ATLANTA (AP) – While election legislation has dominated discussion in the 2021 General Assembly, Georgia lawmakers have a lot of other work to accomplish in the next week. An annual deadline called crossover is looming on March 8. By then, bills must by passed by their original chamber or fail for the year. That doesn’t mean the issue that a bill dealt with is dead for the year, as there are ways to revive legislation that had appeared dead.
But when a bill fails to advance from the original chamber, it can often show a lack of support. Some measures have already passed one chamber, including paid parental leave for state and school employees, and a renewal of Georgia’s law protecting businesses and others from being sued if someone blames them for contracting COVID-19.
Here’s a look at some issues that have yet to pass either the House or Senate:
GAMBLING
The odds are getting better that Georgians will soon be able to bet on their favorite sports teams, with the House and Senate considering bills legalizing the practice and taxing it for HOPE scholarships and public preschool subsidies. However, legalizing horse racing or casinos faces a tougher road. House Bill 86 would mandate that the Georgia Lottery Corp. give at least six licenses to companies that want to offer sports betting in Georgia. After the companies pay out bettors’ winnings, the state would tax the remaining proceeds at 20%. A Senate committee, though, decided there needs to be a constitutional amendment to allow sports betting, requiring a two-thirds vote and then a public referendum. Senators are also seeking a lower tax rate. There’s also talk of legalizing casinos and betting on horse racing, which would require constitutional amendments that lawmakers are considering. It’s unclear if they will gain any traction.
