Text Too Small?
Text Too Small?

Search:

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 91

State Employees’ Health Insurance Plan; Board of Community Health from entering into, executing, or renewing a contract with any pharmacy benefits manager that owns or has an ownership interest in any retail pharmacy; prohibit

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Part 1 of Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the state employees’ health insurance plan, so as to prohibit the Board of Community Health from entering into, executing, or renewing a contract or contracts with any pharmacy benefits manager that owns or has an ownership interest in any retail pharmacy or any legal entity that contracts with or uses such pharmacy benefits manager; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

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

Sponsors

Tillery, Blake (19th); Watson, Ben (1st); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Goodman, Russ (8th); Williams, Rick (25th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Still, Shawn (48th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Albers, John (56th); Summers, Carden (13th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Payne, Chuck (54th); Echols, Drew (49th); Watson, Sam (11th); Burns, Max (23rd); Harbin, Marty (16th); Brass, Matt (6th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Hodges, Mike (3rd); James, Donzella (28th); Mallow, Derek (2nd); Beach, Brandon (21st); Hickman, Billy (4th)

Status History

04/04/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 04/02/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/10/2025: House Second Readers; 03/06/2025: House First Readers; 03/04/2025: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Third Read; 02/18/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/13/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/10/2025: Senate Withdrawn & Recommitted; 02/05/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/04/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/04/2025, Senate Vote #141, 52, 2, 1, 1

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 95

Certificate of Need Program; an exemption from certificate of need requirements concerning life plan communities; revise

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-6-47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to exemptions from the certificate of need program, so as to revise an exemption from certificate of need requirements concerning life plan communities; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Health and Human Services

Sponsors

Watson, Ben (1st); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Summers, Carden (13th); Albers, John (56th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Brass, Matt (6th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Echols, Drew (49th); Still, Shawn (48th)

Status History

02/05/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/04/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 96

Official Code of Georgia Annotated; provisions creating certain boards, panels, authorities, centers, commissions, committees, councils, task forces, and other such bodies; update and modernize

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend various titles of the O.C.G.A., so as to modernize and update provisions creating certain boards, panels, authorities, centers, commissions, committees, councils, task forces, and other such bodies; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Code Revision Senate Committee: Government Oversight

Sponsors

Echols, Drew (49th); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Payne, Chuck (54th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Watson, Ben (1st); Watson, Sam (11th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Still, Shawn (48th); Williams, Rick (25th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Summers, Carden (13th); Albers, John (56th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Tillery, Blake (19th); Dolezal, Greg (27th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Dixon, Clint (45th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Bearden, Timothy (30th)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/27/2025: 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; 02/24/2025: House Second Readers; 02/21/2025: House First Readers; 02/20/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/20/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/18/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/13/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/05/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/04/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/20/2025, Senate Vote #69, 35, 18, 1, 2; 03/21/2025, House Vote #295, 162, 0, 5, 13; 03/27/2025, Senate Vote #309, 51, 0, 1, 4

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 75

Speed Detection Devices and Red Light Cameras; standards for signs warning of a reduced speed limit in a school zone and signs warning of the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 14 of Title 40 of the O.C.G.A., relating to use of speed detection devices and red light cameras, so as to provide for standards for signs warning of a reduced speed limit in a school zone and signs warning of the use of automated traffic enforcement safety devices; to amend Title 15 of the O.C.G.A., relating to courts, so as to authorize district attorneys, solicitors-general, and prosecuting attorneys to enforce civil monetary penalties relative to the enforcement of laws regarding speeding in a school zone using recorded images; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Public Safety

Sponsors

Burns, Max (23rd); Albers, John (56th); Williams, Rick (25th); Jones II, Harold (22nd); Moore, Colton (53rd); Gooch, Steve (51st); Payne, Chuck (54th); Summers, Carden (13th); Hickman, Billy (4th); McLaurin, Josh (14th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Islam Parkes, Nabilah (7th); Rhett, Michael ‘Doc’ (33rd); Esteves, Jason (35th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Strickland, Brian (42nd); Still, Shawn (48th); Mallow, Derek (2nd); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Watson, Ben (1st); Ginn, Frank (47th); Dixon, Clint (45th); Watson, Sam (11th)

Status History

03/04/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 03/03/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/04/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/03/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 79

