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Georgia Recorder
Transgender sports and bathroom rules targeted in waning days of Georgia 2024 legislative session
Transgender Georgians and supporters gathered in downtown Atlanta Tuesday to mark the second annual transgender liberation day at the state Capitol, hours before the state Senate passed legislation on party lines banning transgender children from playing sports and using restrooms aligning with their gender identity as well as several other conservative priorities. “There’s this narrative […] The post Transgender sports and bathroom rules targeted in waning days of Georgia 2024 legislative session appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication
WASHINGTON — The future of medication abortion access in the United States went in front of the U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday, where several justices appeared somewhat skeptical as anti-abortion organizations argued use of the pharmaceutical should be moved back to what was in place before 2016. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, speaking on behalf […] The post U.S. Supreme Court justices seem skeptical of limits on access to abortion medication appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Anglers and paddlers closely watch bill intended to make some streambeds off limits in Georgia
Conservationists and environmental groups are sounding the alarm over a measure that they say will unravel the protections for fishing and hunting in Georgia that were fast-tracked last session. The bill, sponsored by Waycross Republican Rep. James Burchett, has been presented as a follow-up fix after the agriculture industry and private property owners objected to […] The post Anglers and paddlers closely watch bill intended to make some streambeds off limits in Georgia appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Georgia House panel set to vote whether to create a path for legalized online sports betting
A Georgia House committee is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to advance online sports betting legislation to the House Rules Committee, which would determine whether proposals to expand Georgia’s gambling industry makes it to the House floor before the 2024 session wraps up on Thursday. On Monday, the House Higher Education Committee members spent […] The post Georgia House panel set to vote whether to create a path for legalized online sports betting appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Georgia lawmakers could still tinker with election rules in waning days of 2024 legislative session
Georgia’s lawmakers head into the final week of the 2024 legislative session with pending legislation designed to add a new security feature to paper ballots, provide online access to ballots, change the way votes are tabulated and a bill intended to provide more clarity on voter eligibility challenges. Local election supervisors across Georgia have been […] The post Georgia lawmakers could still tinker with election rules in waning days of 2024 legislative session appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
School social media ban multiplies censorship
In schools and society, social media plays a dual role as information repository and forum for expression. That’s why the wholesale school social media ban that Georgia lawmakers are proposing is so dangerous. It’s a censorship multiplier. Senate Bill 351 would limit students’ access to forums for expression and their free speech rights under the […] The post School social media ban multiplies censorship appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. Supreme Court to hear oral arguments Tuesday on abortion pill limits
WASHINGTON — The same U.S. Supreme Court that overturned the constitutional right to an abortion will hear oral arguments Tuesday over access to mifepristone, a pharmaceutical used in both medication abortion and miscarriage care. The nine justices will then decide whether to leave access to the drug intact or require the U.S. Food and Drug […] The post U.S. Supreme Court to hear oral arguments Tuesday on abortion pill limits appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
U.S. Senate in overnight vote sends $1.2 trillion government spending package to Biden
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate took a broadly bipartisan vote early Saturday to approve a $1.2 trillion spending package, sending the measure to President Joe Biden for his signature with no time to spare after missing a midnight deadline. The 74-24 vote wraps up the government funding process for fiscal year 2024, which began back on Oct. […] The post U.S. Senate in overnight vote sends $1.2 trillion government spending package to Biden appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files resolution to oust Mike Johnson as U.S. House speaker
Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a resolution Friday to remove U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, using the same parliamentary measure that led to Johnson ascending to the speakership last year. Following a bipartisan vote to approve the six remaining government spending bills for fiscal 2024, Greene filed a motion […] The post Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene files resolution to oust Mike Johnson as U.S. House speaker appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Congress rushes to approve $1.2 trillion spending package ahead of midnight deadline
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House approved a broadly bipartisan $1.2 trillion spending package Friday, sending the legislation to the Senate ahead of a midnight deadline. Senators have just hours to clear the measure for President Joe Biden’s signature, otherwise parts of the federal government will begin a funding lapse early Saturday. Meeting that benchmark will […] The post Congress rushes to approve $1.2 trillion spending package ahead of midnight deadline appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Medicaid expansion chances dim again this year as key health care proposal passes without it
