Georgia Legislature 2014 Final Day: Updates, Continued

The updates from earlier today can now be found separately. Below, you will find the rest of our updates through adjournment, which we expect to be at midnight tonight.

This continuation begins immediately after the earlier updates, so there is no gap in our coverage.

Note: the updates below are in chronological order. That means the newest updates will be at the end.  We will continue to place the time of the latest update at the top.

As we explained in the earlier update:

Today the Georgia General Assembly adjourns “sine die,” or without a day to reconvene.  

Our reporters are down at the state Capitol following the action on this last day, which will be a frantic one.

Below are tweets, updates, and photos sent from our reporters.  

You can also follow our news feeds via Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr.

 

Sine die. Let the fun begin. http://t.co/3wnOsmYxFs— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 20, 2014

GA Senate Passes Scaled-Down Version Of Foster Care Privatization #wabenews http://t.co/12u3OShltE— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 20, 2014

Religious freedom amendment was withdrawn. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 20, 2014

. @GovernorDeal is in the Senate chamber to address lawmakers pic.twitter.com/XhHNfR8R8b— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 20, 2014

Bill passes 36 to 20. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 20, 2014

Governor Deal begins addressing the Georgia Senate. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 20, 2014

. @GovernorDeal addresses Senate. Thanks chamber for passage of budget. pic.twitter.com/hI1DYtQ2X9— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 20, 2014

Gov. Deal thanks Senators for their service and for passage of the FY 2015 budget. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 20, 2014

.@GovernorDeal praises senate for increase in education funding in budget.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 20, 2014

The Senate disagrees to SB 391. That’s the bill medical marijuana language was attached to. #wabenews.— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 20, 2014

To clarify what’s going on with the medical marijuana bill:

House motions to insist on the med marijuana amendment to SB 391. Senate had disagreed to it. House approves conf cmte to settle dispute— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

We have more information in our story about this bill from earlier today.

House agrees to minor change made by Senate to HB 772 allowing drug testing for welfare and food stamp recipients who are deemed suspicious— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

House approves minor change to the drug testing bill 100-67. Some background on the bill here…http://t.co/J8Wx7QyoSS— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Bill allowing drug testing for welfare and food stamp recipients and applicants now heads to the governor— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

House taking up amended HB 714 (which now includes HB 1027). Bars privately contracted school workers from collecting summer unemployment— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Some HB 714 background here: http://t.co/eqi1kOBa5S and school worker perspective here: http://t.co/CtRw397MIv— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

@wabewirth The Senate approved the main medical marijuana bill earlier in the day.— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

House approves minor Senate changes to HB 714 (and HB 1027) by vote of 107-64. Now heads to governor.— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Georgia lawmakers vote to bar privately contracted school workers from collecting summer unemployment. Measure now goes to Governor.— Lisa George (@wabelisageorge) March 21, 2014

The House is taking a break.

Speaker calls for recess until 9:40pm— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Bill to allow private universities to meet by teleconference now heads to the governor after receiving House and Senate approval. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Bill to create an Alzheimer’s disease registry heads to the governor. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Senate Resolution allowing voters to decide on amending Constitution to cap income tax at 6 percent passes 42-13.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Bill that would allow voters to decide whether to cap the state income tax at 6% is on its way to Gov. Deal. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

That resolution now heads to Gov. Deal.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Senate approves resolution creating a child protection study committee. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Senate takes up House bill to limit early voting. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

The bill would reduce early voting from three weeks to one. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Sen. Fort speaks in opposition. He says this is a pattern and practice of the majority to block access to the ballot box. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

MARTA union chief Curtis Howard says HB 264, as currently written, would be unfair to workers in ongoing contract negotiations w/ management— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Currently a gov-appointed arbitrator settles contract disputes. HB 264 changes that to a judge focused on MARTA’s long term budget plan— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Sen. Bethel says cities with low population like Talking Rock don’t need to expend a large amount of resources for early voting. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

On HB 264, Howard says it would be “stacking the deck” against MARTA workers in ongoing contract negotiations with management— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Senate approves the bill 36-16. The bill now goes to the House. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Senate votes on House changes to the foster care privatization bill. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Senate passes House amended version of foster care privatization 41-9. Adds its language w/ 3-year pilot program.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

That version now heads to the governor.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Senate agreed to foster care privatization bill. The bill now heads to the governor. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

