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 58

“Georgia Transporting Life-Saving Organs and Personnel Act”; enact

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Chapter 11 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to emergency medical services, so as to provide for the licensing and operation of emergency organ transport vehicles as ambulance services; to provide for the operation of such vehicles on public roadways; to amend Title 40 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to motor vehicles and traffic, so as to exempt emergency organ transport vehicles from those vehicles required to obtain an emergency vehicle permit from the Department of Public Safety; to revise and provide for definitions; to provide for a short title; 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

Albers, John (56th); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Watson, Ben (1st); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Summers, Carden (13th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Hickman, Billy (4th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Burns, Max (23rd); Williams, Rick (25th); Cowsert, Bill (46th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Echols, Drew (49th); Watson, Sam (11th); Bearden, Timothy (30th); Still, Shawn (48th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Anderson, Lee (24th)

Status History

04/07/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 03/21/2025: House Passed/Adopted; 03/21/2025: House Third Readers; 03/11/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 02/20/2025: House Second Readers; 02/19/2025: House First Readers; 02/18/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/18/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/10/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/06/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/30/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/29/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/18/2025, Senate Vote #59, 53, 0, 0, 3; 03/21/2025, House Vote #296, 161, 0, 6, 13

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 43

Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation; increase

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Finance

Sponsors

Summers, Carden (13th); Brass, Matt (6th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Watson, Sam (11th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Gooch, Steve (51st); Hatchett, Bo (50th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Williams, Rick (25th); Ginn, Frank (47th); Tillery, Blake (19th); Anavitarte, Jason (31st); Robertson, Randy (29th); Watson, Ben (1st); Albers, John (56th); Burns, Max (23rd); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Echols, Drew (49th); Still, Shawn (48th); Bearden, Timothy (30th)

Status History

01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 45

Bona Fide Conservation Use Property; the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation; increase

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Code Section 48-5-7.4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to preferential assessment for bona fide conservation use property and bona fide residential transitional property, so as to increase the maximum acreage to qualify for assessment and taxation as a bona fide conservation use property; to provide for related matters; to provide for a contingent effective date and automatic repeal; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Ways & Means Senate Committee: Finance

Sponsors

Watson, Sam (11th); Hickman, Billy (4th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Kennedy, John F. (18th)

Status History

02/21/2025: House Second Readers; 02/20/2025: House First Readers; 02/19/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted; 02/19/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/19/2025: Senate Engrossed; 02/18/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/13/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/29/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/28/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

02/19/2025, Senate Vote #63, 31, 21, 1, 3; 02/19/2025, Senate Vote #65, 51, 1, 1, 3

BONFIRE.news's Position

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 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

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 20

Veterinarians; student loan repayment; who practice shelter medicine and in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; provide; create the State Veterinary Education Board for Shelter Medicine and Pet Sterilization

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to provide for student loan repayment for veterinarians who practice shelter medicine and veterinarians who practice in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; to create the State Veterinary Education Board for Shelter Medicine and Pet Sterilization; to provide for definitions; to provide requirements for participation in the loan repayment program; to provide for maximum total and annual repayment amounts; to provide for terms for repayment agreements; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: Higher Education Senate Committee: Higher Education

Sponsors

Kirkpatrick, Kay (32nd); Summers, Carden (13th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Parent, Elena (44th)

Status History

04/10/2025: Senate Sent to Governor; 04/04/2025: Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub; 04/02/2025: House Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 04/02/2025: House Third Readers; 04/02/2025: House Withdrawn, Recommitted; 03/20/2025: House Committee Favorably Reported; 03/06/2025: House Second Readers; 03/04/2025: House First Readers; 03/03/2025: Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute; 03/03/2025: Senate Third Read; 02/20/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/19/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute; 01/17/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/16/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

03/03/2025, Senate Vote #116, 54, 2, 0, 0; 04/02/2025, House Vote #399, 160, 5, 2, 13; 04/04/2025, Senate Vote #450, 50, 2, 2, 2

BONFIRE.news's Position

Yay or Nay

SB 24

Ad Valorem Taxation of Property; extension of preferential assessment periods for certain historic properties; provide

Summary

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 5 of Title 48 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to ad valorem taxation of property, so as to provide for an extension of preferential assessment periods for certain historic properties; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Committees

Committees House Committee: N/A Senate Committee: Finance

Sponsors

Burns, Max (23rd); Hufstetler, Chuck (52nd); Hodges, Mike (3rd); Kennedy, John F. (18th); Brass, Matt (6th); Robertson, Randy (29th); Watson, Ben (1st); Hickman, Billy (4th); Echols, Drew (49th); Anderson, Lee (24th); Harrell, Sally (40th); Halpern, Sonya (39th); Albers, John (56th); Goodman, Russ (8th); Williams, Rick (25th); Payne, Chuck (54th); Harbin, Marty (16th); Watson, Sam (11th); Dixon, Clint (45th)

Status History

02/04/2025: Senate Read Second Time; 02/03/2025: Senate Committee Favorably Reported; 01/27/2025: Senate Read and Referred; 01/17/2025: Senate Hopper

Votes

No votes

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).