“Fentanyl Eradication and Removal Act”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 16 of the O.C.G.A., relating to crimes and offenses, so as to revise threshold amounts of fentanyl and related substances necessary to constitute the offenses of possessing, selling, distributing, and manufacturing of such substances; to revise mandatory minimum departure provisions for defendants convicted of trafficking of substances in violation of Code Section 16-13-31, relating to trafficking in cocaine, illegal drugs, marijuana, or methamphetamine and penalties; to amend various titles of the O.C.G.A., so as to provide for conforming changes; to provide for an effective date; to provide for applicability; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

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

Sponsors

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

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/28/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub; 03/28/2025: House Immediately Transmitted to Senate; 03/28/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/28/2025: House Third Readers; 03/27/2025: House Postponed; 03/27/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/28/2025: House Second Readers; 02/27/2025: House First Readers; 02/26/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/26/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/24/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/21/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/04/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/03/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/26/2025, Senate Vote #95, 50, 3, 2, 1; 03/28/2025, House Vote #339, 131, 31, 3, 15; 03/28/2025, House Vote #340, 99, 62, 4, 15; 03/28/2025, Senate Vote #334, 49, 0, 0, 7

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 80

Tax Credits; the definition of “rural hospital organization”; revise

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 31-8-9.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to eligibility to receive tax credits, so as to revise the definition of “rural hospital organization”; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Health and Human Services

Sponsors

Summers, Carden (13th); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Harbison, Ed (15th); Walker, III, Larry (20th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Lucas, David (26th); Williams, Rick (25th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Sims, Freddie Powell (12th); Mallow, Derek (2nd); Watson, Sam (11th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Wicks, Kenya (34th); Merritt, Nikki (9th)

Status History

02/04/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 02/03/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 68

Civil Practice; substantive and comprehensive revision of provisions regarding civil practice, evidentiary matters, damages, and liability in tort actions; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Titles 9, 13, 40, and 51 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to civil practice, contracts, motor vehicles, and torts, respectively, so as to provide for substantive and comprehensive revision of provisions regarding civil practice, evidentiary matters, damages, and liability in tort actions; to provide limitations relative to pain and suffering testimony; to provide for timing of answers and discovery; to provide for dismissals of civil actions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Rules Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

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

Status History

04/21/2025: Act 9; 04/21/2025: Senate Date Signed by Governor; 04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/21/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub; 03/20/2025: House Immediately Transmitted to Senate; 03/20/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/20/2025: House Third Readers; 03/18/2025: 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; 02/12/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/11/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 02/03/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/30/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/21/2025, Senate Vote #81, 21, 33, 0, 2; 02/21/2025, Senate Vote #82, 21, 33, 0, 2; 02/21/2025, Senate Vote #83, 33, 21, 0, 2; 03/20/2025, House Vote #290, 91, 82, 1, 6; 03/20/2025, House Vote #291, 94, 77, 3, 6; 03/21/2025, Senate Vote #272, 22, 32, 1, 1; 03/21/2025, Senate Vote #273, 34, 21, 0, 1

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 69

“Georgia Courts Access and Consumer Protection Act”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Title 7 and Article 5 of Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to banking and finance, and depositions and discovery under the “Georgia Civil Practice Act,” respectively, so as to regulate third-party litigation financing practices in this state; to provide a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Rules Senate Committee: Judiciary

Sponsors

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

Status History

04/21/2025: Act 10; 04/21/2025: Senate Date Signed by Governor; 04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/31/2025: House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub; 03/28/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub As Amended; 03/27/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/27/2025: House Third Readers; 03/27/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 03/03/2025: House Second Readers; 02/28/2025: House First Readers; 02/27/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/27/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/12/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/11/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 02/03/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/30/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/27/2025, Senate Vote #104, 52, 0, 0, 4; 03/27/2025, House Vote #323, 98, 69, 3, 10; 03/28/2025, Senate Vote #336, 52, 0, 0, 4; 03/31/2025, House Vote #360, 120, 42, 6, 12

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

Coming Soon!

Local Coupons & Discounts

No local coupons available right now. Please check back soon!

No coupons or discounts above? Click the button below to access the Coupons and Discounts page.

[render_coupon_fallback_if_empty]

*This content (including text, artwork, graphics, photography, and video) was provided by the third party(ies) as referenced above. Any rights or other content questions or inquiries should be directed to such third-party provider(s).