 16; 04/28/2025: Senate Date Signed by Governor; 04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/25/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 03/25/2025: House Third Readers; 03/21/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 02/28/2025: House Second Readers; 02/27/2025: House First Readers; 02/26/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/26/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/19/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/18/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/10/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/06/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/26/2025, Senate Vote #96, 54, 0, 0, 2; 03/25/2025, House Vote #305, 160, 1, 10, 9

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 127

Contracts with Small Businesses; automatic renewal provisions; definitions; provide and revise

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 13 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to contracts, so as to make certain disclosure and notification requirements concerning automatic renewal provisions applicable to service contracts with small businesses; to revise and provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Regulated Industries and Utilities

Sponsors

Bearden, Timothy (30th); Brass, Matt (6th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Albers, John (56th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Robertson, Randy (29th)

Status History

02/19/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/18/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/11/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/10/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

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