Crossover Day at the Georgia Capitol

Today is a crucial day at Georgia’s State Capitol known as “Crossover Day.” It’s a deadline for bills to pass either the House or the Senate in order to move forward this session. If they fail to do so, they are unlikely to become law this year.

Lawmakers are expected to work late into the night, scrambling to vote on dozens of bills that are up for consideration. However, it’s worth noting that even after today, legislators can still salvage their bills by using a technique called a “vehicle.” This involves taking the text of a failed bill and inserting it into another related bill that has already passed and “crossed over” to the other chamber.

These “ghost bills,” as they are sometimes called, can resurface unexpectedly later in the legislative process. To stay informed about where key bills stand, WABE has a bill tracker available online at wabe.org/2023billtracker.