House taking up Unterman’s SB 291 with med marijuana attached— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

House approves SB 291 with med marijuana attached by vote of 168-2— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

SB 291 with med marijuana now goes to Senate. This is the House’s attempt to pass med marijuana w/o autism mandate attached— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

With less than 2 hrs left in session, GA House passes watered-down medical marijuana bill. It goes back to the Senate now. Clock is ticking.— Lisa George (@wabelisageorge) March 21, 2014

Bill aimed at preventing health care workers and study committee on medical marijuana heads to the governor. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

A sign things are wrapping up…Speaker is doing his thank-you’s to staff…Still unresolved – med marijuana, autism mandate, guns, MARTA— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Meadows/Millar exchange on med marjuana tied up w/ Lakeside cityhood?Meadows opposed Millar’s Lakeside bill.Bckground http://t.co/Zv5Co658lx— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Millar and Meadows goin at it on the House floor…very heated exchange goin on #gapol— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Need to walk back earlier tweet. Foster care privatization does NOT go to Gov. Plan w/ 3-yr pilot goes back to House. Sorry. Still a newb.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Senate added it’s language (3-yr pilot) to House amended version with 2-yr pilot program. House now has to agree to those changes.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Miller confirms he’s still upset with Meadows about Lakeside vote. Says he disenfranchised thousands of people.— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Sen. Unterman refers to autism coverage bill and says lawmakers are in the 11th hour and they need an agreement on the legislation. #wabe— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Sen. Millar on Chairman Meadows: “He’s not happy on the autism situation and I’m not happy on the Lakeside situation.”— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

55 minutes left of this year’s legislative session. The fun begins.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Sen. Butch Miller refers to autism bill and says “Isn’t it true children are suffering because of the inactivity of another chamber. #wabe— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Sen. @Butch_Miller rising over House’s innaction “for the children” re: autism/medical marijuana #gapol— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Context for Meadows-Millar exchange…Senate’s preferred vehicle for med marijuana is autism mandate, which House is strongly opposed to.— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

House taking up HB 60…gun bill— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

The Senate is voting on whether to recede from its position on HB 264. It’s one of two MARTA bills. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

House considering motion to agree to Senate version…Among changes, churches will be opt-in. Background here http://t.co/TW4ddYcI9e— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

And we have a gun bill. House approves HB 60 with gun bill language (HB875) attached by vote of 112-58. Heads to governor.— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

To give you an idea of the chaos that is the #gasenate right now. pic.twitter.com/4O7n9ZPQR9— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

HB 264, which allows the relaxing of 50/50 split for MARTA heads to governor after Senators voted 32-19 to agree with the House. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Senate votes 39-15 to change the board governance for MARTA after 2017 #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

As hours wane, bill to privatize foster care looking doubtful @Renee_Unterman criticizing House for not taking it up “as they wanted” #gapol— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

In final moments of 2014 Georgia General Asssembly session, House leaders take Senate to task for failing to pass medical marijuana bill.— Lisa George (@wabelisageorge) March 21, 2014

15 minutes left ….— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

The sounds of paper being torn apart in the Senate are now audible. The end is near. #gapol #wabenews— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

With less than 10 minutes the House and Senate have not agreed on autism coverage, medical marijuana or foster care privatization. #wabenews— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

The #gasenate has now moved to auctioneer speed in reading bills.— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Five minutes left. Still no foster care, medical marijuana and autism bills. #gapol #wabenews— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Bill that would require medical facilities to apply for TRICARE heads to governor.— Michelle Wirth (@wabewirth) March 21, 2014

Senate now rolling through a number of conference committee agreements with two minutes left. #wabenews #gapol— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

And that’s a wrap http://t.co/7I9PaPaRgF— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

Sine die pic.twitter.com/1g4yv8tGDK— Jonathan Shapiro (@jmshapiro) March 21, 2014

Georgia General Assembly: “Sine die.” pic.twitter.com/eNqK8J3kcU— Lisa George (@wabelisageorge) March 21, 2014

For a recap, guns ekes through, autism, foster care and medical marijuana fail— Michell Eloy (@michellreloy) March 21, 2014

A big round of applause for the WABE news team. Great job! Sine Die! http://t.co/KTeLYVJVPw— WABE News (@wabenews) March 21, 2014