A late proposal to fully expand Medicaid received a surprise hearing in a Senate committee Thursday but was narrowly defeated, with the chairman who allowed the hearing casting the decisive vote to shelve it. And negotiations also wrapped up Thursday evening over a high-profile health care bill that was seen as a potential host for […] The post Medicaid expansion chances dim again this year as key health care proposal passes without it appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Georgia Senate passes bill to punish local governments with loose immigration policies
The Georgia Senate passed a bill Thursday that could result in law enforcement agencies and local governments losing federal and state funds and force elected officials to be removed from office if they fail to comply with undocumented immigrant reporting laws. The adoption of House Bill 301 on Thursday comes just days after a plea […] The post Georgia Senate passes bill to punish local governments with loose immigration policies appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Asian-American lawmakers decry bill to ban agents of hostile countries from buying Georgia farmland
A bill aiming to prevent agents of foreign countries deemed hostile to the United States from buying farmland in Georgia is set to go to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk after passing the House along party lines Thursday. In a heated floor debate, Democrats and Asian-American lawmakers said the bill would do little to defend U.S. […] The post Asian-American lawmakers decry bill to ban agents of hostile countries from buying Georgia farmland appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Georgia State University pulls the plug on prison education
Georgia State University is blaming federal rules for the return of Pell Grants as a primary reason for its decision to close its prison education program this summer. The program won’t admit any new students but the university said it has a plan to help currently enrolled students at two state prisons finish their programs, […] The post Georgia State University pulls the plug on prison education appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Massive $1.2 trillion spending package that would avert a shutdown released by Congress
WASHINGTON — Congress released the final six government funding bills early Thursday, starting off a sprint toward the Friday midnight deadline to wrap up work that was supposed to be finished nearly six months ago. The bipartisan agreement on the $1.2 trillion spending package, which emerged just before 3 a.m., came less than two weeks […] The post Massive $1.2 trillion spending package that would avert a shutdown released by Congress appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Bookman: Georgia’s $141M voucher program likely mere down payment on what’s to come
In its attempt to shove school vouchers down the throat of reluctant voters, Georgia Republicans have argued that the state’s existing structure of public schools is not capable of providing an adequate education to many students, especially to those in “failing schools.” If that’s true, it’s basically an admission of failure by the GOP, since […] The post Bookman: Georgia’s $141M voucher program likely mere down payment on what’s to come appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
School voucher bill heads to governor’s desk after Georgia Senate overcomes years of failure
Following five years of unsuccessful attempts by Georgia Republican lawmakers to expand the state’s school voucher program, GOP Senators on Wednesday cast enough votes to send the latest version of the controversial plan to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk to be signed into law. On Wednesday, several Republican House Majority Caucus members joined their colleagues in […] The post School voucher bill heads to governor’s desk after Georgia Senate overcomes years of failure appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Wrongfully convicted men running out of time in 2024 Georgia Legislature to secure compensation
Lee Clark says he has struggled to get by since being released from prison in 2022 after being wrongfully convicted of a Floyd County murder more than two decades ago. At 45, Clark is self-conscious about the skills he lacks for his age as he labors at a job doing drum maintenance at Pirelli Tire, […] The post Wrongfully convicted men running out of time in 2024 Georgia Legislature to secure compensation appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
Expanded child tax credit stranded in U.S. Senate by GOP comparisons to welfare
WASHINGTON — One of the cheapest provisions aimed at helping low-income families has become a main sticking point for Republican senators as they negotiate a bipartisan tax package that attracted broad support in the U.S. House. The reason for the opposition is that a taxpayer could earn no income for a year and still qualify for […] The post Expanded child tax credit stranded in U.S. Senate by GOP comparisons to welfare appeared first on Georgia Recorder.
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The Georgia Recorder is an independent, nonprofit news organization that is focused on connecting public policies to stories of the people and communities affected by them. We bring a fresh perspective to coverage of the state’s biggest issues from our office a few blocks from Georgia’s Gold Dome. Our perch might be near the Capitol in downtown Atlanta, but the communities we care about are found in all corners of Georgia, from the mountains of Blue Ridge to the flatlands of Bainbridge. Just a few years ago, news outlets across Georgia staffed their own capital bureaus and it was common for several reporters to cover the same legislative committee hearings, press conferences on the Capitol steps and other state policy news. Most traditional news organizations now lack the resources to do much more than chase the political outrage of the day. Meanwhile, proposals to shape Georgia’s approach to health care, public schools, community development and other essential ingredients for a good quality-of-life don’t receive the attention they warrant. The Georgia Recorder aims to remedy that. The Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Recorder retains editorial independence.
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